Jiraiya’s Mission

"Old man, why did you call me back?"

After climbing in through the window, Jiraiya spoke bluntly to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

He had been painstakingly gathering intelligence when he was suddenly summoned back on an urgent basis. Those beautiful gir—no, intelligence agents—had been terribly disappointed.

"Jiraiya, you’re finally back. I’m sure you’ve heard about this matter as well. Only you can handle it."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was delighted to see Jiraiya. There were hardly any people in Konoha capable of shouldering great responsibility now. The younger generation, such as Kakashi, Might Guy, and Yuhi Kurenai, were all quite outstanding, but they still could not stand on their own like Jiraiya.

Give them another ten years, and perhaps they could become Konoha’s pillars. But for now, they still needed these old trees to hold things up a little longer.

"Is this because of Sunagakure? Even in the Land of Lightning, I could hear passing merchant caravans discussing what happened in the Land of Wind."

Jiraiya’s expression became somewhat grave.

"Has Sunagakure made any moves at the border?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe and shook his head. "We haven’t received any intelligence about Suna-nin gathering at the border for the time being. However, four nobles from the River Country have defected to Sunagakure. They brought their family lands and servants with them and applied to join Sunagakure. Although the Daimyo of the River Country strongly opposed it, it was of no use. Once they submitted the treaty application for accession, Sunagakure sent Ninja to protect them."

"Because of this, Sunagakure’s border now directly connects with Konoha’s. If war breaks out, the flames of war could spread into the Land of Fire at any moment."

After hearing that, Jiraiya looked over the map and found the matter rather troublesome as well. "old man, if both sides agree to it, calling me here won’t help. I’m not suited to being an envoy."

Sarutobi Hiruzen took another puff and shook his head. "Konoha absolutely cannot yield on the matter of the two countries’ borders connecting. Moreover, the Daimyo of the River Country secretly sent an envoy. He cannot tolerate this either, so he entrusted the matter to Konoha. I intend to hand this over to Danzo and have him deal with it."

Jiraiya fell silent upon hearing that. If it was handed to Danzo, then aside from killing all four nobles, Root had no other solution.

This was Konoha’s dark side. It was precisely because such things existed—and because what Tsunade had witnessed was even darker—that she could not bear it and left Konoha.

Compared with Tsunade, Jiraiya possessed a more mature willingness to compromise. He knew Konoha had much darkness, but these were necessary methods for protecting the village. Though Jiraiya hated such actions, he had no choice but to admit that they were necessary.

"As for the Yasunori Family, they are too deeply entangled. Many nobles are speaking for them, and even the Daimyo finds it difficult to make a decision. If the Daimyo does not speak up, it will be hard for Konoha to act against the Yasunori Family… Besides, it is no longer easy to make a move."

Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke slowly. According to the intelligence, many members of the Yasunori Family were staying in Sunagakure. Even if he wanted to eliminate them, he could not send people into Sunagakure to assassinate them. Not even Root could do that.

As for targeting Yasunori Family members elsewhere? That was possible, but it would not accomplish much and would instead alert them.

"Jiraiya, I want you to go to the Land of Wind and gather intelligence. It would be best if you could obtain solid evidence."

"Regarding what?"

"Everything. If possible, the truth behind the deaths of the Fourth Kazekage and the Daimyo of the Land of Wind, detailed intelligence on Sunagakure’s reforms, and the members of the Yasunori Trading Company."

As Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke, he saw Jiraiya’s expression turn grave and could not help saying apologetically, "Jiraiya, I know this will be difficult, but you are the only one in Konoha who can do it. One of Danzo’s Root squads was discovered by Suna-nin at the border. They were driven back after fighting. Another squad lost contact after infiltrating."

"Ha, old man, don’t underestimate me, the White-Haired Child Toad Sage. I was only thinking about how much time this mission would delay me. I still have plenty of material to gather. It’s not that I find it difficult!"

Jiraiya laughed loudly, then put his hands on his hips and said to Sarutobi Hiruzen, "A mission like this can’t stump Sage Jiraiya. Old man, just wait for the intelligence."

Seeing Jiraiya’s confident expression, Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled. "There’s no need to leave in such a hurry. I’ll make you a copy of the intelligence we’ve gathered later. If you need anything, you can ask for it. I’m sorry, Jiraiya. Konoha can only rely on you now. Actually, if you are willing—"

"Ah, spare me the rest, old man."

The moment Jiraiya heard Sarutobi Hiruzen’s words, he guessed what he wanted to say next.

"I’ve always been too free-spirited. I’m really not suited for that position. Compared to me, Tsunade is more suited to being Hokage."

"Tsunade…" Sarutobi Hiruzen also felt that Tsunade was more suitable. Then he said to Jiraiya, "But Tsunade has no interest in it at all. Even after overcoming her hemophobia, she did not stay in the village long."

Jiraiya’s expression turned serious as he asked, "That’s because the atmosphere in the village is all wrong, isn’t it? Old man, has someone been targeting Naruto lately? Why did I hear, as soon as I returned, that people have been spreading rumors about the Nine-Tails inside Naruto and how it could erupt at any time?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen froze upon hearing that, then asked, "They’re still spreading it? I already ordered everyone forbidden from mentioning it. Jiraiya, where did you hear it?"

"That… you don’t need to ask. In any case, how was Naruto’s identity as a Jinchuriki leaked? He’s the son of a hero!"

As for where he had heard it, that was naturally inconvenient to say.

Sarutobi Hiruzen answered somewhat vaguely, "I… I know, Jiraiya. Don’t worry. I’ve already ordered people not to discuss this matter. It also has something to do with the Uzumaki Company, but it involves some nobles of the Land of Fire, so it isn’t easy to forbid it."

Only after Sarutobi Hiruzen repeatedly assured him did Jiraiya relax. No one had discussed it openly on the streets, but such things could not be stopped in private. Still, since the old man had given his solemn assurance, there should not be a problem.

When his disciple Namikaze Minato died, Jiraiya had happened to be away from the village and could do nothing about it. But Kushina and Naruto could not be wronged, or Jiraiya would feel he had failed Namikaze Minato.

Even the child had been given the name of the protagonist from his novel. That showed just how much his disciple trusted him, so Jiraiya absolutely did not want to see anyone in the village bully Naruto.

After leaving the Hokage Tower, Jiraiya went to see Naruto. At the village playground, a group of children had gathered to play. Although Naruto tried hard to joke around and liven up the atmosphere, the other children still seemed somewhat resistant to being close to him.

They might not understand the terror of a Tailed Beast, but their parents had likely warned them not to get close to Uzumaki Naruto.

The Fourth Hokage had indeed been a great hero, and his son should have been respected as well. But Nine-Tails Night was a terror etched into every villager’s heart. After rumors spread through the village that the Nine-Tails was sealed inside Naruto and could go berserk at any time, the villagers’ attitudes toward Naruto gradually changed greatly.

From affection to perfunctory treatment, from indifference to rejection.

The Fourth Hokage was certainly a hero, but if his child really could turn into the Nine-Tails, wouldn’t that be far too dangerous?

Most Villagers thought this way, and they imposed those thoughts on their children as well. There were so many children their age in the village to befriend; there was no need to insist on being friends with Uzumaki Naruto.

After seeing Naruto’s situation, Jiraiya had no solution either. He could only hope that Naruto would join the Ninja Academy once he grew older. By then, he would make many friends from other families, and things would be much better than they were now.

After watching for a while longer, Jiraiya left Konoha and prepared to head to Sunagakure to gather intelligence.

Fifth update! Please vote!!