"Konoha knew perfectly well that I wouldn't hold back."
"Yet that noble still appeared precisely along my route."
"And now you're telling me it was merely an oversight?"
Jiraiya did not answer immediately.
Lie Yang's tone gradually turned cold.
"Someone wanted to use his death to drive a wedge between me and the Land of Fire's noble class."
"Wasn't that what you said yourself just now?"
"If Konoha knew someone was plotting this, why didn't it stop them in advance?"
"Did Konoha determine whether the guards had been negligent or had deliberately let him through?"
Jiraiya opened his mouth.
Lie Yang gave him no chance to explain.
"Whether it was negligence or deliberate, those responsible should be dealt with."
"Yet even now, Konoha has not given any outcome."
"You came all the way to the border just to tell me that dead man was innocent?"
The temperature in the forest seemed to plummet.
Several Konoha ninja felt their scalps tingle and instinctively took half a step back.
The giant ninja cat, meanwhile, remained utterly calm.
It stood behind Lie Yang with the luggage on its back, not even swishing its tail much.
Lie Yang stared at Jiraiya.
"If all you can do is offer empty platitudes, you won't sit in the position of Fifth Hokage for long."
A chilling killing intent washed over them.
The ease on Jiraiya's face vanished completely.
He was certain that Lie Yang was not making an empty threat.
If Konoha could not provide a satisfactory answer, Lie Yang would truly go on a killing spree before leaving the Land of Fire.
"This matter is indeed still under investigation."
Jiraiya lowered his voice.
But inwardly, he had already cursed those elders several times over.
All Konoha had needed to do was safely see Lie Yang off.