Speaking of that, Uchiha Shingen was wide awake in an instant.
He quickly turned and walked back to Jiraiya, picked up the still-warm cup of tea, and plastered a smile across his face.
"Tell me all about it."
Jiraiya naturally wasn't about to let such a good companion get away. He cleared his throat and said:
"I'm sure you know that I'm a bestselling author. My Make-Out Hell series is a hit in countries big and small across the Shinobi World."
"Over the course of a year, my royalties add up to a few hundred million ryo."
"I have the writing skills and the connections. You have ideas that are ahead of your time."
"Together, we could publish a new book that's bound to be a hit across the Shinobi World. The royalties might even exceed a billion ryo!"
"If you're willing, I can put your name after mine. No, we'll list our names side by side!"
At this, Uchiha Shingen's gaze toward Jiraiya changed on the spot.
This wasn't some third-rate author of banned books. This was a walking god of wealth!
A few casual ideas could earn him hundreds of millions of ryo a year. It was practically money for nothing!
He liked slacking off in the Police Force, but that didn't mean he'd turn down money being handed to him.
Uchiha Shingen grabbed Jiraiya's outstretched hand.
"You might not know this, but I've always dreamed of becoming an author. I just never had the chance."
"With an invitation as heartfelt as yours, how could I possibly refuse?!"
Seeing Uchiha Shingen change his tune even faster than he did, Jiraiya immediately came to his senses and thought, I offered too much.
But by now, he already considered Uchiha Shingen a kindred spirit. He was even more eager to get more inspiration from him, along with that vision that went beyond the times.
Jiraiya gritted his teeth, swallowed his misgivings, and put on a pained expression.
"Shingen-kun, you truly understand me!"
The two hit it off immediately.
Over the next few days, Jiraiya rented the house beside the bookstore, set up a tea table outside, and spent his days discussing his new book with Uchiha Shingen.
With hundreds of millions in royalties at stake, Uchiha Shingen was full of enthusiasm.
After dumping his patrol duties at the Police Force on his subordinates, he threw himself into discussing the new book as well.
This naturally left Tezaku and the others marveling at the sight.
But once they recognized Jiraiya, all of them, including Shisui, wisely kept their mouths shut.
"Should we tell the captain who Lord Jiraiya is?"
Shisui watched Uchiha Shingen and Jiraiya deep in discussion from a distance, uncertain what to do.
At first, he'd only been worried that they might find out he'd gone into the shop to buy a banned book. Now he was a little concerned about Uchiha Shingen meeting with Jiraiya.
Jiraiya was one of the strongest candidates to become the Fourth Hokage. His status and standing went without saying.
Uchiha Shingen was a rising star in the Police Force, and in a sense, he represented the Uchiha as a whole.
The two of them kept meeting. Even if it was to write a book, who would believe that if word got out?!
"There's no need."
Tezaku folded his arms, looking as if he'd seen through everything.
"Don't you understand how the captain operates?"
"Not only is his personality like someone from the Nara clan, but he's got a bit of the Nara mind, too."
"He must have figured out Lord Jiraiya's identity long ago. Maybe he hasn't brought it up because of the clan head and the others."
"You can see it, can't you?"
"Both the clan head and the Third Hokage want to resolve the conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha."
"Captain Shingen probably read every volume of Make-Out Hell to prepare for this very day!"
"To get the chance to meet with Lord Jiraiya!"
Tezaku's words left Shisui reeling. He recalled something Uchiha Shingen had once said offhandedly, and suddenly it all made sense.
"So when Captain Shingen said you could find the secret to becoming Hokage in Make-Out Paradise, this is what he meant?!"
Then what did it mean when I went into the shop to buy a banned book at eight years old?!
Shisui's mouth twitched violently. He shook his head, trying to shake off that awkward moment, then looked toward the tea stall in the distance.
Uchiha Shingen's figure seemed more and more mysterious in his eyes, and taller and taller!
Is this the world your eyes see, Captain Shingen?!
Shisui's eyes gleamed.
Tezaku, standing beside him, fell into thought for a moment.
He had followed Uchiha Shingen longer than anyone, so he knew his captain's ways well. He couldn't help trying to work out what Uchiha Shingen had in mind.
He murmured:
"Going by the captain's usual methods, this is when he should... pass the buck up the chain!"
With that thought, Tezaku turned to Shisui.
"Shisui, write up the whole story, from beginning to end, then report it to Yaowei, the chief of South District 4!"
Shisui hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.
"Big Brother Tezaku, Captain Shingen hasn't brought it up himself. Could that mean... the timing isn't right yet?"
"Maybe we should wait a little longer?"
Tezaku thought it over, then nodded slightly and set the matter aside for the time being.
After that.
For several days in a row, Uchiha Shingen and Jiraiya spent their time at a teahouse in Konoha South District 4, passionately discussing the launch of their new book.
One of them made no effort to hide it, and the other had no idea what it meant. Naturally, their actions didn't escape the notice of those who were paying attention.
Before long.
The news reached Danzo's ears.
Root's base.
A gloomy underground lair.
Several Root Jonin sat around a conference table.
Each of them held a fresh report detailing the conversation between Uchiha Shingen and Jiraiya.
The more they read, the stranger the expressions beneath their masks became.
After a long while.
Someone finally spoke up.
"Lord Danzo, no matter how you look at it, this report sounds like they were discussing a book—one of those... banned books, at that."
"With all due respect, spending their energy on this sort of thing is simply a waste of time..."
"Fools!"
A sharp rebuke cut off the Root Jonin.
A chill swept over them. They immediately put aside their disdain and looked up at Danzo, seated at the head of the table.
"I thought Jiraiya's return to Konoha was just Hiruzen making preparations for the situation in the Shinobi World. But now it seems you're even more greedy than I imagined, Hiruzen!"
Bang!
Danzo slammed his palm onto the table and abruptly rose to his feet.
His already intimidating presence poured out without restraint. The fury in his heart had flared up, and he could no longer contain it!
He looked around, meeting only bewildered eyes, and barked:
"Why was the first person Jiraiya met after returning to Konoha someone from the Uchiha? And not just anyone, but the rising star of the Konoha Police Force? Why now, at such a sensitive time?"
"There's only one truth!"
"Hiruzen has already struck a deal with the Uchiha. He wants to bring them under his control for good!"
Before you continue