Chapter 536: New Mission

Border of the Land of Rivers, in a rushing river.

A greenish color appeared from the river water, and a toad the size of half a meter poked its head out of the river water. Its protruding eyes observed the surroundings, and there was a light of wisdom in its eyes.

After confirming there was no danger around, the toad opened its mouth wide, and a hand reached out from the toad's mouth.

Jiraiya crawled out of the toad's mouth and stood on the water surface. Fresh blood soaked through the clothes on his chest; the high-intensity battle earlier had caused the blade wound on his chest to burst open.

"So these are members of the Akatsuki organization. Can't underestimate them."

Jiraiya had been investigating the Akatsuki organization all over the world, and today, he had fought with members of the Akatsuki organization. The result was not optimistic; the lack of information had caused him to fall into a disadvantage when they first fought.

"It's a pity I didn't capture a prisoner, but I obtained precious information. This kind of information must be conveyed back to Konoha as soon as possible."

Performing hand seals, white smoke rose, and a toad was summoned by Jiraiya.

This toad had a peculiar appearance: its body was slender, its head was deep yellow, and except for the torso position of the upper body, the lower half of its body was a scroll more than a meter long.

"Jiraiya."

Gamatora hugged his shoulders. The scroll on his body recorded important information, including the key to unlocking the Nine-Tails seal.

Gamatora knew that Jiraiya wouldn't summon him unless there was something important.

"Gamatora, help me convey a message to Tsunade."

Jiraiya summarized the information about Su Xiao's trio and conceived a strategy to deal with the three.

After a long time, Gamatora nodded.

"Understood. You suffered such a heavy injury because of those three?"

"Yes. If I haven't guessed wrong, these three are just members of the Akatsuki organization, not the leader. Members have this kind of strength; the leader will only be more difficult to deal with. I already have some information. The Akatsuki organization often appears near the Rain Village. I plan to heal my injuries first, and then go directly to the Rain Village after returning to Konoha to see Tsunade."

Jiraiya had long had the idea of sneaking into the Rain Village, but there had always been a sense of ominousness in his heart.

"You want to sneak into the Rain Village alone? It is isolated from the outside world, and only known for raining all year round and internal strife; there is very little other information."

"Hmm, I will go there later. A ninja village closed to this extent is very abnormal. I suspect that is the base camp of the Akatsuki organization. This is just a suspicion; the specific situation can only be determined after scouting."

"Alright, then I'll go first. I'll help you convey the information."

"Many thanks."

*Bang*, white smoke rose, and Gamatora disappeared.

Jiraiya walked onto the riverbank. According to his memory, there was a village nearby suitable for him to heal his injuries.

Land of Rain, inside a sealed cave. There was an oil lamp in the cave, and several phantoms stood around the oil lamp.

"That's how it is. The assassination of the Daimyō of the Land of Rivers was successful, and Jiraiya was driven back by us. The Three Sannin aren't much."

Deidara's phantom yawned. It was the middle of the night, and he was still sleeping when Pain contacted him.

"Jiraiya."

The Deva Path murmured, his emotions not fluctuating much.

"Was your location exposed?"

Konan's phantom looked at Su Xiao. This matter made Su Xiao somewhat suspicious; he had just joined the combination of Sasori and Deidara, and Jiraiya appeared.

"Hmm, exposed. It's very likely that the Three Sannin Jiraiya just happened to pass by. We didn't make a move when intercepting the target, and he appeared later in a sneak attack. The location of the sneak attack was chosen in a hurry, and he wasn't familiar with the information about the few of us."

Sasori saw Konan's meaning and spoke a few fair words for Su Xiao. During the battle earlier, Su Xiao's performance was obvious to all; spies didn't act like that.

"Jiraiya is investigating us." Su Xiao suddenly spoke.

"Hmm?"

Both the Deva Path and Konan looked at Su Xiao.

"How do you know?"

"He recognized our attire."

Su Xiao remembered a sentence Jiraiya had said earlier.

"What evidence is there?"

The Deva Path naturally wouldn't believe Su Xiao's one-sided words.

"When Jiraiya first met us, he whispered a sentence: 'Red clouds on a black background trench coat, there's no mistake. These are members of the Akatsuki organization.' Although he spoke in a very small voice, I was very close to him at that time and could vaguely hear it."

Su Xiao wasn't making things up; Jiraiya had indeed murmured that before the battle started.

The Deva Path looked at Sasori and Deidara. Both shook their heads. Sasori thought for a moment and said: "We were very far from Jiraiya; only Bai Ye got close to Jiraiya and injured Jiraiya."

Su Xiao hadn't joined the Akatsuki for long; it was perfectly normal to be suspected.

"There might be an enemy spy among us, but this possibility is not high."

Su Xiao's words made Konan feel somewhat surprised. She had suspected for a moment earlier that Su Xiao was Jiraiya's spy, but then she dismissed this thought in her mind.

"What do you mean?"

The Deva Path looked at Su Xiao, signaling Su Xiao to continue.

"First, Sasori and Deidara had already been waiting there for two days. If Jiraiya had known this information in advance, he would never have chosen the location for the sneak attack in a hurry after I arrived.

Of course, it is also possible that I am Jiraiya's spy. This suspicion cannot be ruled out. You can investigate or suspect; after all, I have only joined the Akatsuki for a few short days."

Su Xiao stopped talking. The Deva Path looked at Konan. If this matter was really leaked by an Akatsuki member, the two already had a suspect in mind.

Itachi. That's right, it was Uchiha Itachi. On the first day Itachi joined the Akatsuki organization, Nagato had guessed that Itachi might be a spy for Konoha, but Itachi had utility value, and both sides had an agreement; Itachi absolutely dared not cross the line.

From the fact that Nagato went to challenge Konoha alone after Itachi died, it could be seen that it was Itachi who held Nagato back, indirectly protecting Konoha.

The Deva Path Pain thought for a moment and felt that this matter didn't look like information leaked by Itachi.

In that case, the three had indeed encountered Jiraiya by chance during the mission. As for Su Xiao, Nagato hadn't suspected him from the beginning. Even a spy with a simple mind wouldn't do this kind of thing just after joining the Akatsuki organization.

Was it really because of bad luck? Perhaps, after all, a "Chief" had come to the three-person squad, and Sasori and Deidara would be caught in the crossfire at any time.

"This matter ends here. I will handle the follow-up. You have other missions, Konan."

The three of Su Xiao looked at Konan.

"Recently, a rather dangerous commission has been received: the pacification of the civil war in the Land of Water. Some people don't want the Land of Water to stop the civil war so early, so..."

After listening to the mission Konan described, a smile appeared on Su Xiao's face.

"This mission is not bad. Can I kill the Mizukage?"

Su Xiao didn't expect that he would return to the Land of Water so soon, and he was even responsible for inciting the civil war in the Land of Water.

"If you can kill her, it doesn't matter. Don't delay the mission. That is all."

The Deva Path's phantom disappeared, and Konan also disappeared.

"Really busy. Going back to sleep."

Deidara also disappeared, and Su Xiao and Sasori also disappeared together.

Within the Land of Rivers, a wind-sheltered harbor formed by giant rocks. Two people were resting against the rocks, and there was another figure keeping watch not far away.

The one keeping watch was Sasori, but he had proposed it himself; Sasori could no longer be considered a human; he didn't need sleep or food.

"When are we leaving?"

Deidara yawned and threw a few pieces of firewood into the fire. It was very cold at night in the Land of Rivers.

"Tomorrow morning. I lost too much blood."

Su Xiao leaned lazily against a giant rock, seemingly having a lazy attack.

"Can do."

Sasori's voice drifted from not far away. Because Hiruko was shattered, Sasori was showing himself in his true body, looking like a handsome youth with red hair.

Su Xiao glanced at Deidara and then at Sasori. The looks of these two were completely an idol combination. ===== CHAPTER 537 =====