Jiraiya actually dared to attack Danzo?
Yōkō was excited internally. What a pity, though; this was the Hokage's office, with so many people present. It wouldn't escalate into a major disaster.
Truly regrettable.
Seeing Jiraiya form hand seals, Lynx drew a kunai from his tool pouch and aimed straight for Jiraiya's throat.
Orochimaru also moved, his target being Lynx.
Two snakes shot out from Orochimaru's sleeves. One bit Lynx's kunai-wielding wrist, preventing the kunai from stabbing Jiraiya's throat.
The other snake wrapped around Lynx's throat, tightening its grip.
Yōkō saw a flicker of regret in Jiraiya's eyes and knew a fight wouldn't break out after all.
He himself formed hand seals, and the Self-Cursing Body Binding Seal spread outwards, immobilizing Lynx, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya who had taken action.
As someone aligned with the Hokage and Yellow Dog, his role now was to control the situation.
Chakra surged wildly, files on the desk flew everywhere, and the scene was extremely chaotic for a moment.
The Third Hokage shouted: "Stop!"
Yellow Dog also shouted: "Lynx! Stand down!"
Seeing the killing intent fade from Lynx's eyes, Yōkō released the seal on him.
Lynx retreated behind Danzo, the two fang marks on his wrist still oozing black blood.
The Third Hokage said again: "Jiraiya! Don't act recklessly!"
Seeing Jiraiya calm down, Yōkō withdrew the Self-Cursing Body Binding Seal from him.
Orochimaru broke free from the Self-Cursing Body Binding Seal and said, "Fox's sealing technique is quite good."
Yōkō thought to himself, The Self-Cursing Body Binding Seal is quite effective against weaker opponents, but it's a bit lacking against experts; the immobilization time is uncertain.
No one paid attention to whether Fox's sealing technique was powerful or not; they all looked at Jiraiya.
Jiraiya's face alternated between pale and purple. Finally, he threw down a sentence and left.
"I didn't know Uzumaki Nagato was backed by Uchiha Madara! And I am not a rogue ninja! I'm going to travel the ninja world! Don't come looking for me anymore!"
In the original story, Jiraiya left the village to travel after the Third Shinobi World War. Was he leaving now because of Danzo's targeting?
If so, then Hatake Sakumo taking Namikaze Minato as a student would face even less obstruction.
With a loud slam, Jiraiya stormed out.
The Third Hokage said to Orochimaru: "Go stop him! Tell him to see me at the Sarutobi clan compound tonight!"
The Third Hokage still couldn't bear to part with his powerful student, Jiraiya.
Orochimaru left reluctantly.
He always had to clean up after the foolish Jiraiya.
Having him stop Jiraiya was worse than sending Tsunade, but unfortunately, Tsunade never came to the Hokage's office.
Before the door even closed properly, Danzo stared at the Third Hokage, his voice low:
"Sarutobi Hiruzen! Why should your student be special?
If Jiraiya isn't dealt with, who will fear Konoha's rogue ninja policy in the future?"
The Third Hokage sighed and said, "Jiraiya is different. Jiraiya has the potential to become a Kage-level ninja, a pillar of Konoha's future."
Danzo said again: "Then let the powerful Jiraiya go hunt rogue ninjas, hunt Uchiha Madara!
The losses suffered by Root were all done by Uchiha Madara and the Uzumaki remnants. I can't swallow this anger!
My Root, how many times has it been completely destroyed now?
The four new recruits I just trained are dead again!
Jiraiya must pay for his mistake! He must atone through meritorious service!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed and said, "The matter of hunting Uchiha Madara needs careful consideration.
Uchiha Madara is too strong; he's not someone Jiraiya can handle."
Every village held an unrelenting attitude towards rogue ninja.
If the rogue ninja didn't die, the village wouldn't give up.
Uchiha Madara was different; Uchiha Madara was too strong.
If you didn't hunt him, you wouldn't die.
If Jiraiya went to hunt Uchiha Madara, and Jiraiya didn't die, Uchiha Madara wouldn't give up. It was a reverse case of 'unrelenting'.
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen being both protective and indecisive, Danzo turned and left without looking back.
Another loud slam, storming out.
Root and the Lynx Squad suffered heavy losses this time; Danzo was furious.
Silence. Silence filled the Hokage's office now.
No one gave the Hokage any face. Jiraiya, Danzo, these two were too much.
After a long time, Yōkō asked quietly:
"Lord Hokage, Root is accustomed to using rumors. Should we be cautious, in case Root uses rumors to attack Lord Jiraiya?"
Staying in the Land of Rain during wartime – this matter might seem light off the scales (only four taels), but once placed on them, a thousand jin wouldn't be enough to counter it.
Everyone else was fighting bloody battles for Konoha; what right did Jiraiya have to leave the combat order without authorization?
No matter how angry Tsunade was with the higher-ups, someone as willful as her only dared to hide away in the medical department; she didn't shirk her responsibilities.
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded and said, "Alright, Fox, you be careful of Root's rumors."
"I understand."
Yōkō thought to himself, As long as rumors unfavorable to Jiraiya appear in the village now, regardless of whether Root is behind them, Sarutobi Hiruzen will suspect Root.
Yōkō planned to use the old method, secretly spreading rumors using genjutsu to increase the conflict between Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo.
This couldn't be let go so easily. Danzo, if you don't go after Jiraiya, I'll look down on you.
Jiraiya, experience the darkness of Konoha.
Seeing Fox about to leave hastily, Sarutobi Hiruzen said:
"Fox, you can't rest yet. The Uchiha Clan Head will be here shortly. Discuss the matter of Uchiha Madara with him.
Be mindful of confidentiality; the Uzumaki clan matter is a village secret and must not be leaked."
"I understand, Lord Hokage."
Kika went downstairs and called up Uchiha Kane, Uchiha Fugaku, and Uchiha Tōka, who had been waiting for a long time.
After entering the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage's face showed no trace of the exhaustion from his heated argument with Jiraiya and Danzo.
"Clan Head Kane, please have a seat." The Third Hokage said:
"Copper Fox, relying on his powerful defensive ninjutsu, has returned alive from Uchiha Madara's hands.
The Uchiha clan should provide some advice to the village, so that next time we encounter Uchiha Madara, we won't suffer heavy losses like the last time and this time."
Uchiha Kane's heart was extremely unsettled, his expression pained and helpless.
This was truly an undeserved calamity.
What advice could he offer?
When he graduated from the Ninja Academy, Uchiha Madara had already defected from the village.
The clan preserved some materials on Uchiha Madara, but those materials were all about how the First Hokage brutally beat Uchiha Madara.
Uchiha Madara's shortcomings were obvious: his chakra reserve was inferior to the First's, his ninjutsu was inferior to the First's, his taijutsu was inferior to the First's.
What advice could the Uchiha clan offer? Advice on how to get beaten up?
Uchiha Kane said: "Lord Third Hokage, our Uchiha clan, under my father Uchiha Hikaku's leadership, had already completely severed ties with Uchiha Madara.
When Uchiha Madara first defected, not a single member of our clan followed him; we drew a clear line with him early on.
The First Hokage and the Second Hokage also acknowledged our sincerity.
The Uchiha clan did not follow Uchiha Madara in defecting. With Uchiha Madara's personality, he would absolutely never forgive us.
He must hate us even more than Konoha Village.
We never expected Uchiha Madara to clash with Konoha ninja again this time."
Uchiha Kane's words were heartfelt; he truly didn't know how to deal with Uchiha Madara.
He really wanted to say that they should invite Clan Head Senju Hanaki, or Princess Tsunade, to discuss how to deal with Uchiha Madara.
When it came to dealing with the Uchiha, the Senju clan were the professionals in that area.
***
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(Chapter End)