Jiraiya was very happy.
Kakashi was just an ordinary Ninja, and his knowledge was very limited, so Jiraiya didn't bother asking him.
Now, this was perfect!
He was quite familiar with Nara Kazuichi, who stood before him.
During the Third Great Ninja War, this person was his strategist and Head of Logistics at the Front Line Headquarters, so their relationship was actually quite good.
However, regarding this.
Upon seeing Jiraiya, Nara Kazuichi felt quite displeased.
Being pulled out to work by his own clan leader was already annoying enough, and now he ran into Jiraiya, who annoyed him even more. So, after thinking for a moment, he couldn't help but say, "I belong to the Uchiha Faction now. It's not appropriate for us to be seen together."
"You should go find my clan brother; he is the one who belongs to the Village Faction!"
Unfortunately, though.
Jiraiya didn't listen at all and forcibly dragged Kazuichi away.
Nara Kazuichi: "..."
Naturally, he was extremely unhappy internally at this moment.
Yes!
He had already made it clear that since he had joined the Uchiha now, it was inappropriate to associate too closely with Jiraiya.
But, unexpectedly.
Jiraiya completely disregarded his current situation and didn't care how he would explain himself to the Uchiha later, causing his opinion of Jiraiya to plummet rapidly.
However.
Even though he was extremely annoyed inside, he didn't show it on his face.
As someone who could be arranged by Nara Shikaku to become the leader of a new faction, his intellect was naturally no worse than Nara Shikaku's.
Therefore.
He maintained a lazy posture and 'invited' Jiraiya to his residence.
After quickly brewing him a cup of tea, he skipped any pleasantries: "Lord Jiraiya, please be quick. I have things to attend to shortly!"
He was quite direct.
First, because the other party was Jiraiya, Nara Kazuichi certainly didn't want to offend him.
However, at the same time.
Considering his current position, he naturally couldn't get too close to the other party.
Therefore, as a faction leader, he could show a certain level of respect, but he also had to maintain sufficient distance and dismiss Jiraiya as quickly as possible.
Conversely.
What he needed to consider now was how to explain this to the Uchiha later!
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Jiraiya's sensory abilities were good, and he naturally sensed Kazuichi's displeasure, but he simply didn't care.
After all... in his view, it was already merciful that he hadn't killed someone who had betrayed the Will of Fire; if doing so wouldn't severely impact the current situation, he would have long since taken action and chosen to kill.
This was why he chose to be so forceful now, completely disregarding Nara Kazuichi's feelings!
"Mhm, alright!"
"Just briefly tell me what exactly happened in the Village."
"Why did Ino–Shika–Chō choose to defect to the Uchiha, and what is the Uchiha's recent situation like?"
"Tell me this information, and I will leave immediately!"
Jiraiya was very direct.
First, he didn't trust what his teacher said, and he certainly didn't trust Uchiha Jin even more.
Therefore.
Even though Nara Kazuichi had defected to the Uchiha, he believed that the Nara Clan were all intelligent people, and he had personally interacted with Nara Kazuichi.
Thus, he determined.
Even if this guy had defected to the Uchiha, he still wouldn't dare to deceive Jiraiya.
After all... not everyone in Konoha was as tough as Uchiha Jin, daring to butt heads with him, Jiraiya!
What a joke!
He was one of Three Legendary Sannin of Konoha, an acknowledgment given by Hanzou, who was known as the 'Demigod of the Ninja World.'
That's right.
This was not the era of randomly piloting Gundams like in later generations; in this period before the Akatsuki Organization began its operations, Hanzou still held a prestigious position in the Ninja World.
As it turned out, this was indeed the case.
Even though Nara Kazuichi was displeased, he finally began to explain.
Starting from when Uchiha Jin's parents were captured by Root, which led Uchiha Jin to directly awaken his Mangekyo, and then immediately began an assassination war with Root.
If you killed one Uchiha today, I would kill two Root members that night.
Just like that... Uchiha Jin paved his way with slaughter, and with his Mangekyo, he completely won over the active Uchiha members.
Subsequently.
In the confrontation with Konoha Leadership, for reasons unknown, Konoha Leadership ultimately backed down.
The Anbu and Root forces surrounding the entire Uchiha compound were withdrawn, and Uchiha Jin gained even more support based on this point.
Following that.
Uchiha Jin and Danzo's assassination war escalated. The Radical Faction had taken precautions early, so almost no one among them was assassinated; however, Fugaku chose to trust Hiruzen Sarutobi, which led to the Moderate Faction and Centrist Faction suffering heavy losses from Danzo's attacks.
And precisely because of this.
Most people chose the Radical Faction, and Fugaku was completely isolated.
After gaining control of the entire Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Jin used the Police Force as a springboard, and after a fierce struggle with Konoha Leadership, it ended with Konoha Leadership admitting defeat.
Uchiha Jin, who demanded the return of the clan grounds, naturally saw his prestige rise even further.
As for the Village now?
Due to the Police Force's deliberate incompetence, Anbu reluctantly had to step in, and now Anbu's reputation is also ruined.
Konoha Leadership is completely helpless!
Apparently, a major battle occurred in the Forest of Death a few days ago, but because his rank, Nara Kazuichi, was not high enough, he didn't know the specific details.
In summary... Nara Kazuichi offered no commentary, merely recounting what he 'should' know to Jiraiya.
As for the rest? He didn't know!
If Jiraiya wanted to know, he could investigate himself.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Jiraiya grew more serious the more he listened, and his expression began to worsen; he sensed how troublesome Uchiha Jin was.
Although his own teacher was morally questionable, his methods were quite formidable.
To be able to pressure his teacher to this extent without resorting to any force showed Uchiha Jin's extraordinary nature.
After a slight pause, he said, "I have a few more questions!"
"Please ask," Nara Kazuichi nodded.
Jiraiya asked, "The Police Force is inactive, and the Hokage just tolerates it?"
"The Police Force has its own explanation," Nara Kazuichi slowly replied. "They claim that due to too many complaints, they are handling matters according to the law, which naturally requires a lot of time."
"For example, if you beat me up, and I file a complaint, the Police Force needs to investigate, right?"
"Are there witnesses? Is there material evidence? What is the severity of the injury?"
"Witness testimony requires taking statements, but civilians don't want trouble and fear retaliation from the arrested person after they are released."
"Material evidence? Even harder!"
"Where would an ordinary civilian find material evidence? Injury examination must be done at the Konoha Hospital, and an Injury Report must be issued."
"In short, the procedure is quite troublesome, and dragging it out for half a year or a year is easy."
"After all, the Police Force doesn't handle just this one case. If you want to wait for the Police Force to process it, you'll be waiting a long time—they probably won't finish before you die."
"But, it's legal!"
Jiraiya listened, utterly dumbfounded, frozen in place.
Good heavens!
This—is allowed?
Subsequently.
He carefully asked several more questions, and Nara Kazuichi naturally answered all of them.
However... as Jiraiya continued listening, he found it unbearable.
Because he heard about the war of public opinion between the two sides, and even more so, the rumors spread by the Uchiha.
The conspiracy theories about Hiruzen Sarutobi illegitimately seizing power, the suspicious deaths of Nawaki, Kato Dan, Sakumo, and others, and intentionally causing Minato Namikaze's death just to regain the position, as well as the Senju and Uzumaki clans being annihilated through conspiracy... Hearing all this, Jiraiya's heart nearly leaped out of his chest!
What followed immediately was a bone-deep chill.
He had thought his teacher was morally questionable, but now, upon careful consideration, if these rumors were true, then Hiruzen Sarutobi was truly despicable, wasn't he?
Of course.
What frightened Jiraiya even more was that Uchiha Jin hadn't played all his cards yet.
He had only spread information about incidents that happened long ago where the parties involved were already dead; Uchiha Jin was still holding onto matters concerning currently living individuals, ready to deploy them!
For example—
Uzumaki Naruto's parentage, the Village's dark experiments... Thinking of this, Jiraiya couldn't help but feel his scalp tingle!
In addition to that.
He also completely understood the reason for Kakashi's revenge; the rumors spread by the Uchiha were truly devastating.
Any normal person would seek revenge, even if it meant death.
Otherwise.
Even if he appeared to be alive, he would essentially be dead.
Jiraiya could understand Kakashi's actions.
But the question was... what should he do?
Even though he knew Uchiha Jin's methods, he couldn't think of a solution right now.
Therefore.
Jiraiya was clearly even more worried now!