Inside the advisor's office within the Hokage building—
When Kenya pushed open the door, she was met not only by the two aged advisors, Koharu and Mitokado Homura, but also by a towering figure standing silently at their side.
Jiraiya—the legendary Sannin—his aura still at its peak, perhaps even stronger than the late Third Hokage.
Kenya's lips curved into a smile as she strolled in leisurely.
"Heh… I should have guessed. Two old advisors without any combat ability would never dare summon me without a guardian. So, you've brought Jiraiya himself to watch over you?"
Her mocking words darkened Koharu and Homura's expressions further. But Kenya ignored them entirely and shifted her gaze to Jiraiya, her smile sharpening.
"What surprises me, however, is that you, Jiraiya-senpai, would stand to protect these two. Don't tell me… you've been swayed by their lies as well?"
Jiraiya frowned, about to respond, but Kenya cut him off. Her smile faded, her eyes narrowing as though she could pierce through their very thoughts.
"In other words… they've already told you the truth about the Uchiha massacre, haven't they?"
Jiraiya's eyes widened.
His silence was enough.
Yes—the annihilation of the Uchiha clan. It was a secret Koharu, Homura, Danzo, and even the late Hiruzen had intended to carry into their graves. Yet with Konoha now facing its greatest crisis since its founding, they had no choice. To secure Jiraiya's strength, they revealed the truth.
But Kenya had seen through it all in an instant.
Koharu slammed the desk furiously, her voice trembling with outrage.
"Enough! You may deceive others, but not us, Uchiha Kenya! That night, you struck down Sarutobi Shinnosuke, the Anbu Captain, who had defected! You never made any so-called deal with Lord Hiruzen—everything Nara Shikaku spread was nothing but lies!"
Her face burned red as she screamed, veins bulging at her temples.
Kenya, however, only wore a calm, almost elegant smile, replying coolly:
"Such outbursts only reveal how weak you are inside."
Koharu's words faltered in her throat. She clenched her fists but could not force out another sound.
Kenya's voice dropped lower, colder:
"You're right. I never made any deal with Hiruzen. That night, four years ago, I did kill Sarutobi Shinnosuke—and then I escaped."
Step.
At those words, Jiraiya's eyes narrowed sharply, his body tensing. He instinctively moved to act—
"Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō."
Kenya raised a single finger, and in a flash, six radiant beams erupted from her fingertip, binding Jiraiya in place.
"What… what is this technique!?"
Jiraiya struggled against the glowing pillars of light, but his body refused to move an inch. His eyes widened in shock.
Kenya tilted her head slightly, voice calm as ever.
"Relax, Jiraiya-senpai. Let me finish speaking before you jump to conclusions."
With a flick of her finger, the light vanished, releasing him.
She leaned back in her chair, her tone almost casual.
"Think about it. At that time, Itachi and the village were moving together to eradicate the Uchiha. Tell me, in my place—wouldn't you have chosen to flee?"
Jiraiya hesitated, his fury dampened by Kenya's logic. His brows furrowed deeply.
"Even if that's true… then explain Orochimaru's invasion of Konoha."
Kenya chuckled.
"That was the decision of the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa. My lieutenant only followed his orders. Originally, my plan was to let the Sand Village take Konoha in one stroke. Unfortunately, in the clash between Orochimaru and Hiruzen, my true identity was revealed. Even though many in Sunagakure supported me under the name 'Aizen,' I was still an outsider. Staying there became impossible."
She tapped the table lightly with her finger, her gaze unwavering.
"So after Hiruzen's death, I adjusted my plan. Sunagakure could no longer be a home for me. But here—if the new Hokage supports me—I can still reclaim my title as Captain of the Konoha Police Force."
"Ridiculous!" Koharu spat, trembling with fury. "What makes you think the new Hokage would help you? You're nothing but a traitor! A traitor who murdered Hokage's son, sided with the enemy, and brought chaos to this village!"
Kenya sighed faintly, not even deigning to look at her.
Then, in the blink of an eye—she vanished.
"!"
Even Jiraiya's keen senses failed to catch the movement.
A voice whispered from behind them.
"The only reason I haven't killed you, advisors, is because—for now—you still serve a purpose I cannot discard."
The three of them spun around in shock. Kenya stood behind them, gazing out the window over the Hidden Leaf, her back turned.
"The next Hokage… there are only two candidates. You, Jiraiya-senpai, or Tsunade-senpai. With your nature, you'd never accept the role for yourself. Instead, you'd make finding Tsunade your condition—and entrust the hat to her."
Koharu and Homura froze, their bodies trembling.
Even Jiraiya swallowed hard.
She guessed it completely…!
Kenya turned her head slightly, her smile as sharp as a blade.
"No need for you to search. Tsunade is already on her way back. Within a week, she'll be here—and she will take up the mantle of the Fifth Hokage."
The three stared at her in disbelief, their eyes wide as though thunder had struck.
"C-could it be… you… and Tsunade… are working together!?"