Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 382 The Death of Jiraiya (Part 2)

Jiraiya had been traveling for years, feeling ashamed to remain in the village. Although he had become an excellent ninja, deep down he always felt he hadn't done enough, hadn't fully protected Konoha and the people he cherished. Therefore, he chose to leave the village and travel far and wide, seeking more power and wisdom to help Konoha.

However, Jiraiya failed to realize that he had been too focused on his own actions and performance, neglecting what Konoha Village truly needed. He believed that by continuously improving his strength, he could better protect the village, but in reality, Konoha Village needed more than just powerful military force; it needed someone to care for and nurture its wounded hearts.

Jiraiya's travels exposed him to all sorts of people and events, prompting him to reflect on his past and present. He realized that he had always been self-centered, only considering his own feelings and interests, without truly understanding the needs of Konoha Village. This filled him with deep guilt and remorse.

As Orochimaru's companion, I always thought I knew him very well, but in reality, I never truly understood his innermost thoughts and motivations. I consistently misunderstood his actions, viewing them as evil and irrational, even developing a deep-seated hatred for him. However, looking back now, I realize that all of this stemmed from my one-sided perception and prejudice. If I had been able to understand and care for him more deeply back then, perhaps their relationship would have been different. But time cannot be turned back; I can only silently accept this fact and learn an important lesson: don't jump to conclusions about others, learn to feel and understand them with your heart. Only in this way can we avoid misunderstandings and hurt, and build genuine trust and friendship.

Orochimaru made enormous sacrifices for the village, bearing all the blame, yet he never offered any explanation, silently enduring it all. This puzzled and baffled Jiraiya, who always believed himself to be Orochimaru's best ally and should understand his innermost thoughts. However, Jiraiya couldn't comprehend why Orochimaru did what he did.

But only Tsunade, as his comrade, could truly understand and accept Orochimaru. She understood that there were deeper meanings and purposes behind Orochimaru's actions. Despite their conflicts and disagreements, Tsunade was able to understand and accept Orochimaru.

"Perhaps I was never truly a comrade Orochimaru acknowledged!" Jiraiya thought to himself with a bitter smile. He recalled the days he and Orochimaru had spent together, when they were comrades-in-arms, but now they had gone their separate ways. However, Jiraiya did not feel frustrated or lost because of this; on the contrary, his eyes gradually became incredibly determined.

"Now is the time for me to give back to the village. Orochimaru, you bear endless infamy for the village's revival, and now it is my turn to contribute to the village's peace and stability! My love for the village will not be inferior to yours!" Jiraiya thought to himself. He knew he bore the heavy responsibility of protecting Konoha, and even if it meant facing a powerful enemy, he would not back down.

With this thought in mind, Jiraiya's steps became exceptionally firm. He strode forward with powerful strides. Every step was filled with determination and courage, as if declaring to the world his loyalty and commitment to Konoha. He believed that with faith and courage, any difficulty could be overcome.

Tsunade watched Jiraiya's retreating figure silently, a profound sense of helplessness welling up within her. She knew that neither Orochimaru nor Jiraiya's love for the village had diminished with time; they simply expressed it in their own unique ways. Now, Jiraiya had embarked on his journey to the Akatsuki's headquarters without hesitation. Every step he took was fraught with danger and uncertainty, yet he showed no fear. Tsunade understood that this time, Jiraiya would risk his life for the village's future. However, despite her anxiety, she was powerless to stop him. This was the embodiment of Jiraiya's deep affection for the village; he was willing to give everything, even his own life, for it.

The legendary Sannin of Konoha each expressed their deep affection for the village in their own unique ways, which was the greatest contribution they could make to their homeland as ninjas. After bidding farewell to Tsunade, Jiraiya walked relentlessly out of Konoha, his back showing unwavering resolve. Reaching the gate, he stopped, standing silently, gazing ahead as if trying to imprint the entire village into his mind. Then, he resolutely turned away, never looking back at the village, his figure swiftly disappearing beyond the gate, heading towards his destination.

Tsunade remained standing calmly, watching the direction Jiraiya had left in, though a slight tremor in her eyes betrayed her true feelings. She quickly composed herself and headed towards the Hokage's office; this was the only way she could express her emotions towards the village.

Jiraiya moved incredibly fast, arriving near Amegakure in just a few days. During this time, he diligently searched for clues and conducted a thorough and meticulous investigation of the area surrounding Amegakure. After days of observation and research, Jiraiya finally discovered some unusual signs.

First, he noticed that the ninjas in Amegakure acted mysteriously, as if they were hiding something important. They were always in a hurry when entering and leaving the village, and often used strange codes and gestures. In addition, Jiraiya also discovered some hidden sentries in the shadows, who looked very vigilant, as if they were protecting some important person or item.

Secondly, Jiraiya noticed that the architectural style of Amegakure differed from other ninja villages. The houses here were mostly small and densely packed, and the streets were narrow and winding, creating a sense of oppression. Moreover, Jiraiya discovered that the central part consisted of giant tower-like buildings, some of which had hidden underground passages and secret rooms with interconnected pipes that did not resemble drainage systems at all.

Finally, Jiraiya discovered some clues about Amegakure. As far as he knew, Amegakure was a powerful ninja village ruled by the demigod Hanzo of the Salamander. Although it had gradually declined due to the Second Shinobi World War, Hanzo would never have allowed such a dangerous organization as Akatsuki to exist within Amegakure. Now, Jiraiya suspected that Hanzo might have also joined Akatsuki, allowing them to establish a foothold in Amegakure.

Based on all these signs, Jiraiya realized he needed to investigate further to uncover the truth behind Amegakure. Therefore, he decided to risk entering Amegakure, embarking on a thrilling adventure.

As a ninja village, Amegakure is far too vigilant towards outsiders. Whether it's merchants or travelers, the checks are extremely strict. Furthermore, ninjas from other villages are refused entry, effectively isolating Amegakure from all communication with other ninja villages. It's simply impossible to disguise oneself and enter.

However, as an exceptional ninja, Jiraiya was naturally adept at infiltration and stealth missions. At this moment, he faced a crucial challenge: how to skillfully evade the tight surveillance and checks of the Amegakure ninja? Only then could he secretly conduct an in-depth investigation into the true situation of Amegakure. This required not only superb skills but also a cautious strategy and keen insight. A slight misstep could put him in danger and even jeopardize the success or failure of the entire mission. Therefore, Jiraiya had to proceed with extreme caution, step by step, to ensure his actions remained undetected.

Soon, Jiraiya used the Summoning Jutsu to teleport and infiltrate Amegakure. Little did he know that the moment he stepped into Amegakure through his summoned beast, his presence was exposed.

After the previous invasion by Hyuga Kanan, Pain had intensified his surveillance of Amegakure. Not only was sensory ninjutsu mixed into the rain, but he also set up sensory barriers in ordinary areas. Therefore, he could detect the location of any unfamiliar chakra entering Amegakure immediately.

Jiraiya entered the streets of Amegakure without any precautions and began to explore. He was quite surprised by the peace, stability, and prosperity of Amegakure, as even Konoha, the village with the best economy among the Five Great Nations, did not have such a prosperous atmosphere. The only problem was that Amegakure's sky was always gloomy due to the constant rain, making the whole village feel somewhat oppressive.

However, the fact that Amegakure (Hidden Rain Village) could maintain such peace and stability in the ninja world was already quite remarkable. Jiraiya, having traveled the ninja world, had witnessed countless periods of chaos and bloodshed, with bandits and outlaws roaming freely. Only the major nations enjoyed relative peace and stability. The fact that Amegakure was so peaceful and serene surprised Jiraiya. He couldn't help but remark, "The atmosphere here is truly special!"

After wandering around, Jiraiya muttered to himself, "Although Amegakure is located in a remote area, it is a very independent village. It doesn't participate in the conflicts between the Five Great Nations, focusing only on its own development. Is that why it seems so stable and peaceful? Or is it thanks to Hanzo of the Salamander?"

No war, no strife, people can live and work in peace and contentment—it's truly wonderful! Jiraiya couldn't help but develop a strong interest in Amegakure. He wanted to learn more about the village.