Uchiha's personal opinion

Orochimaru scolded Jiraiya in an annoyed tone.

The expressions on the faces of the five Senju ninja were also quite interesting.

"I know, I know……"

Jiraiya immediately obeyed and signed.

The ninjas from the West and North District police stations stopped causing trouble and quickly left.

"Orochimaru, Jonin, then we'll be going too."

The five Senjutsu senjutsu saluted Orochimaru, then, without even glancing at Jiraiya, used their Body Flicker Technique to leave.

The police headquarters, bustling with people, was filled with meaningful, scrutinizing gazes, making them feel extremely uncomfortable.

"...Let's go, let's go to your place, take a nap for a while, and then have a good meal."

Jiraiya, still acting nonchalantly, grabbed Orochimaru by the neck and yelled.

"Let's go..."

Orochimaru struggled for a moment, then sighed and agreed.

He was also unwilling to let Jiraiya wander around outside any longer. If he caused any more trouble and it involved him, then things would really get really complicated.

……

Inside the office of the Nakagawa Stock Exchange, Uchiha Tokumitsu also received Jiraiya's latest message.

"Each district police station will conduct a spot check daily, and formal charges will be filed in seven days. Try to make him more anxious..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu gave instructions.

The attendant ninja immediately accepted the order and left to carry out the specific arrangements.

After losing the protection of his teacher Hiruzen Sarutobi, Jiraiya's behavior became increasingly disapproved of by the law-abiding Konoha ninjas. Moreover, the Uchiha ninjas secretly spread all sorts of rumors to stir up public opinion and undermine Jiraiya's war hero aura.

However, Uchiha Tokumitsu did not intend to completely frame Jiraiya; he merely wanted to weaken the influence of the former Third Hokage's disciple while forcing Jiraiya into a state of panic.

"Myoboku Mountain Sage Techniques..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu leaned back in his chair, lost in thought.

He didn't stay idle during his time in Konoha; he was constantly researching how to incorporate natural energy into his body. However, apart from some improvement in his perception, he still hadn't figured out how to apply natural energy.

Therefore, he needs a real specimen as a reference.

……

After being released from the police department's detention center, Jiraiya stayed at Orochimaru's mansion for two days, eating and drinking, before being sent back to his own home.

But the ensuing police department investigation made him very uncomfortable.

Although the Uchiha ninja leading the group didn't show any particular discrimination, they implied that they treated Jiraiya as a criminal, and their various forms of interrogation and questioning annoyed him greatly.

So, five days after being released from the detention center, Jiraiya began to think about leaving the village for a while.

Considering that he was on parole, Jiraiya casually mentioned it to the police ninja who came to question him, but was flatly refused, and was told that if he left without saying goodbye while on parole, he might be directly listed as a rogue ninja.

Jiraiya was very unhappy this time.

Although he appeared carefree and didn't seem to care much about other people's opinions, he was extremely sensitive and perceptive. Being treated like a criminal and constantly interrogated was really unpleasant. In addition, the liaison frog from Mount Myōboku sent a message saying that the sage Fukasaku wanted him to take some time to visit Mount Myōboku. So on the sixth day, Jiraiya used the Reverse Summoning Technique to leave the village without saying goodbye.

On the seventh day, the police ninjas returned to Jiraiya's house to take him to court, only to find the house empty. Upon entering, they discovered a note left on the table.

The Uchiha Jonin leading the team picked it up and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Let's go, let's have a good talk with Orochimaru!"

……

"I'm leaving the village for a while, I'll be back soon, don't worry about me..."

A group of police ninjas surrounded Orochimaru's residence and handed him the handwritten note left behind by Jiraiya.

After Orochimaru couldn't help but read the handwritten content aloud, he was completely stunned.

After handing the letter back to the Uchiha Jonin leading the team with a blank expression, Orochimaru began to secretly circulate his chakra, preparing for the worst.

"Don't be nervous, Orochimaru, the Jonin..."

The Uchiha Jonin also sensed Orochimaru's unusual behavior, but said nonchalantly, "The case concerning Jonin Jiraiya will be formally tried and decided tomorrow. Given that he violated the parole regulations and the village's ninja management regulations, there may be additional penalties for violations in addition to the charges already brought. Are you prepared to appear in court on his behalf?"

"...I'm not going!"

Orochimaru relaxed a little.

He must have lost his mind to stand in for Jiraiya in court and embarrass himself!

This is no longer about camaraderie among fellow disciples; it's purely Jiraiya's selfishness that put him and the other five Senjutsu on the spot!

Moreover, this weakness was caused by Jiraiya's lawlessness, which allowed the police department to find a loophole!

"Okay then~"

The Uchiha Jonin wasn't insistent: "Furthermore, if Orochimaru Jonin has any means of communication, please persuade Jiraiya Jonin to return to the village as soon as possible. Considering he was a war hero during the Fourth Shinobi World War, Lord Tokumitsu has granted special permission not to classify him as a rogue ninja for the time being, and will not pursue your and the other five Senjutsu's bail responsibilities for this matter..."

After saying that, the Uchiha Jonin didn't linger and immediately left with his subordinates.

Orochimaru stood there, his expression shifting between gloom and uncertainty.

……

The verdict in absentia regarding Jiraiya's long-standing voyeurism case was quickly announced and posted on various bulletin boards within the police department.

The curious Konoha ninjas also came to watch.

"...Three years imprisonment with a two-year suspended sentence? He left the village without cause before the case was even heard?"

A Konoha ninja read out Jiraiya's sentence and immediately expressed his dissatisfaction: "Why?! Why am I locked up for a month just for getting into a fight while drunk in the village, but someone with a long criminal record and who even tried to escape gets a suspended sentence?!"

"unfair!"

Suddenly, another voice shouted from the crowd.

"The police department abused its power!"

This shout immediately silenced the onlookers.

But after discovering that the police department's ninjas were indifferent, the onlookers gradually became active again.

Immediately, Konoha was abuzz with discussion, with many believing that the punishment for Jiraiya was too lenient.

However, no one dared to directly point the finger at the Uchiha clan, who were in charge of the police department. After all, the announcement clearly stated that they were being lenient because of Jiraiya's outstanding contributions during the Second Shinobi World War and the joint guarantee from Jonin Orochimaru and the Senju clan.

Furthermore, the announcement stated that if Jiraiya voluntarily surrenders within five days, the police department will not pursue his responsibility for fleeing before the trial.

Sakumo Hatake also expressed his concern about this matter.

Because in the House of Representatives, and some Jonin, a joint petition was being prepared to remove Jiraiya from his position as deputy director of the Ninja Beast Summoning Beast Management and Protection Committee.

Considering that Jiraiya was, after all, a disciple of the original Hokage lineage, Sakumo Hatake temporarily suppressed the matter to avoid it turning into a partisan conflict and sought advice from Tokumitsu Uchiha.

"...In principle, I respect the police department's judgment. As long as Jiraiya, a Jonin, returns to the village and surrenders himself, then we will let bygones be bygones. Moreover, we should not rush to remove the House of Representatives from office, as that would make it seem as if the House of Representatives has become a subordinate department of the police department."

Uchiha Tokumitsu also spoke very frankly.

He can't very well say that all of this was his own conspiracy, can he?

"Tokuko-kun's noble character and integrity are truly a model for Konoha..."

Sakumo Hatake was also impressed upon hearing this.

"Laws are ultimately about human feelings..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu accepted Hatake Sakumo's praise openly and honestly.

"Jiraiya is also a hero of the village, and we still need to be tolerant of him. As long as he is willing to repent, he will still be a highly trusted Jonin of the village..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu gave the highest order.

Chapter 299 The Outlaw of Mount Myōboku

Even Orochimaru, who was a heavy homebody, sensed that the village's public opinion was becoming increasingly unfavorable to Jiraiya, and Tsunade was starting to urge him to bring Jiraiya back as soon as possible.

However, Orochimaru had no means of communication to find Jiraiya, who was hiding in Mount Myōboku at the time, but Tsunade refused to believe him no matter what he said.

"You bailed him out so many times, and he's been staying in your house for so long, didn't you ever exchange contact spirit beasts?!"

Tsunade questioned with a look of disbelief.

"The Ryuchi Cave I made a pact with and his Mount Myoboku are mortal enemies..."

Orochimaru felt utterly speechless.

"They didn't even trade for the Ninja Hawk?"

Tsunade still refused to believe it.

"...I have never kept ninja hawks."

Orochimaru continued his feeble and weak defense.

"Then let him be..."

Tsunade sighed and shook her head helplessly.

"Oh, and remember to remind Jiraiya..."

As Tsunade stood up to leave, she suddenly turned back as if remembering something and added, "The elders of the clan said that the recent gossip in the village is similar to what happened after Madara Uchiha defected..."

After saying that, Tsunade didn't linger.

Clearly, she didn't believe Orochimaru's claim that he had no way to contact Jiraiya and didn't know his whereabouts.

Orochimaru's face turned ashen.

Firstly, because the Konoha ninjas, including Tsunade, had too deep a misunderstanding about the relationship between him and Jiraiya; secondly, because of the public opinion issue she raised.

Especially Uchiha Madara, who is most sensitive to Konoha.

After Uchiha Tokumitsu killed the former Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, although he eliminated many influences of the former Hokage's lineage during the ninja village reform and purge, he never overturned the conclusion about Uchiha Madara established since the Second Hokage; and this inexplicably ambiguous attitude made the name Uchiha Madara a taboo in the new era.

In particular, Orochimaru felt uneasy about the public opinion storm in Konoha after Madara Uchiha's defection, as mentioned by Tsunade.

Back then, Konoha still had two pillars of the Senju clan, but now Konoha is ruled by Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo...