I&%￥@...
Jiraiya had a cheerful expression on his face, but internally, there was a phrase he wasn't sure if he should say aloud…
Why did he keep running into this red-haired brat everywhere?!
What kind of…
Karma was this?
"Kid, if I told you I was just testing how sturdy the wall is, would you believe me?" Jiraiya smiled, leaning in with narrowed eyes. "Trust me, I'm not that kind of person!"
"While I'd really like to believe you," Nagato nodded, "I doubt the police would."
"Police?" Jiraiya tensed, eyeing Nagato warily. "You're really going to call the cops?"
If he remembered correctly…
Peeping was illegal.
But…
"Do you think the police would believe you?" Jiraiya glanced at the spot where he had tried to poke a hole earlier, relieved to see no damage. He chuckled. "I'm one of the Legendary Sannin, the Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku, the dream of countless girls across the shinobi world."
"Who do you think the police would trust?"
This wall was surprisingly sturdy!
That earlier attempt hadn't left a single mark.
"While what you're saying is shameless," Nagato nodded, stroking his chin, "but…"
"That wall has a barrier. Any attack on it will trigger an alert sent straight to the police station."
"And…"
Nagato pointed at a well-hidden crystal cube in a nearby tree.
"That thing is called a surveillance crystal."
"The police can monitor this area from the station using it."
"So…" Nagato sighed, shaking his head. "I suggest…"
"You turn yourself in."
He looked at Jiraiya with a gaze that said, Don't make things worse.
"..."
Damn it!!
After hearing Nagato's explanation, Jiraiya's face stiffened, especially when he saw that surveillance crystal. Why did it feel…
Familiar…
So…
He grabbed Nagato and bolted.
Better get out of here fast!!
Meanwhile…
"Officer Fugaku, Officer Fugaku."
"Please respond, please respond."
Uchiha Fugaku frowned, picking up the communicator at his waist. "Received. This is Fugaku."
Then…
"East Street Hot Springs Hotel, reports of a suspicious man attempting to peep."
"Please apprehend him immediately."
"Description: roughly in his 20s, red markings on his face."
"White spiky hair, wearing a red vest, carrying a large scroll on his back."
"Has a somewhat perverted smile."
"Understood." Uchiha Fugaku narrowed his eyes slightly at the description. "I'll arrest the suspect immediately."
This…
Sounded familiar.
Could it be…
Uchiha Fugaku's eyes briefly sharpened before returning to their usual stoic expression. "Jiraiya…"
-----
"Kid." Jiraiya crouched down, staring seriously at Nagato. "I was just testing the wall's durability earlier."
"That's all."
Why did even a simple wall have a barrier? Uzushio was ruining his artistic process!
A masterpiece of the shinobi world was being destroyed because of them!
Jiraiya felt his inspiration slipping away, his thoughts scattering. He had been so close to realizing his dream, but now…
Uzushio had ruined everything!!
"You think…" Nagato gave Jiraiya a disdainful look. "I'd actually believe that?"
He had just been out for his morning training and planned to visit the hot springs.
How did he end up in this mess?
"No." Jiraiya narrowed his eyes, gripping Nagato's shoulders tightly. "You will believe it."
"You'll explain to the officer that I wasn't peeping."
"Otherwise…"
"I'll beat you up!"
This brat…
You don't have a choice!
"..."
Nagato's mouth fell open in disbelief.
This guy…
Was actually threatening a kid? How shameless!!
"Mister." Nagato sighed helplessly. "With solid evidence, excuses won't work."
"Listen to me and just turn yourself in."
"Confess honestly, and maybe they'll go easy on you."
"Eighteen years later, you'll be a free man again."
"Eighteen years?!" Jiraiya's eyes widened in horror. "I didn't even do anything, and I'd get eighteen years?!"
"No, this is attempted peeping." Nagato said seriously. "You already took action, you just didn't succeed."
"..."
But he didn't succeed!
How could the sentence be that long?
Should he…
Just run for it??
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed. There was no way he was spending eighteen years locked up.
The shinobi world needed him to find the Child of Prophecy!!
But then…
"Of course." Nagato spread his hands. "Eighteen years is just my guess."
"..."
I…
Jiraiya wondered if he should just smack this annoying brat.
Why scare people like that if you don't know?!
Taking a deep breath, he forced a friendly smile. "Then how long do you actually think it'd be?"
"Well…" Nagato frowned, thinking carefully. "Probably…"
Before he could finish…
"Three months imprisonment, suspended for one year."
A deep voice interrupted.
Uchiha Fugaku appeared in front of Jiraiya with a Body Flicker, speaking flatly. "I warned you just yesterday, and today you're breaking the law?"
"Officer." Nagato quickly pulled free from Jiraiya's grip and stood at attention. "I'd like to report this white-haired pervert."
"He was trying to peep earlier."
"You—!" Jiraiya's nose nearly twisted in anger. He took another deep breath to calm down. "Fugaku, I—"
"Quiet." Uchiha Fugaku said coldly. "Come with me."
Then, he looked at Nagato.
"You too. As a witness, you'll need to give a statement."
"Understood!" Nagato stood straight, chin raised.
However…
The thought of going back to the police station made Jiraiya hesitate.
He didn't have the money to pay another fine.
And…
Three months? A year?
He didn't understand this system!
Just as he considered slipping away…
"I wouldn't recommend running." Uchiha Fugaku's voice was icy. "If you flee, the punishment will be worse."
"If you obey the law and behave, after a year, the original sentence won't be enforced."
"You won't have to go to prison."
"Really?!" Jiraiya perked up. "No jail time?"
"Not if you don't reoffend within a year." Uchiha Fugaku said. "But if you do…"
Then you're definitely going to prison.
"What about the fine?" Jiraiya rubbed his hands together, leaning closer with an awkward smile. "Is there any way…"
"Not much…" Uchiha Fugaku remained expressionless. "Five thousand ryo."
"..."
Jiraiya's face froze.
He…
Was completely broke!!
"Uh…"
Jiraiya sighed, looking at Uchiha Fugaku nervously. "Can I…"
"Owe you?"
The Toad Sage was penniless!