The Third Hokage's Predicament, Jiraiya Comes Knocking!

That shock of white hair confirmed his identity.

The person who had arrived was none other than Jiraiya!

As for this intelligence, he had learned of it directly from Gamabunta.

He had originally intended to come here to explain the situation to Hiruzen Sarutobi, but he had not expected to stumble upon such a scene.

As high-ranking officials of Konoha, they didn't even think about how to resolve the issues at hand.

They only knew how to stand here and interrogate others.

It was no wonder Tsunade had left the village; there was a reason for it!

"Jiraiya?"

"You..."

"I only came to explain the situation; I have no intention of participating in your meeting."

"Lord Hokage, I am heading out to execute my mission."

Without waiting for Homura Mitokado to lash out, Jiraiya dropped these words and vanished from the spot.

"Third, this is your fine student!"

"Hmph!"

"Handle this matter yourself."

Unable to vent his frustration, Homura Mitokado simply flicked his sleeve and left.

As for finding trouble with Jiraiya?

Ha?!

What kind of trouble could he possibly cause him?

The only person with any real connection to Jiraiya was the Third Hokage himself.

As for taking action against Jiraiya?

Homura Mitokado was not arrogant enough to think he could mess with Jiraiya in his current state.

Feeling stifled and resentful, he gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a cold look before storming off.

"Third, handle this as soon as possible."

"Also, it is about time we decided on a candidate for the Fifth Hokage."

Koharu Utatane spoke with deep meaning.

Finally, she cast a glance at Danzo before turning and leaving the room.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who already had a headache, felt it throb even more after hearing Koharu Utatane's words.

Most importantly, had Danzo's intentions become so obvious by now?

Had it reached the point where he didn't even bother to hide them?

The reason Koharu Utatane had spoken that way was simply to secure her and Homura Mitokado's positions as high-ranking officials.

After all, if a new Hokage were to be chosen, their influence would still be significant!

"Danzo, if you have nothing else to say."

"Then go back."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was in no mood to play political games with Danzo right now.

The man's intentions were practically written all over his face.

The fact that Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't snapped yet was a testament to his restraint.

"Third, I can solve this problem for you."

"But..."

"I will not agree to it."

Before Danzo could finish, Hiruzen Sarutobi gave his negative answer.

"Fine."

Danzo nodded slightly, then strode out of the Hokage Office.

After Danzo left, Hiruzen Sarutobi sank heavily into his chair.

Orochimaru, Uchiha Sasuke!

Each and every one of them was a figure at the center of the storm.

And now, they were all tangled up together.

Jiraiya's personality meant he could not be counted on to stand by his side.

If those two were still here, he would never have been forced into such a passive position...

Meanwhile, inside the Uchiha Compound.

"Are you saying that Orochimaru wants to take you away?"

"That guy..."

Fugaku Uchiha's expression turned grim.

Orochimaru was one of the Legendary Sannin and an S-rank missing-nin from Konoha.

Yet now, he had set his sights on his second son.

"Father, Sasuke, he..."

At that moment, Itachi rushed in, looking somewhat flustered.

Because Sasuke had been avoiding him, he had accepted an invitation from Izumi to go eat dango that evening.

He never expected something like this to happen.

Seeing Sasuke standing there unharmed, Itachi let out a sigh of relief.

"Itachi, from this moment on, your mission is to protect Sasuke's safety."

"Everything else can be set aside for now."

Fugaku Uchiha made his decision immediately.

"Understood, Father."

"By the way, Father."

"What mission did Shisui go to carry out?"

"If possible, I think it would be better if Shisui could join in to help protect Sasuke."

Itachi spoke up directly.

"Shisui?"

"He will be back tomorrow; you can go find him then."

"However..."

"Father, Brother, thank you!"

Before Fugaku Uchiha could finish, Sasuke spoke up.

His face full of gratitude caused Fugaku Uchiha to swallow the words he had been about to say.

"Go back and rest."

"I have a guest arriving."

Fugaku Uchiha said calmly.

"Yes."

Itachi nodded and left Fugaku Uchiha's study with Sasuke.

As the two departed, a figure arrived at the room.

"Lord Jiraiya, I wonder if your late-night visit concerns the matter of my second son?"

Fugaku Uchiha placed a cup of tea on the table and spoke indifferently.

"That's right."

"Is this something belonging to you Uchiha?"

Jiraiya said, pulling out a card that was half-burned.

On it, the characters [Bunta] were clearly written.

As for the words "Trial Card," they had already been burned away.

"This is...?!"

Fugaku Uchiha looked bewildered.

He had never seen such a thing before.

"You should already be aware that your second son, Sasuke Uchiha, was attacked by Orochimaru today, right?"

"At the critical moment, Sasuke summoned my personal summon—Bunta—to block Orochimaru's attack."

"I would like to ask about this matter."

"Also, regarding Orochimaru, I would like to find him and ask a few things."

"Minister Fugaku, you wouldn't try to stop me, would you?"

Seeing the look of genuine ignorance on Fugaku Uchiha's face, Jiraiya continued speaking.

He laid all these questions out on the table.

To be able to summon a creature without signing a summoning contract.

To be targeted by Orochimaru and yet escape unscathed.

A genius of the new generation of the Uchiha, possessing the identity of a proponent of the Will of Fire.

How could all these things converging on a single person not make Jiraiya suspicious?

"Did something like that happen?"

"Sasuke... Lord Jiraiya, what do you intend to do with Sasuke?"

Fugaku Uchiha raised his head, a pair of scarlet pupils appearing.

Terrifying ocular power had already begun to radiate outward.

"Oh my, oh my..."

"Fugaku, you are still so easily agitated."

"We are not enemies, after all; there is no need to use your Sharingan on me, is there?"

Seeing this, Jiraiya smiled.

He defused the somewhat heavy atmosphere.

Upon hearing these words from Jiraiya, Fugaku Uchiha withdrew his Mangekyo.

"I only wanted to understand the situation."

"Besides, being able to summon Gamabunta suggests that he might have some special destiny with Mount Myoboku!"

"Would you like me to take him there to see?"

Jiraiya asked.

Such a proposition left Fugaku Uchiha momentarily stunned.

Mount Myoboku—one of the three legendary sacred lands!

That was a place rumored to be where one could learn powerful senjutsu.

Was Sasuke, not even six years old yet, truly qualified to enter such a place?!

"This matter will depend on Sasuke's own wishes."

"As his father, I will not force him."

"Come back tomorrow; let him have a good rest tonight."

After some thought, Fugaku Uchiha provided his answer.

Given the talent Sasuke had displayed thus far, if he could receive Jiraiya's guidance and enter Mount Myoboku to learn senjutsu, it would certainly be a positive boost for his future.

But... Fugaku Uchiha couldn't shake the feeling that something about this was strange.