In the Police Force detention room, the Third Hokage stood outside the bars, glaring at Jiraiya, his anger barely contained.
He had called Jiraiya back to help balance the Uchiha—yet before he even got to use him, Jiraiya's reputation was already in shambles.
"Jiraiya! What the hell are you doing?! How are you supposed to hold your ground in Konoha now?!"
Jiraiya was depressed himself. "How was I supposed to know I'd run into Uchiha Natsuki? Outside the village, no one ever managed to catch me."
The Third slammed his palm against the bars with a heavy thud. "I don't care what you do outside, but in Konoha you'd better cut out those rotten habits!"
Jiraiya muttered, "Didn't you also use your telescope jutsu to peek…"
"Cough, cough!" The Third coughed loudly, cutting him off with a stern look.
He glanced back—the Anbu were standing guard some distance away.
He picked up his pipe and put on a grave expression. "Anyway, you'll be staying here for fifteen days. Once the uproar dies down, we'll talk again."
"If you sneak out early, it'll cause a mess. Just bear with it."
Jiraiya had already heard Natsuki's mockery earlier, so he knew there was no avoiding this prison stint.
"Fine then, old man. At least get me some sake…"
"Got it…"
The Hokage muttered as he turned and left.
After the Third departed, Natsuki arrived at the Police Force. He didn't go to see Jiraiya—he was looking for Hiashi.
When Fugaku was captain, he sometimes went out on patrol. But Hiashi stayed in the headquarters every day, managing all affairs.
When Natsuki entered, Hyūga Yuto had just finished reporting and stepped out.
Natsuki patted him on the shoulder. "Good job, kid."
Yuto scratched his head shyly. "Thank you, Lord Natsuki. I'll take my leave now."
Natsuki's eyes shifted. "Wait."
He leaned close and whispered something into Yuto's ear.
Yuto nodded repeatedly. "Don't worry, Lord Natsuki. Leave it to me."
Natsuki waved him off, then pushed straight into Hiashi's office without knocking.
He found Hiashi engrossed in a report.
"Not bad, Hiashi. You look pretty professional."
Hiashi looked up, and when he saw it was Natsuki, he smiled.
The first time they met, Natsuki called him "Lord Hiashi" with overdone respect. But after they got familiar, his irreverent nature showed—he never treated anyone seriously.
Hiashi didn't mind. After all, the Hyūga and Uchiha were in a honeymoon phase.
During the recent Cloud incident, if not for Natsuki stepping in, Hizashi would have killed their opponent. That would have landed the Hyūga clan in deep trouble—possibly costing Hiashi or his brother their lives.
"Your stunt today really made waves, Natsuki."
Natsuki waved a hand. "All accidental. Who knew Jiraiya would pull something like that right after coming back? I just stood up for the villagers, that's all."
Yeah right. Hiashi thought. You sly Uchiha brat. Coming here specifically to ask for a commission scroll—you clearly planned this mess for Jiraiya.
Jiraiya's scandals weren't few. Traveling outside, he lived a life of debauchery—drinking and chasing women.
Everywhere he went, he'd be blacklisted from bathhouses.
And he even wrote and published "manga." Whether they were serious works was… questionable.
Before, Hiashi could laugh off Jiraiya's escapades.
But as Police Captain now, he had to step in.
It was one thing for a man of Jiraiya's stature to play around outside the village—but to return home and do the same? Even a rabbit doesn't eat grass by its own burrow.
What's more, some of the victims this time were members of the Hyūga clan.
If Hiashi had to act directly, it would be messy—Jiraiya's identity was no small matter.
But with Natsuki stepping in, things were different. He had probably scarred Jiraiya for life.
One of the Legendary Sannin, the Toad Sage himself, pupil of the Third Hokage—publicly shamed and punished for peeping at the women's bathhouse.
After pondering, Hiashi asked, "Natsuki, why did you really do it this time?"
Natsuki shook his head. "No reason. I just don't like this kind of behavior. Not even Jiraiya gets a pass."
Hiashi studied him closely, then gave a noncommittal "Oh."
"By the way, that Root agent, Nakamura Kazuya—I caught him today interfering with my duty. You can use that as an excuse to dismiss him. Without him, Root will be headless, and won't stir up much trouble."
Hiashi nodded in agreement. That Nakamura had been trying to rally people in the Police Force.
But thanks to the Hyūga clan's rigid Main and Branch structure, outsiders couldn't sway or infiltrate them.
Still, having someone like that constantly stirring things up wasn't good. With this chance, best to cut him loose.
Natsuki then pulled out the commission scroll. "Captain Hiashi, I had fun in the Police Force, but I'm busy. So I'll resign now."
Hiashi chuckled. Everyone knew Natsuki only joined for amusement.
"Fine. Leave it here."
Most would think Natsuki's goal was to tarnish the Hokage faction's reputation.
But only Natsuki himself knew—he simply didn't want Naruto to be led astray.
That kind of childish behavior masquerading as fun was, to him, utterly foolish.
Natsuki walked toward the Konoha Ninja Academy. Along the way, he overheard many people discussing Jiraiya's arrest.
When he arrived, classes had already ended.
A Hyūga clan officer from the Police Force was nearby. "Where's Sasuke?"
The man quickly bowed. "Reporting to Lord Natsuki, Sasuke just left with Naruto, heading toward Eighth Street."
"Alright, get back to work."
Natsuki followed the trail toward Eighth Street and soon found the two boys.
They were each holding skewers of takoyaki, munching happily. Now that Naruto had a decent allowance, his spirits had improved greatly.
"Naruto, Sasuke—you're here." Naruto looked up at the familiar voice.
His face lit up. "Natsuki-senpai!"
Sasuke, more formal, greeted, "Teacher."
Natsuki tapped Sasuke on the forehead. "I heard you came first in this week's test again. As expected of a child of the Uchiha. You're amazing, Sasuke."
The straightforward praise made Sasuke both proud and embarrassed. He kept a straight, haughty face and said, "As your disciple, of course I can't let you down."
Naruto, beside them, looked on enviously. Sasuke had already told him that he'd become Natsuki's disciple.
Naruto, once always alone, now had friends—but still very few elders he could feel close to.
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