Visiting the Hyūga Clan
After leaving the Hokage Office, Tsunade and Jiraiya temporarily parted ways, with Tsunade heading toward the Senju Compound.
The brutal shinobi wars had drastically reduced the numbers of the Senju Clan, stripping them of their once-proud title, Mori no Senju (Senju of the Forest). However, the clan had not vanished entirely; instead, its remnants had integrated into Konoha's shinobi system, occupying key positions in the village's infrastructure, particularly in the ninja academy and the medical field.
Now that Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, and Danzo Shimura had lost their grip on power, these former Senju members were needed to stabilize the situation.
As for forging alliances with the prominent ninja clans and gaining the support of both traditional clans and independent shinobi, Jiraiya took on this responsibility. With the immense reputation he had built over the years, this task was not particularly difficult for him.
After some thought, Jiraiya made his way toward the Hyūga Clan Compound to request an audience.
Inside the Hyūga Main House, Hyūga Hiashi personally welcomed Jiraiya, greeting him with the formal courtesy befitting a guest of his stature. Though the Hyūga were one of Konoha's most prestigious clans, even they were dwarfed in power and influence by the legendary Sannin.
Whether in terms of individual strength or political weight, the Sannin stood above the Hyūga Clan, despite their centuries of tradition.
After exchanging pleasantries, Hiashi asked, "Jiraiya-sama, what brings you to our humble home? Is there an urgent matter concerning the Third Hokage? The Hyūga Clan will always support Konoha's leadership."
Rather than answering directly, Jiraiya stated, "The old man has nothing to do with this—I'm the one who needs the Hyūga Clan's support."
Hiashi's expression flickered with mild confusion as he studied Jiraiya.
Jiraiya did not beat around the bush and spoke plainly: "Tsunade and I are planning to overthrow Danzo and remove the Third Hokage's influence. Tsunade will become the Fifth Hokage."
"???"
Hiashi furrowed his brow, his Byakugan activating instinctively as he scrutinized Jiraiya. "Is this a jest, Jiraiya-sama? You and Tsunade-sama do not need to stage a coup to become Hokage. The village would welcome you both naturally."
Jiraiya shook his head, his expression serious. "Becoming Hokage isn't the priority—I want to eliminate Danzo's influence completely. I refuse to let Tsunade be a puppet leader, which means a coup is necessary."
Hiashi remained silent for a moment, his gaze thoughtful.
The Uchiha Clan's attempted coup had only recently ended in tragedy. The long-standing tension between the Uchiha and the Hokage faction had been a historical constant. And now, even the Hokage's own disciples were struggling for power? Was the Hokage seat truly worth such conflict?
Jiraiya seemed to anticipate Hiashi's thoughts and added, "This isn't about personal ambition—it's about Konoha's future. You may not be fully aware of the current state of the ninja world."
"In addition to the Five Great Shinobi Nations, two rising forces threaten the balance. They are undergoing radical reforms within their ranks. If Konoha fails to keep up, we may not even be able to protect the Land of Fire in a few decades."
Hiashi's expression grew more serious.
He was well aware of the Land of Fire's annexation of the Land of Waves, but wasn't the Land of Uzushio Konoha's long-standing ally? How could it pose a threat? And aside from Uzushio, what other organization could possibly be a danger?
Yet, even if such threats existed, they were concerns for the Hokage—not for the Hyūga Clan's head.
He already had his own family troubles to deal with. Hinata spent her days distracted, clearly thinking about the missing Jinchūriki boy, while Hanabi frequently voiced her desire to change the clan's sōke-bunke (Main and Branch Family) system when she became head. None of it brought him peace of mind.
Neji, on the other hand, was exceptionally talented. If it weren't for the Caged Bird Seal, Hiashi might have considered officially adopting him into the Main Family.
Pushing aside his wandering thoughts, Hiashi returned his focus to Jiraiya. "Jiraiya-sama, the Hyūga Clan will not support your plan. However, we will also not stand with the Third Hokage or Danzo. The Hyūga's loyalty lies solely with Konoha itself."
His position was clear—he would not allow his clan to be drawn into this internal power struggle.
Jiraiya nodded in understanding. This was the best outcome he could hope for. If the Hyūga Clan remained neutral, it would prevent them from becoming a tool for either side.
As the conversation shifted, Jiraiya suddenly asked, "By the way, how is Hinata doing?"
Hiashi raised an eyebrow slightly. "I didn't expect Jiraiya-sama to remember my daughter's name. Hinata has been devoting herself to training recently, improving her skills rapidly. However, I fear she may be struggling with personal doubts… perhaps due to Naruto's long absence."
At the mention of Naruto, Jiraiya frowned slightly. His mind flashed to the sight of Naruto and Karin spending time together, which left him feeling oddly unsettled.
Why was Naruto so popular with girls, just like his father? Meanwhile, Jiraiya himself—Naruto's mentor—was still single and struggling even to get Tsunade's attention.
After a brief pause, Jiraiya reassured Hiashi, "I know what Naruto is up to. He's doing well, so tell Hinata not to worry. They might have a chance to meet again in the future."
Hiashi nodded, relieved to have something to tell his daughter.
However, Jiraiya's words raised a new question. If Naruto wasn't training in Anbu or at the ninja academy, then where exactly was he?
Surely, he hadn't defected…
After concluding his visit with the Hyūga, Jiraiya proceeded to meet with the heads of the other major ninja clans.
He had deliberately chosen to conduct his visits openly rather than in secret. In a village full of spies and surveillance, any covert meeting would eventually be exposed. It was better to act in the open and let the clan leaders make their own decisions.
From his meetings, Jiraiya confirmed that most clan heads had chosen neutrality. None wished to be entangled in the power struggle between the Hokage's former students. Some even suspected this was a test orchestrated by the Third Hokage himself—after all, why would his own disciple need a coup to seize power?
Still, Jiraiya could tell from their words that Hiruzen had lost much of his popularity.
No one outright despised the Third Hokage—after all, he had led Konoha through numerous wars and hardships. But many were frustrated by his refusal to step down despite his waning capabilities.
Later that night, after evading Anbu surveillance, Jiraiya arrived at the Hatake residence.
Kakashi Hatake was casually eating a bowl of eggplant rice with braised saury when he sensed Jiraiya's presence. Without turning around, he remarked, "Jiraiya-sama, it seems your mission went well. I assume you've found Tsunade?"
"Of course! I'm a legendary hero—it was easy." Jiraiya struck an exaggerated pose before getting to the point. "By the way, how's the evidence-gathering going? Tsunade needs solid proof to convince the village elders to move against Danzo."
Kakashi calmly set his chopsticks down. "The evidence has been ready for a while… but, are you and Tsunade-sama truly prepared for this?"
He looked at Jiraiya seriously. "Hiruzen-sama and Danzo won't go down without a fight. Their resistance will be much stronger than you expect."
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