The Times Have Changed, Jiraiya!

The men were speechless, feeling as miserable as if they had swallowed excrement.

"Lord Danzo, it is not that we haven't tried."

"It is just that this kid's life is truly too regimented!"

"He clocks in at the gate of the Konoha Military Police Force at eight sharp every morning, starts work at nine, leaves promptly at five in the afternoon, and then heads straight back to the Uchiha compound."

"His life is a perfect three-point line."

"It is terrifyingly regular!"

"Even if we wanted to make contact privately, we cannot find a single opportunity!"

For the first time, they felt that living a life that was too regular was not a good thing.

Moreover, Uchiha Shingen's lifestyle looked for all the world like that of a salted fish, someone just punching the clock and coasting toward retirement.

Could a person like this really risk so much to carry out a mission of connecting with the Third Hokage's faction?!

Someone tentatively spoke up:

"Lord Danzo, could it be that we..."

"Have made a mistake?!"

"Perhaps the relationship between him and Lord Jiraiya is truly just a simple discussion about creative writing?!"

"After all, you should know better than us."

"Lord Jiraiya has been away from Konoha for so many years, and the novels he writes become more popular with each release; he even refused the pleas of the Third Hokage and yourself to stay back then because of it."

"Maybe we are just overthinking this?!"

"Fools!"

Danzo barked, his lowered eyes gleaming with the fierce light of someone who saw through everything:

"Do you really think Jiraiya left Konoha to find inspiration for his books?!"

"Wrong!"

"Dead wrong!"

"Even if I did not hear him say it myself, I have gathered Jiraiya's true purpose from the scattered words of Hiruzen."

"What he seeks has never been so-called inspiration, but the so-called Child of Prophecy, who can completely end the wars of the ninja world."

"Heh..."

Danzo sneered, the contempt in his tone impossible to hide:

"If there really were such a thing as a Child of Prophecy, how could this world have turned into the hellscape it is today?!"

"It seems now that Jiraiya may have finally realized this, which is why he returned to Konoha to pin his hopes on an alliance between the Uchiha and Konoha?"

"Decades ago, when the First Hokage, the Second Hokage, and Uchiha Madara were alive and working in concert, perhaps it might have been possible."

"But unfortunately, the times have changed!"

"Regardless, Jiraiya's goal can absolutely not be just writing books."

"His actions must be sanctioned by Hiruzen!"

"Keep investigating!"

"If you cannot find anything..."

"If I cannot have it, I will not let Hiruzen succeed either!"

"If necessary, make Uchiha Shingen disappear!"

"Yes!"

Several days later.

Eight in the morning.

At the gate of the Konoha Military Police Force, Uchiha Shingen finished clocking in, stretched his back, and led his subordinates toward South District 4.

Looking around and seeing that Shisui had not arrived, Uchiha Shingen turned to Tezaku:

"Where is that kid Shisui?!"

"I heard he went to participate in the Chunin Exams."

"The Chunin Exams?!"

Uchiha Shingen was somewhat surprised.

Normally, a ninja who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy had to perform missions for at least several months and gain the approval of their squad leader before they had the chance to participate in the Chunin Exams.

Shisui had graduated less than a month ago; he was truly an exception.

However.

After a moment of thought, it actually made sense.

As the most gifted ninja the Uchiha had produced in the last twenty years.

Shisui was far beyond his peers in both temperament and strength.

He had even earned the favor of the Third Hokage, so it was logical that a fast track had been opened for him.

Tezaku, however, felt a sense of melancholy:

"This is what a genius is!"

"They are creatures from an entirely different dimension than the rest of us."

Tezaku was a veteran of the Police Force; he was over twenty, yet still a genin.

This was the path most Konoha ninja were destined to walk.

Out of ten people, perhaps three or four could manage a normal promotion to chunin, but becoming a jonin was truly one in a hundred.

As for those who reached chunin at Shisui's age, throughout the history of Konoha, there had been only a handful.

The last person to have such a rate of promotion was a contemporary of Uchiha Shingen.

Hatake Kakashi, who was already said to be preparing for the jonin examination.

"Well~"

After a few seconds of dejection, Tezaku's face returned to its usual smile, and he mocked himself:

"People like us aren't doing too badly, though it's a bit of a pity for Captain Shingen."

"Becoming a chunin at thirteen—if he works hard, there's a possibility of becoming a jonin in the future."

"Spare me."

Uchiha Shingen curled his lip.

He already possessed jonin-level combat power, but he had no intention of revealing it.

His current life was quite good.

He had no worries about food or clothing, stable work, and in the future, he would even have a fairly decent income from his manuscripts.

Life was visibly moving in a positive direction.

The future looked bright!

The group chatted idly as they walked to the streets of South District 4, then split up to begin their duties.

What surprised Uchiha Shingen was that Jiraiya had not shown up today.

After waiting for half an hour and seeing no sign that Jiraiya intended to appear, he simply sat down in a teahouse and began a leisurely life of slacking off.

"Captain Shingen!"

By the time Shisui returned, it was already five in the afternoon.

He wore a clear smile on his face; evidently, the Chunin Exams had gone far more smoothly than imagined.

He shook the forehead protector in his hand, looking at Uchiha Shingen with a hint of provocation:

"I'm a chunin now, too."

"Come to think of it, I've never crossed blades with you, Captain..."

Uchiha Shingen had already packed his things and was ready to clock out right on time. Seeing Shisui ask this, he immediately understood his intent:

"You want to try?!"

"Of course."

Shisui nodded, his eyes solemn:

"After all, since I joined the Police Force, I haven't seen you make a move even once."

"That is absolutely out of the question."

Uchiha Shingen didn't even think about it, refusing decisively:

"I'm not the type who excels at combat~!"

"Besides, I haven't fought in a long time since joining the Police Force, and my skills have declined significantly."

"I'm sure I'm no match for you~"

Uchiha Shingen had no interest in such thankless tasks, especially those born purely from a momentary impulse to spar.

Having said that, he ignored Shisui's expression, waved at him, and turned to leave on his own.

Under the setting sun.

Uchiha Shingen's shadow stretched long, further highlighting the aura of a salted fish that clung to his entire being.

Shisui stood frozen in place.

He had thought of many possible answers, but he had never expected Uchiha Shingen to refuse so bluntly.

This wasn't very "Uchiha," but it was very Uchiha Shingen!

Shisui offered a helpless smile, yet he had no intention of giving up just yet.

His eyes darted around, and he immediately hit upon an idea.

He ducked into a mask shop by the roadside, and when he emerged, a fox mask covered his face, and he had donned a loose cloak that obscured his figure.

"I will make you draw your blade, Captain Shingen!"

Beneath the mask.

Shisui's lips curled upward slightly. With a flash, he vanished from the side of the street and sped off in the direction Uchiha Shingen had departed.