The hidden onlookers witnessing the scene began to retreat cautiously. They didn't leave entirely, though—they moved farther away, waiting to see if they could seize an opportunity in the chaos.
After all, Blood Moon was still just one person, with one head, two arms, and two legs.
Although formidable, they figured that when he eventually grew tired, it would be their chance to strike and claim victory.
They weren't willing to make meaningless sacrifices, but they were ready to take calculated risks.
...
Konan sensed the retreat of the onlookers. Behind her, sheets of paper quickly coalesced.
In the blink of an eye, a pair of paper wings appeared at her back.
Her toes gently left the tree branch as her body floated into the air, heading toward Itachi.
As she ascended, a slight frown creased Konan's brow. She could still feel many eyes watching her from the shadows.
It seemed not everyone had left yet.
"Blood Moon, I mean no harm. Can we find a place to talk?"
Aware that many onlookers remained, Konan cautiously approached Itachi in the air. Though she appeared defenseless, her body was already imbued with chakra. She refrained from immediately inviting Blood Moon to join her organization—it wasn't wise to discuss such matters with so many onlookers around.
Itachi watched Konan as she flew toward him, a trace of bewilderment in his eyes.
"Why is Konan here?"
Doubt lingered in his heart.
To him, Konan was like a treasure of the Akatsuki—a prized possession of Nagato's.
Who would let their treasure wander freely without protection?
...
After all, Obito and Konan weren't exactly on the same page. It wasn't as if Pain could command Obito to protect Konan. That idea was absurd.
Many thoughts flashed through Itachi's mind in an instant.
"Oh? This beautiful lady, what is it you wish to discuss?"
After some contemplation, Itachi replied softly.
"Konan!"
Before Konan could respond, a voice filled with complex emotions rang out.
Jiraiya stepped forward, his face a mix of emotions.
The sight of Konan had left him unable to remain still.
He had thought his three beloved disciples were long dead. Now, seeing Konan here, how could he remain seated?
The loss of his four students had dealt him a significant blow.
Years ago, his negligence during Kushina's childbirth had led to the deaths of Minato and Kushina.
Because he didn't insist on keeping Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan by his side and protecting them a little longer, their lives had been lost.
His life had been one tragedy after another.
Now, seeing Konan's face clearly, the feeling of recovering something thought lost overwhelmed him in a way no one could understand.
...
Hearing Jiraiya's voice and seeing him emerge, Konan's heart trembled, her body slightly shaking.
The word "Sensei" instinctively rose to her lips, but she forced it back down.
At this moment, she felt lost, wanting to flee but unsure how to face Jiraiya.
Even if Nagato were present, he, too, would feel a twinge of guilt.
Though their hearts bore deep scars inflicted by the cruel world, and though they had grown indifferent to taking lives, seeing Jiraiya again brought a wave of shame that corroded the deepest corners of Konan's soul.
There were times when they silently blamed Jiraiya—wondering why he hadn't appeared to help sooner.
But deep down, they knew the debt of gratitude they owed him could never be erased.
...
Jiraiya, the eternal optimist and indomitable man, now stood with reddened eyes, tears welling up.
Konan's emotions churned, her heart a chaotic mix of feelings. She wished she could vanish on the spot.
"That child... is one of the three Jiraiya once took in," Tsunade murmured, her voice tinged with a heavy heart as she watched Jiraiya's reaction.
She wanted to laugh at his awkwardness, but an overwhelming sense of melancholy took hold instead.
The joy of reuniting with someone long lost was clouded by a shadow of sorrow.
Obito glanced at Jiraiya, his expression momentarily dazed.
That man... was his master's teacher.
Seeing Jiraiya brought forth a cascade of memories, stirring ripples in Obito's heart.
From the shadows, Kakashi watched Jiraiya's back, a flood of emotions surging within him.
Old memories, long buried, burst forth uncontrollably as he saw the familiar figures before him.
This outburst was more intense than anything he'd experienced before.
...
"Those of you hiding in the shadows—come out," Jiraiya called firmly.
Itachi dispelled the Summoning Jutsu, causing Shin's form to vanish.
He leaped onto another tree nearby.
The sudden appearance of Jiraiya caused several presences to waver, exposing their locations.
At this moment, a subtle playfulness flickered across Itachi's face, though his eyes revealed a deeper turmoil.
It was clear he hadn't fully made up his mind about something.
Yes, he was contemplating whether to reveal a bombshell about Obito—to surprise Kakashi and "Obito" with a shocking revelation.
He wanted to throw the situation into chaos.
After all, the storyline of this world had already been thoroughly disrupted.
He was tempted to go all in and take a bold gamble.
Of course, this was just a fleeting impulse buried deep in his heart.
In truth, what truly concerned him was Black Zetsu.
At this moment, the Totsuka Blade was still missing, leaving him without a reliable means to deal with Black Zetsu.
His feelings toward Black Zetsu were complicated.
He didn't actually want to stop Black Zetsu's plan. He wanted to witness Madara's grandeur, see Hashirama and the others, and meet Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, the Rabbit Goddess.
So his emotions were a tangled mess.
As someone who had read the original story, he naturally knew that Black Zetsu was the mastermind behind everything. Yet, he had no desire to interfere…
After all, even if Kaguya didn't emerge, the ninja world would still face invasions from other members of the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
If that were the case, why not meet the people he wanted to see?
If certain individuals didn't appear, this ninja world would lose so much of its intrigue.
That's why Itachi's heart was in turmoil.
All of this reflected his current thoughts.
Everyone present understood what Itachi was implying.
Kakashi slowly stepped forward without saying a word, while Obito remained silent, his deep gaze fixed ahead.
"Jiraiya, what's the point of showing up now…"
Finally, Itachi's words broke the silence, snapping Konan out of her daze. She suppressed her lingering tenderness, her tone icy and her gaze sharp as she looked at Jiraiya and spoke coldly.
"Konan, what happened? Where are Yahiko and Nagato? I received word saying you had all died…"
Jiraiya's face was filled with concern as he asked, reacting to Konan's detached words.
If Konan was alive, could it mean…
Jiraiya's mind flooded with memories of the past…
Those were his most cherished moments.
"They're all dead. I'm the only one left."
Konan's words were emotionless, devoid of any warmth.
Their path had long diverged from Jiraiya's ideals.
Rather than letting Jiraiya be devastated later, it was better to make him give up now—to stop interfering with them.
Their plan was sacred and couldn't be hindered by anyone.
Even if Jiraiya stood in their way and became an obstacle, he would have to be crushed by the tide of destiny.
"How could this happen… My poor students…"
Jiraiya murmured to himself, his voice trembling.
He thought of the once lively, adorable faces of his three disciples. The light in his eyes gradually dimmed…
No wonder Konan treated him so coldly…
The warmth of his heart, reignited by finding them alive, once again turned cold, leaving him in a desolate abyss.