"Yes, it's me."
Noticing the change in Jiraiya's attitude, Leaf Dragon stopped pondering the Sealing Jutsu Formula and gave a simple reply as he leaned against the window.
A cool breeze passed unimpeded through the translucent figure by the window, lifting the white hair from Jiraiya's forehead and revealing bright eyes that widened at the confirmation.
Under the gaze of those suddenly misty eyes, Leaf Dragon awkwardly turned his head away. His throat shifted as he gave a faintly disdainful snort. "I explained that right from the start."
After all that coaxing, the little brat finally believes me. Honestly, even Black Zetsu wasn't this hard to deal with.
Leaning against the window, Leaf Dragon began muttering about Sealing Jutsu to himself, clumsily changing the subject.
"Is Mind Reading the next direction for the research? You're an accidental success story, at least. Unfortunately, it involves my own peculiar state of existence, so there's no way to reverse-engineer the Sealing Jutsu structure. It looks like Mito Uzumaki will need to spend more time on this research."
That's not important!
Jiraiya listened patiently, looking perfectly docile, while loudly objecting in his heart.
What matters is that, in a sense, you're still alive...
No, no, no! Big Brother Leaf Dragon will hear my thoughts. I can't let my mind wander. I have to think carefully.
He lowered his eyes and focused inward, forcing his mind to go blank and clearing away stray thoughts.
"You don't have to be so wary of me. If you don't want it, just turn it off." Leaf Dragon folded his arms and brought the subject back around. "This technique formula works both ways, and you control it. Just think 'on' or 'off.'"
"Both ways? But why haven't I ever heard your thoughts, Big Brother Leaf Dragon?"
Relieved that he