Jiraiya's Visit

Night had fallen, moonlight blanketed Konoha, and as autumn turned to winter, Jiraiya used the cover of darkness to infiltrate the Uchiha Police Force with the Toad Stealth Technique.

No, calling it the Konoha Police Force might have been more fitting now.

During the day, he had accompanied Naruto around town to buy new clothes, eat Konoha snacks, and do some basic training in the afternoon.

Jiraiya had spent the entire day with Naruto, wanting to make up for Naruto's childhood as much as he could.

Because he knew that for some time to come, he would probably often need to leave a Shadow Clone behind to keep Naruto company. Although the village appeared far more stable than before, there were likely still undercurrents moving beneath the surface. Besides, based on what he knew of Root and Danzo, they would never simply stand by and watch the Uchiha continue like this.

It was not until night, after Naruto had fallen asleep, that Jiraiya found the time. He left a Shadow Clone in the room and came to the Police Force to look through the Uchiha Police Force's intelligence.

After evading the Police Force members guarding the entrance at night, Jiraiya smoothly infiltrated Senya's usual office.

"Ninja Art—Sky Cover Array."

To keep the Police Force members from noticing his presence, Jiraiya set up a sensory array, centered on himself and enveloping the entire office.

That way, if there was any movement outside the door, he could sense it through the barrier immediately and use the Reverse Summoning Technique to leave at once.

Only after completing his concealment measures did Jiraiya begin flipping through the several thick stacks of documents on Senya's desk.

At first, as Jiraiya carefully reviewed the files, he felt that Senya Uchiha—the Uchiha clan's newly appointed vice clan head and the Police Force's new deputy director—had done an excellent job reforming the Police Force.

But it took him more than an hour to quickly finish going through all the files.

They were all about village security, coordination among Police Force personnel, and regulations for internal members of the Police Force.

The only document that sparked even a little interest in him was titled, "Why Female Police Force Ninja Have Smoother Results Than Male Ninja When Carrying Out Official Duties."

By the end, Jiraiya even felt as though he had found a kindred spirit, a sense of meeting someone who truly understood him, because Senya had left this note at the end:

There is no need to question it. This is a fact. It is only natural for a capable, beautiful, cold-faced female Police Force member to handle cases more smoothly, because no one would refuse to speak with a beauty. Besides, most cases in the village are now committed by men after drinking.

That very note gave Jiraiya an urgent desire to see the Police Force's "Uchiha Female Ninja" mentioned in the document—ah, no, no.

What he wanted to see was Senya Uchiha, the man capable of writing such a philosophical truth.

After confirming that there was indeed no important intelligence in the Police Force, Jiraiya dispelled the barrier ninjutsu and used the Toad Stealth Technique once more to leave the Police Force.

Seeing that the moon had yet to reach its highest point, he decided on the spot to infiltrate the Uchiha clan's compound and meet Senya Uchiha directly—a late-night visit to probe the truth of the matter.

Countless ninja missions, two great ninja wars, and his later experiences traveling the world had honed Jiraiya's infiltration skills to perfection. He easily avoided the nighttime patrols and infiltrated the Uchiha clan's compound.

It was not until he sensed a powerful ninjutsu barrier outside Senya's new home that Jiraiya stopped.

At that moment, the bedroom was dimly lit. Only a bedside lamp barely illuminated the room.

Senya suddenly sat up, his movement waking Shizune, who had been resting her head on his arm.

Shizune remained lying in bed, unwilling to get up, mumbling something under her breath.

"I... can't take it anymore... spare me..."

Hearing Shizune's sleep-talking, Senya merely stroked her silky black hair draped over her smooth, fair skin and pulled the blanket properly over her.

In the blink of an eye, Senya had put on his combat uniform and stepped outside into the courtyard.

The instant he saw the visitor, Senya did not hesitate. He reached out and gripped the Spirit Blade Sengetsu sealed around his wrist.

"Uchiha Style - Sword Leap Flame."

Scorching crimson-orange flames coated the blade. At a speed invisible to the naked eye, Senya flashed directly to Jiraiya's side, and two slashes formed a cross as they struck at him from close range.

"Wait, I'm not here to cause trouble!"

Jiraiya was startled by Senya's sudden attack, but fortunately, he reacted in time. The flames only burned through the red outer robe over his chest.

Only after Jiraiya hurriedly explained himself did Senya stop. With a flick of his right hand, he put Sengetsu away.

Seeing that Senya had lowered his guard, Jiraiya continued speaking.

"I didn't expect the vice clan head who has recently made the Uchiha clan so renowned to possess such formidable strength at such a young age. But why did you suddenly attack me?"

As he spoke, the grin on Jiraiya's face gradually faded, replaced by a stern and serious expression.

"Hmph."

"If someone disturbed you and your girlfriend while you were sleeping in the middle of the night, would you be happy about it?"

Senya gave Jiraiya that answer irritably.

The air seemed to freeze at once. That single short sentence dealt Jiraiya an unimaginable amount of damage.

Jiraiya stood there blankly, instantly losing all the confidence he had before.

From the perspective of an ordinary man in the ninja world, it was perfectly reasonable for sixteen- or seventeen-year-old Senya to already have a girlfriend at his age.

But Jiraiya, on the other hand, was already over forty and had never once been in a relationship. Though he spent his days frequenting places like taverns, he merely passed through the flowers without a leaf touching him. All these years, Tsunade had been the only one in his heart.

Although, during his earlier travels, the village chief of Nadeshiko Village had pestered him for a time, he had ultimately dumped the wager onto his future disciple. Looking back now, that could be considered leaving Naruto a future romance.

Unfortunately, the falling flower had feelings, while the flowing water had none. Jiraiya had hinted at his feelings to Tsunade countless times, but Tsunade had never responded. He had even watched helplessly as Tsunade fell in love with Dan Katō, which had shattered his heart.

Jiraiya unconsciously compared the two of them, then looked at Senya again.

He had already lost. Whether in appearance or in life, he had lost completely and utterly.

Combined with what Senya had just said, Jiraiya instinctively put himself in the situation. If someone interrupted him and his lover in the middle of the night, that really would be...

"Ah, sorry, sorry. I truly apologize for visiting in the middle of the night. But the Uchiha have been making quite a few moves lately, and I was worried, so I came without an invitation. I hope Vice Clan Head Senya won't take offense."

Senya formed a hand seal with one hand.

"Release."

He opened the courtyard barrier and pushed open the reddish-brown gate.

"Since you've come to visit, come in and talk. How could I entertain a guest outside the door? Especially when that guest is Lord Jiraiya, one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin, renowned throughout the ninja world."

Senya turned back to look at Jiraiya and added a sentence that made Jiraiya's heart jolt.

"And there's no need for pleasantries, Lord Jiraiya. I assume the Third Hokage sent you here this time."