Jiraiya Has Arrived

At Konoha's main gate.

Jiraiya, with his white hair and strong, burly build, looked up at the Uchiha Clan Compound. It had already been renovated by the Third Hokage.

The Uchiha homes of old were gone, replaced by rings of walls.

The Uchiha's current compound had also been relocated much farther outward.

"Uchiha Natsuki, Mangekyō..."

Jiraiya mulled over the name before entering Konoha.

Uchiha Clan Compound.

"Lord Natsuki, the Hyuga Clan just sent word."

Uchiha Keimei came to report.

"Jiraiya has returned to the village."

"Oh?" Natsuki, who had been inspecting the Defensive Sensory Barrier Technique, straightened up.

Maintaining good relations with the Hyuga was not bad. Whenever there was any movement among the outer patrols, they would send the Uchiha Clan firsthand information.

"Understood. I'll leave the rest of the inspection to you."

Natsuki had already handed the daily maintenance of the Defensive Sensory Barrier Technique over to Keimei.

After Keimei, Iori, and Daichi had become familiar with the Defensive Sensory Barrier Technique,

Natsuki selected several more talented clansmen and had them train under the three, so there would be people to rotate in later.

Natsuki knew Jiraiya well. He even admired him greatly.

But Jiraiya's personal conduct was far too problematic. Since the Third Hokage had called Jiraiya back, Jiraiya would definitely go see Naruto.

He could not let Jiraiya lead Naruto astray.

After several leaps, Natsuki headed for the Police Force.

Before long, he emerged from the Police Force and tucked the scroll in his hands away.

Hokage Building.

"Old man, I'm back."

Jiraiya swaggered in through the window of the Hokage's Office.

The Third Hokage had received word of Jiraiya's return long ago.

He was already accustomed to Jiraiya's loose attitude.

Without even raising his head, the Third Hokage continued handling official business.

"Any news of Orochimaru?"

Seeing that the Third Hokage was ignoring him, Jiraiya rubbed his nose.

Officially, he had been pursuing Orochimaru, but he had gradually grown lazy and started collecting materials from hot springs around the world.

He slouched crookedly in a chair and leaned back.

"No. I only know he fled north. I don't understand where he is now."

Only then did the Third Hokage raise his head. He picked up his pipe, lit it, and took a deep drag.

He said wearily, "Konoha is going through troubled times. Since you're back this time, don't leave again for now."

Jiraiya looked at the Third Hokage's steadily aging face, and his smile faded.

In just a few short years, the Third Hokage seemed to have aged ten years.

None of the bearing of the Shinobi Hero he once was remained.

Sensei really is old.

"Old man, how did you get so old?"

Jiraiya's tone was complicated, carrying sorrow, concern, and anger.

"Hmph!" The Third Hokage immediately grew angry at those words and knocked his pipe against the desk.

"Isn't it because of you? If you were willing to shoulder this burden, would I have aged like this?"

Jiraiya could only scratch his head awkwardly.

"Old man, you know I don't like doing this kind of thing."

The Third Hokage knew Jiraiya's temperament, so he did not continue the subject. Instead, he turned directly to the Uchiha.

"Did you see the new Uchiha compound when you came back?"

Jiraiya Nodded.

"Why did they move so far away?"

The Third Hokage said helplessly, "We oppressed the Uchiha too severely before. Combined with what Danzo did, the entire Uchiha Clan no longer wants anything to do with Konoha."

The matter of Danzo coveting Uchiha Shisui, digging out his eyes, and nearly driving the entire Uchiha Clan into rebellion had finally spread throughout the shinobi world after all this time.

Even the most remote countries had received the news. Konoha's Hokage faction had become the laughingstock of every shinobi village.

Whether Konoha's people went out on missions or did business in other countries, someone would mock them over it.

Jiraiya had naturally received the news as well. He had always disliked Danzo.

He even suspected that Orochimaru's earlier defection had something to do with Danzo.

Unfortunately, that old fox Danzo had hidden himself too well and had not given Jiraiya any evidence to grasp.

Fortunately, the Third Hokage had already ordered the Root disbanded.

"But it doesn't look right to leave the Uchiha isolated outside the village now."

The Third Hokage spread his hands helplessly.

"There's nothing we can do now. The Uchiha just gave us a great gift, and they have not explicitly declared rebellion."

"The Uchiha even handed over all authority over the Police Force. On what grounds could you ask them to move back into Konoha?"

Jiraiya scratched his head. He had never been good at this sort of thing.

"I don't have any solution just because I'm back."

The Third Hokage shook his head.

"The Uchiha now have two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan. No one in Konoha can restrain them anymore."

"Mangekyō..."

As one of the Sannin, Jiraiya naturally understood the power of the Mangekyō.

"Old man, you don't mean for me to test Uchiha Natsuki's strength, do you?"

Jiraiya asked.

The Third Hokage shot Jiraiya a sidelong glare.

"Am I supposed to do it myself?"

Jiraiya could only agree helplessly.

"Fine. I'll find an opportunity."

"I'm heading out for a walk!"

Without waiting for the Third Hokage to react, he used the Body Flicker Technique and leaped out the window.

The Third Hokage took a drag from his pipe.

Then he lowered his head and continued working at his desk.

"Ah! Ah! Ah! There's a pervert!"

Shrieks rang out as countless women ran from the Hot Spring Inn.

Jiraiya, who had claimed he was heading out for a walk, had instead come to the Hot Spring Inn to peek into the women's bathhouse and gather materials for his book.

He had not expected there to be members of the Hyuga Clan inside, and he was discovered immediately.

Jiraiya had no choice but to flee at once.

News of a peeping tom appearing at the Hot Spring Inn quickly spread.

The nearby patrolling Hyuga Police Force soon rushed over.

They saw a white-haired man in red clothes being relentlessly chased by a crowd.

"Beat that peeping tom to death!"

"Kill him!"

Hyuga Hayato, who was on patrol, saw his younger sister among the crowd and immediately sensed that something was wrong. He hurried after them.

"Aiko, what happened!?"

Hyuga Aiko turned and saw her Older Brother. Her feet did not stop moving as she explained.

"My friends and I had just gone to the hot spring to relax. Then we heard a lewd laugh. I opened my Byakugan and saw that man peeping at us bathing from the foot of the wall!"

Hyuga Hayato was furious. How long had it been since Konoha had seen such a pervert? Did he think the Police Force did not exist!?

He immediately gave chase.

But the man ahead was extremely fast. After several leaps, he left the ordinary civilians behind.

Only Hyuga Hayato, his younger sister, and his teammates remained behind him.

Several people raced over the rooftops. Just as the figure ahead was getting farther and farther away, several Root members suddenly blocked their path.

They could only watch helplessly as the peeping tom escaped.