A moment later.
Jiraiya took a deep breath, and after opening his eyes again, he froze in place.
The figures of Ino–Shika–Chō were still there, Kakashi was still there, and he could even hear Might Guy's 'youthful' shouts during training.
Jiraiya was utterly bewildered.
At this moment, he couldn't hold back and immediately went to Kakashi's side.
"Kakashi!"
"What's going on with you and Ino–Shika–Chō? Why are you all staying in the Uchiha Clan Compound?"
"Do you have any special missions?"
Jiraiya asked, evidently still finding it hard to believe.
Yes!
Both Ino–Shika–Chō and Kakashi should be absolute Hokage loyalists, so how could they possibly join the Uchiha?
In response to this.
Kakashi, who was on duty, was momentarily stunned when he saw Jiraiya.
Clearly.
He hadn't expected Jiraiya to return to the Village.
However.
To Jiraiya's question, he merely replied calmly, "There's no special mission. We've all pledged allegiance to the Uchiha."
"Why?" Jiraiya broke down.
Even after being rebuked by Uchiha Jin, he wasn't actually too angry.
After all.
He knew very well that Uchiha Jin was a smart person, not someone with only muscles in his head.
Such a person, although more dangerous, wouldn't easily start a war.
Unless they were absolutely certain of victory or truly pushed to a dead end.
But the problem was.
Kakashi and Ino–Shika–Chō in front of him truly made him lose his composure!
If even Hokage loyalists like Ino–Shika–Chō and Kakashi chose to defect to the Uchiha one after another, then he would completely despair for the future of the Village.
And, in response to this.
Kakashi remained silent for a long time, then calmly said, "I assassinated Elder Danzo, and Guy was also implicated. Only the Uchiha can protect us."
He didn't explain, too lazy to talk about the difficulties.
He simply stated the matter in a very ordinary way, with no intention of trying to persuade Jiraiya.
But, in response to this.
Jiraiya understood!
Although he disliked his own teacher's actions, he wasn't a fool at heart; otherwise, he wouldn't have become a front-line commander during the Third Great Ninja War.
He actually understood many things about the Village.
It's just that he always hoped others would handle these matters, while he himself was more like an ostrich, staying far away from the Village, choosing to leave everything to time, or to a savior who might appear in the future.
Therefore.
He understood Kakashi!
Because even though Kakashi seemed decadent, he was still a smart person at heart.
Especially after all these years in Anbu, he must have seen too much of the Village's dark side and understood his teacher even better.
If it truly came down to choosing between Danzo and Kakashi, then Hiruzen Sarutobi would definitely choose Danzo!
So... Kakashi, who had assassinated Danzo, could only be protected by the Uchiha.
As for himself?
Heh heh!
Let alone Kakashi, he didn't even trust himself.
What right did he, a wanderer who rarely stayed in the Village, have to protect Kakashi? He couldn't possibly take Kakashi to roam the entire Ninja World, could he?
After a long deliberation, he sighed, "Why did you suddenly assassinate Danzo?"
"To avenge my father, I suppose." Kakashi said casually, with a hint of laziness.
Upon hearing these words, Jiraiya fell silent.
Sakumo Hatake?
So that's it!
Even though Jiraiya had been away from Konoha for a long time, he was still part of Konoha's absolute core. If he hadn't refused to go with the flow, his status would not have been inferior to Danzo's.
Therefore.
The truth behind Sakumo Hatake's suicide certainly couldn't be hidden from him, one of Three Legendary Sannin of Konoha.
Even Tsunade and Orochimaru back then were actually well aware of the inside story.
Jiraiya even remembered that after Sakumo Hatake committed suicide, Tsunade had said something in an izakaya.
'The old man messed up!'
'Hmph, serves him right!'
'It's just a pity for Sakumo Hatake, such a good Ninja.'
Yes.
The three of them knew very well that Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't actually wanted to kill Sakumo Hatake; it was just that because he threatened the Hokage, Sakumo Hatake had to be discredited.
As long as Sakumo Hatake swallowed this bitter pill and became thoroughly tainted by darkness, Hiruzen Sarutobi would still reuse him.
But, unfortunately.
Sakumo Hatake was an unyielding person and ultimately proved himself by committing suicide!
For a moment.
Looking at the rather lazy Kakashi before him, Jiraiya didn't know what to say.
Although he couldn't understand why Kakashi, who had seemingly let go of everything, suddenly decided to seek revenge on Danzo, what could he say when it was about avenging his father?
Continue talking about the Will of Fire?
He could talk about it with a stranger like Uchiha Jin, but with someone close like Kakashi, he found it a bit difficult to open his mouth.
So, alas!
After a helpless sigh, he patted Kakashi's shoulder and left directly.
And, in response to this.
Kakashi merely glanced at Jiraiya indifferently, then turned to continue his own business.
Yes.
He had to admit that Jiraiya was indeed a good person.
However, unfortunately.
He was not a reliable elder, nor a leader worth following, because he couldn't even protect his own people, so naturally, he couldn't gain everyone's loyalty.
Therefore.
It was better to just follow the Uchiha. Anyway, Uchiha Jin had good character, and it seemed his chances of victory were high... Jiraiya, looking somewhat leisurely.
He just wandered around the Uchiha Clan Compound, and the Uchiha people didn't drive him away. After all, the Uchiha didn't have any rules stating that others couldn't come to the Uchiha Clan Compound to play.
It should be said that no Ninja Clans had such a rule.
It was just that ordinary civilians or Ninja Clanss probably had a special unspoken understanding.
But, in essence.
As long as one didn't go to the confidential areas of the Ninja Clans, the Uchiha wouldn't interfere with anything else.
Let alone Jiraiya, even if civilians came, as long as they followed the rules, the Uchiha wouldn't drive them away.
Soon after.
The more Jiraiya wandered, the more solemn his expression became.
The Uchiha's defenses were too heavy, with dense overt and covert sentries, ubiquitous patrol teams, and all of them Jonin.
What about the Chunin and Genin?
He couldn't help but grab a random Nara clansman and asked about his curiosity.
And, in response to this.
The Nara clansman, seeing it was Jiraiya, cautiously said, "Almost all of the Uchiha's Chunin and Genin have gone to the Police Force."
Jiraiya's mouth twitched.
Such a major issue as Village security was entirely entrusted to a group of Chunin and Genin, while all the Jonin stayed within the Clan Compound?
However.
After shaking his head, he didn't bother to say more.
Because he knew very well in his heart that this was preparing to go to war with the Village at any time!
Suddenly.
Jiraiya's eyes lit up.
He immediately caught up to a figure in front of him and directly slung his arm around their neck.
"Shikaku?"
"I never thought you'd also defect to the Uchiha!"
"Come on, let's chat?"