Chapter 197: Third Hokage: Jiraiya, Are You Disappointed in Me?

Helping others with construction. This was something Konoha had never thought of before. After all, although the nations of the shinobi world had alliances with each other, they had never truly been of one mind—except for the time when Senju Hashirama was still around. When Senju Hashirama was present, everyone had a consensus: absolutely do not provoke Konoha, everyone must coexist peacefully. Otherwise, no one knew if the Iron Fist would come crashing down on their own heads. So, at that time, everyone’s daily consensus was... absolutely do not offend Senju Hashirama to the point of death! Second, find a way to kill Senju Hashirama, to destroy Konoha. The same enemy can sometimes make everyone unite against a common foe, with the same thoughts and goals. But—clearly, the relationship between Konoha and the Cloud Village was not that good, and they had even been at each other’s throats at one point. Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a breath of air. "Well then, tell me, why did you suddenly say those things to the Cloud Village?" "It’s nothing. It was a previous proposal. If there are more commercial and interest-based ties between the two sides, then the Cloud Village will have to consider more factors when they make a move on us." Tsunade smiled faintly. "So, this is a plan that is beneficial to us." Sarutobi Hiruzen was silent for a few seconds. He really wanted to say... I’m just old, not senile or stupid. That kid is up to no good, how could I not see it? But he couldn’t figure out what Kyohiko really wanted to do. "Forget it. You are the Hokage now. You always listen to his words so casually. I can’t control it anymore." Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed. He slowly walked outside. Tsunade’s fingers tapped lightly as she processed documents. When Hiruzen was about to reach the door, she suddenly stopped. "By the way, old man." "Hmm?" Hiruzen turned back. This address... although it was quite common between him and his three disciples, this time Tsunade’s tone carried a slightly different flavor. He frowned. "Is there something special?" "Danzo’s Root organization, a group of them were taken in by you, right? And, in the capital, I heard that after some of the Guardian Shinobi were disbanded, they suddenly disappeared without a trace. It should be related to you too, right?" Tsunade rested her head on one hand. "Are you thinking of restarting the Root organization?" "The Root organization... Although Danzo and I had some different ideas, there is one thing I agree with." Sarutobi Hiruzen replied, "A big tree that grows strong above also needs roots to absorb external nutrients and the nourishment of power. In the past, I relied on Danzo to do many things that were inconvenient for me." "So, you think Kyohiko and I still can’t accomplish everything, and you need to use the Root organization to help us?" Tsunade said indifferently while writing a document. Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff of his pipe. "Isn’t that so? Although you and Kyohiko are very capable, especially that little fellow, I’ve never seen anyone more talented than him. Even my teacher back then, at the same age, was definitely far inferior to Kyohiko. But..." Sarutobi Hiruzen paused for a moment. "He is still a teenager after all, and you are also very young and immature. You need help with many things, and this is precisely the meaning of Root’s existence." "For example, cultivating a new Jinchuriki candidate?" Tsunade said softly. Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned slightly. He was a little surprised—how did Tsunade know? No! Perhaps they had known all along, but just hadn’t laid their cards on the table before. And now... perhaps it was time for a showdown. Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff of his pipe, half of his face in shadow. "I don’t think it’s a bad thing. After all, the Nine-Tails is very important. And although Kushina is strong and can control the Nine-Tails, what if something goes wrong?" "What could go wrong?" "I’m not saying something will go wrong, but that such a situation exists, so it is very necessary to prepare a Jinchuriki in advance," Sarutobi Hiruzen said coldly. "Besides, for such an Uzumaki clansman to be an ordinary person, isn’t that too much of a waste?" "You..." Tsunade was stunned. She hadn’t expected Sarutobi Hiruzen to have such a side to him. Then, she couldn’t help but think of another matter. Utatane Koharu had once mentioned that it was the joint cooperation of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo that allowed Konoha to overcome one difficulty after another. Then, how could her teacher not know about Danzo’s affairs? I’m so stupid. Tsunade let out a breath. "Forget it. My ideals don’t align with yours. We can’t discuss many things. The one who needs to talk to you about this isn’t me. Jiraiya will be back soon. You should be free tonight, right?" --- At night. Under a streetlight, Sarutobi Hiruzen walked slowly. After a long while, he exhaled a puff of smoke. Really... I didn’t expect it to come to this. Old friend, you must be laughing at me. Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the night sky. "I don’t know if he’s laughing at you, but I think he would definitely feel that you and he are the same kind of person." Jiraiya’s figure slowly walked out of the darkness and under the streetlight, sitting down on a park bench. Sarutobi Hiruzen sat beside him. "Are you disappointed?" "No." Jiraiya closed his eyes. He sighed softly. "I’m just very disappointed in myself." Sarutobi Hiruzen was silent for a few seconds. "Why? Although I was very fond of Orochimaru, in my current view, you are the disciple who is most like me." "Yes. You told me that peace can be achieved through dialogue and mutual understanding, that protection is the true essence of the Will of Fire... I have always thought so too," Jiraiya’s voice was low. Sarutobi Hiruzen was silent, puffing on his pipe, listening to Jiraiya speak his mind. He couldn’t help but feel dazed. Back then... did I really say that? Hiruzen recalled. "And now?" "Now? I think I’ve seen it clearly. What you taught me was a very idealistic situation. Protection is right, but dialogue, understanding, and love..." Jiraiya sighed. "That is simply impossible." Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled bitterly. "Yes. In the shinobi world, everyone is from different countries and standpoints. How can they truly understand each other? Even if they do, sometimes they may not be willing to give up war for the other’s sake." The words he had taught his disciple, even he himself could no longer remember clearly. After all... so many years had passed. Sarutobi Hiruzen’s eyes dimmed. "You must be very disappointed in me, right?" "Everyone has their positive and dark sides. I just got to know your other side. But..." Jiraiya turned his head, his gaze cold. "Sensei, you also said that to protect the ones you love, you can erupt with powerful strength and will, right? If you do anything to Kushina, even if I respect you very much, I will not show mercy!" Jiraiya’s tone was cold and firm. Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed. "Have we, master and disciple, come to distrust each other to this extent?" "Shouldn’t we? The one who controls Root, who keeps company with darkness all day, will slowly fall into darkness as well. The former Danzo was like this, and so are you." Jiraiya stood up. "Including Orochimaru. If not for Kyohiko, he would also be like this..." After speaking, Jiraiya said, "So, I am very grateful to Kyohiko. He is a gift from heaven to me, allowing me to see the ridiculous reality and ideals, and winning back a dear friend for me." "And you..." Jiraiya said seriously, "What will become of you?" "What?" Hiruzen was taken aback. He didn’t quite understand what Jiraiya was trying to say. Jiraiya sighed. "Orochimaru, he himself is a flawed person. Or rather, each of us has our own flaws. Why did you stand by and watch him get together with Danzo? If you really liked Orochimaru, you shouldn’t have given him the chance to be with Danzo. This way, he wouldn’t have deviated from your expectations. And once something bad happened, you would only regret and lament—’Originally, I could have done something.’" As Jiraiya spoke, he couldn’t help but smile. Because... these were Kyohiko’s words. And he still remembered the almost laughing expression on Kyohiko’s face when he said it. He turned his head. "This is what I came back to say this time. I am not smart, my talent is not good, and I may not be able to protect too many people. But I will do my best to protect the people I care about! Love and protection... are exactly what you taught me." After speaking, he waved his hand. "I’m leaving." There was no reminiscing. After meeting, the only pleasantries were recalling the past. Faced with his disciple’s questioning, he didn’t know how to refute. The other’s questioning left him at a loss. If he were younger, he might have quickly thought of a way to refute and persuade the other with the most beautiful words, but now he was old. He never thought he would fall to such a state. Sarutobi Hiruzen smoked his pipe silently, then he sighed and walked towards home. At a corner, his shadow clone ran in another direction. After some time, in a familiar place, an intelligence scroll appeared. He bent down to pick it up, his pupils instantly shrinking. On it was... a topographical map. This was the complete situation of his organization’s base, drawn out in every detail. It even knew the secret passages inside the base. This— Sarutobi Hiruzen continued to open it. Not just one place. Three places. All the base’s intelligence was displayed on it. He found it hard to believe. But then, Hiruzen couldn’t help but chuckle softly. "I really underestimated you all!" He destroyed the scroll. The one who had made the move was clearly Ryoho Kyohiko. The other party didn’t directly destroy the bases, but used this method to send him a warning—all of his affairs were under the other’s observation. A show of force. Truly Kyohiko’s style! --- "Hahaha, Orochimaru, you still like to hide in dark, damp places!" "Jiraiya, you idiot, stay away from my test subjects!" Orochimaru said with disgust. Jiraiya said playfully, "It’s not like anything will happen. Kyohiko, your base is really well hidden. If I had to find it, even I would have to search for a long time!" "Sensei, you don’t look very happy," Kyohiko said. Jiraiya sighed. "How could I be happy? After all, the old man..." He took out his wine flask and took another sip. "Speaking of which, you brat, you were the first to find something wrong with the Tailed Beast’s power, and it was you who made Kushina do such a dangerous thing. The old man made preparations on both sides, and the person he brought back is still related to you... As a result, I’m the one who has to go and do the scolding!" Jiraiya complained, speechless. Orochimaru, on the side, had a slight smile on his lips. "If you want to drink, drink outside. Don’t pollute the air here." "You are the teacher, after all. The more capable one does more work," Kyohiko replied with a smile. Orochimaru chuckled lightly. "Kyohiko, that list, did you use it?" "Of course. I’ve already figured out the locations of their bases and have marked them. From now on, I will know wherever the old man’s people are," Kyohiko said with a light laugh. Orochimaru was thoughtful. "Flying Thunder God markings?" "Yes, and a part of them used some simple curse marks as a diversion. It will be troublesome for him to find them!" Kyohiko chuckled lowly. Jiraiya pouted. "The old man really has too much time on his hands, always trying to stir up trouble. Isn’t it good to just rest at home?" "For someone like him, resting at home is no different from being dead," Orochimaru said coolly. Jiraiya was a little surprised, then smiled. "You know the old man very well. As expected of his most proud disciple!" "That should be you now, right?" Orochimaru said faintly. Jiraiya’s expression turned to surprise, and he was silent for a long time. Orochimaru chuckled lowly. "If Tsunade didn’t come back, I think after the war, the one succeeding as the Fourth Hokage would definitely be you. Of course... you idiot probably wouldn’t take the position, so..." His gaze shifted to Kyohiko. "Perhaps it’s Namikaze Minato." "Orochimaru-senpai, you know Sandaime-sama very well," Kyohiko was a little impressed. Orochimaru shook his head. "Returning to the village, seeing more, thinking more, one naturally understands." He rarely drank. But talking about these things, he also uncharacteristically took a few sips from Jiraiya’s wine bottle. "By the way, what’s the deal with Madara? The Uchiha side, how do you plan to solve it?" Jiraiya suddenly looked at Kyohiko. "The Uchiha?" Kyohiko pondered for a moment. "I plan to follow Nidaime-sama’s plan and finish what he didn’t do." Jiraiya was a little surprised. Nidaime-sama’s plan? What was that? He was stunned for a moment. "You idiot. Uchiha Kagami, have you forgotten?" Orochimaru said hoarsely. Jiraiya had a sudden realization. Uchiha Kagami! He was a member of Senju Tobirama’s guard team. The guard team meant trusted confidants. If Uchiha Kagami hadn’t died young, he would definitely have entered the high-level positions of Konoha and, to some extent, opened up an upward path for the Uchiha. Although the Hokage position might have been very difficult for the Uchiha, at least the situation wouldn’t be like it was now. Jiraiya thought for a moment and nodded lightly. It was a good plan. For both Konoha and the Uchiha, it could reduce casualties on both sides. "That kid named Shisui, his talent seems quite good?" Orochimaru looked at Kyohiko. Kyohiko was not surprised. Orochimaru seemed to not care about what was happening outside, but in reality, he was still secretly paying attention to the village’s affairs through his snakes. This kind of intelligence gathering and observation seemed to have become his instinct. "Quite good. And his pursuits are also different... By the way, he is also a descendant of Uchiha Kagami."