The bonfire blazed brightly inside the Cave.
After catching up, they were all in much better spirits.
Jiraiya, Yahiko, and Konan ate grilled food as they chatted.
"Teacher, the situation in the Land of Rain is similar to that in the Land of Waves. Could peace be achieved through an approach like the one you used in the Land of Waves?"
"Hmm..."
Jiraiya didn't answer right away.
The situation in the Land of Waves was definitely different from that in the Land of Rain.
The Land of Waves had no hidden village. They had been able to reach a mutually beneficial neutrality agreement at both the national and village levels, satisfying everyone except the Land of Water, which needed to expand across the sea.
That was why their plan had succeeded and brought about the peace they had now.
The Land of Rain had Amegakure and Hanzo, so they couldn't simply copy that approach. As for achieving peace for everyone through dialogue and mutual understanding...
It would probably be very difficult!
Jiraiya felt his face growing hot.
Jiraiya had had a major influence on Yahiko's current way of thinking.
His own views had changed somewhat since then, allowing him to recognize the flaws in his old way of thinking. But he had no answer for how to solve the Land of Rain's specific problems.
Jiraiya glanced at Kyohiko.
Should he ask for help?
Damn it!
Who was the student here?
Jiraiya, Jiraiya, you were being absolutely hopeless!
"Kyohiko, what do you think?"
"Huh?"
Kyohiko stared blankly.
Hadn't they come out to test the jutsu?
Why was he involved now?
Yahiko and Konan were just as stunned. They looked at Jiraiya in confusion, unable to understand what he meant—
This was such a serious matter, yet Teacher was asking a child...