People in Demon Slayer: The Journey That Began with Demon Slayer

Jiraiya was overjoyed that Minato Namikaze's parents were still alive and had not sacrificed themselves.

However, Minato and his wife's disappointment with Konoha and their decision to no longer care about Konoha saddened Jiraiya.

Minato Namikaze also felt guilty towards Jiraiya, who was his mentor and is now also the mentor of his child.

But now his own child has chosen to seek revenge on the hometown that his mentor had always protected, and he himself has not supported his mentor.

Jiraiya said dejectedly, "Minato, I know that Konoha has caused you indelible wounds. I don't expect you to forgive Konoha, but I hope you can give me a chance."

I've failed my whole life, and I've placed all my hopes on Naruto. I hope Naruto can continue to be the child of prophecy, the savior, and the hero. I want to give my failed life a perfect ending.

Minato Namikaze said with reluctance, "Jiraiya-sensei, as long as you can persuade Naruto, Kushina and I will not interfere with any of Naruto's decisions."

Jiraiya smiled bitterly: "Thank you. Although Naruto approached me to learn Sage Mode, I can sense that Naruto is still kind at heart. I believe I can reawaken Naruto's kindness."

After reaching an agreement with Minato and his wife, Jiraiya asked, "Minato, you said you knew during the Nine-Tails' rampage that Naruto was the Child of Prophecy. Did the Great Toad Sage tell you that?"

Minato Namikaze shook his head and said, "It's not the Great Toad Sage, it's the Sage of Six Paths."

Jiraiya's mouth gaped open in astonishment: "Isn't the Sage of Six Paths a legend? Could he still be alive?"

Jiraiya learned from the Great Toad Sage that Naruto was the Child of Prophecy, and Minato Namikaze no longer hid it from Jiraiya.

"No, the Sage of Six Paths is just a soul. In the future, there will be a disaster that will sweep across the entire ninja world. Naruto is the child of destiny. In order for Naruto to grow up, Kushina and I left Naruto alone in Konoha."

Jiraiya asked the question that had been troubling him: "Why did you and Kushina choose to leave Konoha for Naruto's sake? Shouldn't it have been the best choice for you to stay in Konoha?"

“We cannot stay by Naruto’s side because Kushina and I should have died in the Nine-Tails’ attack. If we live, it will affect Naruto’s future growth. So we follow the Sage of Six Paths’ advice and choose to leave.”

After Minato Namikaze finished speaking, his face was filled with regret. If he had said those words back then, perhaps none of this would have happened.

Jiraiya pondered and guessed, "So there must have been something that interfered with you, allowing you who should have sacrificed to survive, which made the Sage of Six Paths have to personally intervene. Can you tell me what unusual people or things happened at that time?"

Jiraiya believed that the reason Minato and his wife survived was due to another force mentioned by the Great Toad Sage.

The image of Yosuke immediately flashed into the minds of Minato and his wife.

However, since Yosuke was their friend, the Minato couple did not intend to mention Yosuke, so they said, "There is nothing unusual about him or anything."

Jiraiya, who had lived with Minato Namikaze for many years, saw through the lies of the Minato couple at a glance.

Jiraiya explained urgently, "The Great Toad Sage said that if I find that mysterious force, I might be able to bring Naruto back, as long as I can meet him."

Minato and Kushina exchanged a glance. Kushina also hoped that Naruto could become a kind and loving person, so she nodded to Minato.

Minato Namikaze sighed, "Jiraiya-sensei, he is our friend. I cannot tell you his identity, but I will ask him if he would like to see you."

Jiraiya said gratefully, "Thank you, Minato."

"No, Jiraiya-sensei, I should thank you for never giving up on Naruto."

Minato Namikaze took out the communication scroll he used with Yosuke, recorded the events on it, then placed the scroll on the ground with one hand, formed a hand seal, and the scroll turned into smoke and disappeared from the spot.

Yosuke, who had just arrived in the Land of Rivers and was continuing his northward journey to the Land of Frost, sensed Minato Namikaze's communication scroll.

Yosuke summoned the communication scroll and examined the text that Minato Namikaze had recorded on it.

Yekura asked curiously, "What's written on it?"

"Jiraiya, Minato's master, has already learned of my existence and wants to meet with me to talk."

Pakura, who had no goodwill towards Konoha, frowned: "Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha? What could he possibly have to do with me?"

"Regarding Naruto, since he wants to see me, I'll let him. I also want to ask Jiraiya, who is also one of the Legendary Sannin, about Orochimaru."

On the other side, Minato Namikaze received a scroll from Yosuke.

Minato Namikaze said to Jiraiya, "He has agreed and will be waiting for you at the border between the Land of Rivers and the Land of Frost."

"Thank you, Minato. I'll be heading off now." Jiraiya was in a hurry and hoped to resolve Naruto's matter as soon as possible.

Seeing Jiraiya working so hard for Naruto, Minato and his wife felt bad: "Jiraiya-sensei, we will let you know as soon as we have any news about Naruto."

Jiraiya waved his hand, and his figure gradually disappeared into the sandstorm.

Yosuke crossed the River Country and arrived at the border with the Frost Country.

The Frost Country and the Snow Country have similar climates, but the Snow Country experiences snow and ice all year round due to its location.

The Frost Country's cold weather is due to two enormous icebergs, which cause extreme climate conditions.

Yosuke and Yokura are currently waiting for Jiraiya at the border between the Land of Rivers and the Land of Frost.

As if sensing something, Yosuke suddenly said, "They've arrived."

Yekura looked up and saw a white-haired ninja wearing wooden clogs approaching from the snowy border in the distance.

Jiraiya approached Yosuke, who was wearing a mask, and surprisingly revealed Yosuke's identity directly: "You're Ubuyashiki Yosuke, aren't you?"

Yosuke looked at Jiraiya in surprise. In Minato Namikaze's communication scroll, Minato had said that he had not revealed Yosuke's identity, which meant that Jiraiya had guessed it himself.

Jiraiya seemed to know Yosuke's question and explained, "During the Nine-Tails' rampage, besides Minato, there was also a wandering samurai named Ubuyashiki Yosuke who fought against the Nine-Tails. Since Minato and Kushina survived, it's easy to deduce that the wandering samurai is also still alive."

After hearing Jiraiya's reasoning, Yosuke clapped his hands and said, "As expected of Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin. That's right, I am Ubuyashiki Yosuke."

Chapter 252 Communication

After Jiraiya discovered his identity, Yosuke had no intention of continuing to pretend and instead took off his mask openly.

Yosuke asked frankly, "So, Jiraiya, what brings you here?"

Jiraiya didn't intend to test Yosuke, and went straight to the point, asking, "Naruto is the child of prophecy, and should be able to become the savior of the ninja world. The Great Toad Sage said that a mysterious force interfered with the future, causing it to be unclear. If that mysterious force is you, then what exactly did you do?"

Yosuke retorted, "What did we do? I only saved Minato and Kushina. As for Naruto, shouldn't you be asking the people of Konoha? What exactly did Konoha do to create such an extreme personality in Naruto?"

Jiraiya was speechless, choked by Yosuke's words.

Yosuke continued, "Minato said you're trying to win Naruto back and change his personality?"

Jiraiya nodded and said, "That's right. The Great Toad Sage said that finding that mysterious force might be the key to everything, so I found you. I think we have the same goal."

Yosuke was thinking to himself that the Great Toad Sage, as mentioned by Jiraiya, was like the Sage of Six Paths, possessing the ability to foresee the future.

Yosuke said in an extremely cold tone, "I don't think there's anything wrong with Naruto's personality. Konoha has caused Naruto so much indelible pain, so Konoha should also bear the corresponding consequences."

Jiraiya's heart tightened, and he wondered if he had guessed wrong, and if their goals were not the same.

Yosuke continued, "If you're looking to invite me to help you change Naruto's personality, then you can leave. But if it's about how to get Naruto to take on the responsibility of being a savior, then I'd be happy to talk to you about it."

Jiraiya frowned: "Is there a difference between the two?"

Yosuke said with a smile, "Of course there is a difference. You want to change Naruto's personality because you want to stop Naruto from taking revenge on Konoha."

If Naruto is to shoulder the responsibility of savior, then there's no need to change his personality; the existence of Konoha is unimportant to the ninja world.

Jiraiya asked with some anguish, "Isn't there a way to have the best of both worlds?"

"During the Nine-Tails' rampage, Danzo colluded with Orochimaru to attack Minato and Kushina. Hiruzen Sarutobi turned a blind eye and let Danzo go. In my opinion, Konoha was rotten to the core and had no reason to exist anymore."

Jiraiya continued, "What if Naruto destroyed Konoha for revenge but didn't choose to save the ninja world?"

Yosuke, who was the backup savior, said nonchalantly, "There will always be a way when the time comes."

Hearing Yosuke's irresponsible words, Jiraiya suddenly felt that Yosuke was very unreliable.

Yosuke warned Jiraiya, "I advise you that if you see Naruto, it's best not to try to get him to let go of his hatred. You'll only provoke his resentment because you're not Naruto and can never truly empathize with him. This will only make Naruto more and more extreme."

Jiraiya muttered to himself, unwilling to accept it, "Can these chains of hatred never be broken...?"

Yang Jie couldn't help but correct him, "What you're saying is contradictory. Who brought this hatred to Naruto? Was it Konoha? Over the years, Konoha had countless opportunities to make amends, but it did nothing and even made things worse."

As Minato's teacher, why did you never take care of Naruto? Minato's disciple was named Kakashi, right? What about him? And what about those who knew the truth about the Nine-Tails' attack?

Minato and Kushina endured the pain of parting from Naruto for the sake of Konoha and the ninja world. How did you repay them? With endless torment?!

"This chain of hatred was brought to Naruto by your Konoha, so Naruto's current revenge against you is itself a way of severing that chain of hatred. What right do you have to criticize Naruto?"

Jiraiya was filled with regret. If he had paid more attention to and taken better care of Naruto back then, perhaps none of this would have happened.

"As Minato's teacher, I have a suggestion for you: before you meet Naruto, think carefully about whether you want to save Konoha or the ninja world."

Jiraiya sighed, "I understand."

Jiraiya has completely come to believe that Yosuke Ubuyashiki is the mysterious force that the Great Toad Sage spoke of.

Because Jiraiya got the answer, or rather, the choice, from Yosuke: choose Konoha or choose the ninja world.

Yosuke has already answered Jiraiya's question, so now it's Yosuke's turn to ask his.

"Jiraiya, where do you think Orochimaru is hiding?"

Jiraiya looked troubled: "This area is too large. Orochimaru's bases are spread throughout the entire ninja world. If he wants to hide, no one can find him. I have been looking for him for many years and have found nothing so far."

Yosuke asked another question: "So, what conditions must be met for Orochimaru to appear?"

"Orochimaru will get involved in almost anything that is detrimental to Konoha."

Yosuke asked in confusion, "Then how come we heard about Orochimaru in this war against Konoha?"

Jiraiya explained, "Orochimaru has already appeared. The basement in Sunagakure where ninjutsu scrolls are stored was robbed, but it is unknown what kind of ninjutsu was stolen. In addition, some of the Konoha ninjas stationed on the border of the Land of Fire have mysteriously disappeared, which may also be related to Orochimaru."

Yosuke was somewhat frustrated, not expecting that Orochimaru had already appeared, while he had missed it.

I originally hoped to get some information from Jiraiya to find Orochimaru.

However, it seems that we can only proceed with the original plan and try our luck at Orochimaru's base.

After answering Yosuke's question, Jiraiya left dejectedly.

Influenced by the Will of Fire, Jiraiya's philosophy has always been to prioritize Konoha, and any unstable factors that could damage Konoha should be nipped in the bud.

Therefore, even though he was disappointed with Konoha, Jiraiya still wanted to protect Konoha.

However, Naruto's situation has put Jiraiya in a dilemma.

The village of Konoha, which they themselves protected, pushed the savior who was supposed to protect the ninja world to the opposite side.

This makes Jiraiya's long-held will seem utterly ridiculous.

Just as Yosuke said, Konoha was so rotten that it was unsightly.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, ushered in the golden age of Konoha...

Now, when Jiraiya hears the title of "mentor," he feels nothing but utter irony.

"Old man... your excessive leniency has already caused irreparable damage to Konoha. Konoha is declining step by step..."