"Jiraiya-sama, where's the enemy?"
"They've fled, hurry and treat the wounded!"
Jiraiya quickly ordered, and the two toads on his shoulders jumped down.
After they left, the toad features on Jiraiya slowly faded away; earlier, Jiraiya's face and limbs were almost completely transformed into a toad.
"Little Jiraiya, this time the transformation lasted a bit long. If the opponent didn't retreat, you would've turned into a toad statue...."
Fukasaku Sage warned, although they could help Jiraiya absorb natural energy and stabilize it, the longer it lasted, the more apparent Jiraiya's toad features would become.
Shima Sage asked, "Little Jiraiya, why are you fighting with that Rinnegan kid? Isn't he your disciple?"
Jiraiya had previously gone to Mount Myoboku to show off his disciple and even wrote a book specifically for Nagato, though the main character was named Naruto; the character was based on Nagato, and it was published.
"This matter is complicated, but that disciple may now be Konoha's enemy; a ninja from Konoha killed his friend due to a misunderstanding... who was also my other disciple."
Jiraiya spoke angrily in his heart, he really wanted to kill Danzo, it was all because that guy got involved with Hanzo.
"Oh, I see, it seems he isn't the Child of Destiny as the Great Elder said. Seems like you'll have to work harder, Little Jiraiya."
"After fighting for so long, I'm exhausted, and there's no food at home. We're heading back first, Little Jiraiya."
Fukasaku and Shima Sage said one after another, with no more battle, they were preparing to go back.
"Thanks for your trouble, Boss and Big Sister."
Jiraiya waved goodbye, and the two Toad Sages dismissed the Summoning Jutsu, returning to Mount Myoboku.
Afterward, Jiraiya went to assist, their casualties were quite heavy. After simply treating the severely wounded, they had to evacuate immediately.
This is the Land of Rain, such intense battles would surely be noticed by Hidden Rain, perhaps Hanzo is already on his way here.
Thirty-two dead, thirteen severely injured, but after returning and receiving proper treatment, they would still fully recover; the remaining twenty were each slightly injured, and their chakra was almost depleted.
The only gain was Yahiko's corpse, which had been sealed inside a storage scroll and kept on Jiraiya's person, to be analyzed by the intelligence and medical teams once they returned.
Jiraiya still felt a bit regretful, if not for the masked man who appeared at the last moment, he could have seriously wounded and captured Nagato.
"Nagato, now you've become Konoha's enemy completely...."
Jiraiya sighed inwardly, if he could capture Nagato and return to Konoha, he would definitely fight to protect him, even if it meant bowing to Orochimaru or seeking out Tsunade.
But Nagato killed so many Konoha ninjas and then escaped; next, he'll definitely be classified as a top-level S-Class dangerous mission, with all-out efforts made to hunt him down.
Such obvious hostility, coupled with owning the Rinnegan, a potential-filled eye, Konoha isn't foolish enough to let such an enemy roam the ninja world.
Shortly after Jiraiya and his team left, Hanzo arrived at the battlefield with some Hidden Rain ninjas.
The fierce battle had destroyed an area stretching several kilometers, even the nearby forest was affected.
Upon witnessing this scene, Hanzo's expression was a bit grim, no wonder Konoha suddenly sent an envoy, planning to stall him.
"Because of that Rinnegan kid?"
Hanzo suddenly thought of this possibility, and the more he thought, the more plausible it seemed; he too was tempted back then, after all, those are the eyes of the Six Paths Sage.
However, the Gedo Statue's intimidating presence was overwhelming, with dozens of rain elite ninjas plus Danzo's elite ninjas being slaughtered in moments, and no means could counter the Gedo Statue.
"Konoha ninjas truly have guts...."
Hanzo pondered inwardly, this is the Hidden Rain Village's territory, if Konoha were to take away the Rinnegan, it would be a significant loss for him.
After returning, he must capture all Akatsuki members!
Then, Hanzo, failing to find any useful clues here, took his team back; upon returning, he didn't immediately send away Konoha ninjas, but conveyed a request for deep alliance to jointly capture the leaders of the Akatsuki Organization.
After all, Akatsuki's ninjas are originally from Hidden Rain, making them theoretically traitorous ninjas of Hidden Rain Village.
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Upon returning to Konoha, Jiraiya had the injured sent to Konoha Hospital before heading to the Hokage Building to report on the situation.
Jiraiya's return was quickly known by Sarutobi Hiruzen, given there were suddenly over twenty wounded, and he had Anbu under his command.
Before Hatake Sakumo notified, Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived, and he also informed Namikaze Minato, who had just completed a mission and was resting at home.
"Fourth Hokage...."
Namikaze Minato scratched his head awkwardly upon entering, he currently held no position, wasn't supposed to be notified, but since the Third Hokage summoned him, he had to come despite his reluctance.
"Now that you're here, listen in, Minato. You'll surely be involved in this mission later."
Hatake Sakumo said to Namikaze Minato, aside from errors in principles, he was always kind to ninjas within the village.
"Sorry, Fourth Hokage, Yoichi assisting, this mission has been considered a failure....."
Jiraiya, with an uneasy expression, slowly recounted the experiences of this mission.