Minato opened the candidate registration list that Masashi had already drafted and glanced over it. He immediately noticed that more than half of the names were from Ame.
"Ame is still making such big moves, huh," he sighed and then handed the list to Jiraiya.
"Masashi, do you think Ame can be trusted right now?"
"I can't figure them out," Masashi thought for a moment before giving this answer.
At the same time, he withdrew his Rinnegan. He did know what Nagato wanted to do, but how he planned to do it was another matter entirely.
After all, unpredictability was the common trait of ninja organizations. The seemingly stable alliances Konoha had maintained over the years were largely upheld by the lingering fear from the Fourth Raikage's death and by throwing money around.
But judging by the recruits the ANBU had been gathering in recent years, it was clear that many were secretly working against Konoha. No one was foolish, they all knew that while Konoha was handing out money, it was also taking its cut from them. So, naturally, they were all finding ways to make money while passing the costs onto others.
"Jiraiya-sensei, what do you think of Ame?" Minato turned and directed the question to his teacher.
By then, Jiraiya had also finished reading the list.
"Ame's strength has surpassed what it was under Hanzō," he remarked as he rolled up the scroll. Over the years, Ame had been one of his key investigation targets.
Nagato… You've really changed a lot…
But if Ame became a threat to Konoha, he would not hesitate to set aside any personal feelings. That said, he still didn't like staying in the village.
Time sure flies. Jiraiya looked at Masashi.
Right now, Masashi was like what the Sannin had been back in the day, the face of Konoha, at the peak of his strength. That young man who once got excited at the mention of mission payments and bonuses was now a key figure in the village's financial planning.
But more importantly, strength was what truly mattered. For the village, a top-tier ninja could shift the balance in countless ways.
And today, the village was even more complicated than it had been back then. Jiraiya understood everything. And because he understood, he chose to stay away from the village.
"Forget Ame for now. What matters is the overall situation in the ninja world. Honestly, the reason I came back this time is because I have a bad feeling."
"Did you run into trouble?" Minato asked, eager to help. "I can have the ANBU assist you."
You really are my best student, huh? The moment I come back, you're recruiting me for missions?
"It's not about me," Jiraiya waved his hands. "I live alone, no family to feed, so there's no trouble for me personally. But lately… all the major nations have been ramping up weapons production and purchases, and the black market has been more active than ever. Oh, right, Masashi, you're familiar with the black market, aren't you? Have you heard anything?"
"I don't handle my clan's business," Masashi replied. "And from what I know, the clan now operate mainly through official associations. Our connections with the black market have diminished."
Of course, he had information, but it only allowed for rough predictions. The Uchiha clan had already stopped supplying explosive tags to the black market a year ago. Instead, they had shifted to acquiring materials to stockpile their own arsenal.
Besides, while the Uchiha clan had people in the black market, the Hokage's office had even more eyes there.
Suddenly, the office door swung open.
"Jiraiya, did you come back because you found something?" Hiruzen led a group of senior figures into the room.
The familiar scent filled the office instantly.
It was the distinct smell of smoke.
Hiruzen always carried his beloved pipe, taking puffs whenever he had a moment.
"You should cut back on that," Jiraiya commented.
"I'm already an old man; this is my only hobby," Hiruzen replied and took another puff to prove his point.
"Seriously… you stubborn old geezer, don't you know secondhand smoke is harmful?" Jiraiya sighed. "I was just talking to Minato about how things are feeling more and more off lately."
"Peace has lasted too long, someone was bound to start stirring things up," Homura commented. "Jiraiya, do you have any specific intel?"
"The problem is that I don't. That's why it's troubling," Jiraiya said. "Everyone is making the same kind of moves, so anyone could be a potential threat."
"Masashi, how's your work going?" Fugaku turned to ask Masashi.
"It's going well. Everyone is cooperating," Masashi replied.
Fugaku nodded. While he attended in his official role as Advisor, his main purpose was to support Masashi.
In a way, Masashi could represent the Uchiha clan, but Fugaku represented the entire Police Force faction.
And as the Hokage Advisor, he was a product of power struggles rather than Hokage's direct will. His appointment had only been possible because the Uchiha clan controlled the Association network, forcing the village's leadership to concede.
With the Police Force faction growing stronger, his influence had been increasing as well. But he was clear-headed, he knew his exact position.
The Tobirama-era faction, led by the Third Hokage, had been pressured into concessions. They still controlled the four key sectors of education, administration, medical services, and interrogation. Even after the ANBU's expansion, they still retained actual control over it.
After the Uzumaki clan's reformation, the new Hokage faction centered around Minato and Kushina was more of a middle-ground force, primarily aligned with the jonin corps and the advisory council.
Meanwhile, the Uchiha clan controlled the Police Force and the Associations. But money was only important when resources were tight. Over time, power struggles had reduced its importance.
The Uchiha clan's true foundation had always been their military strength. As long as that remained intact, they had at least the Police Force as a fallback.
That was why Fugaku's principle was simple, anything could be negotiated, but their people had to remain safe. And now, a pair of Rinnegan was bound to cause waves.
Back in that office, everyone had acted indifferent, as if it was a matter of luck. But within the Uchiha clan, they were holding clan meetings every day. And if the Uchiha were reacting like this, how could anyone else not?
"Masashi, you're back." Hiruzen smiled. "We've heard about what happened in the Land of Rain. You really showed the strength of the village. Well done."
Koharu and Homura also nodded with a smile.
"Sandaime-sama, please don't praise him. He clearly caused trouble." Fugaku said. "Don't worry, I'll have a serious talk with him."
"You're being too harsh." Hiruzen shook his head. "Young people should be encouraged."
"Not at all. The stronger he is, the more he should think about the village. He can't be as willful as before, unable to tolerate even the slightest grievance." Fugaku's stance was firm.
"Alright, Fugaku, let's not be too harsh this time. Look, Ame lost 21 men in this battle." Minato said with a smile.
Jiraiya watched this scene from the side. He just wanted to leave. No matter when he returned, this place always felt the most suffocating. People acted like completely different versions of themselves when they were here.
"Hokage-sama, Fugaku-sama, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. There's still a pile of work to do in the ANBU." Masashi spoke at the right moment.
"Hmm, thank you for your hard work, Masashi. We'll have to trouble you to keep an eye on the ANBU."
"I will, Hokage-sama." Masashi nodded, exchanged a glance with Fugaku, and left.
"Wait a second." Jiraiya suddenly said. "I haven't strolled around the village in a while. Let's go together."
"Jiraiya, you still have a meeting." Koharu frowned in disapproval. "You're rarely back, stay here a little longer."
"I already wrote down all the intel. What's the point of me staying? I'm leaving, I still need to gather research material." Jiraiya had a headache just seeing her. He pulled out a prepared scroll, placed it on Minato's desk along with the completed examinee list, then casually slung an arm around Masashi's shoulder and swiftly dragged him out of the office.
As the Hokage's office door shut behind them, Masashi could clearly hear Jiraiya heaving a sigh of relief. That sigh of relief wasn't necessarily fake.
"It's been ages since we hung out. Where should we go have some fun?"
"Jiraiya, I'm married." Masashi said helplessly.
"Tch… How boring." Jiraiya grumbled. "Are you that scared of your wife? Women will never understand the beauty of literature!"
Is that even literature? I don't even want to expose you!
Well, to be fair, Jiraiya was actually a true writer. He didn't just write Icha Icha Paradise, but everything else he wrote flopped miserably.
The difference? His other books were completely wholesome, filled with positive energy. But the Icha Icha Paradise series? Lots of build-up, but the end goal was always the same, pure pleasure! Let's just say, not safe for work.
And it sold like crazy. Men's pleasures were universal across all dimensions.
"If it's just drinking, that's fine." Masashi offered a compromise.
"Oh, that's not bad either!" Jiraiya liked gathering "research materials," but he loved drinking even more.
After all, you couldn't always drink while gathering materials, but you could always gather materials while drinking. The Toad Sage couldn't go without alcohol.
"I'm telling you now, we're only drinking properly. Nothing else." Masashi reminded him.
"Yeah, yeah, I got it." Jiraiya licked his lips. If there was one place in the village he loved the most, it was either the outdoor hot springs or the taverns.
The two walked out of the Hokage Building, arms around each other's shoulders, heading straight for the bar district.
Masashi carefully picked a proper establishment, one highly rated by many of Konoha's jonin. It was one of their favorite gathering spots.
The owner was smart about business and even signed a contract with Konoha, making it an exclusive spot for the village's jonin. After completing missions, gathering with comrades for a drink and some banter, what could be better?
As soon as Jiraiya and Masashi entered, the place fell silent for a moment before erupting into excitement.
"Is that Jiraiya-sama!?"
"Jiraiya-sama! Do you remember me? I fought alongside you against the Kumo ninja! You saved me several times!"
"Get out of here! You only followed him during the Kumo war? I was already following him back when we fought the Suna ninja!"
There weren't many people in the tavern at the moment, but Jiraiya's presence instantly livened up the atmosphere. The commotion soon attracted even more jonin who heard the news. This was the kind of influence the Sannin had in Konoha.
His heroic and easygoing personality made him especially admired by younger ninja. And over time, those young ninja wouldn't stay young forever.
As Jiraiya looked at the jonin crowding around him, they all seemed like kids in his eyes but he was clearly enjoying it. At least, he was much happier here than in the Hokage's office.
He immediately switched into storytelling mode, seamlessly blending in with the crowd. It was supposed to be just the two of them drinking, but now it was clear, he was drinking with the entire tavern.
These jonin weren't all from the same faction or interest group, but in front of Jiraiya, they were all just one thing: People who had once followed this legendary ninja into battle, who had grown up watching his back. In their ninja careers, the Sannin played an important role.
Masashi found a seat, watching the scene with a smile.
"Hey, why are you sitting there alone?" Jiraiya, already drinking, shouted across the room. "Come on, join us! Wahahaha! A real man doesn't drink alone, get over here!"
---
By the time Masashi helped Jiraiya stagger out of the tavern, night had already fallen. The sky was dotted with stars, looking beautiful.
In the shinobi world, where chakra technology existed, they had skipped fossil fuels entirely and jumped straight into the electric age using chakra-based advancements.
The sky here was clear, but human hearts were far murkier. Great power gathered in individuals, and with it, dark intentions grew stronger as well.
Saints were rare. Villains were everywhere.
Hiccup~ Jiraiya let out a loud hiccup, reeking of alcohol, with a hint of natural fragrance…
That was, the smell of food.
For Masashi, who had spent two weeks on the battlefield, this was nothing. Supporting Jiraiya, he left the commercial district. Jiraiya was a legend in Konoha, and as a legendary figure, he had a house in the village, in one of the most expensive areas, no less.
However, since he kept no classified documents at home, the village had staff maintain his residence, ensuring it was always ready for his return.
After leaving the commercial district, they passed through a park. There were now many such parks built throughout Konoha.
"I need to sit for a bit." The night breeze seemed to have sobered him up somewhat. He was no longer swaying as much. He walked over to a bench by the road, leaned against the backrest, and exhaled comfortably.
"This feels nice…"
"If you stayed in the village, you could feel this comfortable every day," Masashi said. "You're one of the last remaining Sannin, no one can force you to do anything you don't want to."
"Hahaha, I've been wandering for so many years, I can't stop now." Jiraiya laughed. "But you… you must be under a lot of pressure, right? Just don't end up like Orochimaru."
Back in the days of the Sannin, the three of them had not only fought together on the battlefield but also had completely different approaches when dealing with village affairs.
Jiraiya despised the political games between the Hokage's office and the ninja clans. He especially hated how comrades who once trusted each other with their lives on the battlefield had to act superficially when they returned to the village. So, he lived as freely as he could.
When Hiruzen told him to keep his distance from the Uchiha clan, he immediately went to drink with his Uchiha comrades that very same day. When Danzō claimed the Uchiha were a threat, he cursed him out right to his face.
Because of this, no one ever bothered him about Uchiha affairs again. But that didn't mean he could stop others, especially Danzō.
Tsunade carried the legacy of her grandfather. Though she had a fiery temper, she still forced herself to participate in the village's governance.
Of course, being the granddaughter of the First Hokage, no one could or dared to make her take on the Hokage faction's dark dealings.
And so, Orochimaru took on the darkness of the Sannin. Talented yet lonely and arrogant, he absorbed the shadows looming over their group, handling them with ease. But without realizing it, he himself became the darkness of the Sannin.
And by the time his comrades realized this, it was already too late.
"If you won't do it, and Tsunade can't do it, then who will?" Faced with Orochimaru's question, Jiraiya had no answer. After that, Orochimaru became even colder.
Then the Third Great Ninja War broke out, and Tsunade, devastated by the loss of her lover, also broke down.
Jiraiya hadn't had a good night's sleep in years. He believed that his carefree lifestyle forced his comrades to bear heavier burdens. The more he ran from responsibility, the heavier his friends' burdens became, until it crushed them. Determined to shoulder more himself, he had been taking on an endless number of high-risk S-rank missions outside the village.
It wasn't quite compensation, but at least it gave him some peace of mind.
Now, when he looked at Masashi, he saw a shadow of Orochimaru.
Both were exceptionally talented. Both were supremely confident, believing every challenge was trivial and that they had everything under control.
"I'm not quite the same as Orochimaru, am I?" Masashi replied.
Jiraiya was one of the few in the Hokage faction whom the Uchiha clan had respected, even back in the day. Just for that, he refrained from calling Orochimaru a bastard.
"You definitely look down on him." Jiraiya grinned. "No need to spare my feelings. If you want to call him a bastard, go right ahead."
If I do that, you'll just start defending him again. Can we be honest here?
"You know he wasn't always like this. Maybe if I had held back a little back then, he wouldn't have turned out this way…"
Whether you held back or not, he was always going to be like that. The Power of Friendship Punch wouldn't have changed anything.
"You've had too much to drink. Wouldn't it be better to just go home and sleep early?"
"Huh?" Jiraiya patted his chest. "What are you talking about? This little bit? I'll pee it out in no time!"
With that, he started looking around. Classic case of drunk behavior, scanning for a good spot to take a leak.
"If you do that, I'm leaving," Masashi said, exasperated.
"Hahaha, just kidding…" Jiraiya laughed loudly. "Alright, I'm good now. I won't trouble you anymore, I can get back on my own."
He grabbed onto the bench and bounced a little to show he was perfectly fine.
"Taking you home isn't a bother." Masashi shook his head and stepped forward to help.
As a strong ninja, Jiraiya obviously wouldn't get wasted so easily. The truth was, he wasn't drinking just for the alcohol.
Masashi could have used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport instantly, but if he did, Jiraiya would probably start ranting. Better not give the street cleaners extra work.
They walked through the park and entered the residential area.
While the commercial district was bustling with nightlife, this part of Konoha was much quieter. Jiraiya's large house was already in sight.
Suddenly, Masashi heard him speak.
"Masashi…" Jiraiya murmured, "When people get hurt, they hold grudges, and in turn, they hurt others. Then they become hated, tormented by guilt. But… it's because we understand that pain that we learn to be kinder."
"I'll do my best to prevent that from happening."
"Hmm… are we saying the same thing?"
"Of course. Comrades don't lie to comrades."
"Comrades, huh…" Jiraiya muttered but said no more.
For the rest of the walk, neither spoke again. Masashi escorted him to his house.
"Thanks, and sorry to make you spend money today." Jiraiya flashed his usual carefree old-man smile, waved, and stepped inside.
---
Once the door closed, Masashi activated the Flying Thunder God Technique and instantly returned to the Uchiha district.
He went straight to Fugaku's house. Opening the door was Itachi.
"Masashi-nii, Father has been waiting for you."
"You're drenched in sweat. Were you training?" Masashi looked at him. When it came to hard work, Itachi was relentless.
"Yes. I didn't accomplish much during this mission, so I figured I should train more." Itachi replied. "You should go to the study. Father was asking about you earlier."
This time, he hadn't killed a single person. To Itachi, that felt like he had wasted his youth, like he hadn't done his duty for the village.
After all, beyond the village walls, countless enemies lurked, waiting for a chance to strike. If he spared one today, tomorrow there could be ten more. If he couldn't cut anyone down today, then he could only train himself.
If Masashi knew what he was thinking now, he would surely sigh deeply and say, "This kid is terrifying."
But instead of finding it terrifying, he actually thought that Sasuke should really learn a thing or two from his older brother.
This was supposed to be a hot-blooded shonen story, yet as the reincarnation of Indra's chakra, why was he not passionate at all, spending his days slacking off and practicing calligraphy?
Not that he had to be like Naruto, shouting about becoming Hokage all the time, but at the very least, he could have aimed to be the clan leader, right? If that was too much, even aspiring to be Hokage Advisor would do… though that was unlikely, since his life motto was to never be weaker than Naruto.
"All right, train as much as you want, but be mindful of your limits."
"Don't worry, Masashi-nii, I know what I'm doing."
Masashi nodded and headed toward the study. Before entering, he knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Opening the door, he saw Fugaku sitting at the desk, reading documents. This place had once been his sanctuary, but ever since he became Advisor, and as his workload increased year by year, it had turned into his second office.
It had been a long time since they last played their game of "I'll hide, you find me."
This made Masashi quite sentimental and sympathetic. How difficult it was for middle-aged men to maintain their hobbies!
"You saw the situation in the Hokage's office today, didn't you?" Fugaku put down the document. "From now on, try not to go there alone."
"What if Minato calls me?"
"Tell me first, and I'll go with you later."
"Got it." Masashi nodded. "But this was all within expectations."
"Yes, within expectations." Fugaku sighed. "Time is too short. Minato considers me a friend, but he won't change the village's current stance for the sake of the Uchiha clan. If we had more time, we could have at least secured control over the Interrogation Department."
"Be content, Fugaku-sama." Masashi said. "This is already two years later than we originally predicted. Besides, what's the use of controlling the Interrogation Department? Education and administration are the key. Without those two departments, the Third Hokage really wouldn't be able to hold onto power."
"What's your plan going forward?" Fugaku asked. "And about the Rinnegan... Minato said that before we arrived, you had already proven its existence."
"You want to see it too? Didn't expect you, with your serious face, to be so gossipy."
"Gossipy, my ass!" Fugaku laughed in frustration. "Tell me first, can your method of awakening the Rinnegan be replicated?"
"How would I know?" Masashi said. "Even within the Uchiha clan, using the same method to stimulate the spirit, some people awaken the Sharingan while others don't. There's no clear logic to it."
Could the Gedo Statue's chakra really guarantee the evolution to the Rinnegan? Not necessarily. Masashi had to admit that luck played a role in his case.
"So it all comes down to luck?" Fugaku's tone carried a hint of disappointment.
The appearance of the Rinnegan had immense significance for the Uchiha clan. It would serve as undeniable proof that the Uchiha were direct descendants of the Sage of Six Paths, which would be invaluable in the political landscape of the ninja world.
Since the Warring States period, countless clans had claimed to be descendants of the Sage of Six Paths, but none could prove it. As a result, people generally assumed that the Sage had been a lifelong bachelor, never married, and had no children.
At the same time, it was widely accepted that the Rinnegan was exclusive to the Sage of Six Paths. Only his bloodline could manifest that power.
When the "God" of Ame was revealed to have the Rinnegan, it caused a huge sensation. The theory of being a descendant of the Sage, which had long faded from relevance, suddenly made a comeback.
However, investigations revealed that this "God" was merely an orphan. Though his parents had been ninjas from Ame, they were not originally from the Land of Rain. Further investigation yielded no useful information.
Still, the label of "descendant of the Sage of Six Paths" was slapped onto Nagato's forehead, making the Five Great Ninja Villages more cautious in their dealings with Ame. If a weak individual was confirmed to be a descendant of the Sage, they would be considered a research specimen, destined to be kidnapped and studied.
But if a powerful individual bore that title, they couldn't be openly targeted, as they were seen as the Sage's heirs, unless the entire ninja world collectively decided to hunt them down. Otherwise, any single village that acted alone might face backlash from the others.
If a strong ninja clan, based in one of the great villages, was confirmed to be the Sage's direct descendants, the political advantages they would gain would be unprecedented.
To Fugaku, this title was crucial for the Uchiha clan right now.
With this recognition, the numerous restrictions placed on the Uchiha since the Second Hokage's time would start to loosen. They wouldn't be enforced as strictly as before.
The Uchiha clan would no longer be limited to just the Police Force and the clan association.
Seeing the overwhelming disappointment radiating from Fugaku, Masashi could understand his feelings. So, he decided to say something encouraging.
After all, this was a clan leader driven by personal interest.
What if Fugaku suddenly lost interest and quit being clan leader? Not that Masashi was overthinking it, but he had a feeling he might get roped into taking the position if that happened.
"Well, it's not entirely luck. There are at least a few key conditions. First, developing Yang Release to strengthen physical energy to a certain level. Second, the Sharingan must be at a high enough stage. And lastly, the chakra of a tailed beast is needed. With these prerequisites, there's at least some hope."
A light of hope reignited in Fugaku's eyes.
"Well said!" He stood up excitedly. "Ever since you were a child, you've insisted on going against the grain and practicing Yang Release. Everyone said you were crazy, but you didn't care. Turns out you had a plan all along! You even brought back the Two-Tails and developed the curse mark technique, this was all in preparation for today, wasn't it? Good! Having you in the Uchiha clan is a blessing!"
Masashi wanted to say something, but found himself unable to refute it. He had indeed followed Madara's path to success when planning his own growth, but he hadn't originally aimed so high.
How did things end up making it seem like he had known the secret to the Rinnegan all along?
How was he supposed to explain this now?