Nagato and Konan had also disguised themselves at this time, and for now, only the squad leader knew their identities.
"Shirao, you and Reizo are both so old and still just Genin. When we encounter a fight, remember to hide behind me; I'll protect you!"
Another Little Brat in the team, about thirteen or fourteen years old, was currently fawning over Konan.
"Shut up!"
The captain, walking in front, immediately turned and yelled at the Little Brat fiercely after hearing his words.
He then looked at Konan somewhat guiltily and only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Konan's expression was quite calm.
After glaring fiercely at the Little Brat again, he led the team forward once more.
Did I act too harshly just now? Will I leave a bad impression on the two adults?
The squad leader, still replaying his recent actions, suddenly heard a voice from behind again. Just as he was about to scold, he realized it wasn't that brat's voice.
"Someone is approaching fast. Yes, it's that person. Let's go, Shirao!"
With that, Nagato pulled Konan and left the team, disappearing at a speed imperceptible to the others.
The Little Brat was initially shocked by Nagato and Konan's speed, but then he seemed to remember something.
"Captain, Reizo is trying to abandon us and run away with Shirao-nee! Let's chase them quickly!"
The two adults, they left?
The middle-aged Ninja snapped out of it at the Little Brat's words, looking at the brat who wanted to chase after the two, his heart filled with rage.
It's all your fault, you hateful brat.
"Kid, you're dead, I tell you!"
Immediately, the middle-aged Ninja began to inflict inhumane punishment on the Little Brat.
"Ah! Captain, no... Ah!"
On the other side, Nagato and Konan were rapidly moving away.
The reason they chose to infiltrate the forefront squad, besides Nagato wanting to observe more closely, was also because...
"Gulp~"
A palm-sized toad appeared on the path ahead of them.
And in Nagato's perception, the guy who was rapidly approaching them had vanished.
The toad opened its mouth, and a thick arm stretched out, followed by a head of spiky white hair.
In just a moment, Jiraiya stood before Nagato and Konan.
"Nagato, and Konan, I finally found you!"
Just from his voice, one could detect the joy in the speaker's heart.
Konan and Nagato also removed their disguises at this moment. Konan smiled slightly at Jiraiya and gave a small nod.
Nagato, however, his face completely fell.
That's right, the reason Nagato and Konan hid their identities and joined the team was to avoid Jiraiya's harassment.
To be precise, Nagato couldn't stand it anymore.
Last time, Jiraiya foolishly brought up Yahiko, causing Nagato to nearly kill him.
But in less than three days, Jiraiya, still bandaged and his injuries not yet healed, came knocking again.
He showed no awareness of almost being beaten to death, smiling cheerfully as he sought out the two, wanting to rekindle their teacher-student relationship.
Nagato had indeed hated Jiraiya for teaching them mistaken and naive ideals, which indirectly led to Yahiko's death.
But that hatred had largely dissipated in that furious strike.
Even if Nagato completely rejected all of Jiraiya's ideas, Jiraiya hadn't intentionally misled them, because Jiraiya himself was such a naive, almost foolish, person.
Most importantly, it was because of this naivety that the three of them spent those dreamlike three years, three beautiful and happy years.
Nagato wanted to refuse Jiraiya, who shamelessly showed up, but Jiraiya, relying on his status as the Allied Forces' supreme commander, stuck to him like a stubborn plaster.
Having learned his lesson from before, and with Konan having saved his life, Jiraiya changed his approach.
He never mentioned Yahiko's matter again and no longer focused only on Nagato; Konan also became Jiraiya's target.
Jiraiya practically lived with the Amegakure forces afterward, displaying the shameless spirit he had cultivated since childhood.
Finally, Konan succumbed.
Konan didn't persuade Nagato to accept Jiraiya, but she herself wasn't repulsed and didn't want to interfere in the entanglement between Nagato and Jiraiya.
One doesn't hit a smiling face, especially not a teacher who has been like a second parent. There was no deep hatred between them, at most just differing ideologies.
Jiraiya patiently pestered Nagato, not rushing to discuss serious matters, just reminiscing about their good old memories.
When Nagato found his heart softening, he didn't hesitate for a moment, taking Konan and making a quick getaway.
If you can't afford to provoke them, can't you at least avoid them?
It wasn't that Nagato couldn't defeat Jiraiya, but that Nagato had no reason to strike.
People are always complex. Nagato isn't like Obito, who had nothing left to lose.
What's more, even Obito, when facing Kakashi, would still feel a ripple in his heart.
Even Madara, who claimed to have severed all causality in the original story, still spoke of Hashirama on his deathbed.
From this, it can be seen that some causality in this world cannot be severed.
Just like Nagato and Jiraiya at this moment.
Looking at Jiraiya, whom he couldn't shake off no matter what, Nagato's subsequent actions fully demonstrated the affection between teacher and student.
"Jiraiya-sensei, please don't come closer!"
At the same time, Nagato's right hand transformed again, and a shimmering blue light flickered above the dark cannon muzzle.
What a touching scene of deep teacher-student affection.
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