A Uchiha Comes to Buy Melons

The Uchiha and Hyuga clans had never gotten along. Even back in school, their children had been at each other's throats, and members of both clans were always trying to outdo one another.

Getting too close to the Hyuga Clan should, by rights, have earned him a scolding.

Surprisingly, Munakata actually approved. By his logic, the fact that even a girl from the Hyuga Clan was eager to befriend his son only proved how charming the Uchiha were.

For the first time, Akashi felt like he couldn't keep up with his old man's train of thought.

But he thought this whole business of "getting along" sounded pretty unreliable.

After all, who did the Uchiha Clan get along with?

A dozen days passed in the blink of an eye.

The two met up several more times. Akashi happily stole lessons in Gentle Fist, and after all their physical clashes and exchanges over the past few days, he and Shingetsu had grown much closer.

In response to his enthusiastic greetings, the once-cold Shingetsu gradually began returning them.

Apart from training, they somehow found more and more to talk about.

Their conversations ranged from reminiscing about their school days to comparing famous ninja from different generations, and plenty in between. Every so often, they even discussed the latest gossip.

For example, Itachi Uchiha had been forbidden from training with "all sorts of questionable people" and had to wear proper clothes bearing his clan's crest.

Akashi laughed for ages when he heard the news.

Seven years old and already thinking like a Hokage. Hahahahaha...

Shingetsu couldn't see what was so funny. Perplexed, she chatted with Akashi on and off as they headed to the back mountain.

Suddenly, a familiar conversation reached their ears.

"Are these melons ripe?"

"I run a fruit stand. You think I'd sell you unripe melons?"

The lines, etched into his DNA, made Akashi jump. He stopped in his tracks and glanced over. There was a fruit shop not far away.

A Uchiha had come to buy melons.

The Gunbai Clan Crest on his back made his identity obvious.

"What's wrong?" Shingetsu asked curiously, looking over.

"That's someone from the Police Force," Akashi recognized him. "I've got a bad feeling about this."

"What's the big deal about buying a melon?"

"That's exactly why buying a melon can lead to trouble," Akashi said.

The fruit seller's eyes were completely white, like clear mirrors beneath a blue sky. He was undoubtedly a member of the Hyuga Clan. Great clans like this had many descendants, and not all of them were ninja. Some made a living through business, contributing money and supplies to the Main House.

Running a fruit shop in Konoha counted as a business venture, too.

With the Hyuga name behind the shop, everyone showed them some respect.

But this Uchiha ninja had no intention of showing any. He nitpicked everything: first the melons, then the weight. The seller grew angry, and the two began arguing in front of the stall, their voices turning increasingly hostile.

Before long, a Hyuga ninja came out from the side.

"You picking a fight on purpose?"

"What's it to you? Stay out of it, or I'll have you dragged into the Police Force."

Konoha's Police Force was an organization specifically tasked with maintaining internal security. It had a complete system and considerable authority.

Crimes in the village, civil disputes, and even everyday order all fell under the Police Force's jurisdiction.

And most members of the Police Force were Uchiha ninja.

Out of fear, people usually didn't dare criticize the Police Force. That only emboldened the Uchiha, and as time went on, a few bad apples were bound to tarnish their reputation.

On top of that, the Uchiha themselves were arrogant and didn't know when to hold back. They had offended more than a few people.

But this time, the person being threatened wasn't someone to mess with, either.

"Oh, so you're a big shot from the Police Force. No wonder you bark louder than the dogs back home."

"What did you say?"

"So what? Buy some fruit if you want, and if you don't, get out. What gives you the right to make trouble and ruin someone's business? If you dare arrest me for that, I'll tear your Police Force down."

At the end, the ninja pointed emphatically at himself. "I, Nagi Hyuga, mean what I say!"

"Sure. I don't believe you've got what it takes."

"Try me."

"You..."

They each stuck to their own version of events, arguing without end.

The feud between the Uchiha and Hyuga ran deeper than Akashi had imagined. Both clans had their own pride and convictions, and their interests were bound to clash when it came to dividing up the village's resources.

Or rather, this was exactly the kind of divide-and-conquer strategy the core members of the Konoha High Command had intended.

They secretly propped up one side and quietly suppressed the other, then played peacemaker in public, keeping all the power firmly in their own hands.

This way of managing the village had its uses, but it also sowed the seeds of disaster.

Akashi and Shingetsu exchanged a look and silently understood each other.

Passersby were quickly drawn to the commotion, but none dared approach to watch. They could only prick up their ears and steal glances.

Mindful of his dignity, Nagi Hyuga didn't want to keep arguing. He gave a cold laugh.

"That's just how Uchiha are. You think you're so great!"

"Don't make me laugh. Your Hyuga Clan only acts tough because someone's backing you. If we really fought, it's anyone's guess who'd win."

The Uchiha ninja sneered. "And you? You're nothing but a dog from the Main House."

Akashi clearly felt Shingetsu's hand tremble beside him.

A dog from the Main House.

Those four words cut to the bone.

As one of the oldest founding clans from the very beginning of Konoha, the Uchiha had long resented the Hyuga Clan being called "Konoha's strongest."

In their eyes, the Sharingan was the strongest dōjutsu!

And that wasn't all. They deserved a place among Konoha's foremost clans—and a share of the Hokage Position, too!

"Bastard!" Nagi Hyuga couldn't take such an insult. He reached into his ninja tool pouch and drew a Kunai. To him, "dog from the Main House" stung more than any other insult.

The Uchiha ninja's eyes lit up, and he secretly rejoiced.

Picking a fight in the street was certainly in the wrong, but private brawling was strictly forbidden on the village's commercial streets. Attacking a fellow villager was more than enough to get someone hauled into the Police Force.

Just as the situation was about to explode, a figure stepped between them.

"That's enough!"

Long white hair, a tall build, and a Forehead Protector marked with the character for "oil."

One of the Konoha Sannin, Jiraiya!

As one of Konoha's most elite jonin, his current strength was likely second only to the Hokage. He was a fearsome figure who made enemy nations tremble.

But hadn't he gone traveling?

Had he come back?

With Jiraiya there, even the Uchiha and Hyuga lost some of their swagger. They quieted down in unison.

He had a broad, friendly appearance, like a neighborly uncle. His loose, brownish shirt and wooden sandals hardly made him look like a master, but when he grew serious, his presence commanded respect.

"We're all from the same village. What's so serious that you have to take it this far?"

"Lord Jiraiya, he—"

"That's enough. I just got back, and I don't want to hear you argue. If you insist on making a big deal out of this, I'll talk to the heads of the Hyuga and Uchiha clans." Jiraiya mediated between them, and with a single appearance, he brought the situation under control.

They knew full well that even their clan heads had to show the Konoha Sannin some respect.

After all, his strength spoke for itself.

For the moment, even the two hotheads fell silent.

Jiraiya looked from one side to the other and said calmly, "All right. Go home."

They wouldn't dare act up in front of one of the Sannin, so they had no choice but to agree.

"Hmph. You got lucky," Nagi Hyuga muttered, then strode away.

The Uchiha ninja left quietly after him, and the crowd dispersed. Jiraiya glanced at Akashi and Shingetsu, furrowed his brow slightly, then confirmed everything was fine and left as well.

In just a few minutes, everyone's emotions had swung up and down.

Even more astonishing was the fact that Jiraiya had come back!

Akashi found it strange, too. Jiraiya was heading toward the Hokage Building. Could something big have happened?

?

Knock, knock, knock—

The Hokage's office door was rapped on.

"Come in—"

"Old man." Before he could get out a second word, Jiraiya opened the door and swaggered into the Hokage's office, plopping himself down on the desk.

"I'm back!"

"Jiraiya." The Third Hokage first stood up in surprise, then smiled helplessly. "Is that any way to talk to your teacher? At least get off the desk first."

Jiraiya shifted to lean against the corner of the desk and continued, "It's not like I've never sat here before."

The Third Hokage gave him a helpless look and scolded him with a smile. "You hopeless student!"

"You should be happy to see me. I've brought back some very important intelligence."

Jiraiya smiled.

"What intelligence?"

"The Land of Wind has been very active lately. They've sent out several special operations squads. Some have infiltrated the Land of Rain, and others have entered the Land of Fire. You should send reinforcements to the border right away."

"I'll get on it at once," the Third Hokage replied with a nod.

"Here, I've left the intelligence on several countries. Take a look yourself." Jiraiya waved a hand. "I'm off to enjoy a nice hot spring. Don't spy on me with the Telescope Technique."

"Would I... really do something that creepy?" the Third Hokage asked, speechless.

"We watched Orochimaru bathe together back in the day, and you lost a bet to me, remember?"

The Third Hokage was at a loss with this student of his. He took a puff of his pipe and asked, "What about you? You're not leaving again this time, are you? After the Nine-Tails Incident, things in the village haven't been good. The large-scale wars have ended, but local skirmishes keep breaking out. The village needs you."

"I still haven't found the Child of Prophecy."

Jiraiya suddenly grew serious. "I came back this time to say goodbye to Minato."

With that, he swaggered out.

Though he had spent years away, his heart was still with Konoha.

After all, Konoha was his home, and it had so many beautiful women—and his dear student.

He thought very highly of that student. Both his character and his abilities were top-notch.

Even his taste in wives was a lot like Jiraiya's!

Whenever he remembered how fiery Kushina Uzumaki and Tsunade could get when they were angry, he couldn't help teasing Minato.

What a shame Minato had died so young.

Jiraiya had been grief-stricken when he heard the news. If he'd been in Konoha at the time, maybe he could have saved Minato. He would even have given his own life in Minato's place.

They said Minato had died alongside Kushina, smiling even as he passed.

"Honestly..." A look of comfort appeared amid Jiraiya's sorrow. "You hopeless student!"