Jiraiya stood behind Madara Uchiha, watching the conflicted expressions on Naruto and the others' faces. A sigh rose from deep within him.
The question Madara had posed was far, far too difficult for these children. Even Jiraiya himself might not have been able to offer a perfect solution.
"Uchiha Itachi, kill me. I was the mastermind behind this. It was my negligence that kept me from discovering the Fourth Kazekage's murder, and my stupidity that let Orochimaru deceive me. Gaara and the others had nothing to do with any of it!"
Faced with life and death, Baki, who had rarely shown Gaara and the others any kindness, was the first to step forward.
Baki might have been a strict mentor, but when the time came to shoulder responsibility, he would never run from it.
"You don't qualify as the mastermind. Although Orochimaru directed the operation, your Fourth Kazekage himself advocated war against Konoha. Clearly, he really did intend to join forces with Orochimaru. Orochimaru simply thought too little of him and killed him beforehand."
The intelligence made it clear that before his death, the Fourth Kazekage had undoubtedly been one of the instigators of the Konoha Crush. Although he had died by the time the plan was carried out, that hardly meant Sunagakure was innocent.
Seeing Baki attempt to take all the blame, Raido coldly exposed the truth. Once Raido finished speaking, Baki could only retreat helplessly to stand in front of Gaara and the others.
Standing behind Baki, Gaara gave a heartfelt smile after seeing him try to protect him. He had never expected that, before his death, he would still receive Sunagakure's protection.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it! Sasuke, Neji, what are we supposed to choose? Teacher Itachi, why are you making us face such a difficult