Chapter 373: Fugaku’s Wedding Date
"It's been a while. After that, they started writing more frequently each year."
"Between the lines of her letters were complaints, as if she were saying the village was beyond saving."
"The more pressure Maki was under, the more she passed it onto me," Jiraiya muttered, a trace of frustration in his voice. "But I can't just push the Konoha ninja into the fire."
Tsunade listened intently, sensing his inner conflict. She thought to herself how self-righteous and one-sided Jiraiya could be at times. Yet, if this was truly a fire pit, there were undoubtedly countless brave warriors willing to face it.
"You're right," Tsunade finally said, her voice soft but firm. Jiraiya's dedication to Konoha, placing it above all else, reassured her.
"Not long ago, I received another letter," Jiraiya continued. "Maki asked me to send someone to Konohagakure—essentially asking me to plant spies. So I refused. She stormed off in a huff."
His explanation brought clarity to the situation. It wasn't about his work style, nor was it a personal dispute. The real issue was far more complicated.
"This can't go on," Shinku interjected. "You can't keep arguing and reconciling like this. It's not sustainable." He crossed his arms, thinking of his own relationship with Kurenai's mother—they had never fought like that in years.
"There's nothing I can do," Jiraiya replied with a sigh, resting his head on one hand. "We can't just send someone to Konohagakure to settle this."
"Sending someone is out of the question," another voice chimed in. "Our Konoha ninjas are far too valuable to risk unnecessarily."
"But we're running out of options," Jiraiya muttered, his frustration mounting.