Playing Politics Is Dirty

The Evening Afterglow slanted through the window into the Hokage Office, casting a long shadow on the floor.

The Third Hokage sat at his desk, his pipe emitting thin wisps of smoke, a thick stack of documents piled before him.

He squinted, reading through them one by one, occasionally jotting a few words on the side.

The door was pushed open.

"Yo, Old Man, still busy?"

A boisterous voice came in, and then Jiraiya ambled in, hands tucked into his sleeves, a look of leisure on his face.

The Third Hokage looked up at him, then lowered his head to continue reading the documents.

"You're back?"

"Mm." Jiraiya walked to the window, glanced outside, then turned and leaned against the windowsill. "The mission is complete."

"How was it?"

Jiraiya chuckled, his expression becoming suggestive.

"I went to the hot springs to gather material today. The harvest was significant. The beauties in those hot springs, their figures, their curves, especially the one with the Buns Hairstyle, tsk tsk tsk..."

The Third Hokage nodded subconsciously, his hand holding the pen still working on the documents. "Oh."

"Her skin was as white as Tofu, water droplets sliding down her shoulders..."

"Oh."

"And the one with the Ponytail, her back view was so elegant..."

"Oh."

Jiraiya got more and more animated, gesturing with his hands.

The Third Hokage's pen suddenly stopped, and he slowly looked up, as if realizing something was amiss.

Jiraiya was still gushing, "Especially when she turned her head, that profile..."

"Cough, cough, cough." The Third Hokage coughed heavily twice.

Jiraiya froze for a second, met the Third Hokage's expressionless face, and stammered an explanation, "Ah... that... I didn't mean it like that..."

The Third Hokage took a deep breath and put down his pipe.

"I was asking about that child, Shin Nohara."

Jiraiya's expression stiffened for a second, then he also gave a dry cough, stood up straight, and tried his best to put on a serious demeanor.

"Oh, that, I know, I know."

Under the Third Hokage's Death Stare, Jiraiya chuckled sheepishly twice and quickly changed the subject.

"That brat is very interesting."

The Third Hokage looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

Jiraiya's expression became a little more serious. "I watched for two days, and Root members were indeed nearby, but they were quite sensible and retreated when they saw me."

"And now?"

"They haven't appeared these past few days," Jiraiya said. "They probably know I'm here and don't dare to act rashly."

The Third Hokage nodded, picked up his pipe, took a puff, and smoke slowly rose in the lamplight.

Jiraiya watched him and suddenly asked, "Old Man, what's so special about that brat? Why would Danzo target him?"

The Third Hokage was silent for two seconds.

"A few days ago, about Hatake Sakumo, did you know?"

Jiraiya nodded. "I heard. The mission failed, and public opinion was one-sided."

"Sakumo was in a very bad state those days."

"And then?"

"Then that child went to see him." The Third Hokage couldn't help but take a puff of his pipe. "They talked alone for ten minutes, and the next day, Sakumo's state improved a lot."

Jiraiya was stunned and asked again, "That brat?"

"Mm."

The Third Hokage nodded clearly.

Jiraiya remembered the brat who haggled with him, remembered his strange dream of "destroying Chinjao."

That child could influence Konoha's White Fang?

Jiraiya opened his mouth, not knowing what to say for a moment.

"I was also very surprised," the Third Hokage put down his pipe. "But that's how it is."

After a long while, Jiraiya finally spoke. "So Danzo is targeting him because he can influence Hatake Sakumo?"

"Even if there's only a one percent chance, Danzo will try," the Third Hokage nodded.

Jiraiya curled his lips. "Those who play politics have dirty hearts."

As soon as the words fell, he felt a gaze land on him.

Jiraiya looked up, meeting the Third Hokage's expressionless eyes, and chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head.

"Ahaha... I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about Danzo..."

The Third Hokage withdrew his gaze and continued to smoke.

Jiraiya quickly changed the subject, "Then you asked me to keep an eye on that brat, are you afraid Danzo will make a move on him?"

"Mhm." The Third Hokage nodded, "That child is innocent and cannot be dragged into these matters."

He took another puff of his cigarette.

"Besides, I've also rearranged his father's job."

Jiraiya froze for a moment.

"His father? Who?"

"Nohara Hiroshi, a Chunin," the Third Hokage said. "Root wanted to recruit him, so I simply transferred him to the Hokage building."

Jiraiya scratched his head.

"Is it necessary to make such a big fuss? He's just a five-year-old child, how could Sakumo truly listen to him?"

"You don't understand," the Third Hokage shook his head.

Jiraiya looked at him.

"Changing Nohara Hiroshi's job was just a simple matter," the Third Hokage said slowly, taking a drag from his cigarette. "That position needed to be filled anyway. If not him, then someone else. I didn't lose anything, but I avoided a lot of trouble."

He paused.

"As for Sakumo, you don't understand that man."

Jiraiya listened in silence.

"Sakumo is sensitive and values loyalty," the Third Hokage said. "After so many missions, he was negated by everyone because of one failure. The things he's holding inside are more than we imagine."

He glanced at Jiraiya.

"At a time like that, support is incredibly important to him, and the person who supports him is also incredibly important."

The Third Hokage paused.

"Moreover, that child is indeed unusual."

Jiraiya fell silent.

Recalling that child in the barbecue restaurant who seriously declared, "Bell peppers are the enemy of my life."

Indeed, quite interesting.

"Alright, I got it. I'll keep an eye out for a couple more days."

Jiraiya walked a few steps away and suddenly stopped.

"Old Man."

"Hmm?"

"It's time for dinner."

The Third Hokage paused, glanced down at the documents on his desk, and then looked out the window.

Indeed, it was already dark.

He chuckled, waved his hand, "Got it, get lost."

Jiraiya grinned, pushed the door open, and left.

The office fell silent again.

The Third Hokage remained seated, looking at the darkening sky outside the window, and took a puff of his cigarette.

Meanwhile, deep within the Root base.

Danzo sat under the dim light, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.

A Root ninja stood before him, head bowed, not daring to speak.

"What about Nohara Hiroshi?" Danzo asked.

The ninja looked up and said cautiously, "He was intercepted by the Hokage's office."

Danzo's eyes narrowed, and then he suddenly smiled, "Hiruzen, you got ahead of me again."

He stood up and walked to the wall, looking at the map of Konohagakure hanging there.

"But can you always be one step ahead?"

His finger landed on the location of the Ninja Academy on the map.

"That child," Danzo murmured to himself, "no rush. Take it slow."