Chapter 41

Today, Sarutobi Hiruzen was seated in his usual spot in the Hokage's office. One hand twisted a long-pipped cigar, while the other perused intelligence documents received from the border region.

Following the official truce between Konoha and the Sunagakure, the Second Ninja World War had come to an end. This allowed him to finally release a sigh of relief. Though there lingered a tinge of regret regarding his eldest son's unfortunate incident, he couldn't help but wonder if it was genuinely an accident.

Lately, he found himself spending more and more time within the office. His eldest son's affairs had strained his relationship with his wife, Biwako, causing her to constantly wear an expression of disapproval.

As for his second son, Asuma, he remained unaware of the underlying circumstances but exhibited a growing discord with him.

The clamor of assistants and people outside gradually subsided as they made their way home. Such was the current state of Sarutobi Hiruzen's thoughts. He felt a sense of relief that the war had ended; otherwise, it would have weighed heavily on his heart.

"Curious. Why is Gekko returning so late?" Sarutobi Hiruzen noticed the wall clock and furrowed his brows in mild concern.

Minato had been accepted as a disciple by Jiraiya, leading him to temporarily resign from his Anbu position and his task of monitoring Tatsuya.

Azuki, the brother of the head of the Gekko family and current Anbu squad captain, had been appointed by Minato to replace him.

Possessing secret jutsus for evasion and excelling in covert investigations, the Gekko family had historically supported him.

This, in turn, allowed Sarutobi Hiruzen to consider Azuki, also known as Moon's Shadow, a trusted confidant. Nonetheless, a flaw existed in his capabilities—while his investigative prowess was formidable, his strength fell just shy of qualifying him for a captaincy.

To be honest, Sarutobi Hiruzen remained wary of individuals with excessive power. He harbored concerns that there might destabilize the balance, similar to Sakumo, who had succumbed to the consequences of wielding too much strength.

With a sudden bang, the door to the Hokage's office swung open, crashing against the wall and creating a startling noise. Even Sarutobi Hiruzen was caught off guard. Upon seeing the visitor, his graying eyebrows rose, and he questioned, "Jiraiya?"

"Waiting for Moon Shadow, Gekko Azuki?" Jiraiya's expression remained stoic, a stark contrast to his usual carefree demeanor. Such an unflappable visage from someone known for their constant cheerful countenance indicated his profound seriousness.

Hiruzen's brows knitted involuntarily, his mind racing to comprehend how Jiraiya had become aware of the situation. Yet, before he could pose the question, Jiraiya reached behind his back, produced an item, and flung it toward Hiruzen.

Reacting instinctively, Hiruzen caught the object and examined it closely. It was a tattered piece of the Anbu vest, stained with blood.

"Jiraiya, this...?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze shifted from the bloodied fragment to Jiraiya, his expression a mix of puzzlement and concern.

Jiraiya's response was terse. "Leftovers from Tatsuya's Summoning Dogs lunch."

Had Jiraiya only witnessed the gruesome scene earlier, his reaction might not have been so angry. His journey back to Konoha with Minato had exposed him to the sight of the unaware widowed Gekko Hikaru and her newborn child, who was named Gekko Hayate.

Jiraiya, though usually characterized by his lighthearted demeanor, was not impervious to empathy. Thinking about the suffering that will be experienced by Hikaru and her child deeply affected him, transcending his casual attitude.

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed, and he comprehended the situation from Jiraiya's succinct explanation. "This is arrogance taken to an extreme."

From the corner of the room, Danzo interjected with a cold snort, his presence unnoticed until now. "Daring to kill an Anbu member! Sarutobi, it seems an arrest warrant must be issued."

Danzo's pervasive network allowed him to monitor Konoha around the clock. He had been informed of Jiraiya's visit to the administration building, which suggested that he had a high probability of uncovering the incident.

"I've had enough! Can't you refrain from internal disputes?" Jiraiya's anger, barely contained until now, erupted. "Instead of addressing the external threats, you're preoccupied with undermining each other."

Jiraiya's vehement outburst resonated with Danzo's indifference. "What do you imply, Jiraiya?"

Danzo's gaze remained unwavering, yet a glimmer of suspicion could be detected. "Could it be that Shinnosuke's death has no connection to Second Kazekage whatsoever?"

"Or perhaps, are you implicated in this as well?" Danzo inquired further.

Hiruzen's expression turned stern as he intervened. "Enough, Danzo!"

Danzo's insinuation had been voiced aloud.

"I have my doubts too, you know?" Jiraiya's laughter, tinged with fury, echoed through the room. He turned to leave, dismissing the matter. "It's of no consequence; I leave it to your discretion."

Indeed, while Jiraiya had not divulged the depths of his feelings regarding Tatsuya and Shinnosuke, he found himself unable to ignore the innocent casualties resulting from their grievances.

Hiruzen's eyes held a mix of concern and suspicion as Jiraiya departed, his troubled thoughts lingering.

Unbeknownst to Jiraiya, Danzo's lingering suspicion extended even to him. Though Jiraiya had a placid disposition, he was by no means an easy target for manipulation.

READ 40 CHAPTERS AHEAD ON P*TREON.C*M/MARIONI