Those present had more or less figured out what was happening. The Third Hokage must have offended Lord Ziyan, and now Lord Ziyan wanted him dead. However, he did not want the people of Konoha accusing him of killing an innocent man, so he had gathered evidence. The old Third Hokage had denied every piece of it, though, and now Lord Ziyan had run out of patience and wanted to act!
"Yes. With your teacher's help, two of your three students nearly died at Hanzō's hands. Fortunately, I arrived in time and saved them!" Hatake Ziyan said.
"And this fine teacher of yours didn't just pass information to Hanzō. He also sent more than a dozen men there specifically for that student of yours! You should know why, shouldn't you?" Hatake Ziyan continued, addressing Jiraiya.
Jiraiya naturally understood what Hatake Ziyan meant. He stared at his teacher in disbelief.
"Teacher, was that why you sent those men?" Jiraiya asked, struggling to believe it.
"What are you talking about? Why would I do that? Is that the sort of man you think your teacher is?" Hiruzen Sarutobi said indignantly.
Watching the expression on the Third Hokage's face, Jiraiya sighed inwardly before continuing, "Teacher, you're the only person in Konoha I ever told about this. Not even Orochimaru, Tsunade, or Minato knew! So tell me, who else in Konoha could have known?"
The Third Hokage's expression froze. He had never expected that the usually carefree Jiraiya had told absolutely no one about this except him!
"Jiraiya! What are you implying? Do you suspect me of doing something like that too?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, looking deeply wronged.
While the two were talking, Hatake Sakumo jumped down from the rooftop and examined the corpses on the ground.
"Lord Third, I recognize all these men!