I'm Just an Ordinary Elite Ninja

Calling a deer a horse—this was, through and through, calling a deer a horse.

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura felt this idiom inexplicably surface in their minds.

Facing this behavior from the Uchiha, which was practically a frame-up etched onto their faces, the two felt their bodies trembling uncontrollably due to a mixture of fury and terror.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had played the game of balance and stability for decades, but in the face of the Uchiha's absolute violence, he had been stripped down to nothing.

"You... you people." Utatane Koharu looked at the crudely forged scroll before her, gasping for air.

"Hah... hah."

Mitokado Homura also stared at the "evidence" before him with wide, incredulous eyes.

He had lived for so many years and had experienced countless brutal political struggles.

Yet, this was the first time he had seen such a bottomless approach from the Uchiha, who didn't even bother to put on a show.

Back when Danzo's Root suppressed dissenters, they would at least forge the evidence properly to save face for the high-ranking officials and the major ninja clans.

But the Uchiha were simply saying: I say you are a spy, so you are a spy.

They didn't even bother to act in front of them; they pulled the evidence straight out of their pockets and committed perjury right before their eyes.

What? You aren't convinced?

If you aren't convinced, keep it to yourself.

The Uchiha had endured for so long, and now they could finally ride roughshod over these parasites of Konoha and vent their fury.

Facing the cold gaze of that Uchiha captain, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forced himself to calm down.

"Good, good, good."

He gritted his teeth and repeated the word three times. "The Military Police Force... patrolling late at night, promptly purging the 'Sunagakure spies' lurking by my side, and protecting my life and Koharu's. Such a great merit, I... have noted it."

"Homura? Have you lost your mind?" Utatane Koharu looked at him in disbelief.

Mitokado Homura only closed his eyes in pain. He knew deep down that after tonight's performance, they had completely lost the initiative and were off the table.

They could only pin their hopes on whether Jiraiya could turn the tide after bringing back Tsunade.

There was also a glimmer of hope in the variable that was Root.

"Very good," the Uchiha captain continued. "Given that spies from Sunagakure have infiltrated the side of the two advisors, from now on, we shall be responsible for your personal safety."

"To prevent the remnants of Sunagakure and Orochimaru from attempting another assassination, Clan Head Fugaku has specifically instructed that the Military Police Force will provide 'round-the-clock, comprehensive, close-quarters protection' for your residences."

"Wait a moment, I will personally lead the team to escort the two advisors back."

"Furthermore, I hope that without our company, the two advisors will not leave their residences at will, because Konoha is truly too dangerous right now."

Hearing his words, Utatane Koharu cursed inwardly: You people are the ones who are truly dangerous to be around!

However, the situation was stronger than the person, and having recognized the reality, she could only grit her teeth and say, "I thank you so much."

Hearing Utatane Koharu's words, the corner of the Uchiha clansman's mouth curled into a smile.

He patted Utatane Koharu on the shoulder. "Many thanks for the cooperation of the two advisors."

Utatane Koharu said, "You're welcome. May I ask your name?"

"Uchiha Inabi."

At this moment, Jiraiya, who had just left Naruto's house, happened to pass by.

He looked at the blood on the ground and asked with a deep frown, "What is going on here?"

When Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu saw Jiraiya, it was as if they had seen their own father.

They were just about to speak when they were cut off by Uchiha Inabi.

"It is like this, Lord Jiraiya. After a rigorous, serious, and seamless investigation by our Konoha Military Police Force, the personal guards beside the two advisors have been identified as Sunagakure ninja turned by Sunagakure."

"Therefore, to protect the safety of the two advisors, we have taken some extreme measures."

Jiraiya's eyes swept over the corpses littering the ground, finally landing on the Sunagakure scroll that was soaked in blood and still faintly smelled of fresh ink.

With his experience, how could he not see the trickery in this?

This clumsy framing attempt didn't even compare to one ten-thousandth of Sarutobi Hiruzen's political maneuvering back in the day.

Yet, Jiraiya only sighed in his heart. His expression was not one of anger, but rather a deep, bone-weary exhaustion.

With the old man dead and Danzo choosing to hide, these two advisors, who had only known how to point fingers from the back, had finally been toppled by the Uchiha—the very people they had oppressed for decades.

Karma was a cycle that never missed; he was truly tired, and he had seen enough of how much filthy blood flowed on the flip side of this so-called "Will of Fire."

"Since it's a misunderstanding, just clean it up. The Military Police Force has worked hard executing missions late at night." Jiraiya waved his hand, not even bothering to expose Uchiha Inabi's riddled narrative.

Uchiha Inabi raised his eyebrows, looking at Jiraiya with some surprise, then bowed slightly. "Many thanks for your understanding, Lord Jiraiya. Then, this subordinate will first escort the two advisors back to their residences to 'protect' them."

Jiraiya nodded. "Do as you please; there is no need to report to me. After all, I am just an ordinary jonin."

He felt disheartened at this moment and was not particularly interested in their internal strife.

In Jiraiya's view, the Uchiha were one of the founding clans of Konoha.

Even if the Uchiha wanted to take power, it didn't matter.

"Wait! Jiraiya!!"

Seeing that Jiraiya was about to leave, Utatane Koharu clung to him like a drowning person grasping at a straw.

She lunged forward, nearly tripping over the corpse of her own personal guard, and gripped Jiraiya's clothes tightly. "You cannot leave! Do you have any idea what they are planning?! This is a rebellion! This is house arrest!"

"Uchiha Fugaku has lost his mind, Uchiha Yan has lost his mind, the entire Uchiha clan has lost their minds! If they dare to slaughter our guards tonight, they will dare to hold a blade to your throat tomorrow!"

"You are Hiruzen's student, one of the legendary Sannin of Konoha! You must stay to take charge of the situation! You must take command of the Anbu!"

Jiraiya frowned as he looked at the unsightly display Utatane Koharu was making.

He gave a sharp tug, pulling his sleeve free from her grasp.

"Councilor, I, Jiraiya, am merely an ordinary jonin; I have no qualifications to take charge of Konoha's affairs."

"I am even less qualified to take over the Anbu. Until Tsunade returns, everything in Konoha shall be left to you councilors and the Konoha Military Police Force."

Jiraiya's words were like a basin of ice water poured over the heads of Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, leaving them chilled to the bone.

Not only did he have no intention of intervening, but he was also making it clear to the Uchiha: however you choose to fight the upper echelons, it has nothing to do with me, so long as you do not provoke me.