When Jiraiya returned to Konoha, he was astonished by the appearance of the new district.
Having been away for so long, he hadn't expected Konoha to have changed so much.
It seemed that this Hokage's capabilities were truly the real deal.
No wonder that back when he governed in Orochimaru's place, he was able to manage Konoha in an orderly manner.
However, his astonishment didn't last long before he was quickly surrounded by the arriving Anbu and had a black cloth placed over his head.
Jiraiya chuckled bitterly, "There's no need for this. I came to surrender—I won't run."
Not only were his hands and feet bound with ropes, but sealing techniques were also applied to his body.
With his vision completely shrouded in darkness, Jiraiya had no idea where he was being taken.
"I want to see the Hokage!"
He made his demand, but there was no response.
After a long period of time, he felt himself being carried again.
When the black cloth was finally removed from his head, he found himself inside a sealed chamber with only a single door and a set of interrogation tables and chairs.
Letting out a breath, Jiraiya knew that he was about to meet Hyuga Makoto.
Before long, a figure clad in a black cloak entered the room.
The door to the interrogation room closed again, leaving only the two of them in the narrow space.
"So, are you demanding to see me because you plan to tell me Namikaze Minato's whereabouts?" Makoto sat across from Jiraiya, asking in a calm and unhurried manner.
Jiraiya said, "I've already come. You should release him now."
Makoto tilted his head slightly, feigning confusion. "Release who?"
Jiraiya frowned. "Don't play dumb. You sent Hyuga Hakumen to capture Yahiko. Let him go."
Makoto chuckled. "Jiraiya, are you giving me orders?"
He crossed one leg over the other, gazing at Jiraiya leisurely.
"Besides, Yahiko is the leader of Amegakure, and Amegakure is a close ally of Konoha. Why would I send people to capture a friend?"
Jiraiya's voice deepened. "Since I was willing to come, I was already prepared for you to deny it."
Makoto looked intrigued. "Oh? Then tell me, what's your backup plan?"
Jiraiya spoke slowly. "How did the rebels manage to seize the capital in such a short time? And the destruction of the Land of Fire royal family—if the truth behind these events were made public, it wouldn't be good for you, would it? If Yahiko isn't back in Amegakure by tomorrow, the entire Land of Fire will know the truth."
Makoto's expression remained indifferent as he asked, "Is that all?"
Jiraiya faltered for a moment.
Seeing Makoto's complete lack of concern, he frowned inwardly.
Was he just pretending to be calm?
He said in a grave tone, "Isn't that enough? You orchestrated the assassination of the royal family to seize the throne for yourself. You incited rebellion, leading to countless innocent deaths. You are the true instigator of this nation's chaos!"
Yet Makoto remained composed, even smiling faintly. "And then?"
With that, he couldn't help but laugh.
"Jiraiya, you're far more foolish than I thought."
Jiraiya remained silent, his gaze dark.
"Do you know how many refugees there are in the Land of Fire right now?" Makoto asked.
"..."
Jiraiya had no answer.
He only knew that the Land of Fire was in turmoil, that the common people were suffering, and he had placed the blame squarely on the current Hokage's supposed ambition to usurp the throne.
Makoto asked again, "Do you know who is feeding these refugees right now?"
"..."
Makoto crossed his arms over his chest, looking at Jiraiya with a mocking expression.
"Millions of refugees—they need food, clothes, and a way to survive. And they rely entirely on me."
"If you go tell them that I'm some terrible villain, what do you think will happen? Do you think they'll spit on you until you drown?"
"Jiraiya, you're an idiot. What makes you think that, in my territory, you can use public opinion against me?"
Faced with Makoto's relentless ridicule, Jiraiya's expression darkened.
But he had no retort—what Makoto said was undeniably true.
"Even if, for the sake of argument, the people of the Land of Fire believe what you say—so what?"
"Would anyone dare to rebel against me?"
When the ruler is an incompetent and tyrannical monarch, the people may rise up to overthrow them in order to survive.
But what if the ruler is a ninja who can fly through the skies, vanish into thin air, and reshape the land itself? And that ninja also controls their very means of survival.
Shouldn't they be grateful instead?
"You, along with many others, think I want to become the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. But for fools like you, I can't even be bothered to explain."
"So, do you have any other cards left to play?"
"..."
Jiraiya was silent for a long time, seemingly deep in thought.
After a while, he finally said, "I'll tell you Minato's whereabouts. In exchange, release Yahiko."
Makoto sneered. "You're offering me the location of someone who specializes in space-time ninjutsu? You really know how to do business."
His men could travel thousands of miles to capture Minato, only for him to instantly teleport away.
This so-called 'whereabouts' were meaningless.
"Looks like you've played all your cards."
Makoto slowly stood up, making a move to leave the room.
Jiraiya struggled and shouted, "Makoto! This has nothing to do with Yahiko—release him! Let him go!"
When he came here, he had assumed Yahiko had been taken hostage to force him to show himself.
He had believed that if he surrendered, Makoto would let Yahiko go.
But that was merely his own wishful thinking.
Why would Makoto follow his rules?
It was Makoto who truly controlled the situation.
Without sparing another glance at the pleading Jiraiya, Makoto walked out of the interrogation room.
Turning to Hakumen, he ordered, "Lock him up in the prison. And spread the word—Jiraiya, the rogue ninja, has been captured."
Hakumen bowed and asked, "What about Yahiko?"
"Let him go. He's still of some use."
Hakumen pondered for a moment. "He has suffered some punishment during his captivity. Won't he hold a grudge against Konoha because of it?"
"It doesn't matter. He wouldn't dare turn against us."
Makoto suddenly halted, thought for a moment, and added, "Arrange for our ninjas to stage a rescue. Then send him back to Amegakure."
"Understood."
That night, the battered and bruised Yahiko was escorted back to Amegakure by Hakumen and his men.
Nagato and Konan were shocked by Yahiko's condition and immediately called for medical ninja.
"The ones who kidnapped Yahiko were three rogue ninjas," Hakumen explained.
"We executed them on the spot. It was unfortunate that Yahiko had to suffer this ordeal, but thankfully, we found him in time."
Nagato clenched his fists tightly, his eyes locked onto Hakumen with an intense glare.
It was only when Konan grabbed his wrist that he refrained from acting out.
Despite his injuries, Yahiko was still conscious.
In a hoarse voice, he spoke, "Is that… Hakumen?"
Hakumen replied politely, "Mr. Yahiko, the ninja world is dangerous. You should be more cautious when traveling in the future."
Yahiko curled his lips slightly, letting out a faint, almost inaudible chuckle.
"I… understand. Please… thank the Hokage… for saving me."
"Konoha and Amegakure are close allies and neighbors. It was our duty—no thanks are necessary."
"Yes… Konoha and Amegakure are friends. Please relay to the Hokage… we will always remember that…"
Hakumen then bid his farewell and left with the Konoha ninjas.
"Yahiko, how are you feeling?"
By his bedside, Konan held Yahiko's hand tightly, tears streaming down her face from distress.
Nagato, too, felt suffocated with frustration.
He had never felt so stifled, so humiliated.
To be oppressed to such an extent, to be trampled on so completely—yet unable to retaliate.
Yahiko stared blankly at the ceiling, his eyes flickering with an unreadable emotion.
"Konoha... ally..."
"I... feel good... absolutely good..."
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