250-They Never Learn

In the dimly lit office of the Third Hokage, a gentle plume of smoke curled lazily into the air, the scent of tobacco mingling with the faintly lingering smell of old paper and wood.

Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned back in his chair, puffing on his pipe, the embers glowing softly. His eyes, sharp and reflective, gazed out of the window for a moment, taking in the view of his village bathed in the gentle light of the starry sky.

Despite the heavy responsibilities that came with his position, he often found peace in these quiet moments in his office, especially when shared with familiar company. And today, the company was none other than Jiraiya.

Jiraiya, who sat comfortably beside him, let out a low chuckle, leaning back in his seat. The fact that he was seated rather than standing, as most people did when visiting the Hokage's office, was a testament to the closeness he shared with his old sensei.

Normally, the room would be filled with the hidden presence of ANBU, their silent forms lurking in the shadows to 'guard' the Hokage, but today was different.

There were no ANBU. No silent protectors. It was just Hiruzen and Jiraiya, talking in what could only be described as the calm before a storm.

Hiruzen took another slow drag from his pipe, "So that was what they did?"

Jiraiya nodded, "Yes, it was even more than I expected,"

The mission debriefing from Yano had been thorough, and Jiraiya had wasted no time in passing the information along to Hiruzen, knowing full well that the Third Hokage would want to be informed immediately.

The ANBU mission in Kusagakure had been a delicate one, rife with potential for disaster, but it had been executed with precision—something that Jiraiya was both surprised and impressed by.

The Hokage took a moment. He wasn't one to praise recklessly, but he understood the intricacies of the mission. Kusagakure was in turmoil, and the seeds of chaos planted by Renjiro, Kakashi, and Yano would no doubt grow into something more dangerous for their enemies. Yet, Hiruzen couldn't help but feel a pang of unease.

"But why did you assign both Renjiro and Kakashi under Yano?" Hiruzen asked.

Jiraiya leaned forward slightly, meeting his old sensei's gaze. "I thought I already told you, it's a temporary arrangement until they get more experience under the ANBU," he explained, his tone casual.

Hiruzen didn't reply immediately. Instead, he took another slow puff from his pipe, his eyes never leaving Jiraiya's. The silence stretched for a moment, heavy with unspoken thoughts.

Finally, Jiraiya caught on, a slight frown creasing his brow as he shifted in his seat. "Oh," he said, realization dawning on him, "you meant because Yano is—"

Before Jiraiya could even finish the sentence, Hiruzen cut him off "You do know that dangling Renjiro and Kakashi in front of him will only make him want them more, especially after what he did leading to Sakumo's death."

Jiraiya's smirk returned, "Old man, you think I'm afraid of him?"

There was a touch of defiance in Jiraiya's voice, but it wasn't arrogance. It was confidence—confidence that he could handle whatever Danzo, the man in question, might throw at him.

After all, the power struggles between the two had been ongoing for years, ever since Jiraiya had become a significant force in Konoha's military strategies. Danzo's ambitions were no secret, and his manipulative tactics had left a trail of destruction, one that included Sakumo Hatake's tragic downfall.

Hiruzen let out a soft sigh, shaking his head slightly. "It's not about being afraid of him. When you two collide, I'm the one left to clean up the mess."

One of the reasons Hiruzen had agreed to place Renjiro in the ANBU was because he knew that Jiraiya, despite his unorthodox methods and often chaotic nature, would protect the boy from Danzo's influence.

Renjiro, with his unique lineage and abilities, was a prime target for Root. The fact that Danzo had agreed to this arrangement so easily had been troubling, and it gnawed at Hiruzen's thoughts.

'What is he planning?' Hiruzen thought, his mind racing with possibilities.

Danzo never played a losing hand, not willingly. He always had something up his sleeve, something that would turn the situation to his advantage.

Still, Hiruzen had hoped that by keeping Renjiro under Jiraiya's watchful eye, he could mitigate whatever scheme Danzo was plotting. As long as Jiraiya was involved, Danzo couldn't overplay his hand without revealing his intentions.

Breaking the tension, Hiruzen set his pipe down on the desk and leaned back in his chair, his lips curling into a faint smile.

"But if you really don't like him that much, you could always take over from me and relieve this old man from all this work," he said, feigning a pitiful tone as he gestured vaguely to the mountains of paperwork that littered his desk.

Jiraiya scoffed, rolling his eyes at the theatrics. "Old man?" he repeated incredulously.

"If the Third Mizukage could hear you now, he'd probably cough up more blood than usual." The comment was a jab, a reminder that Hiruzen, despite his claims of age, was still very much in his prime.

The Third Hokage had recently wounded the Mizukage in a skirmish, a fact that hadn't gone unnoticed by Konoha's enemies. There was a reason that, despite his grey temples, Hiruzen was still considered the strongest person in Konoha as well as the strongest Kage.

His power was unmatched, his reflexes still sharp, and his mind as keen as ever. To call him 'old' was almost laughable—except when it came from Jiraiya, who enjoyed teasing his sensei whenever he had the chance.

Hiruzen chuckled at the remark but didn't deny it. The memory of his battle with the Mizukage was still fresh in his mind, and the injuries he had inflicted on his opponent were a testament to his enduring strength.

"You know I can never take over from you," Jiraiya continued, waving a hand dismissively. "It's too much work. Besides, Orochimaru has been eyeing your seat for years. He'd probably be the choice."

The mention of Orochimaru darkened Hiruzen's mood slightly. He nodded, his expression becoming more contemplative.

"You're right."

There was no denying it—Orochimaru's ambitions had been clear for a long time. He had grown more distant, more cold, especially since joining the research division. Hiruzen's concern for his student had only grown in recent months, though he had tried to push those worries aside. '

Maybe I'm looking too much into this,' he thought, but the nagging doubt remained.

As if on cue, Hiruzen's thoughts were interrupted by a more immediate concern. "That reminds me," he said, his brow furrowing. "There have been cases of missing civilians and shinobi in the village. Has the ANBU found anything regarding it?"

Jiraiya leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. "Old man, isn't that the work of the police force?" he asked, though his tone lacked the usual playfulness.

Hiruzen's eyes sharpened, and he fixed Jiraiya with a stern gaze. "Why are you acting as if you don't know the village's situation?" His voice was firm, but not accusatory—more of a reminder than a rebuke.

Jiraiya sighed, running a hand through his white hair. Having lived in Konoha for close to three decades, he was well aware of the tension between the village leadership and the Uchiha clan.

The Uchiha, despite their status as one of the founding clans of Konoha, had long been marginalized and mistrusted by the higher-ups, their police force was seen as a way to keep them in check.

Jiraiya had never liked it, and he had called out the discrimination more than once, only to have his sensei brush it off, telling him that he wouldn't understand because he wasn't Hokage. The issue had always been a point of contention between them.

"We're still working on it," Jiraiya said finally, his voice tinged with frustration. He hated the political games that came with leadership, and the situation with the Uchiha was no exception.

Hiruzen nodded, accepting the answer for now. "Then that's it, for now," he said, standing up from his chair and walking over to where his Hokage hat hung. He reached up, placing the hat on his head with a sense of finality.

"Keep briefing me on what Renjiro and Kakashi are doing. When they're eligible for their promotion missions, let me know. I have something interesting waiting for them."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "I still don't know why you're so interested in them," he began, his tone thoughtful. "Yes, I know you feel guilty about what happened to Kakashi's father, but Renjiro—what makes him so special that even that fossil is drooling over him?"

The fossil Jiraiya was referring to was, of course, Danzo. Jiraiya had no love for the man, who he saw as a relic of the past, clinging to outdated ideals and methods. Danzo's obsession with power and control was well known.

"Is it because he shows qualities from both his parents' clans?" Jiraiya continued, probing further.

Hiruzen was about to answer when his expression suddenly darkened. His head jerked up, eyes locking onto a distant point as his senses flared. Jiraiya's head followed the same direction a second later, his instincts immediately kicking in.

Without a word, Hiruzen made a quick hand sign, and the barrier around the office—the one he had erected to give him and Jiraiya some privacy—flickered and then deactivated.

As the shimmering light of the barrier faded, an ANBU shinobi materialized in front of them, kneeling with a sense of urgency.

"Lord Third, Lord Commander," the ANBU began, his voice steady but urgent.

"They have moved."

Jiraiya glanced at Hiruzen, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "It seems you were right, old man," he said, standing up and stretching his arms.

"They never learn."

"Good thing I know the right person to send," Jiraiya added, his smirk widening as he turned to leave, already preparing for the mission ahead.

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