Chapter 43 – Convincing the Three Sannin to Reunite
In the original timeline, Jiraiya was beaten to death by the Six Paths of Pain.
At full power, he was unquestionably beyond Kage level—
but because he lacked intel on Pain's abilities, he ended up losing his life.
And really, that wasn't Jiraiya's fault.
Who could've predicted that launching a full-scale Sage Art: Super Big Ball Rasengan would do absolutely nothing?
That "Preta Path" ability was absurd—pure cheat code.
Jiraiya's defeat wasn't weakness.
If anything, it gave rise to a new legend in the ninja world—
the conceptual god-tier meme: "Information Jiraiya."
---
Uchiha Yujiro didn't know how many of the Six Paths Pain had assembled at this point.
Considering they hadn't yet killed Hanzō of the Salamander or taken over Amegakure, the set probably wasn't complete.
He also wasn't sure how this encounter would end.
Would Jiraiya win this time—or once again kneel before the Six Paths?
Yujiro wanted to believe Jiraiya wouldn't die.
After all, Nagato hadn't even begun his tailed beast collection plan yet.
At this stage, Jiraiya shouldn't have enough reason—or resolve—to fight to the death.
But then again… Jiraiya and Tsunade had a track record of self-inflicted disasters.
When Jiraiya originally went to investigate Amegakure, Pain literally told him:
"Please leave, sensei."
But Jiraiya refused, insisting on fighting to the bitter end—and that was how it all went...
When Pain later attacked Konoha, his goal wasn't destruction; he only wanted the Nine-Tails.
Upon learning Naruto wasn't there, he'd been planning to leave peacefully.
Then Tsunade had to step up and say:
"We, too, have suffered from war! We've been hurt just as much as you!"
That one line angered Pain so much that he unleashed an Ultra Almighty Push—and half of Konoha vanished.
Yujiro sometimes wondered if the two of them—Jiraiya and Tsunade—had simply aged past their prime.
Their brains must've hit "senior mode" like Hiruzen before them.
Honestly, they shouldn't still be active shinobi.
Jiraiya should retire and focus on writing novels.
And Tsunade… well, she should just lock herself in her lab and keep training her pigs.
---
Of course, Yujiro would never say that out loud.
Those thoughts stayed safely inside his head.
The upcoming, early version of the Jiraiya vs. Pain battle had an uncertain outcome—no one could predict it.
But one thing Yujiro did know:
he wasn't reckless enough to let Jiraiya walk straight into death.
Mocking him behind his back for being old and stubborn was one thing.
Actually letting him die was another.
Morally speaking, Yujiro wasn't exactly burdened by guilt—
but strategically?
Losing Jiraiya didn't align with Konoha's interests.
Until the next generation of powerhouses fully matured, veterans like Jiraiya were invaluable assets.
After all, what village ever complained about having too many strong shinobi?
---
Yujiro leaned forward, speaking with rare seriousness.
"That guy's goodwill toward Konoha is pretty low. Even you, Jiraiya, might end up having to fight him. You're alright with that, right?"
Jiraiya's eyes burned with determination.
"Of course I am!"
Uchiha Yujiro leaned back with an easy grin.
"You might have no problem, Jiraiya-sensei, but I do. If Make-Out Paradise stops updating, I'll be devastated. Right, Minato?"
Minato froze mid-sip. "Eh? Ah—yes, Jiraiya-sensei!"
Yujiro nodded sagely. "Exactly. So, to be on the safe side… why don't the legendary Sannin reform your old team and head to Amegakure together? That way, nothing can go wrong."
Minato hesitated. "If it really comes to that… do you think it's possible, sensei?"
---
Jiraiya frowned, feeling vaguely insulted.
Was this brat seriously implying that he—one of the Legendary Three—needed backup for a mere trip to Amegakure? What, did Yujiro think Rain Village was some kind of endgame dungeon?
In Jiraiya's view, the kid was exaggerating.
Amegakure's only notable figure was Hanzō of the Salamander.
And even then, "notable" was being generous.
Sure, back in the day, the three of them—Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru—had been utterly wrecked by that man.
But that was then.
They'd been small fry back then, still climbing the ranks, while Hanzō was already a mid-tier legend.
Now? The roles had reversed.
Jiraiya had grown into a powerhouse.
And Hanzō?
Well, rumor had it the old man had gone senile from years of exposure to his own poison—his mind fogged, his body numb, his strength a shadow of its former self.
Even if the rumors were exaggerated, Jiraiya had no doubt:
the current Hanzō couldn't touch him.
In fact, he figured this was the perfect time to even the score.
Time to crush the old salamander and wash away that ancient humiliation once and for all.
As for Nagato and Konan—sure, they were talented, but at best they were "promising for the future."
Even if Yujiro's reports were true—that Nagato had supposedly killed Hanzō and Danzō and a dozen ANBU in one go—
Jiraiya wasn't impressed.
"If he can take them down," Jiraiya thought,
"then so can I."
---
Yujiro sighed, massaging his temples.
"Please, calm down, Jiraiya-sensei. If you get yourself killed, who's going to protect Minato when Danzō inevitably starts trouble again? You think the Third Hokage will lift a finger?"
Then he added, in a line that could make even the most stoic heart twitch:
"Kids without parents already have it rough enough. If you die too… who's Minato supposed to rely on?"
Minato looked awkward but didn't protest.
Jiraiya, on the other hand, scratched his head, muttering,
"Man, what a pain…"
But despite his grumbling, there was no real refusal in his tone.
"Alright then, Uchiha brat—what's your plan?"
Yujiro's grin returned instantly.
"Simple. The more people in the party, the safer it'll be. I still think the best option is to reunite the Legendary Sannin."
Jiraiya groaned audibly.
"Tsunade and Orochimaru, huh…? That's not going to be easy."
He rubbed his temples again.
"I can probably track down Tsunade. But Orochimaru… that's another story."
The truth was, his relationship with Orochimaru had deteriorated beyond recognition.
They used to be inseparable—two sides of the same coin, their partnership once so famous it was practically the original "Naruto–Sasuke duo."
Now, though?
Even calling them "distant acquaintances" might be optimistic.
---
"I'll handle Orochimaru," Yujiro said calmly.
Jiraiya blinked in surprise.
That statement carried weight—it meant Yujiro believed he had more sway with Orochimaru than Jiraiya himself.
For Jiraiya, that stung a little.
He and Orochimaru had decades of history—shared battlefields, shared dreams… even shared heartbreak.
Now, that connection was gone.
The woman he loved didn't love him.
The brother-in-arms he trusted had turned his back.
Even the student he cherished most had grown distant.
No marriage. No heirs.
For all his fame as "Jiraiya the Gallant," his life was a mess—a grand, heroic failure.
He couldn't help but think it.
But then his gaze drifted toward Minato, standing tall and steady beside him.
And, for the first time in a long while, a sense of comfort filled his chest.
Minato—his proudest disciple—would carry forward all the dreams he couldn't realize.
Everything Jiraiya had lost, Minato would achieve.
Strong. Noble. Just.
As long as that boy lives, Jiraiya thought, my legend will never die.
And that thought… was enough.
---
"Alright," Jiraiya finally said, nodding with resolve.
"Then it's settled. Minato, Yujiro—
I'll take some time to rest in the village, then go find Tsunade myself."
"But let's make this clear—" he added, raising a finger,
"I can only promise to find her.
I can't guarantee she'll come back, and I definitely can't guarantee she'll join our little operation."
Yujiro just smiled.
"That's fine. Finding her is more than enough. As for convincing her—leave that to me."