That head of white hair confirmed his identity.
The visitor was none other than Jiraiya!
As for the information, he had learned it from Gamabunta.
He had originally planned to come explain the situation to Hiruzen Sarutobi, but he hadn't expected to walk in on a scene like this.
As one of Konoha's senior officials, they should have been thinking about how to deal with the problem.
Instead, all they did was interrogate people.
So there really was a reason Tsunade had left the village!
"Jiraiya?"
"You..."
"I came to explain the situation. I had no intention of taking part in your meeting."
"Lord Hokage, I'm going on a mission."
Before Mitokado Homura could lash out, Jiraiya tossed out those words and vanished.
"Third Hokage, what a fine student you have!"
"Hmph!"
"Handle this yourself."
Unable to vent his anger, Mitokado Homura swept out of the room.
As for going after Jiraiya?!
What?!
What would he even go after him for?
The only person still on close terms with Jiraiya was the Third Hokage.
And go after Jiraiya himself?
Mitokado Homura wasn't so arrogant as to think he could take on Jiraiya in his current state.
Fuming with frustration, he gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a sour look, then left.
"Third Hokage, take care of this as soon as possible."
"And it's about time we settled on a candidate for the Fifth Hokage."
Utatane Koharu spoke with a hint of meaning.
After giving Danzo one last look, she turned and left.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had already been troubled, and Utatane Koharu's words only made his headache worse.
The worst part was that Danzo's intentions were now so obvious.
Had he reached the point where he didn't even bother hiding them?
Utatane Koharu had said that simply to secure her and Mitokado Homura's positions among Konoha's leadership.
After all, if they were choosing a new Hokage, the two of them would have a great deal of influence.
"Danzo, if you have nothing to say..."
"Then go back."
Hiruzen Sarutobi no longer had the patience to play Taiji with Danzo.
The man's intentions were practically written all over his face.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had already shown considerable restraint by not falling out with him.
"Third Hokage, I can resolve this problem for you."
"But..."
"I won't agree to it," Hiruzen Sarutobi cut in before Danzo could finish.
"Fine."
Danzo gave a slight nod, then strode out of the Hokage Office.
After Danzo left, Hiruzen Sarutobi slumped heavily into his chair.
Orochimaru, Uchiha Sasuke...
One after another, they were all caught in the eye of the storm.
And now they were entangled with each other.
Jiraiya's temperament meant he wouldn't take Hiruzen Sarutobi's side, either.
If only those two were still here, he wouldn't be in such a passive position...
Meanwhile, at the Uchiha Compound.
"You're saying Orochimaru wanted to take you away?"
"That bastard..."
Fugaku Uchiha's expression darkened.
Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin and an S-rank missing-nin from Konoha, had set his sights on his second son.
"Father, Sasuke..."
Itachi rushed in, somewhat panicked.
Sasuke had rejected him, and Izumi had invited him out that evening.
So he'd gone to get some dango.
He hadn't expected something like this to happen.
Seeing Sasuke standing there unharmed, Itachi let out a sigh of relief.
"Itachi, your mission from now on is to keep Sasuke safe."
"Put everything else aside for now."
Fugaku Uchiha made the decision at once.
"Understood, Father."
"By the way, Father."
"What mission did Shisui go on?"
"If possible, I think it'd be better to have Big Brother Shisui help protect Sasuke, too."
Itachi spoke up immediately.
"Shisui?"
"He'll be back tomorrow. Go see him then."
"But..."
"Father, Brother, thank you!"
Before Fugaku Uchiha could finish, Sasuke spoke up.
His grateful expression made Fugaku Uchiha swallow the words he'd been about to say.
"Go back and get some rest."
"I have a guest."
Fugaku Uchiha spoke calmly.
"Yes."
Itachi nodded and left Fugaku Uchiha's study with Sasuke.
After they were gone, someone came in.
"Lord Jiraiya, may I ask if you've come by so late because of my second son?"
Fugaku Uchiha set a cup of tea on the table and asked evenly.
"Yes."
"Is this something of yours, from the Uchiha?"
As he spoke, Jiraiya took out a card that had been half burned.
The name [Gamabunta] was clearly written on it.
The words "Experience Card" had already burned away.
"What?!"
Fugaku Uchiha looked completely baffled.
He had never seen anything like it.
"You know that your second son, Uchiha Sasuke, was attacked by Orochimaru today, don't you, Division Head Fugaku?"
"At a critical moment, Sasuke summoned my summoning beast, Gamabunta, and blocked Orochimaru's attack."
"I'd like to ask about that, too."
"And I'd also like to ask him a few things about Orochimaru."
"Division Head Fugaku, I assume you won't stop me?"
Seeing that Fugaku Uchiha clearly knew nothing about it, Jiraiya continued.
He laid out all his questions.
Summoning a summoning beast without signing a Summoning Contract.
Being targeted by Orochimaru and still escaping unscathed.
A new-generation Uchiha prodigy who bore the title of promoter of the Will of Fire.
How could Jiraiya not have doubts when all of that came together in one person?
"Something like that happened?"
"Sasuke... Lord Jiraiya, what do you intend to do to Sasuke?"
Fugaku Uchiha looked up, his eyes turning scarlet.
His terrifying ocular power began to spill out.
"Now, now..."
"Fugaku, you still get worked up so easily."
"We're not enemies. There's no need to use your Sharingan on me, is there?"
Seeing this, Jiraiya smiled.
He eased the tension in the room.
After hearing Jiraiya's words, Fugaku Uchiha put away his Mangekyo.
"I only want to understand what happened."
"Besides, since he was able to summon Gamabunta, perhaps he has some special connection to Mount Myoboku!"
"Would you like me to take him there and find out?"
Jiraiya asked.
Fugaku Uchiha was stunned.
Mount Myoboku, one of the three legendary sage regions!
It was said to be a place where one could learn powerful Senjutsu.
Was Sasuke, who wasn't even six yet, really qualified to enter?
"That depends on what Sasuke wants."
"As his father, I won't force him."
"Come back tomorrow. Let him get a good night's rest."
After thinking it over, Fugaku Uchiha gave his answer.
Given the talent Sasuke had shown so far, getting Jiraiya's guidance and learning Senjutsu at Mount Myoboku would surely benefit his future.
But... Fugaku Uchiha couldn't shake the feeling that something about this was strange.
Before you continue