Chapter 202

Ah, the smoke I exhaled filled the office in an instant.

"Do you have confidence? At least you'll win a prize in this competition. It's an alternative way to showcase our strength," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, his eyes piercing through the smoke to meet the gaze of the Uchiha Clan Leader.

"Lord Hokage, rest assured. We are professionals in the field of film and television. We have inherited the art of acting," the Uchiha Clan Leader replied confidently.

"It's the content that matters the most. I don't want to watch a group of expressionless young people pretending to be handsome on screen. I want something that can ignite passion and evoke emotions. I want movies," Sarutobi expressed his dissatisfaction, tapping the table.

As he grew older, Sarutobi no longer had the patience for flashy and insincere performances. He longed to see actors who could captivate audiences with their skills and stories that reflected reality.

"Yes, Lord Hokage, I understand," the Uchiha Clan Leader nodded in agreement.

"By the way, keep an eye on the low-quality films circulating in the world today, especially the ones rated three, four, five, or six. Review them carefully and make sure they don't negatively impact the physical and mental health of the youth. If you find any, submit them all, and I will personally review them," Sarutobi added with a meaningful tone.

Every industry has its share of gray areas that need to be addressed. Ignoring the issue won't make it disappear, and Sarutobi wanted to crack down on those practices. It wasn't about taxation; it was about curbing inappropriate content that could harm the younger generation.

The Uchiha Clan Leader left the office, wearing a somber expression. He knew the source of those inferior products, but collecting evidence against them was quite troublesome. The person behind it all was not easy to deal with.

"Forget about it. Let's focus on finishing the movie. I wonder what Mina is up to," the Uchiha Clan Leader muttered as he walked away.

However, on his way to the shooting base, he encountered Jiraiya.

"Hey, Uchiha Clan Leader, what are you up to?" Jiraiya greeted him with a smile, appearing enthusiastic as if they were old friends.

"Jiraiya-sama, I'm heading to the shooting base. Lord Hokage assigned the task, and I must fulfill it," the Uchiha Clan Leader replied reluctantly, not particularly eager to engage in conversation with Jiraiya.

"Oh, I see. In that case, I'll accompany you. I think I could make a cameo appearance too," Jiraiya exclaimed, suddenly excited, and he draped his arm around the Uchiha Clan Leader's shoulders.

Indeed, the shooting base was filled with handsome men and beautiful women. Jiraiya didn't care much for handsome men, especially those who outshone him, but he was fond of beautiful women, especially those who surpassed Tsunade's beauty.

"Wait, outsiders aren't allowed... Ahem."

Perhaps due to the abrupt change in weather or the mounting pressure, the Uchiha Clan Leader developed a cold and needed some good medicine.

Hearing this, Jiraiya quickly understood the situation. He pulled out a stack of small discs from his pocket, approximately twenty to thirty sheets in thickness.

"These are new items I created, processed with Orochimaru's help. It's the film version of Icha Icha Paradise. Take good care of them," Jiraiya said.

"I understand, Jiraiya-sama. You can trust me," the Uchiha Clan Leader replied, accepting the discs.

"If the old fogey asks you about it..."

"I'll hand over a few. Such groundbreaking works should not be cut off from their source," the Uchiha Clan Leader assured.

The two embraced each other and proceeded to the shooting base.

In Konoha Hidden Village, the two most influential directors and content creators were Uchiha Mina and Jiraiya. However, Jiraiya's reputation remained somewhat obscure. Those who knew of his work dared not make him too famous, and they preferred to keep their secret dealings with Jiraiya hidden. They would rather let people think they were colluding with Orochimaru, as collusion with Orochimaru could be seen as having ambitions, while collusion with Jiraiya only hinted at lust. Ambition outweighed lust, especially when it came to maintaining one's image and gaining support.

In a remote corner, a group of people observed the Uchiha Clan Leader from a distance.

Who could have imagined that the Uchiha Clan Leader, usually aloof and distant, would be part of their organization?

The best news spreads quickly.

Why do Jiraiya and Kakashi have such a good relationship? The answer is simple: they walk the same path.

Both are unabashedly themselves.

Kakashi's habit of always carrying Icha Icha Paradise around is well-known. Everyone knows he is constantly engrossed in the book.

What happens when someone peeks into the women's bathhouse every day and carries a little yellow book around? They must have common ground and a great relationship.

Kakashi was able to become Hokage, likely due to Jiraiya's support. Tsunade looked at Jiraiya's face and chose to support him.

However, even Kakashi has his limits. After becoming Hokage, he didn't promote Icha Icha Paradise everywhere. He knew when to celebrate in moderation.

Jiraiya and the Uchiha Clan Leader walked ahead, while a group of people followed behind, picking up items along the way.

The reason was simple. Jiraiya would discreetly leave a scroll in small alleyways. Though small in size, it was sufficient to store certain things.

As for what was stored inside, only the giver and receiver knew.

Indeed, things were quite intriguing.

Sarutobi Hiruzen instructed the Uchiha Clan Leader to apprehend the culprit behind the sale of inferior products and the organization supporting it. Little did he know that the Uchiha Clan Leader was actually a part of that organization, and a deeply embedded member at that.

It was a precarious situation, having to capture someone who was essentially a subordinate and a well-performing one at that.

"When I return, I'll hand over what I've found to Lord Hokage. There's no room for equivocation," the Uchiha Clan Leader pondered.

As an excellent subordinate, he understood the nuances of such situations. If it were someone else, they would find a way to evade responsibility. But the Uchiha Clan Leader was different. He would present the evidence and admit his own incompetence, indicating that the primary culprit was still at large. He had a lead and could always capture them. The rest depended on the leader's discretion.

Leadership required a resolute and awe-inspiring demeanor. They had to weed out the roots of the problem, which the Uchiha Clan Leader intended to do by apprehending a few lower-level members.

The rest was just a matter of maintaining the right attitude and addressing bureaucratic concerns. As the saying goes, there are policies from above, and countermeasures from below. It was essential to handle such matters appropriately.

"By the way, Uchiha Clan Leader, you don't lack actors, do you?" Jiraiya inquired.

"What's the matter?" the Uchiha Clan Leader responded.

"Take a look at my acting skills. Do you think I can be of use?" Jiraiya's enthusiasm was evident as he sought an opportunity to showcase his abilities.

"We can consider it," the Uchiha Clan Leader replied.

"Next time, I'll provide you with a compilation of my works," Jiraiya declared.

"I'll discuss it with Mina. With her talents, we don't need an exceptional actor like you. It would be a waste of your skills."