Jiraiya caught the warmth in Tsunade's voice and immediately felt a pang of regret for having extended the invitation.
He had only spoken up because Raiden Takuma's strength was utterly overwhelming, and the young man seemed to hold no real malice toward them. Out of instinct, Jiraiya had asked him to come to Konoha.
But once the words left his mouth, the flaw in his reasoning struck him: Raiden himself was a mystery. An unknown. A man whose presence was as unpredictable as a ticking time bomb—no one could tell when, or if, he might suddenly erupt and bring disaster to those around him.
And yet… Jiraiya quickly calmed himself. After all, this man wasn't indiscriminately bloodthirsty. Hanzō of the Salamander had provoked him first, and it was that aggression which had led to Hanzō's brutal death.
That thought steadied Jiraiya's nerves. If they could pull this man into Konoha's orbit—if they could even temporarily win him over—the Fire Country's strength would rise to terrifying new heights.
Still, with the "demigod" Hanzō dead, the balance between the Fire Country and the Water Country had shifted overnight. Without Hanzō's shadow looming over them, the Land of Water would almost certainly collapse under pressure and retreat all the way back into their own territory.
Even so, the way Tsunade looked at Raiden filled Jiraiya with quiet unease.
He knew Tsunade still carried the wound of Dan's death—killed right before her eyes. And now, before that wound had healed, she seemed to be showing a flicker of interest in this mysterious young powerhouse.
Was it truly wise to bring him into Konoha? Jiraiya couldn't tell.
High above the battlefield, Raiden Takuma dismissed their invitation with thinly veiled disdain. To him, it mattered little that these three were destined to become legends of the shinobi world—Tsunade especially, who would rise one day as the Fifth Hokage.
Those things were meaningless to him. In the cultivation world, he had already seen countless women far more breathtaking than Tsunade: saintesses of celestial sects, sovereign queens of hidden domains. None had ever caught his eye.
When he had looked at Tsunade just now, it was nothing more than a passing curiosity born from his memories of the original story he had once read back on Blue Star.
Then, right on cue, the familiar voice of the Devouring System stirred in his mind.
"Host, there is no harm in going to Konoha. The Mandrake Flower's poison is notoriously difficult to cure. With the aid of a local power, your chances of success will greatly improve."
Raiden's steps, which had been ready to carry him away, slowed.
"You're saying Konoha could cure me?"
"There is no guarantee," the System replied smoothly. "But it is possible. Right now, your power has been forced down to the Tribulation Crossing stage just to suppress the toxin. If it worsens, your strength may fall further still. Leveraging Konoha's resources would be a wise move."
Raiden considered for a long moment before finally speaking. "Very well."
A visit to Konoha offered nothing but advantages. Besides, he was curious to test the strength of this world's so-called Kage.
If all went as expected, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, would be the first Kage-class opponent he encountered in the shinobi world.
On the ground, the three Sannin—who had been waiting anxiously for his answer—finally heard Raiden's agreement. Relief washed through them. The knot in Jiraiya's chest unraveled, and for the first time he felt they had truly avoided disaster.
Tsunade's eyes shone with excitement. Hanzō had been their bitter enemy. To her, there was no reason to mourn him. On the contrary, the one who had slain him deserved her respect.
Orochimaru's heart pounded with the same restless fervor. Though Raiden had rejected his plea to become a disciple, if they traveled together, if they lived side by side, then perhaps one day he might succeed in being accepted.
Just as the group was about to set out, a furious roar echoed through the forest.
"Leave no one alive!"
From the treeline, a squad of shinobi surged toward them, faces twisted in rage.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed in recognition, and her voice cut sharp through the air.
"It's Hanzō's personal guard!"