After leaving the Sarutobi Clan's compound, Jiraiya went straight to Konoha's Memorial Stone.
As he looked at Minato Namikaze's name on the Memorial Stone, the agitation he had felt at the Sarutobi Compound vanished instantly, replaced by deep, unconcealable self-reproach on his face.
"Minato..."
"I'm sorry your teacher came back too late."
Jiraiya's voice grew a little hoarse. He gently stroked the cold surface of the stone, memories of Minato's face and voice constantly surfacing in his mind.
That blond young man who always wore a gentle smile, that proud, extraordinarily gifted young man who had eventually become the Fourth Hokage, was now a cold corpse.
Only when the sun gradually sank behind the mountains did Jiraiya take a deep breath and rub his cheeks hard, forcibly pulling together his grief and gloom before turning away from the Memorial Stone.
"No, I can't keep wallowing like this!"
Walking through Konoha's streets, Jiraiya decided to return to his old occupation to dispel his gloom and undertake what he called "gathering material."
As for how he would gather material, naturally, he would resort to his specialty: peeping into the women's baths.
Outside Konoha's largest public bathhouse, Jiraiya hid in the bushes, peering through a gap at the sights inside.
"Hehehe, Konoha's standards are as high as ever. This trip was definitely worthwhile..."
His trademark lecherous grin instantly appeared on his face.
Just as Jiraiya was thoroughly enjoying the view, he accidentally stepped on a twig.
Crack!
The sharp snapping sound immediately drew the attention of everyone in the baths.
"Ah!!! A peeping Tom!"
"Catch that pervert!"
"Girls, let's show her what we're made of!"
"Die, you pervert!"
"..."
Countless bars of soap, washbasins, and towels instantly flew toward Jiraiya.
"Oh no! They spotted me!!"
Jiraiya cursed inwardly and immediately turned to flee.
However, the enormous commotion quickly drew the attention of the nearby Konoha Military Police Force.
Since Gengetsu had become Hokage, the Police Force had increased its patrols severalfold. Every Uchiha Clan member was brimming with determination to prove their clan's capabilities to the entire village and show that they deserved the honor of being the Hokage's clan.
"Who's there?! How dare you cause trouble in Konoha!"
"Over there! By the baths!!"
"Doing something so filthy in public! You clearly have no respect for the Konoha Military Police Force!"
Within mere seconds, several ninja wearing Konoha forehead protectors, with conspicuous Uchiha Gunbai clan crests emblazoned on their backs, rushed in from all directions.
"Easy there, officers. No need to be so tense. I'm just gathering material for my novel. This is artistic creation!"
Jiraiya laughed it off, then pushed off hard, instantly breaking through the Uchiha Ninja's encirclement and sprinting toward a distant street.
"Stop! Don't run!"
"After him! We can't let him escape!"
The Police Force members were startled and immediately gave chase.
But with Jiraiya's formidable strength and speed, how could ordinary Uchiha Ninja possibly catch him?
In just a few breaths, Jiraiya repeatedly changed direction through the maze of streets, leaving his pursuers far behind.
"Hahaha! You're still too green to catch this sage!"
Jiraiya landed steadily on an empty street. Looking back and seeing that the Police Force had not followed him, he laughed smugly.
But just then, a voice suddenly rang out.
"Instead of traveling abroad, you've come back to Konoha to peep into the women's baths this late at night, Jiraiya? If word gets out, won't the title of Sannin become a laughingstock?"
At that voice, Jiraiya's expression froze, and he abruptly turned to look.
There stood Uchiha Gengetsu beneath a streetlamp ahead, arms folded across his chest, blocking Jiraiya's path.
Upon recognizing his face, Jiraiya paused, then relaxed and greeted him with a smile.
"Oh, it's you, Gengetsu! Long time no see!"
Clearly, Jiraiya knew Gengetsu, and the two had been quite familiar with each other before.
However, Gengetsu's expression did not change at Jiraiya's greeting, and he continued in a stern tone.
"Jiraiya, address me by my title."
"I am now Konoha's Fifth Hokage."
"Furthermore, you are suspected of peeping into the women's baths, seriously disrupting Konoha's peace and order."
"By my authority as the Fifth Hokage, I order your arrest."
Hearing Gengetsu's exceedingly stern words, Jiraiya scratched his head in embarrassment and tried once more to smooth things over.
"Come on, Gengetsu, there's no need for this!"
Back when the Third Hokage had been in office, Jiraiya had gone peeping more than a few times.
Even when the Anbu discovered him back then, their ninja knew he was the Hokage's student and one of the renowned Sannin. They would merely make a token pursuit before giving up. No one ever took it seriously.
What Jiraiya had not expected, however, was that Uchiha Gengetsu would show him no consideration whatsoever.
"Jiraiya, I already told you. I'm the Hokage now. Address me by my title, and stop trying to play on our familiarity."
"My duty is to protect Konoha! Anyone who dares disrupt its peace will face the Uchiha Clan's harshest sanctions!"
"Even if you're the Third Hokage's student, even if you're one of the Sannin renowned throughout the Shinobi World, you are absolutely no exception!"
Gengetsu's resounding words echoed through the empty street.
By then, the Police Force ninja had caught up, along with quite a few ordinary Konoha patrol ninja who had heard the commotion.
When the surrounding Konoha Ninja heard Gengetsu's forceful declaration, they all froze.
Then intense admiration shone in every pair of eyes.
Faced with one of the legendary Sannin, a student of the Third Hokage, the Fifth Hokage had neither backed down nor shielded him. Instead, he had defended the village's rules with such firmness!
This was what a Hokage should be in their eyes!
"Lord Jiraiya, are you going to make us use force, or will you surrender quietly?"
Gengetsu looked at Jiraiya and spoke bluntly once more.
At Gengetsu's words, Jiraiya fell silent for a moment.
Then, suddenly smiling, Jiraiya raised both hands in surrender.
"All right, all right, I surrender! You got me!" Jiraiya sighed helplessly. "So, Lord Fifth Hokage, what are you going to do with me?"
Looking at Jiraiya's raised hands, Gengetsu continued in a businesslike tone, "Under the Konoha Village Public Security Management Regulations, you are suspected of voyeurism and will be held in the Police Force's prison for seven days."
Upon hearing Gengetsu announce his punishment, Jiraiya let out a long sigh of relief.
It was only seven days in custody. That was practically routine for him, and he could use the peace and quiet in prison to plan the next part of his novel.
"Uchiha Inabi." Gengetsu turned toward the gathered Police Force members.
"Here!" Uchiha Inabi immediately stepped forward and answered loudly.
"Take Jiraiya to the Police Force, lock him in prison, and keep him under strict guard," Gengetsu ordered.
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
Uchiha Inabi immediately approached Jiraiya with two Uchiha Ninja and escorted him toward the Konoha Military Police Force Prison.
Jiraiya did not resist and followed Uchiha Inabi off the street.
News of Gengetsu arresting Jiraiya of the Sannin in the street soon spread to every corner of Konoha as though it had grown wings.
When they heard that the Fifth Hokage had mercilessly imprisoned Jiraiya for peeping into the women's baths, every Konoha Ninja's first reaction was utter surprise.
After all, he was one of the Sannin!
But after that brief surprise, what welled up in their hearts was mostly excitement and enthusiasm.
After all, who would not want a fair and impartial Hokage who feared no powerful authority and treated even the Sannin like everyone else when they broke the law?
At that moment, rather than suffering from having offended Jiraiya, Gengetsu's prestige gained unprecedented recognition among Konoha's rank-and-file ninja and civilians.
At the same time, a crisp mechanical voice suddenly sounded in Gengetsu's mind.
[Ding, your reputation in Konoha has increased slightly! Reward: Taijutsu Level increased by 50%.]
"Nice, my strength has increased again!"
Feeling the changes in his body, Gengetsu could not help smiling.
Before you continue