Jiraiya stiffened and stared at Sasuke like a criminal caught in the spotlight. Except he wasn't a criminal, and definitely not one that was part of the conspiracy, judging by the look of complete shock on his face. Not even Orochimaru's disappearance had taken him by so much surprise.
His first reaction was that Sasuke was lying. That Sasuke was trying to make something up to put a rift between Jiraiya and the rest of the village--more than there was already, anyways. It was easier to explain, easier to believe, because what Sasuke was telling him was incomprehensible. They ordered Itachi to murder his entire clan? And he had done it? But then--
"Why?" The question was out of his mouth before he knew he had asked it, and then he shut his mouth, still looking at Sasuke with outright shock.
He slowly thought over what he knew about Itachi. Itachi had been considered a prodigy before the massacre, and was one of the most brilliant shinobi that Konohagakure had seen in a very long time. People had said that he had crossed the line between genius and madness, and that had been the reason... but now, it almost made sense for it to be otherwise.
When he returned to Konoha to kidnap Naruto, not a single person had been killed. He could have easily done so, but he had not. And when Sasuke had followed Itachi in an attempt to kill him, Itachi avoided any sort of lethal blows. If he was truly insane, then why didn't he kill his brother? He could have fought much harder than he did back then, but instead, he had run away after a short battle.
Kakashi had told him about the next time they fought Itachi. Once again, Itachi had killed no one from the village. So then....
It made sense. What Sasuke said made sense. Almost. There were problems. Or, one big problem.
"But... even he wasn't strong enough to do it alone," Jiraiya stated, his shock slowly being replaced a grim expression. "If what you are saying is true... then how did you find out? He would have carried that secret to the grave."
There were too many questions. He knew that he was starting to believe Sasuke, and the questions were painful that he was asking.. but if Sasuke wanted him to answer questions, then he was going to have to give him more information to work with.
Inside M58, FFFF sorry HARDEST REPLY EVER. OTL
His first reaction was that Sasuke was lying. That Sasuke was trying to make something up to put a rift between Jiraiya and the rest of the village--more than there was already, anyways. It was easier to explain, easier to believe, because what Sasuke was telling him was incomprehensible. They ordered Itachi to murder his entire clan? And he had done it? But then--
"Why?" The question was out of his mouth before he knew he had asked it, and then he shut his mouth, still looking at Sasuke with outright shock.
He slowly thought over what he knew about Itachi. Itachi had been considered a prodigy before the massacre, and was one of the most brilliant shinobi that Konohagakure had seen in a very long time. People had said that he had crossed the line between genius and madness, and that had been the reason... but now, it almost made sense for it to be otherwise.
When he returned to Konoha to kidnap Naruto, not a single person had been killed. He could have easily done so, but he had not. And when Sasuke had followed Itachi in an attempt to kill him, Itachi avoided any sort of lethal blows. If he was truly insane, then why didn't he kill his brother? He could have fought much harder than he did back then, but instead, he had run away after a short battle.
Kakashi had told him about the next time they fought Itachi. Once again, Itachi had killed no one from the village. So then....
It made sense. What Sasuke said made sense. Almost. There were problems. Or, one big problem.
"But... even he wasn't strong enough to do it alone," Jiraiya stated, his shock slowly being replaced a grim expression. "If what you are saying is true... then how did you find out? He would have carried that secret to the grave."
There were too many questions. He knew that he was starting to believe Sasuke, and the questions were painful that he was asking.. but if Sasuke wanted him to answer questions, then he was going to have to give him more information to work with.