28. Cloud Shinobi Starts To Do It!
Yagami had always admired Jiraiya. When he saw Jiraiya die in his previous life, he regretted it for a long time, despite Jiraiya's questionable personal morals.
"You're only supposed to look at women openly if you're looking at them, right? Is it really okay to go to a custom shop and not be aboveboard? Why choose to be a voyeur instead?"
Not only did you peek, but you even drew it, and now you're even peeking at the head of the Uchiha.
Although many villagers on Uchiha Industrial Street are arriving now, the family members often relax in the hot springs. I haven't watched it yet, so I'll let you have a look first…
"Master Jiraiya, even if you're a disciple of the Third Hokage, you can't peep at the women's bath in broad daylight, can you? Don't you think it's a bit demeaning?"
In the interrogation room, Yagami conducted the questioning himself. Jiraiya was powerful and held a high status in Konoha, so it might not be effective to have someone else interrogate him.
"You know me?"
Seeing Yagami call his name directly, Jiraiya was a bit surprised. He hadn't been in the village for a long time; some adult shinobi might not know him, but this young one did.
"The famous Konoha Sannin... I, Uchiha Yagami, am not so arrogant as to ignore the masters of the village. After all, in my view, you are a potential future adversary."
Jiraiya's playful expression suddenly turned serious. The changes within the Uchiha clan and the Third Hokage's role had been explained to him, and this young man in front of him was at the centre of it all.
Since he was already being seen as an enemy, it seemed the Uchiha really didn't want more contact with the village.
Jiraiya had been considering how to use this meeting as an initial step toward connecting with the Uchiha, but it seemed that there was no point in continuing.
Old man, it's not that I don't want to help you, but in Uchiha's eyes, I am no different from you.
"Don't look at me like that. In fact, if it weren't for me, Uchiha and Konoha would have already been fighting each other by now. As for why this situation has come about, you know it well. Besides, it's just an imaginary enemy. At least we're not fighting now, are we?"
Yagami could almost read Jiraiya's thoughts, understanding as well what the Third Hokage wanted. But he didn't want Jiraiya to establish a connection with the Uchiha, so he needed to cut it off quickly.
It was one thing to admire Jiraiya, but Jiraiya was firmly on the Hokage's side...
"But your idea is too dangerous; there's no need to go to such extremes."
Jiraiya said in a deep voice. Imaginary enemy or not, it implied a potential future conflict. With three Mangekyō Sharingan users, Konoha would be shattered.
"There is no danger.
The village wants to destroy Uchiha.
Is it too much for me to have some extreme ideas?
To protect my family and my people, I must consider every possibility that may arise…"
"Master Jiraiya, did you know? When Shisui's eyes were taken, Lord Third Hokage summoned 80% of Konoha's forces to surround the Uchiha clan. How could I not have such thoughts?"
Damn it! Old man, you set me up! What on earth did you do to the Uchiha while I was gone? The other side had already put their cards on the table before we even started talking. How am I supposed to respond?
Jiraiya felt like his head was going to explode; there was no chance of talking things through!
"Alright, Master Jiraiya, the issues between Uchiha and the village can't be explained in just a few sentences, and you don't need to exhaust yourself on us.
Maintaining this level of relationship is already due to our restraint.
If the Third Hokage doesn't want things to change, he should prepare to watch some people meet their end..."
"Also, regarding your spying on the women's bath, according to the security regulations, you're required to stay here for three days.
I hope Konoha won't see you lurking around the bathhouse again in the future; otherwise, I'll have to ask Third Hokage what went wrong in teaching you to have such... interests."
A moment ago, Jiraiya had been concerned about Uchiha's stance, but after hearing Mingfeng's later words, he felt a wave of embarrassment.
It was one thing to sneak around watching people bathe—even if caught, he'd only feel ashamed of himself. But if the Third Hokage were involved, the old man wouldn't let it slide.
Though the old man isn't exactly a prude, at least he doesn't go lying by the bathhouse. He just uses his "far-seeing" jutsu…
"No, no! I swear there won't be a next time, don't go to the old man about this! Three days…"
"The three-day detention period is non-negotiable.
Do you think the police department is putting on a show? Not even you will get special treatment. If Third Hokage himself lay next to the bathhouse and got caught by me, he'd be drinking tea here for three days, too! Also, I recall you were looking for traces of Orochimaru, correct? Don't you want to know why he defected from the village?"
Hearing Jiraiya refer to the Third Hokage as "old man," an idea flashed in Yagami's mind. If Jiraiya knew that Danzo had made Orochimaru do those things with the Third Hokage's tacit approval, could the master and student still maintain such harmony?
"What do you mean? You know why Orochimaru betrayed us!"
Jiraiya immediately stood up, visibly agitated, but when he saw Mingfeng's Sharingan activated, he reluctantly sat back down.
"If you want answers, investigate Konoha's upper management—especially those who can only operate from the shadows."
Mingfeng's pointed words hung in the air, and he was quite satisfied with his setup. If Jiraiya truly uncovered something, his relationship with the Third Hokage might be strained, and Danzo definitely wouldn't be able to escape the fallout.
Danzo had been so quiet recently, not making any moves. Who knew if he was plotting something new? Better to let Jiraiya give him some trouble instead of him constantly scheming to destroy Uchiha…
Soon, the report that Jiraiya had been detained for peeping at the bathhouse landed on the Third Hokage's desk, and the corner of the Third Hokage's mouth twitched at the news.
The Jiraiya I put my confidence in gets detained by the police department on the very day he returns? How unreliable!
"Let it be; let this be a lesson for him! At a time like this, he still has the nerve to indulge in this kind of behaviour..."
"Lord Hokage, one of the members of the Kumogakure delegation, has disappeared!"
As soon as the Third Hokage spoke, an Anbu appeared in the office, and the news brought a cold glint to his old eyes.
"Notify all shinobi to be on high alert, send out all the Anbu teams, and make sure to locate the missing individual!"
I've known for a while that Kumogakure's intentions aren't sincere, and Konoha is prepared. But without knowing exactly what they plan to do, there's no way to set up specific countermeasures.
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