The plan failed before it even began!

Inside Konoha's prison.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura stood before a cell, their expressions grim.

Inside the cell, Jiraiya sat cross-legged on a straw mat, holding paper and a pen. His face was full of excitement as he scribbled and sketched, occasionally letting out lecherous chuckles. He did not look the least bit like a prisoner.

"Jiraiya! What on earth have you done?!"

"You're one of the Sannin, yet you went peeping at the women's baths-and even got yourself arrested! Have you no shame?!"

Utatane Koharu gripped the iron bars tightly with both hands and roared angrily at Jiraiya.

"Yes! Do you have any idea how much effort we've put into making you Hokage?"

"And now? You've ended up in prison! How can a criminal with a record, someone arrested right out on the street, become Hokage? You've ruined our entire plan!"

Mitokado Homura was equally furious, pointing at Jiraiya's nose as he berated him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said nothing. He simply stood there smoking his pipe, his brow deeply furrowed and his eyes filled with exasperation at Jiraiya's failure to live up to his expectations.

The three of them had worked out their plan perfectly. They wanted to use Jiraiya's reputation and strength to oppose Gengetsu and make him Hokage, allowing the three old-timers to seize the opportunity to regain power over Konoha.

But what they had never expected was that, before they had even begun to act,

Gengetsu had already imprisoned Jiraiya on legitimate grounds for peeping.

How could he become Hokage now?!

How were they supposed to regain power over Konoha?

How could Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other two not be angry?

Yet, faced with the three elders' roaring, Jiraiya acted as though nothing were wrong. He put down his pen, picked his ear, and looked at them indifferently.

"I told you long ago that I have absolutely no interest in becoming Hokage. Stop wasting your effort."

"Besides, I think Gengetsu is doing a pretty good job as Hokage."

"He acts decisively and values fairness and impartiality. He even dared to arrest me, one of the Sannin, for breaking the law. That shows he won't favor anyone. Konoha needs a young man with that kind of resolve right now."

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura immediately objected to Jiraiya's words.

"Jiraiya! Have you lost your mind?!"

"We're doing everything we can to support you as Hokage, so how can you approve of Uchiha Gengetsu instead?!"

Utatane Koharu's eyes went wide as she shouted in disbelief.

Just as they were about to launch into another lengthy lecture, Jiraiya impatiently cut them off.

"Enough! Stop talking!"

"Don't interrupt my writing!"

"I finally got to come to prison! This dark, oppressive environment is an absolutely perfect source of material! I'm bursting with inspiration right now, and I'm planning to write the Prison Bondage Series! Keep nagging, and you'll scare all my inspiration away!"

With that, Jiraiya's eyes instantly turned fervent, and he excitedly began writing at a furious pace.

Seeing that Jiraiya had nothing but erotic novels on his mind, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others left the prison, utterly helpless.

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura looked anxiously at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Sarutobi, what do we do now?"

"Jiraiya is a hopeless case! We can't count on him at all!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed helplessly as well, exhaling a thick cloud of smoke.

He had never imagined that the student he had placed such high hopes in would be so disappointing.

Then Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze grew deep. He tapped his pipe and said gravely, "There's no need to rush. I just received some intelligence."

"Delegations from Kumogakure and Sunagakure will be arriving in Konoha soon."

"Konoha has only just experienced the Nine-Tails' Rampage, and now we have such a young Fifth Hokage... For Kumogakure and Sunagakure to send delegations at a time like this, they're definitely coming to probe Konoha's true strength!"

"Diplomacy between nations is full of deceit. If Gengetsu handles it poorly, it will bring disaster upon Konoha!"

Then a sharp gleam flashed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes as he continued.

"What we need to do is regain our say when the delegations arrive!"

Hearing this, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura immediately became interested.

"You're right, Sarutobi!"

"Gengetsu is just a brat. What does he know about the complexities of diplomacy? All he knows is how to solve problems with force, but in diplomatic settings, force is the most useless thing there is.

"Diplomacy between villages still requires experienced old-timers like us!"

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura immediately regained their spirits, as though they could already see themselves standing at the pinnacle of power once more.

The Hokage's office, Hokage Building.

Inside the spacious office, Shikaku Nara, who served as the Hokage's aide, approached Gengetsu with a Top-Secret Scroll in hand.

"Lord Fifth Hokage, the delegations from Kumogakure and Sunagakure will be arriving in Konoha soon. How should we receive them?"

Hearing this, Gengetsu spoke calmly from the Hokage's chair.

"Just receive them as usual."

At Gengetsu's casual response, Shikaku Nara continued.

"Lord Fifth Hokage, it isn't that simple!"

"They may not be coming with good intentions! ..."

"Konoha has only just experienced upheaval. They'll certainly take advantage of this visit to make all sorts of unreasonable demands at the negotiating table, or even deliberately provoke us!"

In contrast to Shikaku's anxiety, Gengetsu looked disdainful, an air of arrogance radiating from him.

"If they dare step out of line, kill them."

At Gengetsu's words, Shikaku Nara's expression changed in alarm, and a layer of cold sweat instantly broke out across his forehead.

"Lord Fifth Hokage! You absolutely mustn't!"

"Killing the delegations would be tantamount to declaring war outright!"

Shikaku Nara hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

"Then war it is!"

"Konoha fears no battle!"

Gengetsu spoke with overwhelming confidence.

Rather than fearing the fighting that might come, Gengetsu was somewhat excited.

That was because Gengetsu was extremely confident in his current power.

Moreover, winning a war could also increase his prestige.

And an increase in prestige could, in turn, increase his strength.

It was a perfect virtuous cycle.

"I understand!"

After hearing Gengetsu's words, Shikaku Nara knew how he should receive the approaching delegations.