The man stood up, and the puppet returned to his arms.
Jiraiya watched the man's back as he left.
Jiraiya did not stay long in this country, continuing his journey. He met Kusagakure Ninja who constantly complained about the state of the world, and also Takigakure Ninja who taught children how to survive in a chaotic era.
He also met the leader of an unknown religion, who taught people to avoid disaster through prayer.
The Great Toad Sage's prophecy... the reformer who will bring change to the Ninja World. Can I really find him?
Jiraiya walked through the forest, feeling lost about whether he could find the reformer from the prophecy. A gust of wind blew, and smoke drifted from afar.
Over there...? Jiraiya's expression changed slightly. He realized something must have happened over there and rushed towards it.
Burning Villages, people's terrified screams, children's cries, and Ninja destroying the Village.
These Ninja... why are they attacking a Village where civilians live?
Jiraiya's pupils suddenly contracted. Without thinking, he rushed forward and shouted, "Stop right there! You bastards, if you have the guts, come at me!"
Jiraiya's response was several Kunai and shuriken, one of which had an exploding tags on it.
Jiraiya dodged the shuriken and Kunai attacks. With a boom, the exploding tags exploded, and smoke obscured Jiraiya's vision. The next second, a giant shuriken cut through the smoke and hit Jiraiya within it.
As the smoke cleared, Jiraiya, whose back was pierced by the giant shuriken, turned into mud.
"This shuriken Jutsu... are you Ninja of the Fūma Clan? Why are you attacking a Village where civilians live?"
Jiraiya stood on a tree branch, looking at the Fūma Clan Ninja there.
"You're a Ninja too, aren't you?"
After a brief skirmish, the Fūma Clan Ninja confirmed that this meddling person was also a Ninja.
"I am traveling to find my disciple."
"Hmph, what nonsense are you spouting! Now that the balance of power between countries has been broken and wars are everywhere, that Village was destroyed because Ninja infiltrated it."
The Fūma Clan Ninja frowned. Their clan had suffered heavy casualties due to the war, yet this meddling Ninja was leisurely traveling to find a disciple!
"Just because of that?"
"If we don't destroy, we will be destroyed. This is a world where if you hesitate, you will be eliminated."
The Fūma Clan Ninja didn't want to listen to Jiraiya's nonsense anymore, so he waved his hand and threw Kunai and shuriken.
"Wind Release: Swift Wind Wall!"
Jiraiya formed a hand seal, and wind formed by Wind Release Chakra wrapped around the Kunai and shuriken.
"What?!"
The Fūma Clan Ninja watched in shock as the Kunai and shuriken stopped in mid-air.
"Giving them back to you!"
Jiraiya shouted. The Kunai and shuriken, enhanced by Wind Release Chakra, became more lethal and flew back.
The Fūma Clan Ninja desperately dodged, but a wound was still left on his forehead, and blood flowed out. Feeling the pain on his forehead, he said, "Even if you defeat me, there will be another assassin to attack that Village. As long as we live in this cursed Ninja World, there will be no peace."
The Fūma Clan living in the Land of Rice Fields had suffered heavy losses earlier by responding to the Land of Rice Fields' Daimyo's call, but the Land of Rice Fields' Daimyo had abandoned them like worn-out shoes, ignoring them.
The Fūma Clan, facing even greater hardship, had no choice but to take on various missions, even despicable ones like attacking Villages where civilians lived.
Jiraiya did not pursue them. The words of the Fūma Clan Ninja made him fall into deep thought about Ninja and this world.
Jiraiya's travels continued. As the war intensified, he encountered many war orphans and rescued quite a few who were almost killed or exploited by various manipulative individuals.
Jiraiya couldn't bear to see those homeless war orphans suffer the ravages of war, but his power alone was limited. He alone could not change the status quo, nor could he bring stable lives to the multitude of war orphans.
Looking at the children who saw him as their only hope, Jiraiya couldn't bring himself to abandon them. At this point, he thought of the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company.
If it were this company, let alone these war orphans, buying an entire country would not be difficult for the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company.
After all, the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company was already the world's number one super company.
However, Jiraiya was unsure how much say Orochimaru had in the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company. With a heavy heart, he sought help from the captain of a cargo convoy transporting goods for the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company.
"I know this is difficult, but please, you must help these children."
Jiraiya looked at the captain of the cargo convoy before him with a pleading gaze.
"I understand. I will pass the message to the head office as soon as possible."
The captain of the cargo convoy was from the Iburi Clan. When Jiraiya mentioned Orochimaru, he realized that this white-haired person in front of him must be Jiraiya, one of the Third Hokage's disciples, just like Lord Orochimaru.
Jiraiya initially thought the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company would take some time to respond to him, but he didn't expect the response to be so quick.
In less than a week, not only did they agree to his request, but they also sent people to rescue those homeless war orphans and take them away from the war-torn areas.
This made Jiraiya realize that Orochimaru's influence within the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company was greater than he had imagined.
The White Snake that brings change to the Ninja World... Jiraiya thought of the Great Toad Sage's prophecy and increasingly believed that the White Snake that would bring change to the Ninja World would be the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 70 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"