Unlike facing Orochimaru, Jiraiya was up against Hidden Rock Ninja whose strength was no weaker than Hidden Sand.
Recently, he had been in battles with Kitsuchi from Hidden Rock, and Explosion Style Ninja, with mixed results.
However, compared to the aggressive Hidden Rock Ninja, his side could only defend passively.
The reason was a significant difference in ninja numbers.
Now that reinforcements were arriving, the situation should improve greatly.
"Thank you for your hard work."
Jiraiya patted the shoulder of the Jonin who reported the news.
"By the way, Lord Jiraiya, there's another important message to convey."
"What is it?"
"There seems to be movement on the side of Hidden Cloud."
The Konoha Jonin looked stern.
"Hidden Cloud?"
Tension was evident in Jiraiya's voice.
The reason is that the Hidden Cloud Ninja from the Land of Lightning were well-known war fanatics in the Ninja Realm.
Their obsession with strength led them to seek powerful ninja techniques across the realm, bolstering themselves and focusing on military development, closely following Konoha among the Five Great Nations' ninja villages.
If they joined the battlefield, the situation would undoubtedly become more complex.
Konoha was already overwhelmed dealing with Hidden Rock and Hidden Sand; if Hidden Cloud also joined Konoha's battlefield, it would mean fighting on three fronts, increasing Konoha's pressure.
"Who is their target?"
Jiraiya felt immense pressure.
He also somewhat regretted not focusing when learning Immortal Techniques at Mount Myoboku, resulting in his current lack of mastery.
If he could summon the two Immortals from Mount Myoboku and enter the unique Sage Mode, the situation would undoubtedly improve greatly.
"For now, we don't know. The Anbu only detected some movements from Hidden Cloud, but their specific objective remains a mystery."
"I understand, you may go."
"Yes."
Once the Jonin left, Jiraiya sat back in his chair, leaning against the backrest, and let out a long breath.
"War..."
This war had begun, and who knew how many would die this time.
A trace of sorrow appeared in Jiraiya's eyes.
Moreover, the village had just experienced a horrifying mass defection event involving the prominent Uchiha and Hyuga families.
Even the Nine-tailed Jinchuriki and his disciple Minato were implicated.
He knew about Minato's resurrection; he didn't expect the sleepy Great Toad Sage to have such a revival artifact, but surely the side effects were significant.
After the war, he must personally thank the old sage at Mount Myoboku.
Minato was a valued disciple, and the Great Toad Sage's efforts to save him made Jiraiya believe that Minato might be the Child of Prophecy, who could bring peace to the Ninja Realm.
Reflecting on Minato's behavior and achievements at a young age, Jiraiya also believed that Minato had the potential to change the world.
"Could Chiba Hakushi be the terrifying existence in the Great Toad Sage's dream that's destined to destroy the Ninja Realm?"
Jiraiya thought long and hard.
Chiba Hakushi, an ordinary-named, ordinary Konoha Chunin, who managed to remain undiscovered for years.
Even Minato fell at his hands; without the Great Toad Sage's intervention, Jiraiya might have lost such an excellent disciple as Minato.
For some reason, Jiraiya had a strong premonition, growing ever more intense.
This person could be Minato's lifelong enemy.
His first encounter with this individual was through Sakumo.
Later, his understanding of the person came through Tsunade.
No matter how he looked, this person seemed like an insignificant Konoha Ninja.
Jiraiya recalled many things, ending with a helpless sigh.
Sakumo was dead, Tsunade avoided the battlefield, all three of Sakumo's disciples defected, taking some Uchiha and Hyuga clansmen, causing significant losses to Konoha.
"Speaking of which, I wonder how they are... Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato, I hope they can remain safe in this war."
Jiraiya thought of the three orphans he adopted on the battlefield in the Land of Rain.
He had heard they intended to achieve great things in the Land of Rain, even founding a popular organization dedicated to the country's peace.
Jiraiya couldn't visit them because he needed to hold the line against Hidden Rock Ninja attacks.
Yet, with Hidden Sand clashing with Konoha, the Land of Rain would inevitably be impacted by the war.
Jiraiya couldn't predict what the country would look like after the war.
He could only pray for the safety of the three of them.
In this era, survival was more important than anything else.
It was only by surviving that one had hope of fulfilling their dreams.
◎
Carrying dreams forward, praying for peace to befall the weeping country.
That was the vow the three had made in the past, leading them to embark on this grand path of peace without hesitation.
To bring about peace, no matter how difficult or dangerous, nothing could shake their will.
The dream lay ahead, but every step was essentially filled with bloodshed and battle.
And despair and pain!
——On the rain-drenched battlefield came the collision sound of kunai and shuriken.
The flash of Explosive Tags erupted for a moment, bringing light.
Thunder roared, snakes of silver slithering through the clouds.
Ninja techniques hit their marks, cries echoing in their last moments of life.