Chapter 85: Jiraiya's Dilemma
"Uchiha Douguang?" Obito's expression instantly darkened when he heard the name.
Back when he was still in the village, Obito hadn't fought on the Kirigakure front due to Minato's assignments. But even then, he'd heard the tales of this younger clan member—Uchiha Douguang.
Even now, the name "Blue Lightning" struck fear in the hearts of older Kirigakure shinobi who had survived the Third Great Ninja War. Under the blade of Jirai, a sword known as the "Bloodless Blade," countless Mist-nin had been buried.
But Obito never expected this famed battlefield prodigy to also have such political skill.
He had worked tirelessly to push the Uchiha to the edge of rebellion. Yet, the moment he turned his back, Douguang had not only stabilized the clan but united its power. That was unacceptable.
Obito, as a fellow Uchiha, knew all too well the potential of their bloodline. Their natural talents alone were enough to put them at the top of the shinobi world, and the Mangekyō Sharingan was nothing short of unreasonable. This made Douguang a massive threat to his Moon's Eye Plan.
In Obito's eyes, the only good Uchiha… was a dead Uchiha.
"What happened in the village while I was away?" he asked, turning to Black Zetsu.
"I'll have White Zetsu fill you in on the details later. But even White Zetsu hasn't gathered much intel on this one."
"Not even White Zetsu?" Obito frowned. White Zetsu's information-gathering ability had been key to many of his successful operations over the years.
"This one's Lightning Release is strange," Black Zetsu explained. "It generates a peculiar magnetic field around him. White Zetsu's spores can't even sprout near it, let alone spy effectively."
Hearing that, Obito's lone Sharingan gleamed coldly.
"Well then, Obito… shall we eliminate this unpredictable variable?" Black Zetsu asked, leaning in.
"To ensure the Moon's Eye Plan succeeds, any uncertainty must be erased," Obito said coldly—then glared sideways. "And don't forget. Call me Uchiha Madara."
---
Back in the village, things remained peaceful for a short time following Douguang and Kakashi's return.
During this period, Hiruzen Sarutobi began frequently bringing Jiraiya along to public appearances—like store openings and ribbon-cutting ceremonies.
Although Jiraiya was one of the Legendary Sannin, he had spent little time in the village. Most civilians only knew his name but didn't recognize him in person. Hiruzen's goal was to boost Jiraiya's public image and solidify his identity as a familiar figure.
Stories of Jiraiya's wartime heroics also started circulating anew—tales from the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars.
Hiruzen was pulling out all the stops to pave Jiraiya's path to Hokage.
But upon officially assuming his role as Hokage Advisor, Jiraiya found the job… less than smooth.
Although Hiruzen had handed him authority to deploy ANBU and Jonin squads, Jiraiya discovered that, outside the Sarutobi clan and the Ino–Shika–Cho trio, most shinobi didn't take his orders seriously.
Yes, they completed the tasks assigned—but it lacked the initiative and enthusiasm seen when the Police Force requested support. Whenever Douguang sent out requests for joint missions, volunteers lined up.
This wasn't hard to understand. Those who assisted the Police Force were generously compensated—matching the Force's high salary rates—and were often treated to celebratory meals and bonuses afterward. Jiraiya's missions, issued with just a command and no perks, naturally felt lackluster by comparison.
What frustrated him most, however, was his failed attempt to recruit Minato's old subordinates.
He had assumed that, as Minato's teacher, his influence would carry weight. But after proposing promotions for them, he was surprised to find transfer requests to the Police Force on his desk that same afternoon.
The reality? While Minato had promoted them from obscurity, Kakashi had fought alongside them as comrades. Jiraiya, meanwhile, had spent their formative years gallivanting around the continent for "research"—not even present on the night Minato died.
And even worse, Jiraiya had never once checked in on Naruto, Minato's son. Now he wanted to stroll in and command their loyalty?
They weren't buying it.
Adding insult to injury, most ANBU and Jonin had, in one way or another, benefited from Douguang or Kakashi. Their praise for the two was glowing, and this only deepened Jiraiya's anxiety.
"…Looks like it's time to talk to Kakashi," Jiraiya muttered. "And maybe it's about time I visited Naruto too."
---
While Jiraiya was struggling with unfamiliar responsibilities, Kakashi's days were much more leisurely.
Though he now officially worked in the Police Force, his station—nicknamed "South Naka River Grand Hotel"—was a high-security holding center for politically sensitive prisoners. Currently, only Koharu and Homura were detained there.
Every day, Kakashi just made rounds to check their interrogation progress.
The Uchiha members stationed there were also extremely accommodating—each time Kakashi showed up, they'd drag out the two elders for another round of beatings.
Kakashi was more than fine with that. Not only had the two admitted under genjutsu and fists that they were behind the recent slander campaign, but after reflecting on his father's scandal, Kakashi now saw their fingerprints all over that case too.
Watching them get pummeled had become his favorite workday entertainment—second only to reading Jiraiya's novels.
As the office clock hit five, Kakashi closed Icha Icha Paradise, got up, and left right on time.
He decided to stop by the academy. With all the recent banquets, he hadn't spent much time with Naruto. The boy was always asleep when he got home. Today, Kakashi planned to make it up to him.
Arriving just as school let out, Kakashi soon spotted Naruto leaving with Sasuke, Shikamaru, Choji, and Kiba.
"Naruto!" Kakashi waved.
"Kakashi-nii?" Naruto blinked in disbelief.
After saying goodbye to his friends, Naruto ran over. "No party tonight?"
"Nope. Thought I'd pick you up. Don't want me picking you up anymore?"
"N-not really…" Naruto scratched his head, a little embarrassed.
When Kakashi first started picking him up, Naruto had loved it—it made him feel like the other kids. But as time passed, he grew used to it and even began to see walking home alone as a sign of maturity.
Plus, with Kakashi out every night, Naruto could eat all the ramen he wanted without being forced to eat vegetables. It was the freedom of a kid home alone.
Of course, Kakashi saw right through him.
As they strolled home, Kakashi casually said, "I heard the new dream-soy ramen isn't that good."
"Who says! I've been eating it every day—it's awesome!" Naruto blurted out before he realized.
By then, Kakashi's dead-fish eyes were already locked on him.
"I've been having dinner delivered every night. And you've been eating ramen?"
"…Sorry," Naruto muttered.
"Ramen's fine, but not every day. You'll stunt your growth," Kakashi sighed. "I'll make sure to come home more for dinner."
—
When they got back to the Hatake household, they found an unexpected guest at the gate—Jiraiya, carrying a gift and peeking inside.
Hearing them arrive, he turned around.
"Kakashi, back from work?" Jiraiya waved, but his eyes lingered on Naruto—golden-haired, just like Minato. His gaze turned complicated.
"Old man, who're you?" Naruto asked curiously. "Are you Kakashi-nii's relative? You both have white hair!"
"Good question!" Jiraiya beamed. He stepped back, made a hand sign, and with a puff of smoke, summoned a massive toad wearing a prayer bead necklace.
Standing proudly atop the toad's head, he declared:
"I am the great hermit of Mount Myoboku—Jiraiya the Toad Sage!"
Naruto was dumbfounded. "So cool…"
Another puff of smoke—the toad vanished, and Jiraiya landed with flair, laughing heartily.
"Kakashi, mind if I join you for dinner?" Jiraiya asked. He knew this wasn't a social call, but he also knew Kakashi would be polite.
"Of course," Kakashi said, taking the gift. "Please come in."
To his surprise, the gift was the latest volume of Icha Icha Paradise—a new release, possibly Jiraiya's final work.
"It's my swan song," Jiraiya smiled. "Wrote it during my 'retreat' at the Police Force."
Kakashi sealed it away with a straight face.
Jiraiya then turned to Naruto and handed him another gift—a large bag filled with unique ramen from across the ninja world.
Naruto's eyes sparkled with joy.
Seeing that, Jiraiya finally felt a small weight lift from his heart.
Later, after dinner, Kakashi sent Naruto off to bed and refilled Jiraiya's cup.
"Jiraiya-sama," he asked, "you didn't come here just to drop off gifts, did you?"
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