Mastermind of the Akatsuki

With Orochimaru no longer his target, Jiraiya found himself at a loose end.

He wandered across the nations, seeking inspiration for a new book and awaiting missions from the Hokage's office so he could continue contributing to his village.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, three months had passed.

In those three months, Jiraiya had traveled through much of the shinobi world, experiencing various cultures and landscapes.

While journeying through the Land of Fire, he encountered Tsunade, who was traveling with Shizune and drowning in debt due to her gambling habits.

When Jiraiya suggested her to return to the village, Tsunade only responded with a powerful punch.

Although Konohagakure was facing a shortage of capable leadership, Tsunade still had no intention of returning, let alone participating in the selection for the Fifth Hokage.

In Tsunade's mind, the Senju clan had already bled enough for the village.

To protect the village her grandfather founded, she had lost her granduncle, her great-uncle, her parents, her brother, and her lover. Even the proud name of the Senju had faded from the shinobi world, with only a few members left.

She felt she owed nothing to Konoha; rather, it was Konoha that owed the Senju.

Realizing Tsunade was resolute in her decision not to return, Jiraiya didn't press her, understanding he wasn't in any position to. After all, he himself had left the village under the pretense of pursuing Orochimaru.

He couldn't ask Tsunade to do something he couldn't do himself.

Besides, with Tsunade's status, her presence alone would still have a deterrent effect on the other major villages, even if she wasn't in Konohagakure. The Senju clan was deeply tied to the village's legacy.

After helping Tsunade pay off her gambling debts, Jiraiya obtained a promise from her to at least visit the village.

He then resumed his journey across the nations.

While traveling through the Land of Wind, he met a puppet master, and they discussed the concept of fate.

The puppet master scoffed at Jiraiya's search for the "Child of Prophecy."

The puppet master believed there was no need to seek fate. People should simply accept whatever fate brings, including the inevitability of upcoming wars. If one dies in battle, it's merely bad luck—nothing to complain about.

In the remote Takigakure, Jiraiya met a Takigakure teacher.

This teacher was instructing children on survival tactics for war, emphasizing that survival offers more hope for the future.

This scene reminded Jiraiya of the time he spent teaching Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan.

Back then, Orochimaru had initially wanted to kill Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan to put an end to their suffering in the war-torn world but in the end, it was Jiraiya who noticed Nagato's Rinnegan and decided to stay, believing he might be the Child of Prophecy.

After three years together, he wasn't too hopeful about whether Nagato could fulfill the prophecy. He just wished the children would live well.

As he continued his journey, Jiraiya encountered a wandering ninja from the Fūma clan.

The Fūma ninja was robbing passing merchants and travelers. After reprimanding the ninja, Jiraiya spared his life, leaving a scar on his forehead as a reminder.

Jiraiya wondered why a member of the once-great Fūma clan had fallen so low.

It seemed that the ninja world wars had devastated many ancient shinobi clans, erasing their legacies from history.

Upon reaching the Land of Earth, Jiraiya met a mysterious religious leader.

A ring of destitute refugees, clad in rags and visibly malnourished, gathered around the religious leader, who muttered words of prayer to guide them in evading further disaster.

Jiraiya knew that prayer alone would not stave off hardship, but he chose not to interfere. This group had lost everything, and taking away their last shred of hope would surely push them over the edge.

In a way, the leader's actions reminded him of himself.

Was his search for the Child of Prophecy not also a response to a harsh reality, a final grasp at hope by placing faith in a foretold savior? The difference between them was only superficial.

With mixed feelings, Jiraiya left the Land of Earth and entered the borders of the Land of Grass.

Since the rise of Amegakure, the space for the Land of Grass had shrunk, and it could only compete by undercutting prices to attract missions. However, with the growing industrialization of Amegakure, the life of Kusagakure ninja had become increasingly challenging.

At a local bar, Jiraiya encountered a disgruntled Grass ninja, drinking heavily and grumbling as he stared out the window.

The Grass ninja complained about the reasons for his hardships: high client expectations made it impossible to secure contracts, and the prosperity of Amegakure next door had depressed living standards in Kusagakure.

Hearing all this, Jiraiya found himself getting impatient.

He joined in the complaining, aided by a few rounds of sake. He lamented the unfairness of the shinobi world—why did his student, the Fourth Hokage, have to die? Why did Orochimaru betray the village?

Why had the Third Hokage allowed Danzō to stir up so much trouble, letting injustices fester within the village?

After the alcohol wore off, Jiraiya nursed a headache, sipping on some sobering tea as he looked toward the Land of Rain.

After so much time spent traveling the shinobi world, he decided it was time to visit Amegakure.

Although Amegakure was led by Hanzō the Salamander, the village was now effectively managed by his former students. He was curious to see how Yahiko and the others had shaped the village.

Yet Jiraiya didn't hold high hopes. Outside the Land of Fire, most small nations still lived under heavy burdens.

The brutal shinobi wars might have ended, but the covert and overt conflicts within the shinobi world were far from over. Ninja still led precarious lives, scraping by through lethal missions.

A few hours later, Jiraiya crossed the border into the Land of Rain from the Land of Grass.

As he entered, he immediately noticed the differences between the two nations. Though the Land of Grass had better weather, the contrast at the border was staggering.

The roads in the Land of Grass were muddy trails. Jiraiya himself could navigate them effortlessly, but for ordinary travelers, it was difficult terrain.

In the Land of Rain, however, the roads were paved and smooth concrete.

The disparity was a gaping chasm, and Jiraiya grew even more curious about Amegakure's inner workings.

With newfound interest, Jiraiya quickened his pace.

Before long, a group of shinobi blocked his path. Leading them was none other than Nagato, who was overseeing the construction projects around Amegakure.

Seeing Jiraiya, Nagato looked up with a puzzled expression. "Jiraiya-sensei?"