"Hey, Naruto, want to go grab a bite?" Jiraiya asked, approaching him like an old friend.
"Sasuke, let's go."
Naruto tensed up the moment he saw Jiraiya. Ever since Kawasaki had warned him years ago, Naruto had disliked Jiraiya from the bottom of his heart.
Sasuke remained expressionless, glancing at Jiraiya with neither disrespect nor reverence. It was as if he hadn't seen him at all, letting Naruto pull him away.
Jiraiya scratched his head, unable to come up with a better plan on the spot. He settled for quietly tailing the two boys.
Noticing they were being followed, Naruto abandoned his idea of going to the food stalls. He dragged Sasuke straight back to the Uchiha compound.
Just as they reached the entrance, they ran into Tsunade, who was busy inspecting a delivery of medical equipment.
"Sister Tsunade!" Naruto cried out as if he'd found a lifeline. He started jogging toward her.
Hearing Naruto's energetic voice, Tsunade's face instantly broke into a wide smile. She waved for Shizune to handle the equipment and turned around. As she did, she saw not only Naruto but also Sasuke and Jiraiya behind him.
"Naruto, you're back early."
Naruto immediately grabbed Tsunade's hand and hid behind her.
"What's wrong, Naruto?"
"Jiraiya keeps following me," Naruto said with a hint of exasperation. "I really don't like him. Sister Tsunade, I know you were teammates, but can you make him stop? I'm safe at the academy, and I'm safe here."
Tsunade wasn't surprised that Jiraiya was following Naruto, but she was curious as to why Naruto disliked him so strongly. "Naruto, can you tell me why you don't like him?"
A look of disgust crossed Naruto's face. "Because Jiraiya's a pervert. I hate people who don't respect women."
Tsunade was stunned. The kid was only eleven, yet his moral compass was already so strong. She ruffled his hair. "Don't worry, I'll take care of it. Jiraiya won't bother you again."
"Really? Thanks, Sister Tsunade!" Naruto said, his eyes lighting up.
Since Naruto had ignored him the entire way, Jiraiya decided to try an indirect approach and speak with Sasuke. However, Sasuke didn't utter a single word, his expression never changing. The exchange left Jiraiya feeling utterly defeated.
Of course, Jiraiya didn't know that Sasuke's mother, Mikoto, had just lectured him the day before. He was not to speak on matters he didn't understand. She had told him to learn from Itachi: until you're asked to speak, don't say a single word. The more you talk, the more you risk saying something wrong. If you say nothing, you can't be wrong.
Sasuke walked up to Tsunade and bowed. "Lady Tsunade."
Tsunade waved a hand, gesturing for him to go inside. Then she turned to face Jiraiya. "Jiraiya, stop pestering my little brother."
Jiraiya froze. "What? Your little brother?"
Tsunade patted the head of Naruto, who was still hiding behind her. "Naruto is my little brother."
Jiraiya's expression darkened. "Tsunade, have you lost your mind? Do you know what you're saying?"
"Naruto, you go on inside," Tsunade instructed.
"Okay, Sister Tsunade! It's almost time for dinner, so come in soon," Naruto added before heading into the house with Sasuke.
"He calls me sister, so he's my brother," Tsunade stated plainly.
Jiraiya's face grew grave. "This is Uchiha territory. And he's a jinchuriki."
Tsunade crossed her arms. "Don't give me that nonsense from the old man. The Uchihas only became like this because you all forced their hand. They have three Mangekyo Sharingan users now, and when Shisui returns, it'll be four."
"It's too dangerous for Naruto to stay here."
Tsunade scoffed. "He's a jinchuriki, but he's also Minato's son. He can stay wherever he wants. He's not your slave."
At the mention of Minato, Jiraiya's expression softened slightly.
Tsunade wagged a finger. "You have no idea what Naruto's childhood was like, do you?"
"Was it different?" Jiraiya asked, curious. The last time he'd returned, Naruto had already been saved by Kawasaki, while his own reputation had been ruined by Kawasaki's schemes. He had left quickly, so he knew nothing of Naruto's early struggles. This time, he saw that Naruto was well-fed and clothed, ate with Sasuke every day, and had friends at school. He had assumed the Third Hokage was treating Naruto well.
Tsunade gave a sarcastic smile. "When Naruto was a child… his life only started to improve at the age of five, thanks to Kawasaki's help."
She told him everything: how Naruto was forced to drink expired milk and eat bento boxes full of sand. How shopkeepers refused to sell him anything and treated him with cold glares, insults, and even physical abuse. No one would play with him; every other child bullied him.
Jiraiya's face grew grim. Minato was his student; he couldn't believe his son had lived like that. He was skeptical, but it was a simple matter to verify. Tsunade had no reason to lie about such a thing. He truly had no idea how Naruto had survived his childhood.
Jiraiya fell silent. It seemed Naruto's dislike for the Third Hokage was justified.
"Besides, with me here, are you still worried something will happen to Naruto?" Tsunade added, seeing Jiraiya's resolve waver. She didn't want to burn bridges with him. It wasn't that she feared him, but he was Minato's master, and that deserved some respect.
Jiraiya nodded. "Alright, then. I'm counting on you to keep him safe here."
"Don't worry," Tsunade said. "That kid is just like his father, Minato."
"As smart as Minato?" Jiraiya asked, pleased.
Tsunade looked him up and down. "No. As upright as Minato."
Jiraiya was instantly embarrassed.
"From now on, you are not to follow Naruto after school. The Anbu will escort him," Tsunade declared, her tone leaving no room for argument. Before Jiraiya could object, she clenched her fist, the threat unmistakable. She shot him a sidelong glance. "It's a good thing Naruto doesn't like you. If you corrupted him, how would you ever face Minato and Kushina?"
Jiraiya was mortified but didn't dare refute her. The last time he was caught peeping, Tsunade had broken several of his ribs, damaged his internal organs, and nearly killed him. The mere sight of her fist still sent a chill down his spine.
"Alright, then," Jiraiya said with an awkward laugh. "I'll head back. Just make sure Naruto gets home early tonight."
Tsunade waved dismissively and walked away without looking back.
...
In the Hokage's office in Konoha.
Jiraiya was communicating with Orochimaru through a messenger toad. "Orochimaru, the old man has locked Danzo in the dungeons. The entire Root organization has been dismantled. Your name has been cleared, too. The villagers now know you were framed. Tsunade is back in the village as well. Aren't you going to come see?"
Jiraiya relayed everything the Third Hokage had done recently. This time, the Third didn't interfere; it was a direct conversation between Jiraiya and Orochimaru.
"I owed the old man a favor from last time," Orochimaru's voice replied. "So I plan to return for a visit. As for what comes next, we'll discuss it then."
With that, the communication toad signaled that Orochimaru had ended the call.
After sending the toad away, Jiraiya turned to the Third Hokage. "Old man, Orochimaru only said he's coming back for a look. What should we do?"
The Third Hokage was calm. "It's fine. If he truly comes back, he'll find that the village can offer him far more resources than he could find elsewhere."
Jiraiya shrugged. The Third's recent actions felt a bit foreign to him, but he had to admit, it was nice not to have to worry about these things himself.
"Where did Naruto go?" the Third asked.
"He went to the Uchiha clan's place," Jiraiya said, scratching his head. The Third had ordered him to watch over Naruto, build a relationship with him to better monitor the Nine-Tails, and instill the Will of Fire in him. But now, Naruto was completely hostile toward him. Becoming his master was a pipe dream; even being friends seemed impossible. "Tsunade is protecting him. She won't let me near him. She's even taken to calling him her little brother."
Upon hearing that Tsunade had claimed Naruto as her brother, a subtle change flickered in the Third Hokage's eyes, as if recalling something. He took a puff from his pipe. "Let it be. With Tsunade watching him, I can rest easy. It's not a bad thing for her and Naruto to be close."
Knock, knock, knock...
A voice came from outside. "Lord Hokage, Anko Mitarashi requests an audience."
The Third Hokage thought for a moment, then nodded. "Let her in."
Anko pushed the door open and hurried inside. "Lord Hokage, I saw the village announcement as soon as I returned. About Master Orochimaru... is it true?"
Anko was dressed in a khaki trench coat over a mesh undershirt and a short skirt, with a pendant hanging from her neck. Her face was flushed with agitation.
The Third Hokage nodded. "It's true. Orochimaru was framed by Danzo, who has been arrested and imprisoned. As for Orochimaru, he will be returning to the village for Uchiha Kawasaki's inauguration as clan head."
"Orochimaru... is coming back?"
Anko staggered, walking out of the office in a daze. The Third Hokage took another drag from his pipe, not minding her breach of etiquette. Anko had suffered a great deal over the years due to Orochimaru's defection.
Orochimaru had been a war hero and was far from a loner. He had a considerable number of followers. When he defected, some chose to leave Konoha with him, while others chose to remain loyal to the village.
Life for those who stayed was not easy. The skilled ones were under constant Anbu surveillance, while the less capable had to report to the Anbu regularly. It was a humiliating existence, but they had no choice. They had all once followed Orochimaru.
Anko was a special case. She had been Orochimaru's student and had spent a long time by his side. Yet when he defected, he hadn't taken her with him. She had even lost some of her memories, leading her to believe that Orochimaru had abandoned her. As a result, her feelings for him were a tangled mess of love and hate.
It was no wonder she had rushed to the Hokage for confirmation the moment she heard his name had been cleared. Anko was just one example. What did Orochimaru's other former subordinates feel now? Some had been discarded by him, while others had discarded him for the village. With Orochimaru's exoneration, they were caught in an awkward position.
Anko's thoughts were in turmoil. Hearing that Orochimaru was returning, she had no idea how to face him. Was it longing for her master? Resentment for being abandoned? Or something else entirely? With her memories gone, she didn't even know that staying in Konoha had been her choice, not his.
She didn't know how she should act, but she had a feeling that Orochimaru would seek her out.
She touched the Curse Mark on her neck.
"He definitely will."
...
Night fell.
Within the Hyuga clan compound, in the residence of clan elder Hyuga Kaitou.
Kaitou was deep in slumber, unaware that something was slowly spreading through his body, starting from his healed left leg. The process was incredibly slow, almost measured in months, assimilating him bit by bit, moment by moment. Even with his Byakugan, Kaitou couldn't detect the changes within himself.
In the dead of night, something like writhing earthworms could be seen moving under the skin of Kaitou's left leg, tracing the path of his chakra pathways upward. By now, the raised lines had reached his neck. But the higher they went, the slower their progress became.
By the time morning came, the lines were still near his neck. A casual glance would reveal no change from the day before. As the sun rose, the abnormalities on Kaitou's body vanished completely.
When he awoke, he felt no discomfort and remained within the family compound. Although he had recovered, his past actions had led to him being placed under house arrest until Kawasaki's return. Now, Kawasaki had returned and adopted a policy of making a big show of it but letting him off easy. He had assigned the Hyuga clan only minor tasks before completely pardoning Kaitou's transgressions, earning the gratitude of the entire clan.
Though the restrictions on Kaitou had been lifted, the situation in the village remained complex. He was reluctant to go out, fearing he might bring trouble to the Hyuga. However, his habit of mentoring the younger generation remained, especially now that he was physically able. He even set aside his status as an elder to spar with his nieces and nephews in the training grounds.
As a former prodigy, Kaitou's combat skills were still top-notch. Moreover, he was a veteran of the battlefield. Compared to the novices who spent their days practicing against wooden posts, his combat experience was on another level. With such a skilled training partner available, Elder Kaitou became extremely popular. Whether they were from the main or branch family, there was always a line of opponents waiting for him.
Kaitou never refused a challenge. He had thought he would spend the rest of his days withering away in a wheelchair, so he cherished this unexpected chance to prove his worth again. His close associates, Daisuke and Kaizaki, became his regular sparring partners, and their skills improved by leaps and bounds, gradually becoming pillars of the clan.
...
In the Uchiha compound.
The plans for the Uchiha Hospital were complete, and medical equipment was being installed. The few medical-nin within the clan had already begun to move in. Kawasaki had also selected thirteen clan members to be sent to Tsunade for training. He had picked another seven from the Uchihas who had left the clan, but they had yet to return.
Kawasaki had used his insight to select individuals with a natural talent for medicine. They were men and women, and two of them were even elites who had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. None of them had any idea they possessed such a gift.
For jonin with a three-tomoe Sharingan, progress had slowed to a crawl unless they could break through to the Mangekyo Sharingan. Otherwise, it would take years to reach the level of a Kage. Learning a new skill might provide a new path to power.
That said, learning medical ninjutsu required significant effort, a fact Kawasaki had made clear to them beforehand. To his surprise, everyone was eager to learn. Some had mediocre combat talent and were stuck in the middle ranks of the clan, unable to catch up no matter how hard they trained. Becoming a medical-nin was an excellent alternative for them.
As for the skilled fighters, they were often injured in battle and had to rely on others for treatment, sometimes delaying crucial care. If they could learn medical ninjutsu themselves, they would be self-sufficient. It would be an advantage whether they were in a prolonged battle or infiltrating enemy lines.
With the candidates selected, Kawasaki planned to have Tsunade begin her lessons as soon as the members from outside the village returned.
Lately, the entire Uchiha clan was a hive of activity. Kawasaki wanted a celebration, and his subordinates were scrambling to make it happen. From decorations to carpets, ceremonial cannons to flower baskets, every detail had to be perfect. After all, other ninja villages would be sending representatives. A poorly organized event would bring shame upon the Uchiha.
Kawasaki knew nothing about planning ceremonies, but he had a novel idea for the post-ceremony reception: a buffet-style food and wine party. Just like a self-serve restaurant, everyone could take what they wanted and eat and drink as they pleased.
Given Kawasaki's status, he only needed to voice an idea, and there would be people to carry it out. While his subordinates were running around in a frenzy, Kawasaki himself had become quite idle.