Hawks

"And furthermore..." Sarutobi Hiruzen deliberately drew out his words, keeping them in suspense.

Watching his old friend act this way, Mitokado Homura sighed helplessly. "Hiruzen, we're all old men now. Stop playing games."

Hearing his old friend's jab, Sarutobi Hiruzen finally spoke up. "I've already entrusted someone to go find Jiraiya. With him here, I believe that even if it really is Orochimaru who has returned, it won't be a problem."

Upon hearing this, the remaining three members of the Konoha F4 nodded, finally relaxing.

Mitokado Homura adjusted his glasses. "If Jiraiya is willing to return, it is indeed an excellent choice. After all, we should try our best to avoid any bloodshed."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. "Rest assured, we haven't confirmed who the culprit is yet, and even if Orochimaru has returned, he wouldn't lay a hand on the villagers of Konoha."

Utatane Koharu looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and asked, "Are you certain?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen wore a confident smile and said calmly, "Orochimaru is my student; I understand him well enough. That is precisely why I have chosen to play this game against him."

Hearing his words, Danzo curled his lip in disdain.

Sarutobi Hiruzen noticed his old friend's reaction.

However, he didn't pay it much mind; after all, this old friend was never happy unless he was being contrary.

The fact that he was merely dissatisfied with the decision rather than actively opposing it was already quite an improvement.

It even surprised him a little.

Outside Konoha Village.

A white-haired man with a lecherous expression was currently peeping at a hot spring.

As he peeked, he muttered to himself, "Now this is a prime location for research."

Just then, an Anbu appeared beside him.

Jiraiya sensed the Anbu behind him but didn't take it seriously. He didn't even turn his head, simply saying, "What is the old man trying to persuade me to do this time?"

He was long accustomed to the Anbu's arrivals; throughout his travels over the years, he had always maintained contact with Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others.

And every time, the Anbu would bring a message from Sarutobi Hiruzen hoping for his return.

However, Jiraiya had no desire to go back; it was far better to be free and easy out here.

The Anbu produced a document. "The Hokage says that once you see this file, your mind will change."

Jiraiya nodded helplessly, though his attention remained fixed on the bathhouse.

After all, that was the priority for today.

Without turning his head, Jiraiya extended two fingers and perfunctorily pinched the document, his eyes still glued to the gap in the fence.

"Aiya, don't rush me. Once I finish this final 'inspiration for my material,' I'll look at it, naturally." He chuckled, a lecherous grin spreading across his aged face. "Based on my years of research experience, the ones who just went in must be..."

His breathing grew ragged, and his heart rate began to accelerate.

Through the narrow gap, he saw several figures in the swirling mist, walking in a line with heavy, rhythmic steps toward the hot spring pool.

However, their heights seemed a bit off.

"Here it comes! A peerless sight!"

Jiraiya widened his eyes, preparing to burn this scene into his memory as inspiration for the sequel to Icha Icha Paradise.

However, in the next second, his expression froze.

He heard several dull thuds—splash, splash—as massive amounts of water sprayed up, with a few droplets even landing on his face.

It was an entire squad of plump, pink-skinned sows, wagging their curly little tails as they marched in a line, jumping with extreme fluidity into the livestock hot spring that the local farmers used specifically for "sterilization and disinfection."

Seeing this, Jiraiya's face instantly stiffened.

He didn't even know what to say.

He had endured mosquito attacks and waited in high anticipation, only to watch a group of sows line up and jump into the water?

To make matters worse, one sow turned around and launched a gas attack directly at Jiraiya through the gap.

Jiraiya immediately collapsed to the ground, dry-heaving.

"Ugh, ugh."

The commotion Jiraiya made instantly drew the attention of the owner.

"Who's there? Are you trying to steal my pigs?"

Hearing this, the expressions of both Jiraiya and the Anbu shifted.

They exchanged a glance and immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to flee the scene.

By the time the farm owner arrived, panting and carrying a stick with several farmhands in tow, he found that the "thieves" had already vanished.

He cursed, "Damn thieves, don't even think about stealing my pigs!"

After saying this, he spat on the ground before turning to leave with his men.

In the woods, it took a long time for Jiraiya to recover from his dry-heaving.

He then looked at the Anbu behind him and asked, "What was it you wanted to see me for?"

Hearing his question, the Anbu suppressed a smile and said, "Lord Jiraiya, just take a look at the document in your hand."

Jiraiya muttered to himself, "They didn't try to persuade me to go back this time?"

With that, he opened the document, but once he saw its contents, the playful, cynical expression on his face vanished instantly.

He looked at the Anbu and said indifferently, "Go back."

The Anbu nodded, and the two returned to Konoha one after the other.

Uchiha Yan was patrolling with a few members of the Uchiha clan, looking indifferent.

One of them, who leaned toward the dove faction, said, "Lord Yan, the Hokage has requested that we strengthen our defenses. Is it really okay for us to be doing this?"

Uchiha Yan glanced at him and said calmly, "I am patrolling very seriously. I arrive on time, work diligently during work hours, and leave right when the shift ends. What is the problem?"

Hearing his words, the dove-faction Uchiha actually felt that his logic made sense.

He could only nod and follow behind the group as they continued their patrol.

Uchiha Yan asked nonchalantly, "When do the finals of the Chunin Exams begin?"

One of his subordinates, who was familiar with him, quickly replied, "Lord Yan, they start tomorrow."

Uchiha Yan held high prestige among the hawk faction; a large portion of them had even reached the point of recognizing Uchiha Yan over Uchiha Fugaku.

This was because they always felt that although Fugaku was also a hawk, he was still far too weak.

Uchiha Fugaku could only let things be, and the reason was simple.

Before reaching adulthood, Uchiha Yan was considered the hawk of all hawks.

Before Itachi and Shisui were dealt with by Uchiha Yan, they had both been taught lessons by him many times.

It was just that after reaching adulthood, he had become much more composed.

After a simple patrol, Uchiha Yan checked the time and said indifferently, "Alright, same time tomorrow. Dismissed!"

Upon returning to the office of the Konoha Military Police Force, Uchiha Yan received his assignment for the next day: he would be responsible for the security of the Chunin final matches.

Uchiha Yan pondered for a moment, and while returning to the Uchiha compound, he sought out Uchiha Setsuna, an elder of the Uchiha hawk faction.

He arrived at a courtyard and knocked on the gate.

The gate was soon pushed open, and a servant walked out.