Jiraiya Returns to the Village

"Itachi, how are you like a ghost? When did you arrive?"

Uchiha Itachi couldn't help but stiffen at Uchiha Fugaku's inquiry, then replied.

"I just arrived. I saw that Father was so focused on your book that I chose not to disturb you."

Uchiha Fugaku naturally didn't believe a word of Uchiha Itachi's claim, but he wasn't curious about his son's motives either; he just wanted to get back to his reading, so he said.

"Speak, what is it?"

"If there's nothing, I'm going to continue reading."

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, Uchiha Itachi voiced his question—though, of course, he wouldn't admit he thought his father was reading smut.

"Father, I am just a bit curious about this book you have been reading so often lately."

Hearing this, Uchiha Fugaku asked helplessly.

"You're that curious?"

Uchiha Itachi nodded frantically.

Uchiha Fugaku then decided to tell Uchiha Itachi his thoughts directly. After all, his son had already resigned from the Konoha Anbu and was now living simply as a member of the Uchiha Clan. Furthermore, he wasn't afraid of Itachi leaking the information, because no one would believe it anyway.

"I intend to develop a Sage Mode unique to our Uchiha Clan."

"Then, I will enable our entire clan to practice this Sage Art, gain the ability to enter Sage Mode, and step into the ranks of the Sage Clans."

?????

Hearing this, Uchiha Itachi was instantly stunned.

Sage Mode—was it the same Sage Mode he was imagining?

That was Sage Mode! One had to realize that, to this day, only the First Hokage Hashirama Senju, the Sannin Jiraiya, and the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze had successfully mastered it.

Aside from the Senju Clan, which had records of it, other families didn't even have the opportunity to attempt such training.

Let alone actually mastering it.

And now, his father wanted to develop a method for practicing Sage Art? That sounded a bit too fantastical, didn't it?

After all, Uchiha Fugaku had never developed a single ninjutsu in his life.

And now he wanted to jump straight into a hell-difficulty project: developing a Sage Mode.

To be honest, Uchiha Itachi thought the whole thing was simply impossible.

But...

But his father's recent changes made Uchiha Itachi feel a sliver of doubt in his own skepticism.

After all, the feats his father had achieved recently were undeniable.

The Eternal Sharingan he had awakened alone was proof enough of that.

Although he didn't believe it, Uchiha Itachi still didn't say anything like "that's impossible."

(In truth, he was afraid of denying his old man only to be proven wrong and slapped in the face later.)

"I see. I believe Father will surely succeed."

"I'll go play ninja games with Sasuke now."

"Goodbye, Father."

Uchiha Fugaku watched Uchiha Itachi slip away and naturally understood that his son didn't believe him.

Hmph, just wait. Tomorrow, when I finish researching this Sage Art, I will surely give you a shock.

With that, Uchiha Fugaku dove back into studying the Qi Refining Technique.

Hokage Building

"Old man, why exactly did you call me back this time?"

A figure wearing a forehead protector with the character for 'oil' flipped in through the window of the Hokage Office.

The person who entered was none other than the gallant hero of Konoha—the Toad Sage, Jiraiya.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Jiraiya, who had rushed back from outside the village, and couldn't help but smile helplessly.

None of his three potential Hokage successors ever gave him any peace of mind; it was bad enough that none of them had any desire to become Hokage.

They had also managed to get themselves involved in every vice imaginable.

First, there was Jiraiya, who loved writing smut and spent his days peeping under the guise of "seeking inspiration"—wasn't Tanzaku Town enough for you?

Then there was Tsunade, the Princess of Konoha, who was a gambling addict and owed a mountain of debts.

And the only one who had been normal, Orochimaru, had his ideology twisted until Danzo corrupted him into a cancer of Konoha, leading to his defection.

This left Konoha currently unable to find a suitable successor.

There were many other capable ninjas in Konoha at the moment, but none of them met the standards required to become Hokage.

Kakashi is a genius, but he is still too young, and due to the fallout from the White Fang of Konoha incident, his perspective is compromised, making him temporarily unsuitable to become Hokage. While Might Guy possesses the strength, he lacks the necessary talent and prestige, and Nara Shikaku falls short in both areas—his reputation and power are insufficient, making him even less appropriate.

As for Sarutobi Asuma, the second son in whom he had once placed his hopes, that is even more impossible; he has completely gone astray, becoming a hoodlum, and furthermore, he has no desire to become Hokage.

In the end, Sarutobi Hiruzen had no choice but to pick the best of a bad bunch and chose to recall Jiraiya.

As for why it wasn't Tsunade?

(Tsunade: Do you think I even care about my teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen?)

Afterward, Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff of his pipe and asked.

"Do you really need to ask me about this? The Anbu should have already made it clear to you, right?"

Hearing this, Jiraiya couldn't help but scratch his hair and laugh.

"I know, I know, I just wanted to confirm it once more."

Upon hearing Jiraiya's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke directly.

"I intend to step down, and I hope you will inherit the position of Hokage."

Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen be so blunt, Jiraiya replied just as decisively.

"Impossible, old man. You know that my personality is destined to be unsuitable for becoming Hokage."

"Besides, my final destination is not the seat of the Hokage."

Hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed. How could he not understand this? But what other choice did he have now?

Then, Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke again.

"You know that the position of Hokage must be inherited by someone. Now, either you agree to succeed as Hokage..."

"Or..."

Before Sarutobi Hiruzen could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by Jiraiya.

"I understand. Or we find Tsunade and persuade her to come back and inherit the position of Hokage?"

Hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen was momentarily speechless, then picked up his pipe and took a drag.

Jiraiya continued.

"I really don't know what you were thinking back then, actually tacitly allowing Danzō to take action against the Uchiha Clan."

"And although I have been away from the village all these years, I know that if it weren't for him, Shimura Danzō, how could the Uchiha Clan and the village have reached this point?"

"But forget it, I won't say any more. Rest assured, old man, I will bring Tsunade back."

"After all, you are my teacher, and for the sake of the village, I believe Tsunade will return."

With that, Jiraiya vanished through the window once again.

Sarutobi Hiruzen began to smoke his pipe.

At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen was also reflecting: if Shimura Danzō hadn't taken action against Uchiha Shisui back then, would it have prevented the current outcome?

After all, Uchiha Shisui truly desired peace for the village, and he had already expressed his willingness to help the village keep the Uchiha Clan in check.

Perhaps we were all truly wrong.

Thinking of this, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but shake his head, then walked to the window to look out at the Konoha he had managed for so many years.

His thoughts began to drift.

Where the leaves of Konoha dance, fire shall never cease to burn.

However, since we are already walking down the wrong path, even if it costs me my own life, I will erase the mistakes that I and Danzō have created.

The village can only be the village; it cannot be a vassal to any single clan. The Senju cannot, and the Uchiha certainly cannot.

Uchiha Fugaku, Konoha cannot allow the existence of someone as powerful as you.

Let me take you away and send you to where you belong, so you may stay there quietly.