novel-bin Chapter 282 Attitude
Chapter 282 Attitude
For the first time, Jiraiya realized that the village had been so badly damaged by his teacher, Sarutobi, over the years, to the point that its very foundations had been touched. He had previously believed that Konoha, under Sarutobi's leadership, despite its many trials, was generally peaceful and stable. Even the annihilation of the Uchiha clan, he had thought, was a difficult decision made to protect the overall interests of Konoha. However, he now understood that his trust and understanding of Sarutobi had been misplaced. Konoha was actually riddled with problems and on the verge of collapse.
Jiraiya felt a sharp pang of heartache, as if countless needles were piercing his soul. He thought of his former disciple, Minato Namikaze, who had protected this village with his life, but now, it was unrecognizable. If the village remained under the rule of Sarutobi-sensei and the higher-ups, it might soon vanish from the ninja world. Jiraiya harbored no resentment towards the Hyuga clan's current attitude. He knew they had already made the greatest concessions, silently enduring even the village leadership's infringements on their interests. Therefore, their loss of belonging to the village was understandable.
Jiraiya stood silently outside the Hyuga clan's territory, his thoughts surging like a turbulent tide, his heart filled with contradictions and turmoil. He had originally hoped to persuade the Hyuga clan to reintegrate into the village and work together to maintain its stability through communication. However, faced with the reality before him, he didn't know how to begin.
The Hyuga clan, as one of the most important families in Konoha, has always made tremendous contributions to the village. Whether it was during the war years when they fought and sacrificed their lives to protect the village, or in the current oppressive environment when they choose to retreat and silently endure external pressure, all to avoid affecting the stability and prosperity of the village.
Jiraiya was well aware of the Hyuga clan's sacrifices and efforts, but he also understood their predicaments and grievances. He couldn't help but ponder the village's future direction and how to balance the interests of the various clans. He realized that true peace and prosperity required more understanding, tolerance, and cooperation.
At this critical moment, Jiraiya felt a great responsibility on his shoulders. He had to find a way to satisfy the reasonable demands of the Hyuga clan while ensuring that the overall interests of the village were not harmed. It would be a difficult challenge, but he was determined to do his utmost to find a way for the village to coexist harmoniously.
Hiashi Hyuga slowly appeared before Jiraiya, his gaze calm and profound. When he learned of Jiraiya's visit, he had a general idea of the man's purpose. However, the Hyuga clan had already made its decision. They would retain a small group of clan members who still held deep affection for the village, allowing them to remain and uphold their responsibility and loyalty to the Hyuga clan. The rest of the clan decided to follow in Kanan Hyuga's footsteps and retreat to his training grounds. This way, they could escape the turmoil of Konoha and live a peaceful life. For most Hyuga clan members, they felt that no matter how much they sacrificed, they would only continue to suffer oppression from the Konoha leadership. Rather than that, they chose to leave, giving their former home, Konoha, a final act of respect and dignity.
Just then, Hiashi Hyuga's arrival interrupted Jiraiya's thoughts. He looked at the former Legendary Sannin, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes. Unlike the other clan members, Hiashi Hyuga didn't display coldness or hostility; instead, he was very welcoming and invited Jiraiya into the clan's reception area.
Nevertheless, Jiraiya could still sense the deep-seated estrangement in Hiashi Hyuga's heart. This feeling filled him with regret, but he also understood that it might mean the Hyuga clan had made their final decision. Nevertheless, Jiraiya still hoped to try his best to have a sincere conversation with the Hyuga clan and try to persuade them to give up the idea of leaving the village.
Besides this, Jiraiya had another personal motive: he wanted to meet Hyuga Kanan. He knew how important Hyuga Kanan was to the Hyuga clan, and if he could change Kanan's opinion of the village, there might still be a glimmer of hope. Therefore, when Jiraiya spoke with Hyuga Hiashi, he expressed his desire to meet Hyuga Kanan.
Hiashi Hyuga didn't directly refuse, but instead said he would pass on the message. However, he knew in his heart that even if Jiraiya met Kanan Hyuga, it wouldn't change anything. Kanan Hyuga's personality meant that Jiraiya couldn't possibly get any useful clues or help from him.
In fact, in Hiashi Hyuga's view, Kanan Hyuga's friendship with Orochimaru far exceeded his feelings for Konoha. Although Orochimaru was cold-hearted, he deeply loved and cared for Konoha. He was even willing to bear the infamy of betraying his master and killing the Third Hokage to ensure the continuation and development of Konoha.
Therefore, Hiashi Hyuga believed that Kanan Hyuga might be more inclined to support Orochimaru than Konoha. This rendered Jiraiya's meeting with Kanan Hyuga pointless.
Inside the reception room, Jiraiya sat alone, his expression grave. He knew he bore a heavy responsibility, yet the current situation filled him with confusion and worry. If even a powerful ninja clan like the Hyuga chose to leave Konoha, the village would suffer a tremendous loss, potentially losing a strategically vital force. Even if he had the opportunity to meet with Hyuga Kanan, Jiraiya knew it might not change the situation. Nevertheless, he decided to try, hoping to learn more about the reasons for the Hyuga clan's departure and find a solution. He also needed to know Orochimaru's latest movements. Although he had no clue how to deal with Orochimaru, he at least needed to know his whereabouts. He longed to meet Orochimaru and confront him directly, demanding to know why he had acted this way and what his purpose was.
Hyuga Kanan didn't keep Jiraiya waiting. His seclusion these past few days had allowed him to process his gains. Now, he needed to focus on cultivating in seclusion, leveraging this breakthrough opportunity to prepare for his own. He was about to leave Konoha and return to his training grounds for proper seclusion. His meeting with Jiraiya was merely to ensure Konoha would completely abandon their entanglements. He didn't want the Hyuga clan's affairs to interfere with his important seclusion in the future.
When Jiraiya saw Hyuga Kanan enter the reception room, his previously unfocused gaze suddenly sharpened and hardened, as if he had instantly found his target. He knew that this young man might be his last chance, and the key figure to change the current situation. Therefore, he had to give it his all and concentrate all his attention on talking to him.
Jiraiya understood that if he could successfully persuade Hyuga Kanan to change his mind, the Hyuga clan might heed his advice and salvage their current unfavorable situation. Although the task was daunting, he was confident in his eloquence and persuasive skills, convinced that he could win over the young Hyuga clansman.
However, Jiraiya wasn't discouraged if he couldn't persuade Hyuga Kanan. Even if he couldn't change the situation, he had a backup plan—to obtain Orochimaru's whereabouts from Kanan. For Jiraiya, finding Orochimaru and understanding his true motives was paramount. After all, they were once friends, but now they had gone their separate ways. Jiraiya desperately wanted to see Orochimaru again, to find out why he attacked Konoha and the conspiracy behind it all.
Hyuga Kanan didn't speak or greet him. He simply walked straight to Jiraiya and sat down opposite him, then calmly looked at him, his eyes revealing no emotion. Deep down, Hyuga Kanan held Jiraiya in very low regard. In his eyes, Jiraiya was a strong ninja, but his way of thinking and behavior deeply disappointed him.
Jiraiya placed all his hopes on a prophecy, as if the future of the world was already predetermined, and he only needed to wait for the so-called savior to appear. This idea seemed utterly absurd to Hyuga Kanan. As a practitioner, one should believe in one's own power and create one's own future through continuous effort, rather than relying on vague and unfounded prophecies.
Furthermore, although Jiraiya witnessed the decline of Konoha, he never considered taking the initiative to change it. He seemed content with the status quo and lacked a proactive spirit. Hyuga Kanan believed that true strength lies in facing challenges bravely, taking responsibility, and influencing and changing one's environment through one's actions. However, Jiraiya chose to escape reality and rely on others to solve problems.
Ultimately, Jiraiya harbored a dream of peace, but he never took any concrete action to achieve it. He simply waited for a savior to arrive, hoping someone else would fulfill his dream. Hyuga Kanan believed that such people could never reach the pinnacle of training because they lacked the courage and determination to transcend themselves. Only those who dared to pursue progress, face difficulties, and persevere could ultimately become true powerhouses.
Perhaps even Jiraiya himself never realized that he had always placed his hopes on others, never understanding that dreams must be earned and achieved through one's own efforts. This might be why he never realized his ideals. He once thought that as long as he found the person who could bring peace to the world, he could complete his mission, but reality was not so simple. Therefore, even Orochimaru, who had grown up with him, was disappointed in him and ultimately chose to distance himself from him and abandon him.