章 43: Jiraiya Arrives

Konoha Village Gate

With his white hair and strong, imposing figure, Jiraiya looked up at the Uchiha compound, which the Third Hokage had repaired.

The former Uchiha houses were gone, replaced by circles of walls.

The Uchiha clan had relocated their compound further away.

"Uchiha Yamaki, Mangekyō Sharingan..." Jiraiya pondered the name as he entered Konoha Village.

...

Uchiha Compound

"Lord Yamaki, the Hyūga clan has just sent a message," reported Uchiha Kaimei.

"Jiraiya has returned to the village."

"Oh?" Yamaki straightened up when inspecting the defence and detection barrier technique.

Good relations with the Hyūga clan were beneficial. Any movement on the outskirts would be relayed to the Uchiha clan first.

"Understood. The next inspection is up to you."

Yamaki had already delegated the daily maintenance of the defence and detection barrier to Kaimei. Once Kaimei, Iori, and Daichi were familiar with the technique, Yamaki selected a few talented clan members for training, ensuring future rotations.

Yamaki was familiar with Jiraiya and even admired him to some extent. However, Jiraiya's lack of personal ethics was a severe issue. Since the Third Hokage had summoned Jiraiya back, Jiraiya would surely visit Naruto.

Yamaki couldn't allow Jiraiya to lead Naruto astray.

With a few swift leaps, Yamaki headed to the Police Force.

In no time, he emerged from the Police Force, tucking a scroll into his robe.

...

Hokage Building

"Old man, I'm back," Jiraiya strolled into the Hokage's office.

The Third Hokage had already received word of Jiraiya's return.

He was used to Jiraiya's laid-back attitude by now.

The Third Hokage didn't lift his head, continuing his work. "Any news on Orochimaru?"

Seeing the Third Hokage ignore him, Jiraiya scratched his nose. Officially, he was supposed to be chasing Orochimaru, but he had gradually slacked off, collecting hot spring material instead.

Slouching in a chair, he leaned back. "No, just know he fled north. Don't know where exactly."

At this, the Third Hokage looked up, lighting his pipe and taking a deep drag.

He sighed wearily. "Konoha has been going through tough times. Now that you're back, stay for a while."

Jiraiya looked at the Third Hokage's increasingly aged face and sobered up.

The Third Hokage seemed to have aged ten years in just a few short years.

The heroic demeanour of his prime was gone.

"Old man, you've really aged."

Jiraiya's tone was mixed with sadness, worry, and anger.

"Hmph!" The Third Hokage snorted, knocking his pipe against the table. "If you'd been willing to take on this burden, would I be this old?"

Jiraiya, embarrassed, scratched his head. "Old man, you know I don't like this stuff."

The Third Hokage understood Jiraiya's nature and changed the subject to the Uchiha.

"Did you see the new Uchiha compound on your way back?"

Jiraiya nodded. "Why did they move so far away?"

The Third Hokage sighed. "We pressured the Uchiha too much in the past. Add Danzo's actions, and now the entire Uchiha clan wants nothing to do with Konoha."

Danzo's greed for Uchiha Shisui's eyes finally became known throughout the ninja world, leading to his death and nearly causing a full-scale Uchiha rebellion.

Now, even the most remote countries had heard about it, and the Hokage's faction had become a laughingstock.

Whether on missions or conducting business abroad, Konoha's people were ridiculed for this.

Jiraiya, too, had heard the news. He disliked Danzo and even suspected Danzo had a hand in Orochimaru's defection. But Danzo was a crafty fox, leaving no evidence.

At least the Third Hokage had ordered Root's dissolution.

"But isolating the Uchiha outside the village isn't right either."

The Third Hokage spread his hands helplessly. "There's no way now. The Uchiha recently gave us a big gift and haven't shown signs of rebellion."

"They even handed over the Police Force's authority. What reason do we have to bring them back into Konoha?"

Jiraiya scratched his head. "I don't have a solution either."

The Third Hokage shook his head. "The Uchiha now have two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan. No one in Konoha can stop them."

"Mangekyō Sharingan..." As one of the Sannins, Jiraiya understood its power.

"Old man, you're not asking me to test Uchiha Yamaki, are you?" Jiraiya asked.

The Third Hokage sighed. "Who else can?"

Jiraiya reluctantly agreed. "Alright, I'll look for an opportunity."

"I'm going out for a stroll!" he said, leaping out the window before the Third Hokage could react.

The Third Hokage took another drag from his pipe, then returned to his work.

...

"Ah! Ah! Ah!... There's a pervert!"

Screams erupted as countless women ran out of a hot spring inn.

Jiraiya, who had said he was going for a stroll, was peeking into the women's bath for material for his book.

He didn't expect the Hyūga clan to be there and was immediately discovered.

Jiraiya had no choice but to flee.

The news of a peeping tom at the hot spring quickly spread.

The nearby patrolling Hyūga Police Force arrived promptly, spotting a white-haired man in red being chased by a crowd.

"Beat the peeping tom!"

"Get him!"

Hyūga Yūjin, on patrol, saw his sister in the crowd and felt uneasy. He rushed over.

"Aiko, what's going on!?"

Hyūga Aiko, running and explaining, said, "I was relaxing at the hot spring with friends. Suddenly, we heard creepy laughter. Using my Byakugan, I saw this guy peeping at us!"

Hyūga Yūjin was furious! How long had it been since such a pervert appeared in Konoha? As if we didn't exist! He chased after Jiraiya furiously.

But the man ahead was swift, leaving the ordinary citizens behind with a few leaps.

Only Hyūga Yūjin, his sister, and his teammates were left in pursuit.

They were all leaping across rooftops, but the figure ahead was getting farther away. Suddenly, a few Root members blocked their path.

They watched helplessly as the peeping tom escaped.