When Jiraiya hurried back from the Land of Water after receiving Kaoru 's message through a messenger toad, he had just reached the Konoha gates when he saw someone already waiting for him.
Kyūsei.
Jiraiya looked at the young man with complicated emotions.
Although they had their conflicts, Jiraiya had to admit something—
Kyūsei was now one of Konoha's most important combat forces.
And as the lover of his student, he treated Kaoru well.
"Jiraiya."
Kyūsei looked at him calmly.
He knew this man was basically an idiot whose brain had been thoroughly fooled by those toads.
But—
Jiraiya truly cared about Konoha.
Even if he was a bit foolish.
Jiraiya looked at the young man and silently stepped forward, patting Kyūsei on the shoulder.
Kaoru 's letter had already explained most of what had happened in Konoha recently.
Including—
Hatake Sakumo's death.
When Jiraiya first read that part, he didn't believe it at all.
But Kaoru would never joke about something like that.
Still…
That man who had always felt like a big brother to him…
Was really gone.
And the young man standing before him—
Was Sakumo's only disciple.
Jiraiya didn't know what to say.
Anything he said would probably be meaningless.
"You already know the situation."
"The enemy Uchiha has a dojutsu that can rewrite memories."
"You know how dangerous that kind of ability is."
Kyūsei walked beside Jiraiya along the street leading to Konoha Hospital, speaking calmly.
Jiraiya listened silently.
"And there's another one."
"He can use Yin–Yang Release."
"He sealed Kaoru 's Flying Thunder God using a barrier."
"You understand what Yin–Yang Release represents, right?"
Jiraiya nodded quietly.
Yin Release and Yang Release were the most complex aspects of chakra.
Yin Release was represented by clans like the Uchiha and Nara.
The Sharingan and Shadow Possession were both Yin-based techniques.
Yang Release was represented by medical ninjutsu and the Akimichi clan's Expansion Jutsu.
The powerful sealing techniques Kyūsei used were themselves manifestations of advanced Yin Release.
Kyūsei's chakra nature included:
Water
Wind
Yin
Through Yin Release, he could create sealing techniques capable of suppressing chakra and restraining enemies.
What Jiraiya didn't know, however—
Was that ever since Kyūsei awakened Bite Healing, he had already gained Yang Release as well.
Though nowhere near Yūma's level—
He still possessed it.
"Two Uchiha…"
Jiraiya muttered while thinking.
"Didn't you go ask the Uchiha clan about this?"
Jiraiya looked at Kyūsei.
Kyūsei didn't respond immediately.
The current Uchiha clan still had a decent population.
But those who truly mattered—
Were almost nonexistent.
At most, there was Uchiha Fugaku, who might have awakened the Mangekyō.
Truthfully—
From the era after Uchiha Madara until Uchiha Obito, the clan had produced almost no remarkable figures.
Except for Uchiha Kagami.
And Kagami had long since returned to dust.
"You think the current Uchiha clan has anyone capable of participating in a battle of this level?"
Kyūsei's words were blunt.
He was basically saying—
The current Uchiha were not up to the stage.
"They've been penned inside Konoha by the Second Hokage."
"Only a handful ever reach the battlefield."
"The Konoha Military Police Force… heh."
In Kyūsei's eyes, the Uchiha were powerful—
But that was Mangekyō Uchiha.
Without Mangekyō?
Unless they used Izanagi or Izanami, they weren't worth fearing.
Otherwise—
They were nothing special.
And even Mangekyō users had problems.
Their personalities often changed drastically.
They followed their own emotions.
Extreme.
Arrogant.
Obsessive.
Examples?
Uchiha Obito
Uchiha Itachi
Uchiha Sasuke
Kyūsei's philosophy was completely different.
Jiraiya frowned slightly.
"I'll visit the Uchiha clan head later."
He spoke quietly.
As for Tobirama Senju's policy toward the Uchiha, Jiraiya didn't feel comfortable commenting.
Tobirama feared another Madara appearing.
So he assigned the clan to the Military Police Force.
A clan that excelled in combat—
Turned into Konoha's law enforcement.
Among Konoha's leadership, this was an open secret.
But even if it was known—
It was still a secret.
Some Uchiha might understand the limitations of their position.
But it didn't matter.
The power of the Military Police was simply too tempting.
On the surface it looked like a policing role.
But in reality—
They held authority over law enforcement and arrests.
Life and death power.
Aside from core political positions, the Uchiha practically had free rein in Konoha.
Yet because of that—
Their reputation among civilians and other clans was terrible.
Combined with their natural temperament of punch first, talk later—
Conflicts with the rest of the village only intensified.
"Do whatever you want."
"But let's go see Kaoru first."
Kyūsei didn't object.
Even though the Uchiha seemed strong in numbers—
Their high-end combat power was actually at the weakest point in history.
He doubted Jiraiya would get any valuable intelligence from them.
"Alright."
Jiraiya agreed.
They soon arrived at Konoha Hospital.
Jiraiya already knew why Kaoru had called him back.
Paper Release development.
He didn't understand how Kyūsei and Kaoru knew he had related research—
But if Kaoru needed it—
Jiraiya would never hide anything.
Back then, Konan's Paper Release had been developed with his help.
To develop Paper Release, the user needed Water and Earth chakra.
Kaoru met those requirements.
To go further—
And turn paper into explosive tags—
Fire chakra was also needed.
Kaoru possessed:
Wind
Water
Fire
Earth
The only element she lacked was Lightning.
Jiraiya pushed open the hospital door.
Inside—
He saw a girl lying in bed, pale and wearing a hospital gown.
Sunlight streamed through the window, shining over her.
She was reading a book with great interest.
Jiraiya immediately recognized it.
"The Tale of the Gutsy Ninja."
His book.
One that had sold terribly—
But meant everything to him.
"Jiraiya-sensei, you're back."
Kaoru squinted happily and greeted him.
To her—
Jiraiya had always been like a father figure.
Even if he was a bit unreliable.
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