Naruto: Konoha Spring of the Uchiha Prodigies

Kakashi remained silent. He understood that Hiruzen Sarutobi's mention of Jiraiya at this moment was nothing more than a warning to him and to Uchiha Touhuan behind him. Unlike the elderly and frail Third Hokage, Jiraiya, who possessed the Sage Mode of Mount Myōboku, would be the undisputed strongest man in the village once he returned. Although Uchiha Touhuan was strong, he was still some distance away from Jiraiya at his full strength.

But is that really the case? Kakashi couldn't help but recall the image of Uchiha Touhuan with light purple eyeshadow he had seen that night. Also, would Jiraiya really be willing to get involved in these matters?

Seeing Kakashi somewhat lost in thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke again: "Kakashi, are you really not going to try running for the Fifth Hokage? I'll have Jiraiya assist you."

"Lord Hokage, please don't joke around. Lord Jiraiya is far more qualified to be Hokage than I am," Kakashi said.

"You can't say that. Do you think I don't know that brat's personality? He would never take on the responsibility I'm carrying," Hiruzen Sarutobi remarked.

"Lord Jiraiya will understand your good intentions," Kakashi said.

"Alright." Seeing Kakashi's resolute attitude, Hiruzen Sarutobi had no choice but to change the subject. "Kakashi, let's put aside the Fifth Hokage's matter for now. What are your plans for the future?"

"Dou-hwan invited me to work in the Security Department, where I would be responsible for the detention and interrogation of criminals with special identities," Kakashi said. There was no point in hiding it; the Third Hokage would know as soon as he reported to the Security Department anyway, so saying it directly made him seem more open and honest.

“The Security Department?” Hiruzen Sarutobi’s eyelids twitched. Kakashi’s relationship with Uchiha Touhuan seemed to be closer than he had imagined, which made him sigh inwardly, but he still said without changing his expression, “It is a good place. Touhuan is also a good kid with the Will of Fire in his heart.”

“That’s right. Douhuan’s understanding of the Will of Fire is so profound that it often makes me feel ashamed,” Kakashi said expressionlessly.

"With young people like you in the village, I'm sure the First and Second Hokage would be very happy if they knew from beyond the grave," Hiruzen Sarutobi remarked. "Well then, Kakashi, I won't bother you any longer."

"I'll see you out." Kakashi was about to get up when Hiruzen Sarutobi pressed him back down.

"It's already an intrusion of an old man like me to come looking for you so late," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile. "I'll just take a walk back to digest my food. This ramen tastes really good; no wonder Naruto likes it so much."

Despite what Hiruzen Sarutobi said, Kakashi still escorted him to the door.

"Kakashi." Before leaving, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned back again and said earnestly, "Now that you've cheered up, you still need to keep up with your training. How many more years can this old body of mine hold out? I hope I can personally drape the Fifth Hokage's robe over your shoulders."

Kakashi didn't respond, but silence was the best answer.

……

Time passed day by day, and three days had quickly gone by since the village was placed under martial law. After that day of martial law, the security in the village had visibly improved, the work of the security personnel was much easier, and the number of complaints received by the security department had also decreased dramatically.

Kakashi has already taken up his post at the new department of the Security Department by the Naga River. In addition, the Anbu sent by the Third Hokage to investigate the case of Orochimaru's collusion with the kidnapping of children from the village families has arrived. The Security Department has also unearthed some old files, and a joint investigation team led by Uchiha Touken has been officially established.

Before the investigation officially began, Uchiha Tohkan gave instructions in the conference room: all members of the three clans involved should be severely punished, their properties should be seized and confiscated, and the families of the victims in the case must be compensated.

However, before the meeting was even halfway through, Uchiha Inahi knocked on the meeting room door.

Upon entering the conference room, Uchiha Inahashi whispered a few words in Uchiha Touhuan's ear, and Uchiha Touhuan's expression instantly became quite interesting.

Two hours ago.

Where the Third Hokage's gaze met, was the village's largest hot spring inn area. Whether ninja or civilian, villagers loved to come here for a bath after a long day to wash away their fatigue. And today, a white-haired ninja named Nakato suddenly appeared here.

The white-haired man, Zhongdeng, hid in the bushes not far from the open-air hot spring, sticking out his big buttocks and occasionally letting out lewd laughter.

However, the white-haired man hadn't been looking at it for long when he was spotted by people in the hot spring pool, and his screams instantly attracted the patrolling security team.

After three patrol teams were dispatched, the white-haired Zhong Deng was finally captured and brought back to the security department. However, some of the Uchiha clan captains in the security department were immediately unsettled when they saw Zhong Deng. Isn't this Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin?

"Excuse me, everyone, I have to leave for a moment. The Security Department has some important matters that require my attention," Uchiha Touhuan said to the others in the conference room, forcing back a twitching smile.

Chapter 71 Jiraiya the Toad Sage

Uchiha Touhuan never expected that his first formal meeting with Jiraiya would turn out like this.

After being arrested, Jiraiya was relatively cooperative. With his hands cuffed, he hunched over in the chair in the interrogation room, revealing a few awkward smiles. His posture was exactly the same as the village's habitual thieves. No wonder the patrol team didn't recognize him. After all, who knew that one of the legendary Sannin, the Toad Sage Jiraiya, was like this?

Uchiha Touhuan arrived at the interrogation room where Jiraiya was being held in solitary confinement, waved for the guards around him to leave, and went inside himself.

Jiraiya heard someone enter and looked up.

"Lord Jiraiya, this is putting our security department in a difficult position." Uchiha Touhuan stepped forward and unlocked Jiraiya's handcuffs. In any case, if the other party really wanted to run away, the handcuffs would make no difference.

"Hehe," Jiraiya chuckled awkwardly, then looked at Uchiha Touhuan and asked curiously, "Um, who are you?"

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Uchiha Touhuan, the current head of the Uchiha clan, and I just took over as the captain of the village's security force a couple of days ago," Uchiha Touhuan said.

"So you're Uchiha Touhuan? I've heard of you before, but we weren't on the same battlefield during the Third Shinobi World War. Nice to meet you," Jiraiya said with a smile.

"I never expected that my first meeting with Lord Jiraiya would be like this," Uchiha Touhuan said with a half-smile.

"Hehe, an accident, an accident." Jiraiya chuckled as he scratched his head.

"Come with me. As Jiraiya-sama is, we can't just lock him up here." Uchiha Touhuan said, getting up and walking towards the door, while gesturing for Jiraiya to follow.

Jiraiya quickly got up and followed.

"Shouldn't you use a transformation technique to slightly conceal your identity?" Uchiha Touhuan reminded him as he turned back before opening the door.

"That's true." Jiraiya nodded awkwardly, then formed hand seals and instantly transformed himself.

Uchiha Touhuan, accompanied by Jiraiya who had concealed his identity using a transformation technique, left the security headquarters building through the back door and went straight to the new prison by the Naka River. Once inside, Uchiha Touhuan led Jiraiya to a room fully furnished with all kinds of furniture before saying, "Please wait here for a moment, Lord Jiraiya. I will come over with Kakashi after I finish my meeting."

"Of course, of course," Jiraiya said with a smile. After being taken out of the security headquarters by Uchiha Touhuan, he thought the matter was over and that he had been brought here just to entertain him.

"Besides not letting him leave, try to fulfill any requests the people inside have." Before leaving, Uchiha Touhuan instructed the clansmen responsible for guarding the place.

After settling Jiraiya in, Uchiha Touhuan went back to his meeting.

After the meeting formally finalized the joint investigation team's operational guidelines, Uchiha Touhuan instructed his subordinates to pack a banquet and two bottles of fine wine from the village before taking Kakashi to Jiraiya's place.

During the few hours of the meeting, Jiraiya stayed quietly in the house, without causing any trouble. When he got bored, he simply lay down on the bed in the room. After Uchiha Touhuan and Kakashi entered the room, Jiraiya suddenly sprang up from the bed where he had been lying.

"Chief Douhuan, this place is really nice. Is this the place the Security Department uses to entertain guests?" Jiraiya's eyes lit up when he saw the two of them. After greeting them, he said with a grin.

“In a way, yes.” Uchiha Touhuan smiled, then moved the tatami table in the room over and set out the dishes one by one.

Seeing the exquisite dishes and two bottles of fine wine on the table, Jiraiya's eyes lit up. He rubbed his hands together and said, "I can't accept this, Chief Touhuan. You've gone to so much trouble."

"That's not true. It is my honor to drink with one of the legendary Sannin, the Toad Sage Jiraiya," said Uchiha Touhuan. "I have heard that Lord Jiraiya is a veteran of the pleasure quarters. I should have gone to Kabukicho to invite some geishas to entertain you, but the Security Department is the village's law enforcement agency after all. Doing so would not have a good impact. Please forgive me, Lord Jiraiya."

"It's alright, it's alright," Jiraiya waved his hand dismissively. "Next time, I'll treat you to a good meal at Kabukicho, the best place in the village."

After the three sat down, each of them drank a glass of wine and then began to chat.

"Lord Jiraiya, why did you suddenly return to the village? Is your new work about to be released?" Kakashi asked knowingly.

"As for the new work, I'm already writing it, but it will take some time." Jiraiya smiled awkwardly when he encountered readers urging him to update at the dinner table. "As for why I came back, I don't know what's wrong with the old man. He sends me eight letters a day urging me to return to the village, so I just came back to take a look."

"However, it's quite nice to have met a talented young man like Chief Dohuan after coming back, and to see Kakashi cheer up as well," Jiraiya said, slightly tipsy after finishing a glass of wine.

"Compared to a village hero like Jiraiya-sama who has been famous for a long time, I can hardly be considered a young talent," Uchiha Touhuan said with a smile after refilling Jiraiya's cup.

"What you're saying, Clan Chief Dou Huan? You are the mighty Azure Thunder Dou Huan who commands respect in Kirigakure. You will definitely be much stronger than this old man in the future," Jiraiya said with a smile.

"By the way, Kakashi, I heard you took Naruto in and are taking care of him, is that right?" Jiraiya asked Kakashi suddenly after drinking with the two of them for a while.

Kakashi nodded: "That's right. I've already retired from the Anbu, so I'll have time to take care of that kid."

Upon hearing this, Jiraiya sighed and said, "That's good. With you taking care of Naruto, I can rest assured."

At this moment, Uchiha Touhuan suddenly spoke up: "Speaking of which, what has Jiraiya-sama been away from the village for all these years? It can't really be for some vague prophecy as the rumors say, can it?"

“Douhuan, this is not some vague prophecy.” Upon hearing this, Jiraiya’s expression changed, and he said seriously, “The Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku is a wise man of very ancient origin. He once told me that a child of destiny who will determine the future of the ninja world will be born. He will decide whether the future of the ninja world will be peaceful or destroyed, and all I can do is guide him onto the right path.”

"So there's more to this story than meets the eye?" Uchiha Touhuan said with a half-smile. "So it turns out that Jiraiya-sama carries such an important mission. I misspoke. I'll punish myself with a drink."

Uchiha Touhuan poured himself a full glass of wine and drank it all in one gulp.

"So, Jiraiya-sama, have you found this prophesied child?" Kakashi asked.

Chapter 72 The Return of Uchiha Itachi

Kakashi's words caused Jiraiya's hand, which was holding a wine glass, to freeze in mid-air, and he was stunned on the spot.

After a while, Jiraiya put down his wine glass: "I... thought I had found it."

The atmosphere at the drinking party became awkward. Uchiha Touhuan silently finished his drink and then poured himself another glass.

"Let's not talk about this anymore, come on, let's drink." Uchiha Touhuan took the initiative to break the awkward silence, and for the rest of the time, the three of them tacitly avoided bringing up the topic again.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Jiraiya stood up, straightened his clothes, and said to Uchiha Touhuan with a hint of alcohol on his face, "Thank you for the hospitality, Clan Chief Touhuan. I won't bother you any longer today. I've been back for so long, I should go and say hello to the old man."

After saying that, Jiraiya walked towards the door of the room. However, as soon as he opened the door, two members of the Uchiha clan outside the door reached out and stopped him.

“Clan Chief Touhuan, this…” Jiraiya turned to look at Uchiha Touhuan.

"Lord Jiraiya, according to the village's security regulations, peeping is punishable by at least seven days of detention. If you just leave like this, the security department won't be able to explain it to the villagers," Uchiha Touhuan said unhurriedly. "The Uchiha respect your contributions to the village, but could you please give the Uchiha a little face?"

"Uh, Clan Chief Touhuan, look, I just got back myself and still have to report to the old man." Jiraiya chuckled. In the end, he was in the wrong, and after Touhuan learned of his identity, he treated him to good food and wine. So, he couldn't be too tough now.

"Lord Jiraiya, please stay here for the next few days. Please feel free to make any requests. The Security Department will do its best to meet your needs. Just don't wander around aimlessly these next few days, so that the Security Department can give you an explanation to the village."

Upon hearing this, Jiraiya looked at Kakashi with pleading eyes, but Kakashi replied expressionlessly, "Lord Jiraiya, please forgive me, the village's regulations on this matter are not new."

Upon hearing this, Jiraiya's lips parted slightly. He wanted to say that he had never encountered such a situation before, but after thinking about it, he ultimately didn't open his mouth. The old lecher still had some shame; he had already embarrassed himself enough.

"Alright, then I'll be troubling Clan Chief Dou Huan for the next few days. Consider it a chance to focus on my writing." Jiraiya reluctantly withdrew his hand. "However, please ask Clan Chief Dou Huan to send someone to inform the Third Hokage that I've returned."

“Of course, thank you for your cooperation, Lord Jiraiya.” Uchiha Touhuan nodded, then said to the two clansmen guarding the door, “Take good care of Lord Jiraiya.”

"Understood." The two clansmen outside the door nodded in acceptance.

“Well then, Jiraiya-sama, we’ll head back now. If I don’t go back, Naruto will probably be sneaking ramen again.” Kakashi nodded when he saw that Jiraiya was willing to cooperate, and left the special cell with Uchiha Touhuan.

"Kakashi..." Jiraiya's voice suddenly rang out behind Kakashi after he left the house.

"Is there anything else, Jiraiya-sama?" Uchiha Touhuan asked, turning around.

"Forget it..." Jiraiya reluctantly withdrew his hand. Jiraiya originally wanted to ask Kakashi to say hello to Naruto for him when he got back, but when he thought about how he should face Naruto, he gave up on the idea.

After the two left, Jiraiya sighed and lay back down on the large bed in the room.

Not long after, Hiruzen Sarutobi in the Hokage Building also received news that Jiraiya had returned to the village. However, when he heard that Jiraiya had been arrested on the spot by the Security Department for peeping and had to be detained in the Security Department for seven days, his blood pressure instantly soared.

That bastard! What time is it? Can't he just give up that hobby?

"Fortunately, it's only seven days, so nothing too serious should happen. It'll be good to teach that kid Jiraiya a lesson." Hiruzen Sarutobi comforted himself. Going to the police headquarters to bail someone out was out of the question. What kind of Hokage would go to the police headquarters to bail out someone caught spying? Besides, it was already a blessing that Touken Uchiha didn't make a fuss about it.

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was furious because of his good disciple, a travel-worn figure arrived at the village gate.

After submitting the necessary paperwork to return to the village at the village entrance, the visitor entered the village and immediately headed towards the Uchiha clan's territory.

This person was none other than Itachi Uchiha, who had been sent by Fugaku to inspect the clan's properties in the Land of Fire. After completing his mission, he rushed back day and night because he was worried about the village and his younger brother.

Back in the village, Itachi, wanting to pick out a small gift for his long-lost younger brother, keenly sensed that the villagers' attitude towards him seemed a bit off. Almost everyone he met looked at him with fear. After several attempts to probe, Itachi discovered that this fear came from the Uchiha clan's fan-shaped crest embroidered on his clothes.

Some villagers who were originally very friendly to him became timid and hesitant after seeing the clan crest on his body, a sight that made Itachi Uchiha's heart tighten.

He then approached several villagers to ask them questions, but they all gave him evasive answers.