Jiraiya actually dared to attack Danzō?
Yako felt a surge of excitement. Unfortunately, this was the Hokage's office. With so many people present, things wouldn't spiral into true disaster.
What a shame.
Seeing Jiraiya forming hand seals, Lynx immediately drew a kunai from his pouch and rushed forward, aiming straight for Jiraiya's throat.
Orochimaru moved at the same time — but his target was Lynx.
Two snakes shot from Orochimaru's sleeve. One sank its fangs into Lynx's wrist, halting the kunai just before it could pierce Jiraiya's throat. The other coiled around Lynx's neck, tightening like a noose.
Yako noticed a flicker of regret in Jiraiya's eyes and knew immediately — the fight was over before it truly began.
He formed seals with both hands. The Self-Curse Binding Seal spread outward, locking down Lynx, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya alike.
As someone aligned with the Hokage and Yellow Dog, maintaining control of the situation came first.
Chakra surged violently. Papers scattered across the room, whipped into the air as the scene descended into chaos.
"Stop!" the Third Hokage shouted.
"Lynx! Stand down!" Yellow Dog barked.
Seeing the killing intent fade from Lynx's eyes, Yako released the seal binding him.
Lynx retreated behind Danzō, dark blood still seeping from the twin fang marks on his wrist.
"Jiraiya! Do not act recklessly!" the Third said again.
Once Jiraiya calmed down, Yako lifted the seal restraining him as well.
Orochimaru, meanwhile, broke free on his own.
"Not bad," he said with a faint smile. "Your sealing technique has improved, Fox."
'It's great for suppressing weaker opponents,' Yako thought. 'Against true elites… still lacking. The delay it buys isn't reliable.'
No one cared about evaluating his sealing skill. All eyes were on Jiraiya.
Jiraiya's expression shifted between anger and frustration before he finally spoke, voice low but firm.
"I didn't know Uchiha Madara was behind Nagato! And I am not a missing-nin!
I'm leaving to travel the shinobi world.
Don't come looking for me again."
In the original timeline, Jiraiya had left after the Third Shinobi War. Was Danzō's pressure forcing him to leave early now?
If that happened… Hatake Sakumo would face even fewer obstacles taking Namikaze Minato as a student.
With a loud bang, Jiraiya slammed the door and stormed out.
The Third Hokage immediately turned to Orochimaru.
"Go after him. Tell him to meet me tonight at the Sarutobi compound."
He still couldn't bring himself to abandon such a powerful disciple.
Orochimaru left reluctantly.
He always ended up cleaning up after foolish Jiraiya.
Sending him to retrieve Jiraiya instead of Tsunade? Well… Tsunade never set foot in the Hokage's office anyway.
Before the door even finished closing, Danzō spoke, voice cold and low.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen. Why does your disciple receive special treatment? If Jiraiya isn't punished, who will ever fear Konoha's policy toward missing-nin again?"
Hiruzen sighed.
"Jiraiya is different. He has the potential to become a Kage-level shinobi — a pillar of Konoha's future."
"Then send him to hunt rogue ninja!" Danzō snapped. "Send him after Uchiha Madara!
Root's losses were caused by Madara and the Uzumaki remnants. I will not swallow this humiliation!
How many times has Root been destroyed? Four newly trained recruits — dead!
Jiraiya must pay for his mistakes. He must redeem himself through merit!"
Hiruzen sighed again.
"The matter of hunting Madara… requires careful planning.
Madara is too powerful. Jiraiya alone cannot face him."
Every village pursued missing-nin without rest.
But Madara was different.
Chasing him meant death.
If Jiraiya hunted Madara, it wouldn't be a relentless pursuit of the enemy — it would be Madara relentlessly hunting Jiraiya.
Danzō turned and left without another word.
Bang.
Another door slammed.
Root and Lynx Squad had suffered devastating losses. Danzō was furious.
Silence filled the Hokage's office.
No one seemed to respect the Hokage's authority anymore — Jiraiya, Danzō… both had crossed the line.
After a long pause, Yako spoke quietly.
"Hokage-sama… Root excels at manipulating rumors. Should we be wary of them targeting Jiraiya-sama with slander?"
Remaining in the Rain Country during wartime — if no one brought it up, it meant little. But once placed under scrutiny, it could become a crushing accusation.
Everyone else fought and bled for Konoha. Why did Jiraiya abandon the battlefield?
Even Tsunade, as temperamental as she was, still fulfilled her responsibilities by serving in the medical corps.
Hiruzen nodded.
"Good point, Fox. Keep an eye on Root's rumors."
"I understand."
'Perfect,' Yako thought. 'As long as negative rumors about Jiraiya appear, Hiruzen will suspect Root — whether they started them or not.'
He planned to use his usual method: secretly spreading rumors through genjutsu, deepening the rift between Hiruzen and Danzō.
'We're not done yet. If you don't go after Jiraiya, Danzō, I'll lose respect for you.'
'Jiraiya… you will experience the darkness of Konoha first hand.'
Seeing Fox preparing to leave, Hiruzen stopped him.
"You cannot rest yet. The Uchiha clan head will arrive shortly. Speak with him about Madara.
And remember — the Uzumaki matter is classified. It must not be disclosed."
"I understand, Hokage-sama."
He went downstairs and brought up the waiting trio: Uchiha Kagen, Uchiha Fugaku, and Uchiha Tōka.
By the time they entered, the Third Hokage's face showed none of the fatigue from his earlier arguments.
"Kagen-sama, please sit," Hiruzen said. "Copper Fox survived an encounter with Uchiha Madara thanks to his exceptional defensive techniques.
The Uchiha clan should offer advice. Next time we encounter Madara, we must avoid suffering losses like before."
Uchiha Kagen's heart churned with unease, his expression strained and helpless.
This was a disaster he never asked for.
What advice could he possibly give?
By the time he graduated from the Academy, Madara had already defected.
The clan archives contained records of Madara — but most of them detailed how the First Hokage had utterly crushed him.
Madara's weaknesses were clear: less chakra than the First Hokage, inferior ninjutsu, inferior taijutsu.
What advice could the Uchiha offer? Lessons on how to get beaten?
Uchiha Kagen finally said:
"Third Hokage-sama, the Uchiha severed ties with Madara long ago — during my father time.
When Madara first defected, not a single member of our clan followed him. We made our stance clear.
Both the First and Second Hokage acknowledged our loyalty.
Given Madara's personality, he would never forgive us for that.
If anything… he likely hates us even more than he hates Konoha.
His return and confrontation with Konoha shinobi was completely unexpected."
He spoke sincerely.
What he really wanted to say was this:
If anyone should advise how to fight Madara, it should be the Senju — perhaps the Senju clan head, or Princess Tsunade.
When it came to countering the Uchiha, the Senju were the true experts.