Uchiha Shingen VS Shisui!

At the same time.

Hokage Building.

Jiraiya pushed open the door to the Hokage's office and plopped onto the sofa. After pouring himself a cup of tea, he turned to look at the Third Hokage:

"What do you want with me so late?!"

"Old man, my writing is at a critical juncture right now. Every second is precious."

The Third Hokage glanced down at him and said irritably:

"So many years have passed, and you're still this unreliable."

The Third Hokage felt somewhat helpless about his three disciples.

Tsunade, as a direct descendant of the First Hokage and having rendered great service to Konoha over the years, should have been the most suitable successor to the Hokage position.

It was just that during the Second Shinobi World War, she first lost her lover and then watched her younger brother die tragically on the battlefield, thereafter developing hemophobia.

Let alone inheriting the Hokage position, she couldn't even go to the battlefield.

Orochimaru was the most steady and clear-headed.

However, his whereabouts had become increasingly mysterious in recent years, and even his teacher couldn't quite see through him. He was in too much private contact with Danzo, and who knew what he was thinking.

Looking at it this way.

Jiraiya, who was usually unreliable but always dependable in critical moments, was actually the most suitable person to inherit the Hokage position. It was just a pity that his heart wasn't in it.

Thinking of this.

The Third Hokage sighed inwardly, then quickly composed himself and asked:

"How much do you know about Uchiha Shingen?!"

Jiraiya paused slightly, put down his tea, and looked at the Third Hokage:

"If you're asking about him as a creator, then he's a prodigy. I've never seen anyone with such outstanding talent at his age."

"If he weren't only thirteen years old this year, I would have thought he was an old hand at navigating the romantic scene."

"His understanding of love and desire is simply beyond imagination..."

Jiraiya spoke with increasing enthusiasm.

He didn't notice the Third Hokage's strange expression at all.

After a long while.

The Third Hokage finally couldn't help but interrupt Jiraiya's outpouring:

"So, you two have really just been discussing your writing all this time?!"

"Writing your... those..."

"Obscene books?!"

As he spoke.

The Third Hokage subtly used a file to cover up the copy of Make-Out Hell on his desk.

This scene naturally didn't escape Jiraiya's perception. A teasing smile appeared on his face:

"Don't hide it~"

"Old man, you're enjoying it quite a bit, aren't you?!"

"Nonsense!"

The Third Hokage's old face flushed red, and he began to argue illogically, saying:

"I'm paying attention to my student's current situation!"

"Heh~"

Jiraiya didn't believe him at all and glanced sideways at the Third Hokage:

"You don't need to pretend with me, do you?!"

"Teacher Sarutobi~!"

"You brat!"

The Third Hokage chuckled and cursed, then subtly changed the subject:

"Then, as a ninja, as an Uchiha?!"

Jiraiya's eyes flickered, and he immediately understood why the Third Hokage had sought him out. His brows furrowed slightly:

"You want to use him as an opening to resolve the conflict between the village and the Uchiha clan?!"

The Third Hokage nodded slightly:

"I didn't have this idea originally, but Danzo noticed him and seems to have mistakenly believed that your interactions with him were at my instruction."

"With this in mind, I do want to try and see if there's any possibility."

"Is that so..."

Jiraiya responded with a hum, then fell silent. After a moment of contemplation, he said:

"He is indeed very different from the other Uchiha clansmen. He lacks that inherited arrogance, and in his speech, there is no obsession with the clan."

"In terms of personality, he is more like someone from the Nara clan—lacking grand ambitions, lazy, afraid of trouble, and solely focused on coasting through his time at the Police Force."

"Given his character, the probability of him being willing to do such a thing is not high."

"I am afraid that is no longer up to him."

The Third Hokage sighed, his eyes growing heavy with gravity.

"Danzo has already taken notice of your interactions with him. He mistakenly believes that I am reaching my hand into the Uchiha, and given his nature, even if he cannot uncover anything, he will snuff out that possibility entirely."

"It is not impossible that he might even take direct action against Uchiha Shingen because of this."

Jiraiya's pupils constricted slightly. He stood up from the sofa abruptly, his expression turning incredibly grave.

If it were any of the other advisors in Konoha, even if they were wary of the Uchiha, they would never take action against them at this particular juncture.

But that absolutely did not include Danzo!

If he truly judged it necessary, even if the risks were immense, he would absolutely strike at this very moment!

Bang—!

As the master and student spoke, the office door was suddenly pushed open.

Two members of the Hokage Direct Anbu appeared before the Third Hokage, reporting solemnly:

"Lord Hokage!"

"Recently, Advisor Danzo's surveillance of the Uchiha clan, especially the intensity of the monitoring directed at Uchiha Shingen, has suddenly increased."

"There are traces of Root ninja movements tonight, and their target is likely the Uchiha as well!"

The Third Hokage's fingers clenched tightly, deforming his pipe. His expression turned ugly to the extreme at that moment.

He had considered that Danzo might be unable to restrain himself, but he had not expected Danzo to be insane to this degree.

If he were to truly strike at Uchiha Shingen at this time, the Uchiha, whom he had spent so much effort to pacify, would likely riot on the spot!

"Teacher Sarutobi, I will go and handle this!"

Realizing the severity of the situation, the playfulness vanished from Jiraiya's face, and the aura around his entire body condensed sharply.

Even without making a move, the oppressive presence of one of the Legendary Sannin erupted without reservation, exerting a pressure on the two Anbu that was no weaker than that of the Third Hokage!

"I will have the Hokage Direct Anbu accompany you!"

"Yes!"

Swish—!

Shisui moved with agility, following closely behind Uchiha Shingen.

His movements were extremely fluid, like a cat tracking its prey, weaving through the small path without attracting the attention of any passersby.

"Captain Shingen..."

"Just how strong are you?!"

Watching the loose, lazy, and slack figure ahead, Shisui's eyes were gleaming.

During his time in the Police Force, he had heard many rumors about Uchiha Shingen.

A non-entity at the Konoha Ninja Academy, with mediocre talent, a lazy personality, and no desire for advancement—he was more like a salted fish waiting to rot.

But how could someone like that possess such precise and efficient methods for handling emergencies?!

There was only one answer...

Uchiha Shingen was hiding his true strength!

As for how much he was hiding, let me... test it out!

Shisui's eyes narrowed, and his Two-Tomoe Sharingan quietly activated.

Bang—!

He exerted force into his feet, nearly cracking the floorboards, and used the recoil to propel himself forward, closing the distance to Uchiha Shingen's body in an instant.

A kunai spun around Shisui's fingertips before he gripped it in a reverse hold, thrusting it fiercely toward Uchiha Shingen!