Hanzo had gone missing, and the new Rain Ninja leader had announced his surrender to Konoha?
After learning what the intelligence report contained, Jiraiya furrowed his brow.
Like Tsunade, Jiraiya had considered what the information implied.
There was no doubt that Hanzo was one of the pillars holding up Amegakure. If the conclusion that Hanzo had gone missing was correct, it meant Amegakure was no longer a threat.
Konoha could accept this apparent surrender.
But if that conclusion was wrong, then Hanzo, hidden away somewhere, would become a thorn in Konoha's side for years to come.
If Amegakure's new leader couldn't secure his position, then none of his decisions would mean anything.
Thinking this over, Jiraiya said gravely to the Konoha Ninja who had brought him the report,
"Go back and tell Tsunade I'll investigate whether this is true in secret while I'm in the Land of Rain."
The Konoha Ninja nodded at his words, then vanished from the spot with a "whoosh."
Jiraiya slowly turned to look in the direction of Amegakure, his gaze somber.
Just then, a clear, delighted voice rang out from the forest.
"Teacher Jiraiya, I... I... I can do it now!"
Hearing that voice, Jiraiya's complicated expression suddenly gave way to a bright grin.
Why worry about all that?
For now, teaching these children was what mattered most.
When Jiraiya walked into the forest,
he saw Konan walking unsteadily along the trunk of a tree, her body vertical.
Jiraiya couldn't help showing a hint of amazement at the sight, his eyes filled with admiration.
When he began formally teaching the children, he discovered that both Yahiko and Konan had already cultivated chakra within their bodies. This surprised him.
After asking them about it, he learned the truth.
Once, they had been rescued by someone who