Preventive Measures (Part 1)

Police Force Detention Room

The Third Hokage stood on the other side of the bars, glaring at Jiraiya in frustration.

"I called you back to counterbalance the Uchiha, and now your reputation is ruined before you could even act!"

Jiraiya, equally dejected, replied, "How was I supposed to know I'd run into Uchiha Yamaki? No one outside has ever caught me."

The Third Hokage slammed his hand on the bars with a dull thud. "I don't care what you do outside, but in Konoha, you'd better curb these bad habits."

Jiraiya muttered, "You use the Telescope Jutsu to spy too..."

"Cough, cough!" The Third Hokage cleared his throat loudly, cutting Jiraiya off. He glanced back to see the ANBU standing at a distance on guard.

Taking up his pipe, the Third Hokage tried to look stern. "In any case, stay here for fifteen days until things blow over. If you leave early, it will be troublesome. Bear with it."

Jiraiya had heard Yamaki's taunting earlier and knew he couldn't avoid this stint in jail.

"Then, old man, get me some sake..."

"Got it..."

The Third Hokage responded as he walked out.

...

After the Third Hokage left, Yamaki arrived at the Police Force but didn't visit Jiraiya. Instead, he went to see Hizashi.

When Fugaku was the Police Force Captain, he occasionally patrolled in person. Hizashi, however, stayed at the headquarters, handling various tasks himself.

Yamaki arrived just as Hyūga Yūjin finished his report and was leaving.

Yamaki patted Yūjin's shoulder. "Good job, kid."

Hyūga Yūjin scratched his head bashfully. "Thank you, Lord Yamaki. I'll take my leave."

Yamaki's eyes gleamed. "Wait a moment."

He whispered something in Yūjin's ear, and Yūjin nodded repeatedly. "Leave it to me, Lord Yamaki."

Yamaki waved him off and walked into Hizashi's office without knocking. He found Hizashi engrossed in reading reports.

"Hizashi, looking sharp," Yamaki commented.

Hizashi looked up, smiling when he saw Yamaki. During their first meeting, Yamaki was overly respectful, addressing him as "Lord Hizashi." But after becoming familiar, Yamaki's irreverent attitude showed, treating everyone casually.

Hizashi didn't mind, especially since the Hyūga and Uchiha clans were in a harmonious phase. The recent incident with the Hidden Cloud was resolved thanks to Yamaki's intervention. Without him, Hizashi or his brother might have faced severe consequences for killing the intruder.

"Yamaki, you've made quite a splash today."

Yamaki waved dismissively. "It was an accident. Who knew Jiraiya would pull such a stunt? I was just standing up for the common folk."

Sure, I believe that, Yamaki. You were looking for trouble with Jiraiya. Today, you asked for an appointment; scroll just to mess with him.

Jiraiya's escapades were well-known. He wandered, indulging in wine and women, and was blacklisted from bathhouses everywhere. Besides, he wrote novels and manga—some respectable, some questionable.

As a Police Force Captain, Hizashi now had to intervene. Jiraiya's behaviour outside the village was one thing, but causing trouble inside was another, especially since one of the victims was from the Hyūga clan.

If Hizashi had intervened, it would have been difficult due to Jiraiya's status. But with Yamaki handling it, Jiraiya was likely scarred for life. The proud Sannin, the Toad Sage, caught peeping and publicly shamed—what a scandal!

"Yamaki, why did you do this?" Hizashi asked.

Yamaki shrugged. "I can't stand such behavior. Even if it's Jiraiya."

Hizashi gave Yamaki a long look, then nodded noncommittally.

"By the way, I caught Nakamura Kazuya from Root today. He was obstructing my duties. Use this as an excuse to dismiss him. Without a leader, the remaining Root members can't cause much trouble."

Hizashi agreed. Nakamura had been causing trouble, trying to rally Police Force members. But the Hyūga clan's structure made it impossible to sway them. It was time to get rid of Nakamura.

Yamaki took out his appointment scroll. "Captain Hizashi, I find the Police Force interesting, but I'm quite busy. I'm resigning."

Hizashi chuckled. Everyone knew Yamaki was just playing around.

"Alright, leave it here."

...

Many speculated that Yamaki's actions aimed to tarnish the Hokage faction's reputation. However, only Yamaki knew his true motive: to prevent Naruto from being poorly influenced. Such immature behaviours were foolish to him.

Yamaki headed to the Konoha Ninja Academy, hearing people gossiping about Jiraiya's arrest. By the time he arrived, the school had been out for a while. The nearby patrol was from the Hyūga clan.

"Where's Sasuke?"

The Hyūga member quickly saluted. "Lord Yamaki, Sasuke and Naruto just headed towards Eighth Street."

"Alright, carry on."

Yamaki followed the direction and soon found the two boys eating takoyaki. With more pocket money, Naruto looked much more confident and cheerful.

"Naruto, Sasuke, there you are," Yamaki called. Naruto looked up in surprise.

"Yamaki-senpai!"

Sasuke greeted him respectfully, "Sensei."

Yamaki tapped Sasuke's forehead. "I heard you topped the test again this week. As expected of an Uchiha, well done, Sasuke."

Sasuke, proud yet shy, tried to hide his satisfaction. "As your student, I can't let you down."

Naruto watched them with a hint of envy. Sasuke had already told him he was Yamaki's student. Despite having more friends now, Naruto still had few close elders.