Chapter 40: Hiruzen's Talk with Jiraiya

"But why are you not revealing that you have turned back to how you were in your prime to the others in the village? It would reassure them. The third Hokage, the professor is stronger than he was in his prime. The other shinobi villages would also hesitate to act against the leaf if they knew about it." Jiraiya said

"While It will keep the other shinobi villages away, they would see our strength greater than any other village again which would make them ally with each other once again like the three great wars in the past."

"Right now, after the death of Minato and Kushina, they would think that I am old, they would think Konoha is at its weakest and their villages are equal or stronger than Konoha in strength. They would try to attack us alone and would not want to share benefits with other villages by not allying with them." Hiruzen said as he had a lot of experience in politics and how the other villages think.

"Another reason that I want to hide my strength is that it would catch the enemy off guard. Hopefully causing them losses as well. As for why I am not telling the village and even my other students and family is because I don't want them to feel a sense of security."

"I don't want them to think that I would be able to protect them and the village on my own. This would make every shinobi in Konoha have the urge to become stronger and to become a pillar that the village would depend on. Some might even want to become the hokage seeing that I am still old which would again result in the shinobi becoming stronger."

"I see sensei. You have my word that I would not be telling about your new looks to anyone. But I have to ask, with your new looks you can get married again? I am sure Lady Biwako would not mind and would want you to move on. So Are you planning to get married again?" Jiraiya asked with a teasing smile.

"I am still an old man. Who would want to marry a sixty-year-old man? Anyways, tell me all the information you have gathered." Hiruzen's voice turned serious as he asked this.

"The skirmishes between Kumo and Iwa have reduced in the past month. They would likely hold peace talks soon. But it should still take a year at least for it to happen. You should prepare for Kumo targeting Leaf next." Jiraiya said

"I expected this but not this soon. The Raikage should have been really angry with the death of his father. It must be Kumo's council that stopped him from going for an all-out war against Iwa. What else have you got for me?" Hiruzen asked Jiraiya for more intel.

"The Mist is trying to have peace talks with Sand. I don't have many details but when my informant contacts me about the peace details between them, I will let you know. You should also solidify the defenses of the cities and towns near the sea since the Mist shinobi are being active near the borders of the land of Fire. Mist is surely going to do something soon. I will also keep an eye on them on my journey." Jiraiya said

"I have already assigned some manpower in the cities and towns near the sea. I will still reinforce them just in case. Now tell me have you got anything for me on that matter?"

"I have no information about who was responsible for the nine-tailes attack. There is no information about any rogue Uchiha who could have done this. There is no information about any orange-masked man either. None at all." Jiraiya told Hiruzen who could only have a frown at the lack of information against a potential strong enemy.

"Well, I will try to find information about the masked man but I can't guarantee anything. Now tell me how is Naruto?" Jiraiya asked with sorrow in his voice.

"He is growing up well in the orphanage. I have prevented any rumors about him being the nine tails jinchuriki from spreading in the village. He is constantly under Anbu protection too." Hiruzen said

"I see, So why have you called me back so urgently?"

"I want you to become a Jonin sensei for a recently graduated team." Hiruzen said hoping that Jiraiya would accept.

"Uhhhh....Why me especially?" Jiraiya was confused at first as there were other Jonins and elite Jonins who could become Jonin senseis. There was no need for Hiruzen to ask for him especially.

"The team is comprised of three geniuses. They would likely be attacked by the enemy to prevent them from growing up and realizing their full potential. Besides, the team comprises of Itachi Uchiha, Fugaku's elder son who has awakened his Sharingan at the age of 6 and my grandson Ken, who has two kekkei genkais." Hiruzem explained Jiraiya

"Yeah, I heard about little Ken on my travels, the third Hokage's grandson awakening two Kekkei Genkais. You should have tried to stop the information leak." Jiraiya scolded Giruzen for such negligence.

"There was nothing I could do since Ken awakened his Kekkei Genkais in public . It was bound to spread eventually. So what's your choice?" Hiruzen asked Jiraiya about his decision.

Jiraiya hesitated before saying "Sorry Sensei, I have already lost too many of my students. I don't think that I would take any other students now except Naruto."

Hiruzen realized a sigh.

"So what now?" Jiraiya asked

"I had already guessed your answer but I still wanted to give it a shot. Thankfully I have prepared a backup for you." Hiruzen said

"Oh, Who is it?" Jiraiya asked curious to know who was going to be a sensei of such a strong genin team. He thought that it must be Orochimaru most likely.

"Come In," Hiruzen said as out walked a man who was going to be the sensei of Ken's genin team.

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