On the Same Wavelength? Just Because They Get Along?
Jiraiya clearly didn't fully believe what Genya said. He looked at him with suspicion in his eyes and asked, "Just because of this, you decided to cooperate with them?"
"Yes, that's the honest truth you want to hear!" Genya nodded. He knew how to answer this question — if he didn't say this, would he claim to be part of the Uchiha clan too?
As for liking the current Uchiha leader, that was also the honest truth. That was his own father, after all. How could he dislike him?
So, he wasn't lying to Jiraiya, just hiding some things.
"All right, let's leave it at that for now!" Jiraiya didn't want to argue more with Genya and continued, "Then why did you kill the ninja from Konoha who were sent out on missions? Those people didn't seem to have done anything wrong, right?"
"No, that's not what you asked before!" Genya reminded him.
"I didn't say that just now?" Jiraiya was confused. Hadn't he just asked about that?
"No, you asked why I killed the ninja of the Sarutobi clan!" Genya corrected him again.
Jiraiya sighed in frustration and blinked at Genya. "Is there really a difference? They're all ninja from Konoha!"
"There is a big difference!" Genya slowly said, his tone very serious.
"I only killed ninja from the Sarutobi and Shimura clans. I didn't kill any other ninja!"
"Then why did you kill Sarutobi clan ninja?" Jiraiya quickly fixed his question, still curious.
Why was Genya targeting the Sarutobi clan's ninja?
Could it be that Atsukara had some deep, unresolved conflict with the Sarutobi clan?
"Because… Sarutobi Hiruzen sent over a dozen Jonin from the Sarutobi clan to ambush Uchiha Genya of the Uchiha Merchant Association — that is, the current clan heir of the Uchiha clan!"
Genya spoke slowly, revealing that Sarutobi Hiruzen had sent his clan to ambush him.
Sent people to assassinate Genya of the Uchiha Merchant Association?
Jiraiya's brow twitched. Deep down, he knew this was something his old teacher could do.
At that time, the Uchiha Merchant Association was too powerful.
Sending assassins after the association's future heir would shake its foundation.
It would also quickly weaken the Uchiha clan.
Having followed Sarutobi Hiruzen for so long, Jiraiya understood his personality well.
"So... you ambushed Sarutobi's clan members outside?" Jiraiya asked further, though his tone had grown calm. This was a provocation started by his teacher, after all.
"But why also attack the Shimura clan?"
"Because they were Sarutobi Hiruzen's accomplices," Genya said seriously, ignoring Jiraiya's persistent questioning.
"When Itachi led outsiders to wipe out the clan, I stopped Itachi. But the ones slaughtering the Uchiha behind Itachi were root ninjas of Shimura Danzo."
Jiraiya was speechless this time. Indeed, he had no words.
If anyone had gone too far, it was Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo.
"Do the Uchiha know about this?" Jiraiya asked, worried that if the clan found out, chaos would erupt.
It could even harm Konoha.
Genya gave a faint, sly smile.
"Do you think? This matter is already out in the open. Everyone is just pretending to be ignorant and avoiding talking about it."
Jiraiya frowned. If that was true, the Uchiha clan was like a powder keg ready to explode.
Moreover, they were like ticking bombs that could be set off at any moment. If they made a move, the whole village could be thrown into chaos!
"Don't worry," Genya said. "The Uchiha clan isn't selfish like Hiruzen Sarutobi or Danzo Shimura, who only think about themselves. The Uchiha are actually looking out for the village. They won't rebel lightly."
As he spoke, Genya subtly criticized Sarutobi and Danzo.
Jiraiya looked doubtful. Just judging by the Uchiha's role in the village's security, the villagers often complained about them.
"You haven't been back to Konoha for a long time," Genya said, noticing Jiraiya's confused expression.
"Now, the Uchiha and the Sarutobi Police Force teams govern their areas smoothly. When you return, ask the villagers how they feel about both Police Force. Also, take a look at the area managed by the Sarutobi Police Force."
"I'm traveling the ninja world right now," Jiraiya hesitated. "But I will check it out when I get back."
Then he asked the last question. "What exactly does your Atsukara want to do in the ninja world?"
Jiraiya couldn't argue with the first two questions.
After all, Genya said he had a special connection with the Uchiha clan, and Jiraiya had explained why he hunted Sarutobi clan ninjas.
In fact, Jiraiya thought Genya was right about both, especially the idea of a special connection—he himself chose disciples based on that feeling.
But for the last question, Jiraiya was serious.
He believed every rising power had its own goals, especially a powerful group like Atsukara. Every member who appeared recently had terrifying combat strength and absolute abilities.
If they acted recklessly, they could change the entire ninja world's balance. It might even cause the ninja world to drown in blood again. Jiraiya didn't want to see that happen.
"Atsukara's goal?" Genya whispered seriously, "It's for the peace of the ninja world. The ninja world no longer needs wars. And… it's also about the people coming from beyond the sky."
As he said the last words, Genya looked up toward the sky.
Jiraiya followed his gaze. The sun shone brightly, chasing away the winter cold. He muttered softly, "People coming from beyond the sky...?"
When Jiraiya heard that the ninja world no longer needed to wage war, his heart skipped a beat. He even began to doubt himself.
The thoughts of Sun Wukong before him were similar to those of Uchiha Madara back then—unifying the ninja world!
But when he heard the rest, it felt confusing and unclear.
For someone from beyond the sky? Is there really someone beyond the sky?
So, Jiraiya thought Genya was deceiving him, not telling the truth, or simply unwilling to share their real purpose.
"All right... since you've finished asking your questions, I should be going now," Genya said slowly.
"Going?" Jiraiya wanted to ask more, but he didn't know what else to say, so a hint of reluctance appeared in his eyes.
Genya smiled faintly. "Perhaps, next time you return to Konoha, we will meet again. I just hope by then you'll still recognize me."
Recognize me.
Genya continued slowly—next time he met Jiraiya, it would be as the Uchiha clan heir.
"Wait... I have something to give you. Consider it a gift from me," he said as Jiraiya reached into his robe.
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