Chapter 150:
Jiraiya didn't end up staying in Amegakure but instead chose to remain in Sound Village. It was surprising, yet Orochimaru understood why.
It wasn't just because Nagato might be the Child of Prophecy, but also due to the complicated bond between the three of them. When they were younger, Jiraiya harbored a crush on Tsunade. But now, seeing her and Orochimaru together, he would inevitably feel awkward if he were constantly around them. Orochimaru and Tsunade might not mind, but Jiraiya would likely feel out of place.
So, in his own way, Jiraiya chose to distance himself.
Tsunade, too, understood Jiraiya's reasons. She didn't try to persuade him otherwise because, in truth, it wasn't her place to do so. Jiraiya's feelings for her weren't exactly a secret, and though she had rejected him multiple times, he had never truly let go. What more could she say?
Sometimes, no matter how deeply you care for someone, if the feeling isn't mutual, there's nothing that can be done. Some might win over others through persistence, but when a better option exists, why settle? This was Jiraiya's struggle to bear, not hers.
A few days later, in the afternoon...
Konoha Village, Hokage's Office
Orochimaru and Tsunade returned to report on their mission and explain their prolonged absence. Naturally, they kept the details of Sound Village under wraps. While withholding information from superiors might be seen as disloyal, Orochimaru had never seen himself as bound by strict loyalty to Konoha's authority. And as for Tsunade? She'd never been one to follow rules for the sake of it. Influenced by Orochimaru, she didn't feel the need to disclose everything either.
After hearing their report, including Jiraiya's decision to stay behind, Hiruzen nodded thoughtfully.