It took some effort to calm down Jiraiya, who had inexplicably been triggered and started 'losing his mind', before Naruto remembered there was still serious business to attend to.
"Oh, right, Jiraiya-sensei. How did your investigation into that mysterious attacker go? Did you find any clues?"
Naruto had great faith in Jiraiya's investigative abilities.
Back then, it was only through using Pudding's Memo Memo no Mi that he had managed to quickly uncover the details of the mysterious Akatsuki.
Later, they used the Ryumyaku to send everyone to different timelines, learning about the 'future' path in advance.
It could be said that their intelligence was mostly obtained through various unconventional means, not much related to personal investigative skill.
But Jiraiya was different.
He was the kind of master who could single-handedly figure out the approximate scale of the Akatsuki and the location of their base.
According to the 'intelligence' shared by Karin and the others, following the original fate, Jiraiya would eventually end up returning to the sea because he went alone to the Land of Rain.
Honestly, when he learned this fact, Naruto felt very fortunate.
Fortunate that he wasn't the version of himself from that original fate.
Fortunate that he had acquired power not of this world in advance.
Fortunate that they always reacted one step ahead of the enemy.
Not needing to grieve alone after cherished ones had passed.
Mentioning serious matters, Jiraiya's previously frantic expression also subsided.
He first unrolled a scroll, then took out an item from it… something very familiar to Naruto.
"This was extracted from Roshi's body. According to Onoki, if he hadn't arrived in time, Roshi would likely have met with misfortune."
Looking at the half-section of unknown black rod in Jiraiya's hand, Naruto's brow furrowed slightly.
He was all too familiar with that thing.
Nagato who had previously tried to capture the nine Tailed Beasts had used it.
And not just Nagato… the later Obito and Madara had also used similar things.
"To be able to suppress an experienced Jinchuriki single-handedly, and to use this kind of thing."
"Honestly, if I hadn't seen Nagato die with my own eyes, I would have thought he had been resurrected."
Jiraiya said with a sigh, but when he reached the last few words, he suddenly thought of something, his expression turning grim.
"Could this be—"
"No."
Naruto directly denied Jiraiya's speculation.
"No one used Edo Tensei to resurrect Nagato."
He took the cold black rod from Jiraiya, then, under the other's watchful eye, made it float and rapidly disintegrate.
Though he couldn't understand what Naruto was doing, Jiraiya wisely didn't speak, quietly waiting for his explanation.
"You might not be able to sense the difference, but actually—"
As Naruto's words fell, that originally ordinary black rod was decomposed into seven clumps of Chakra of different natures.
"Although they look similar on the surface, this black rod is actually formed by the convergence of seven different natures of Chakra."
"Nagato couldn't create a weapon like this... His black rods were just 'imitations' forcibly made with Yin-Yang Release Chakra using the Rinnegan."
"And this… is the real deal."
Saying this, Naruto clenched his fist. The seven natures of Chakra, Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Yin, Yang, recombined in the air into a pitch-black Truth-Seeking Ball, then stretched into a black rod under Naruto's control.
And from these words, Jiraiya understood the gravity of the situation.
It wasn't that Orochimaru or some other schemer had gotten hold of a Rinnegan and was trying to cause trouble, but rather...
"Another Otsutsuki?"
Yes.
Another Otsutsuki.
In Jiraiya's view, the only ones capable of mastering these seven Chakra Natures, aside from the Sage of Six Paths who founded Ninshu, could only be another Otsutsuki from beyond the stars.
"They're targeting the Ninja World again!?"
His expression was very grim.
Unlike the Ninja World's residents still living peaceful lives, Jiraiya, who had traveled back in time with Naruto and helped avert a world-ending crisis, knew very well that if another Otsutsuki attacked, their only hope would likely be Naruto.
That overwhelming power gap was not something you could bridge by learning some Sage Mode.
"Most likely... but it's not all bad news."
Naruto smiled at Jiraiya, then waved his hand, causing the Truth-Seeking Ball black rod to vanish into space.
"Though this might sound somewhat dismissive..."
"But at least I know this guy is definitely much weaker than Kaguya."
"Otherwise, Roshi wouldn't have had a chance to survive... even with Onoki there."
This was blunt, but Jiraiya understood Naruto was right.
"So, according to you, the guy behind this..."
"I think I've probably guessed the current state of our adversary."
As someone who had fully inherited all of Kaguya's abilities regarding the Otsutsuki, Naruto could almost effortlessly deduce the situation of the mastermind.
Able to create Truth-Seeking Ball black rods incorporating seven Nature Transformations, yet unable to simply overpower Roshi plus Onoki head-on.
The most likely possibility was that the enemy was in some weakened state… like the reincarnation of a Kama.
Of course, it couldn't be ruled out that this Otsutsuki was just pathetically weak.
But regardless of the enemy's actual situation, Naruto had already figured out how to respond.
He stood up, simultaneously extending a hand to Jiraiya.
"Let's go, Jiraiya-sensei. You've rested enough, time to get down to business."
"Oh? What's your plan?"
Jiraiya took Naruto's hand and rose from the tatami mat.
"Let's go find some old friends... Since his target is the Tailed Beasts, there's no reason to focus only on Roshi."
"With Roshi protected by Onoki, that old man, why not just go after someone weaker?"
"All we need to do is quietly wait for the fish to bite."
Naruto said this very confidently, but Konohamaru unceremoniously pointed out,
"But Naruto-Aniki, you don't seem to have much luck actually catching fish..."
Thump!
After packing up and double-checking several times that no enemies remained hidden, Naruto opened Yomotsu Hirasaka under the gaze of the people of the Land of Demons.
He kicked Konohamaru, who still had a bump on his head, through, then turned back to look at the Priestess's guards.
"Thank you very much for your help. This is a small token of appreciation from the Land of Demons."
The Priestess's personal guard solemnly handed a small box of gold coins to Naruto.
Naruto didn't refuse, instead passing it to Jiraiya.
After all, Jiraiya had helped tirelessly for days without sleep, and he had also helped the Land of Demons resolve centuries of worry… it was only right to accept.
A great literary master needs money too!
"And Shion-sama? Isn't she coming to see Jiraiya-sensei off?"
Naruto was a bit curious after receiving the reward. The guard just smiled wryly at this.
"The Priestess... she seems to be having some trouble adjusting to the current situation."
These guards knew very well that their Priestess had always borne a heavy fate. Adding the prophetic ability to see others' 'death signs' placed immense pressure on such a young girl.
Now that the matter was suddenly resolved, and they seemed to have contributed nothing, as it was all thanks to Jiraiya and his disciple—
It made the centuries of perseverance by their Priestess line seem almost laughable.
Of course, that wasn't actually the case.
Without the sacrifices of the previous Priestesss, Moryo might not have destroyed the Ninja World, but it would certainly have caused immense suffering.
Their perseverance had meaning.
Without that perseverance, they wouldn't have lived to see Jiraiya and Naruto arrive.
But Shion was still just a girl… it was normal for her to feel lost when her sense of purpose and reality suddenly misaligned.
"Is that so... Then… give her this for me."
Jiraiya seemed to understand, pulling out a scroll and handing it to the guard before entering the dark spatial gate with Naruto.
After the miraculous door vanished, the guard ran with the scroll to Shion's room.
After knocking and receiving permission, the guard presented the scroll, explained that Jiraiya had left, and then exited, giving her some space.
Shion, whose mind was still muddled, felt some regret at hearing of their departure for not seeing them off, but also remained lost.
Then, she instinctively opened the scroll Jiraiya had left.
It was a painting.
A lifelike… no, it was a 'living' painting!
Shion remembered this was Jiraiya's special ability… the power to make paintings move.
The scroll depicted various wonders Jiraiya had seen on his travels, even the mysterious Mount Myoboku was included.
When she reached the end of the scroll, a chibi version of Jiraiya popped out, striking his signature pose.
"This one is the Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku! The Great Jiraiya has arrived!"
"Pfft—"
The girl suddenly laughed at his comical, exaggerated movements.
"Thank you, Jiraiya-sama."