Jiraiya frowned. "Naruto, you shouldn't hold prejudice against her just because of various reasons. When evaluating a person..."
He paused here.
Suddenly he remembered someone had also said similar words to him before.
"Jiraiya, have you forgotten? The frog sages all said they were villains who must be eliminated. You used to say this often too..." Naruto's eyes showed confusion and disappointment.
Sighing inwardly, Jiraiya replied firmly, "Go to sleep."
After sending Naruto off to bed, Jiraiya lay awake tossing and turning all night long.
Talk about poetic justice—this has gotta be karma!
What a cruel twist of fate—after writing so many over-the-top cheesy dramas, now he's living one himself!
He couldn't help letting out a bitter chuckle to himself.
The next day, with dark circles under his eyes, Jiraiya summoned frogs and had them reverse-summon him back to Mount Myoboku.
"Has the Great Toad Sage awakened yet?" Immediately after arriving at Mount Myoboku, he sought out Fukasaku.
"He hasn't," Fukasaku answered. "Little Jiraiya, do you have something urgent?"
Jiraiya took a deep breath and asked, "Elder Fukasaku, those tainted by Kaguya... is there really no way to turn them back into normal people?"
After all, she was the woman he had secretly loved for decades. Suddenly changing his mindset from pursuing her to hunting her down was simply too difficult for Jiraiya.
Fukasaku shook his head. "This should involve problems at the soul level. Unless they become stronger than that person."
Jiraiya fell silent.
Looking at him deeply, Fukasaku said, "Little Jiraiya, have you forgotten what the old man told you? They'll be forced to act against their wills, speak against their wills, lose self-control, and eventually, they won't be the person you knew anymore."
Without speaking further, Jiraiya left with a dejected expression.
After Jiraiya disappeared, Shima jumped in front of Fukasaku. "Dear, do we really have to push so hard..."
Fukasaku gazed into the distance, interrupting her. "No matter what, that person will never spare our clan."
One month passed. Jiraiya and Naruto hadn't left the Country of Hot Springs yet. They still remained in the village where Tsunade had appeared.
Out in a field, Jiraiya and Naruto sat side by side on some straw bundles, staring off in one direction.
In that direction, not far from the two of them, Tsunade continued treating patients.
"Do you understand now, Naruto?" Jiraiya suddenly spoke.
"Understand what?" Naruto asked slowly. "Jiraiya, what exactly are you planning? Otherwise, shall we just fight her or run away already? Staying here like this serves no purpose."
"You're saying we should *run*?"
Improved Translation:
"Jiraiya let out a chuckle. "Naruto, you're still afraid. That won't do."
"Jiraiya-sensei, it's actually you who's afraid now," Naruto said without turning his head, staring straight ahead.
"Hahaha," Jiraiya let out a laugh full of mixed meanings.
After that, neither spoke, quietly sitting on the haystack together.
The crowd around Tsunade slowly began to disperse. She glanced back at where Jiraiya stood and prepared to leave with Shizune.
Jiraiya and Naruto respectively jumped down from the haystack.
"Jiraiya-sensei, if you can't do anything anyway, perhaps you shouldn't go," Naruto shouted from behind him.
"Jiraiya-sensei, let's just leave this place."
Jiraiya didn't respond, quickening his pace to catch up with Tsunade and Shizune.
Sighing while shaking his head slightly, Naruto followed them.
"One who's drowning can't save others; even healers can't heal themselves. The greatest tragedy is saving countless lives yet failing to rescue yourself."
Walking alongside Tsunade for a stretch, Jiraiya suddenly spoke up.
Tsunade let out a soft snort. "Jiraiya, your approach to hitting on women gets stranger by the day."
"Tsunade, have you ever gotten sick?"
"Who hasn't been ill before?"
"Tsunade, have you considered that you might be ill right now?"
"What illness would I have?" Tsunade asked, puzzled.
"Have you ever felt compelled to act against your will, saying things you don't mean, feeling like you're not really yourself?"
"I haven't," Tsunade denied with a shake of her head.
"You do!" Jiraiya raised his voice suddenly, agitated, almost spitting onto Tsunade's face.
Taking a deep breath, Tsunade suppressed her anger, her temple pulsing visibly. "Fine then, if you say I'm ill, I must be."
Frowning, Shizune stepped between Tsunade and Jiraiya. "Jiraiya-sama, are you alright? Please calm down."
From behind Jiraiya, Naruto anxiously embraced his body, preventing him from rushing forward.
"So, you also know about Kaguya otsutsuki, right?"
Hearing this, Tsunade paused momentarily, failing to respond immediately.
Reflecting upon certain memories, realization dawned in Tsunade's heart: So Kaguya otsutsuki was indeed her true name...
Witnessing Tsunade's reaction, Jiraiya felt increasingly distressed, his expression darkening.
"Jiraiya, what exactly are you trying to say?" Tsunade asked in a flat tone.
"Kaguya otsutsuki will destroy humanity, and Tsunade... you're unknowingly helping her do it..."
"Really?" Tsunade let out a "hmpf" and smiled lightly.
"Jiraiya-sama, you truly are acting strangely," Shizune interjected.
"You wouldn't understand," Jiraiya sighed deeply.
"Well then, what do you want me to do?" Tsunade countered.
"I..." Stammering repeatedly, Jiraiya hesitated, unsure what to say next.
Was he supposed to say outright, I've come here to kill you?
Naruto blew out a breath through his bangs, at a loss for words.
Lowering her head, Tsunade suddenly smiled gently while flipping her hair.
Then she lifted her gaze, meeting Jiraiya's eyes directly with pure, clear eyes. "Jiraiya, have you considered the possibility that it's not me who's ill, but rather, you are?"
"All those things you just said—this entire talk—is nothing but your imagination. In your fantasy, I become a villain and commit atrocities."
"I don't really know why you'd think that either."
Disappointment and sadness flickered across her eyes.
Naruto suddenly grimaced, sensing something ominous.
"But when fantasies run too deep, they become heart demons—obstacles in your mind that prevent you from living a normal life."
"As a doctor, I can't stand seeing someone suffering both in body and mind. Especially not someone like you."
"Jiraiya, you've been with me since we were kids. I don't want to see you end up in such a sorry state."
"The only way to remove this obstacle in your heart is to eliminate the villain in your fantasy—the one who stands before you."
Tsunade's eyes filled with sorrow.
"Jiraiya, if the only way to save you is through my death..."
"Then do it! Kill me!"
She yanked out a kunai, slapped an explosive tag onto it, and shoved it into Jiraiya's palm.
"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune cried out in alarm.
Naruto stared in shock, his eyes locked onto the kunai in Jiraiya's hand.
Even Kaguya, whose mood had been sour due to Hiroki's situation, couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Bravo!" she exclaimed.
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