"This is a Dōjutsu originating from the Sage of Six Paths. Perhaps it's the purest embryonic form of Six Paths power!"
"It was because I saw those eyes that I decided Nagato was the Child of Prophecy, the one destined to change the Shinobi World. That's why I insisted on staying behind to teach the three of them chakra and ninjutsu."
"What?!"
Those words struck like a thunderclap. Tsunade's expression changed instantly, and she shot up from her chair, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"Jiraiya! Is that true? Nagato has the legendary Rinnegan?"
Jiraiya nodded firmly, his expression utterly serious and his voice heavy with guilt and sorrow.
"It's absolutely true. I saw them with my own eyes. There's no mistake."
"Unfortunately, it seems Nagato ultimately went astray. Hatred consumed him and led him off the right path."
"In the end, I failed to teach him properly. It was my fault."
After hearing the whole story, Tsunade's anger surged. She slammed a hand onto the desk and roared at Jiraiya.
"Of course it was your fault!"
"You hid something this important for all these years! And you're only telling me now!"
Faced with Tsunade's fury, Jiraiya remained silent for a long time. Then he gave a helpless, bitter smile and slowly explained his predicament.
"If I'd exposed the secret of the Rinnegan back then, Nagato would never have survived to adulthood."
"The old man and his crowd would've feared that power. They would've either forced him under their control or killed him outright. They never would've let an unknown child wield power like that."
At those words, Tsunade's anger eased slightly, and she fell into a long silence.
She had to admit that Jiraiya was right.
The Konoha High Command had always feared power beyond its control. It would never