Once both groups involved in the brawl had been taken away, the street returned to normal. Fugaku turned and left.
The two groups still had to be questioned, and Fugaku would have to approve the final ruling. Every case handled by the Security Force required his confirmation before its ruling could be carried out.
The reason for the fight was simple. Both groups had drunk quite a bit and bumped into each other while walking through a restaurant.
Words had been exchanged, and the argument had turned into a fight. In the end, the Security Force sentenced them to a lecture and fifteen days of work around the village, mainly helping villagers with their usual farm chores.
The Security Force did not need to supervise that work; it was short-staffed as it was. Instead, it would post a D-Rank Mission for Genin to oversee it. The mission fees would count as Security Force expenses and be paid out of village funds.
After dealing with the brawlers, Fugaku found himself bored again. He sat in his office, leaned back in his chair, and looked outside.
People came and went along the street. A furtive figure with long white hair entered Fugaku's view, looking rather shifty.
The man was snickering as he walked. Fugaku smiled. The long white hair belonged to Jiraiya.
A year had passed, but Jiraiya had not changed at all. Judging by that sleazy look, he was probably planning to peek into the Women's Hot Spring as soon as he got back to the village.
Fugaku rose and followed at an unhurried pace, transforming into an ordinary civilian. Jiraiya suspected nothing.
Konoha Hot Springs was two streets past the Security Force. As people streamed in and out, Fugaku watched Jiraiya's back and found him looking shadier by the moment.