The White Snake Sage clearly had never encountered anyone who dared shout at her like this. Not only could she gain no ground in their war of words, she could not even find a retort to Sage Shima for a moment.
Sage Shima had all the ferocity of a street-shouting shrew, practically cursing the White Snake Sage's parents back to life after a thousand years in their graves.
The White Snake Sage had originally intended to let it slide, but after Sage Shima pointed at her nose and berated her, her expression shifted slightly, and her pupils narrowed.
She had clearly begun to harbor genuine killing intent.
"All right, all right, let's not make fools of ourselves in front of everyone."
Noticing the White Snake Sage's displeasure, Katsuyu slid smoothly between her and the two Toad Sages, hurriedly stepping in as peacemaker.
Jiraiya also rushed over to soothe the White Snake Sage.
"Dear, stop arguing. Have you forgotten that the Patriarch is only playing dead?"
Sensing that something was wrong, Sage Fukasaku hurriedly held back Sage Shima, who was ready to unleash another tirade, and reminded her in a whisper.
"...I almost forgot."
Sage Shima seemed to snap out of a dream. "Right, right, right. Good thing you reminded me in time. I nearly forgot. We keep putting on the act in front of the kids every day, and I've started believing it myself..."
While Jiraiya and Katsuyu tried to placate the White Snake Sage, Naruto approached the two Toad Sages and poked his head forward. "Sages, what did you say you forgot?"
"Huh? Naruto, nothing, nothing. I said I forgot I had dementia. Making a fool of myself on an occasion like this, hahaha..."
The people watching from below could make no sense of the farce onstage. How had