"The five Root operatives?" Yako thought to himself, 'Don't worry, Danzō. I made sure they all went exactly where they were supposed to go. Not a single one left behind.'
Out loud, he said, "I was struck by Uchiha Madara's Wood Dragon and driven deep underground. The battle shifted below the surface. I clashed with Madara's Wood Release down there. As for the five Root members… I lost track of them."
And how could anyone blame him? He'd volunteered to stay behind, to cover the retreat. Jiraiya and Lynx both made it out. Why couldn't K? Maybe K should've reflected on himself.
K and his four rookie teammates—dead in the Rain Country. Root's reconstruction? Shattered all over again.
'Tragic.'
Danzō turned his glare on Jiraiya, seething, and then asked, "Fox. We're already briefed on the general situation. Give us your analysis."
Yako caught the hostility in Danzō's gaze and seized the chance to fan the flames.
"In my view, the heavy losses this time… were entirely avoidable!"
He spoke with force.
"Jiraiya-sama lingered in Amegakure for too long, teaching three orphans. One of them turned out to be an Uzumaki remnant.
Had Jiraiya-sama reported this disciple's identity earlier, we wouldn't have been caught off guard or struck so hard by the forces backing the Uzumaki.
Uchiha Madara is secretly supporting the Uzumaki remnants.
They've clearly joined forces.
The Uzumaki harbor deep hatred for Konoha, and Madara's loathing is even more profound. On the surface, Nagato may seem like Jiraiya-sama's student—but in reality, he's likely Madara's pawn!
In fact… the earlier attacks on Root, the Shimura clan, and even the Sarutobi clan—might all be revenge carried out by these Uzumaki remnants under Madara's guidance."
His words, sharp and plausible, drew a connecting line through the chaos.
After all, who else but Madara would dare so brazenly target Root or the Shimura clan—or even kill a rising star from the Sarutobi?
Madara had the means. Half of Konoha was practically built by him.
'You're dying soon anyway, Madara,' Yako thought. 'Might as well let you shoulder this blame for a bit.'
And if Madara dared deny it? Who would Konoha believe—an ANBU squad leader or a long-dead legend?
Jiraiya bolted upright, eyes burning. But when he remembered Fox's selfless sacrifice during the retreat, he couldn't accuse him of malice.
Instead, he turned to the elders and snapped, "I have something to say!
How was I supposed to know the village bore a grudge against the Uzumaki?! None of you ever said a word. Who would've guessed Konoha played a part in the Uzumaki clan's downfall?!"
"Enough, Jiraiya!" snapped Hiruzen, his voice like thunder.
The room went dead silent.
Yako, watching it all unfold, had a thought:
'The elders' actions… they're driving a wedge between the village and its own shinobi.'
Jiraiya was a deeply traditional ninja. His fighting style, beliefs, and loyalties were all rooted in the ideals of the First Hokage's era.
For someone like him to lose faith in the village—it meant Konoha's long-propagated values were starting to crack.
Konoha had always preached bonds, sacrifice, loyalty—for the good of the village.
But behind the scenes, those same ideals were being weaponized by the higher-ups.
Now, for the first time, Jiraiya saw the gap—between what Konoha said, and what it truly did.
They'd painted the Uzumaki as beloved allies. Their clan symbol adorned every flak jacket in the village.
And yet… not a single Uzumaki had found sanctuary in Konoha.
It didn't make sense.
It made him start to question everything.
Then Hiruzen spoke, voice hard as stone.
"The fall of the Uzumaki was a tragedy born of greed.
After founding the village, the First Hokage distributed the Tailed Beasts to maintain balance. He entrusted the Three-Tails and Six-Tails to Kirigakure.
But the Uzumaki—presumptuous as they were—tried to steal the Three-Tails, believing Mist's poor sealing arts made it vulnerable.
Their actions violated Hashirama-sama's careful balance—and drew the wrath of Kirigakure.
Konoha dispatched over two thousand shinobi to aid them, but it was too late.
No one expected the Third Mizukage to personally lead the assault.
No one expected Kirigakure to offer up one of their coastal ports just to secure Kumogakure's help.
In the end… the Hidden Mist and Hidden Cloud joined hands to annihilate Uzushio.
Jiraiya—you want to know our mistake?
We underestimated Mist's resolve.
What other village would've sent two thousand ninja to save the Uzumaki?"
Jiraiya's face contorted.
For a moment, he wondered if he'd been wrong. But then he looked up again.
"Then why… why didn't the Uzumaki come to us?
Why didn't they seek refuge here?
Surely there's a reason!"
Danzō, burning with hatred, snapped:
"Enough, both of you!
This debate about a dead clan is meaningless!
The Uzumaki were greedy and ungrateful!
And now their remnants don't strike at Mist or Cloud—they come for us!
This so-called tragedy—they brought it on themselves!"
His voice rose, veins bulging.
"The issue now is that Jiraiya failed to report the identity of his new disciple.
Root and ANBU were misled.
When we attempted to retrieve this so-called Uzumaki, Jiraiya interfered!
Had he not stalled Fox, our timing wouldn't have been delayed—and Root wouldn't have taken such heavy losses!
The real puppet master behind these 'remnants' is none other than Uchiha Madara!
Jiraiya—you must answer for the damage to Root and ANBU!"
'Yes! Keep arguing!' Yako cheered silently. 'Where's the slander? Where's the swearing on your dead relatives? Go all out!'
Jiraiya shot back, "And what would you have me do?! If you hadn't tried to seize Nagato, none of this would've happened!"
"Oh, right!" Danzō sneered. "Just wait till you're done training him so he can destroy Konoha in revenge?"
In canon, Jiraiya had indeed enabled Nagato's rampage—indirectly. His mercy had birthed a future threat. And his death at Nagato's hands? A form of atonement, perhaps.
"Jiraiya!" Danzō roared.
"You lingered in Amegakure without orders! You ignored the Second Great Ninja War!
You turned a blind eye to the deaths of countless mid- and low-ranking shinobi!
That's treason!
You trained the enemy!
You made him your student!
If it were anyone else… they'd already be executed!"
Then he turned.
"ANBU! Seize him!"
Yako perked up instantly.
'Yes! Do it! Let's fight!'
Say what you will about Danzō—his logic wasn't entirely wrong.
Had Fox done what Jiraiya did, he'd already be a wanted traitor.
And taking in orphans from an enemy nation as disciples?
That was worth several death warrants.
But Jiraiya was special.
He had Mount Myōboku behind him—and Hiruzen's favor.
Anyone else would've been dead by now.
Before anyone else could react, Jiraiya, burning with rage, started forming hand seals.
His hair lengthened—ready to strike.