The four of them each picked up their bowls and continued talking as they ate.
Tsunade took a bite of grilled fish and suddenly asked, "Sensei, what did it feel like for you outside?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi paused and set down his chopsticks.
"What did it feel like?"
He thought for a moment.
"Anxious.
The moment the Resonance Token broke, my mind went completely blank."
Jiraiya froze for a moment. "Sensei's mind went blank too?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled.
"I'm human too.
Seeing my own students trapped in an unknown barrier and facing unknown enemies, how could I not be worried?"
He looked at the three of them, his tone growing gentler.
"Do you know what I was thinking then?
I was thinking—if I'd taught you more back then, if I'd been stricter with your training, would this not have happened?"
The three of them fell silent at once.
Orochimaru set down his chopsticks and, unusually, spoke up on his own. "Sensei, the main responsibility for this incident lies with me."
Tsunade looked up at him.
Orochimaru continued.
"Jiraiya is reckless, and Tsunade is kindhearted. Those parts of their personalities can't be changed.
But I should have been calmer. I should have thought one step further before making a decision.
If I had identified that child's abnormality sooner, or detected the presence of other threats in advance, things might not have reached that point."
"No."
Tsunade interrupted him. "This started because of me. If anyone is to blame, it should be me."
Jiraiya spoke up as well. "Then I'm responsible too. If I hadn't gotten lost, you two wouldn't have acted alone."
The three looked at one another, then suddenly all laughed.
Watching them, Hiruzen Sarutobi's lips curled into a faint smile as well.
"Enough. Stop arguing."
He picked up his chopsticks