Jiraiya's emotions were like a string pulled to its limit. It twanged at Itachi's words, then drew taut again.
He wanted to believe him!
He wanted to believe his teacher was innocent, and that damned Uchiha Yongye was the villain who had slaughtered the Danzo Clan.
But he still had his wits about him. He stared at Uchiha Itachi and pressed on.
"You were afraid Yongye would use your brother to threaten you before. Aren't you afraid now?"
"He just defeated the Rinnegan's wielder and saved Konoha. He's more powerful than ever!"
Uchiha Itachi met his gaze without flinching or looking away.
He nodded, but said nothing. He offered no explanation.
Jiraiya frowned at him and was about to scoff when the air in the hospital room suddenly swelled.
Pop! White smoke burst across the empty floor at the foot of the bed.
When it cleared, a palm-sized toad crouched on the floor. Its back was dark brown, its belly a pale cream, and its protruding eyes gleamed dark gold in the dusk.
Jiraiya jolted. He pushed his upper body off the bed, elbows pressing into the mattress. He moved faster than he had a moment ago, his face lit with surprise and delight.
"Sage Fukasaku, what brings you here?"
Sage Fukasaku lifted his chin, his whiskers trembling slightly. He wiped his face with a foreleg.
"The Great Toad Sage has glimpsed a change in Fate."
"He ordered me to come to Konoha and take the two Children of Fate to Mount Myōboku to train."
"They bear the great mission of saving the world. Nothing can happen to them."
Jiraiya looked away from Sage Fukasaku's face, then back again. His lips moved.
"Children of Fate... Uchiha Itachi's brother?"
Sage Fukasaku nodded, lifting his chin a little less than before.
"And