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"Am I sowing discord between them?" Wu Jie chuckled lightly as he spoke to Jiraiya. "That's quite a phrase that fits your style, shirking all your responsibility. Just like how, to hide the fact that you peeped on Naruto's mother while she bathed, you never dared to tell him who his real parents were, even though he suffered greatly because of it. And, in order to transform Naruto into a weapon of war, wanting him to connect heart-to-heart with the Tailed Beast, you kept hiding the fact from him that both his parents were killed by the Nine-Tails. Aren't these all facts?"
Jiraiya's expression turned ugly. "Th-there are reasons for all this."
But as soon as Jiraiya finished speaking, Wu Jie immediately pointed at him and said to Naruto, "See? He no longer denies peeping on your mother."
Jiraiya's breath hitched, and the world immediately started spinning! What madness had possessed him to agree to meet this damn Uzumaki!? Uzumaki, Uzumaki... truly worthy of the name! No matter what, once you got involved with them, they'd suck everything in and turn it all into a complete mess!
Jiraiya stumbled, leaning on the table, barely managing to steady himself. "But, but it's always been like this, why suddenly now..."
Wu Jie said coldly, "Mr. Jiraiya, you don't actually believe that just because it's always been this way, it's right, do you?"
Jiraiya opened his mouth, but no sound came out!
Wu Jie immediately roared with laughter inwardly. If, even after all this, Naruto could still restore his previously close relationship with Jiraiya, and still achieve mutual understanding and heart-to-heart connection with the Nine-Tails, then Wu Jie would truly have to give him a big thumbs-up.
Jiraiya had been sunk. Next up was Naruto... no, Ashura! Ashura, the Sage of Six Paths behind you does indeed make me hesitant to act against you directly. But the Chunin Exams already proved that acting indirectly is fine!
Thinking this, Wu Jie turned his attention to Naruto and began, "Naruto, do you want to meet your parents?"
"Eh!?" Naruto's head shot up. "C-can I still meet them?"
"Of course, otherwise why would I ask?"
Orochimaru chuckled lightly at this point, saying, "I certainly won't help him resurrect the Fourth Hokage and his wife. Besides, not just anyone can be resurrected." Clearly, he thought Wu Jie was after his Edo Tensei technique.
But of course, Wu Jie had no such intention. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he explained, "No, this doesn't require Mr. Orochimaru's help. Actually, when the Fourth Hokage sealed the Nine-Tails, he sealed a portion of his own chakra and a portion of Kushina's chakra within Naruto's body together. His purpose was so that if Naruto encountered danger, he could use this final chakra to protect their most precious child."
After speaking, Wu Jie looked back at Naruto, continuing to undermine his confidence, "So you see, Naruto, the only special thing about you is actually just your birthright. Because you are the Fourth Hokage's child, they left chakra to protect you; the Nine-Tails sealed within you will also protect you; Jiraiya is protecting you for the same reason. Countless people die every day for various reasons, but only you, no matter what danger you encounter, someone will always come to protect you. In the end, you're just a weak little brat who's always been under the protection of others."
Children in their rebellious phase can be quite troublesome, Jiraiya. I hope you can watch Naruto carefully, don't let him sneak out to 'prove himself'. Otherwise, if by chance I run into him... things won't be fun anymore.
After hearing Wu Jie's words, Jiraiya quickly and sharply identified the key point, immediately asking, "Setting aside how you know this information for now, you said... the chakra the Fourth Hokage left behind is meant to protect Naruto, right? Then what happens if Naruto meets them?"
Just as Wu Jie was about to speak, Kabuto suddenly interjected, "Speaking of which, the fact that the Fourth Hokage sealed a portion of his own chakra should be impossible for anyone besides those involved to know, right? Why would you believe his words? Maybe it's just a lie."
Did you mistake me for a brainless brat like Naruto?
Wu Jie looked at Kabuto Yakushi with amusement, then explained, "Because Uzumaki never lie! You can go ask around; our reputation has always been good. Just like now, I can clearly tell you: because you stood by and watched Nono Yakushi, who raised you, die right before your eyes, I despise you."
Kabuto's expression didn't change, but his fist suddenly clenched tightly. He had only wanted Wu Jie to reveal more clues so he could figure out how the other party obtained such secret information. But he never imagined that this Uzumaki even knew about the scene he least wanted to recall! Did he have any secrets left at all? This feeling of being utterly exposed was too terrifying. Now he understood why Tsunade had suddenly developed animosity towards Jiraiya.
A drop of cold sweat trickled down Kabuto's forehead. "As expected of the Uzumaki... truly terrifying indeed." To think, the two insignificant brats he saw during the Chunin Exams had now already surpassed him and were standing on equal footing with the legendary Sannin of Konoha!
Wu Jie accepted Kabuto's flattery without modesty, then turned back to answer Jiraiya's question, "Correct. Just as you imagined, once Naruto meets the chakra of the Fourth Hokage and his wife, that portion of chakra will be consumed immediately. Meaning, they will no longer be able to protect Naruto afterward. However..."
The corners of Wu Jie's mouth lifted slightly as he looked at him with a malicious smile. "Mr. Jiraiya, can you refuse Naruto, tell him not to meet his parents? Can you deny a child the deepest desire of their heart?"
Jiraiya paused, then looked at Naruto beside him, who was staring at him with a pleading expression...
"Pervy Sage! Please! Even so, I still want to meet them..." Naruto's eyes were already moist.
He couldn't do it. Jiraiya knew he couldn't do it.
"Sigh..." Jiraiya sighed, then looked warily at Wu Jie. "You revealed this information just to force Naruto to give up the protection the Fourth Hokage placed on him, right? Does this mean you also plan to make a move against Naruto!?"
Wu Jie didn't deny it, but didn't directly admit it either. "Firstly, I haven't forced anyone. Naruto has a choice; he doesn't have to meet the Fourth Hokage and his wife. Secondly, Naruto has too many troubles surrounding him. My interest in him isn't great."
Not great means there's still some. Jiraiya frowned. Previously, Uchiha Itachi had told him that capturing the Nine-Tails was Akatsuki's highest order, which already gave him a huge headache. And while the Uzumaki's strength might not match those S-rank rogue ninjas of Akatsuki, his danger level was far above theirs!
Wu Jie looked at Naruto and said to him, "The chakra of the Fourth Hokage and his wife are sealed together with the Nine-Tails. So if you want to meet them, just search slowly within the seal space. Spend some time, and you'll eventually find some clues."
Naruto, eager to see his parents, will surely spend all his time searching for those two. This will undoubtedly make his path of growth very difficult. Coupled with the fact that he has already been manipulated by Wu Jie, developing rifts with both Jiraiya and the Nine-Tails... Naruto, oh Naruto, under these circumstances, can you still become the Child of Prophecy spoken of by the Great Toad Sage?
After hearing Wu Jie's words, Naruto didn't even wait; he immediately closed his eyes, entering the seal space right where he stood. Then his brow furrowed; perhaps he was arguing with the Nine-Tails right now.
Seeing Naruto like this, Jiraiya could only sigh helplessly.
Naruto's mind was entirely focused on finding his parents. Jiraiya's image in Tsunade's eyes plummeted. It wasn't quite like they were strangers, but at the very least, their relationship had downgraded from inseparable comrades-in-arms to merely very good friends.
So, might as well let him exit the stage. Tsunade surely won't choose to return to Konoha to become the Fifth Hokage at this time.
Thinking this, Wu Jie spoke up, "Right, what were we here for again? Oh, to show sincerity to Tsunade-sama. Well then, now please allow this... Mr. Jiraiya, who wants to bring Tsunade-sama back to take over as the Fifth Hokage, to demonstrate your sincerity before her."
Orochimaru watched the current scene unfold and smiled meaningfully. The tempo of the entire conversation has been completely controlled by the Uzumaki brat. Now is hardly a good time to plead with Tsunade, yet Jiraiya hasn't noticed this at all. It seems the Uzumaki's earlier accusations have left him utterly frazzled, unable to even perceive such things. Hehe, the Uzumaki brat truly exploited Jiraiya's only weakness to the fullest.
Jiraiya's face was grim. This meeting had been thrown into chaos by Wu Jie. No matter how optimistic he was, he knew his goal was likely unachievable now. However, he still made a final effort. "Tsunade, just as that Uzumaki said, I am indeed not suited to be Hokage. Only you can help the village now. The Shinobi World War is imminent. Do you really want to see the village into which Nawaki and Dan poured all their feelings destroyed in the war? Tsunade, please! Come back with me and become Hokage! This is the greatest request of my life!"
As Jiraiya spoke, he lowered his head onto the tabletop with a thud.
A moment's struggle appeared in Tsunade's eyes. She glanced at Naruto, remained silent for a long while, then looked back at Wu Jie and said to him, "You constantly belittle them just to make me feel animosity towards them, thus rejecting Jiraiya, right? This method is truly despicable."
Wu Jie answered with a smile, "Tsunade-sama, it seems even an outstanding woman like yourself has been quite poisoned by Konoha. What do you take 'enemies' for? Friends you can have afternoon tea with? If his right leg is injured, attack his right leg desperately! If he has psychological trauma, immediately expose it! Once he reveals a weakness, regardless of whether it's despicable or shameless, you must use every dark method available! Isn't this the attitude we should have when facing enemies? Do you want to show mercy to the enemy, only for them to turn around and kill your comrades?"
Tsunade was silent and indifferent. After a while, she looked at Jiraiya and said somewhat apologetically, "As you can see, I don't like this guy either. I know everything he said were just means to achieve his goal. But, he did succeed. Sorry, Jiraiya. I cannot emotionally convince myself to go back with you."