With Jiraiya's wildly exaggerated gestures and delivery playing off Edo Madara's expressionless face and imposing presence, their "grand entrance" turned out to be surprisingly comical.
The goofy, good-natured Jiraiya and Edo Madara, who was trying to look cool in every conceivable way, were practically a born comic-and-straight-man duo. Their timing and chemistry were flawless.
"Pfft-"
Shingetsu finally lost the battle. A laugh escaped her lips before she covered her mouth and snickered.
The tense confrontation instantly lost all semblance of seriousness. Everyone except Edo Madara was trying to stifle their laughter, with Shingetsu and Hashirama laughing the loudest.
A vein bulged on Edo Madara's forehead as he glared viciously at the ridiculous white-haired "brat." Under that lethal stare, Jiraiya promptly stood up and, pretending nothing had happened, said solemnly:
"Konan, you've been deceived from the very beginning!"
Konan felt a bead of sweat form, and she couldn't help thinking:
That's Master Jiraiya for you...
She smiled wryly to herself, feeling a little more at ease. At the same time, she began to consider hearing them out.
Konan had never truly trusted the man who called himself Madara Uchiha, and she had nothing but contempt for his proposed weapon-of-war plan.
In fact, she had always wanted Nagato to abandon that dangerous plan entirely and stay as far away from that ill-intentioned man as possible.
Seeing her slowly nod to indicate that she was willing to listen, Jiraiya broke into a broad, goofy grin and hurriedly called to Shingetsu:
"Let Konan go! Let's find somewhere to sit down and talk."
Soon, everyone was seated comfortably in the noble's residence's tearoom.
Shingetsu eagerly grabbed the delicate tea snacks and stuffed them into her mouth, chewing with relish. She looked like a greedy little hamster.
After all, Konan had arrived in the middle of