Uchiha's personal opinion

Tsunade explained, "Moreover, this incident seems too coincidental and too reasonable, so it appears very illogical."

What kind of logic is this...?

Orochimaru was speechless.

But on second thought, and considering Jiraiya's recent ordeal, Tsunade's words seem to make some sense.

"I'm not as good as you at conducting experiments, but when it comes to political maneuvering, you're no match for me!"

Tsunade also noticed Orochimaru's inner turmoil. "So, it's highly likely that Uchiha Tokumitsu is deliberately stirring up trouble!"

"Why? If we're going to settle accounts... that doesn't make sense!"

Orochimaru said he didn't understand.

"Perhaps that idiot is full of flaws or something is being coveted by him..."

Tsunade snorted coldly, casually opened a bottle of sake, and gulped it down.

"Okay... I understand."

Orochimaru nodded hesitantly.

When will he be able to be released on bail again?

After finishing a bottle of sake, Tsunade let out a burp and casually asked...

"We still need seven more days..."

"I'll have several high-ranking ninja from various clans sign a joint bailing agreement with you to prevent any further trouble!"

Tsunade said in an unquestionable tone.

"That's fine too."

Orochimaru naturally had no objections.

"That's settled then, finish your drink before you leave!"

Without a word, Tsunade shoved a bottle of sake into Orochimaru's mouth, who was wearing a wry smile.

……

After returning to his cell, Jiraiya closed his eyes and rested for a long time. Only after sensing that no one was outside the cell did he slap his feet together and barely manage to activate a weak summoning jutsu.

Although he was still wearing the chakra-binding bracelet, Jiraiya managed to squeeze out a sliver of chakra to summon a special toad from Mount Myōboku.

"...Lord Jiraiya, what are your orders?"

The small, blue-gray-skinned liaison frog of Mount Myōboku quickly scanned its surroundings and reported to Jiraiya in a low voice.

"Tell the two immortals that if I do not give any further notice in seven days, they should use the Reverse Spirit Spell to guide me away around noon!"

Jiraiya said in a deep voice.

"As ordered!"

The liaison frog quickly said, "The two lords have been planning to have you return to the Holy Land more often recently, but for some reason they can't get in touch with you. It's said that they want you, Lord Jiraiya, to begin training in enhancing your Sage Mode!"

"I understand. I'll return to Mount Myōboku once I've taken care of things here..."

Jiraiya nodded and made his promise.

Whenever the topic of cultivating immortal techniques came up, Jiraiya immediately thought of the "natural nutritional meal" made entirely of insects, and he couldn't help but feel acid reflux.

"In that case, Jiraiya-sama... I'll head back now..."

The liaison frog scanned Jiraiya's surroundings once more, its expression turning somewhat grave.

"Don't tell those two immortals anything, I'm fine..."

Jiraiya quickly explained.

"Mmm, I understand..."

The liaison frog nodded repeatedly and then canceled the summoning spell.

Before leaving, he secretly glanced at the chakra-binding bracelets on Jiraiya's hands.

"Really..."

After letting out a long sigh, Jiraiya lay back down on the hard wooden bed and stared blankly at the pure white ceiling.

If Jiraiya were to leave, the mere binding bracelet wouldn't be able to hold him back.

Moreover, if Jiraiya were to abscond on his own, not only would he be branded as a defector, adding a dark chapter to the history of the original Hokage lineage, but Orochimaru, who was bailed out, would also be implicated.

But what he couldn't understand the most was when the village's system became so efficient.

The fact that a mere voyeuristic incident, which had been suppressed for who knows how many years, has been brought up again suggests that someone may have ulterior motives behind this.

"Uchiha, report the incident, police department..."

Jiraiya silently pondered the ongoing development of the case, attempting to connect the forces and motives behind it.

Chapter 298 Exceptional Compassion

For most Konoha ninja, Jiraiya's recent ordeal was merely a topic of conversation, and they didn't care about the police department's handling of the matter.

The reason is simple: no matter which of Konoha's existing penal systems you look at, Jiraiya has no calamity of killing.

Since that's the case, it's better to just watch Jiraiya, who has a voyeuristic fetish, get a good scolding from the police department, so that his wife, daughters, and family won't be subjected to rude spying again.

Therefore, apart from Orochimaru still working for Jiraiya and Tsunade providing limited assistance, the various ninja clans in Konoha, down to the common ninjas, were indifferent to Jiraiya's imprisonment and detention. Some female ninjas even expressed their delight at the situation.

……

"Orochimaru, your bail request has been approved; however, as Jiraiya's guarantor, you and the other jonin must control his behavior during the waiting period and ensure that he is subject to investigation by the police department at any time. Otherwise, you and the other jonin as guarantors may be implicated for his misconduct."

Seven days after Jiraiya's first bail application was rejected, Orochimaru came to the police headquarters again to request bail, accompanied by five Jonin from the Senju clan who provided guarantees.

Considering Orochimaru's status and the fact that he represented the five Jonin of the Senju clan, the head of the police headquarters did not make things difficult for them. Instead, he readily signed the bail papers and gently reminded them of the situation.

"I see……"

Orochimaru managed a weak smile.

This was the only act of kindness that Orochimaru, who was usually cold and ruthless, could still show.

Even Orochimaru wondered if he was under some kind of illusion, for he had the time and energy to run around for an idiot for so long.

Meanwhile, the five Senju ninjas who had been ordered by Tsunade to come and provide assistance remained expressionless, even cursing under their breath.

"This is the bail permit. Please go to the detention center to pick me up."

The head of headquarters handed Orochimaru a letter of permission.

"...Can the charges against the West District and North District police stations be combined for bail?"

Orochimaru accepted the bail permit but did not leave immediately. Instead, he asked again.

As he entered the police headquarters, he clearly saw two groups of police ninjas squatting at the entrance, each one eyeing him menacingly, waiting for him to bring the man out so they could take him away on the spot.

After being tormented for so long, Orochimaru really had no heart to continue playing this guarantee game. With all the running around these past few days, his experimental progress had been delayed considerably.

"...For the sake of Mr. Orochimaru and the five Jonin, I can mediate on their behalf, but you will need to pay two extra bail bills."

Although the head of the headquarters looked somewhat embarrassed, he still agreed to Orochimaru's request conditionally.

After saying that, the head of headquarters sent someone out to communicate with the ninjas from the West and North District police stations who were lying in wait.

Shortly afterward, confirmation was received that the ninjas from the West and North District police stations had agreed to release all of them on bail at once, but they also made the same request: Orochimaru and the five Senju ninjas must keep a close watch on Jiraiya's behavior during the proceedings and be subject to random checks by the police department at any time.

The Senju ninjas who were forced to come and vouch for the senju looked at each other, their faces increasingly grim.

They weren't confident they could control Jiraiya's behavior; if he remained unruly, it would be troublesome to drag them into it.

Orochimaru ignored them and readily paid two more bail payments, receiving two bail orders signed by the police headquarters.

Jiraiya has now set a new record for the Konoha Police Department.

After all, he was the only Konoha ninja who could obtain bail certificates from the police headquarters and the three major police departments.

Because of the high bail amount, the head of headquarters kindly had Jiraiya brought out, immediately removed the chakra-binding bracelet, and read a parole notice to Jiraiya.

Jiraiya, who had been locked up for ten days, was somewhat listless and absentmindedly listened to the headquarters chief's "lullaby" while nodding repeatedly.

"...Jiraiya, do you have a sufficient understanding of your obligations as a defendant during your parole period?"

After reading the parole instructions, the head of headquarters asked a routine question.

"understood……"

Jiraiya yawned, then turned to Orochimaru and said, "Let's have dinner at your place later..."

Such negligence caused not only the head of headquarters to frown, but also the five Senju ninjas who had jointly vouched for him.

"...Please sign and leave your fingerprint here!"

However, considering that Lord Tokumitsu's plan had basically succeeded, the head of the headquarters did not continue to argue with Jiraiya. After having him sign the confirmation, he made a gesture to let him leave.

"Let's go..."

Orochimaru sighed and led Jiraiya out of the police headquarters.

"Jiraiya, the Jonin!"

Two groups of police ninjas who were still waiting at the door rushed over.

"...What are you doing! Didn't we already pay bail together?!"

Orochimaru asked with a dark expression.

"Don't misunderstand, Orochimaru, a Jonin, is just going through the motions..."

A polite Uchiha ninja said, "Please have Jonin Jiraiya sign the parole notice so we can report back to him."

"What if I just refuse to sign?"

Upon hearing this, Jiraiya, driven by his rebellious nature, immediately became stubborn and retorted, "What does your work have to do with me!"

"Jiraiya, you don't want us to come and investigate you ten or eight times a day, do you..."

The Uchiha ninja remained unperturbed, his professional smile still on his face: "And Orochimaru-sensei and the five Senju Jonin, you wouldn't want to be dragged into this by Jiraiya, would you?"

"...Sign the papers and get out of here!"