Pakura decisively abandoning the benefits aligned perfectly with Chiyo's strategic plans, but… wasn't that a little too fast?
Normally when a new Kazekage takes office, shouldn't they do something first to build prestige and raise their popularity among the villagers?
Why are you so skilled at selling out your own village?!
"The urgent matter now is to begin negotiations with Konoha. If we do that, we might even recover our interests in the Land of Roran…"
Chiyo glanced at Ebizō with clear dissatisfaction.
Weren't you the one who said this one was supposed to be a radical hawk? And that she must stop him from taking extreme actions?
Listen to what he's saying—how is this a hawk? He's a baby hawk!
Ebizō also found it strange. After being betrayed once, how did Pakura become like this?
"Chiyo-sensei, you don't need to say more. As the Fourth Kazekage personally appointed by the Daimyō, I will never engage in any negotiations with Konoha, who insulted us. That is also the Daimyō's will."
After Pakura said that, she turned around and left the room without looking back.
…Wait. Why are you the one leaving? This is the Kazekage's office—we should be the ones leaving!
Chiyo and Ebizō only came back to their senses after Pakura had walked far away.
"What do we do next, sister?"
Ebizō also had no idea anymore. This new Kazekage acted like a lunatic—shouting hawkish slogans while acting in ways that compromised with Iwagakure…
"Forget the Kazekage. We'll contact Konoha as village elders. Rasa is already dead. Without him, the large gold dust mines can't be mined efficiently anyway. We'll exchange that for Konoha's support."
Chiyo's expression grew dark. Though she often verbally insulted Konoha, she knew full well that the real threat was Ōnoki.
Konoha didn't expand aggressively, but Iwagakure did.
She feared that if Pakura continued compromising, even Sunagakure's core interests would be handed away.
Damn it… can't an old woman just retire peacefully?!
After discussing Konoha's development plans with Shikaku, and how to compensate the surrounding residents during expansion, Shimura Takeshi stretched lazily and casually took the file Itachi handed over.
"What's this?"
After signing it automatically and giving it back to Itachi, Shimura Takeshi asked without thinking.
He had glanced at it earlier—it looked like a list… and Jiraiya's name was on it.
Did they need to demolish his house too?
Shimura Takeshi subconsciously assumed it was a compensation list for demolition.
"It's the execution list for this quarter."
"Oh, then Jiraiya's luck is pretty go— huh?"
Shimura Takeshi quickly snatched the papers back and scanned for Jiraiya's name.
Sure enough, after Jiraiya's name, his listed crimes were:
Peeping. Insulting the Hokage.
Hiss…
"As far as I know, Jiraiya is a master of infiltration techniques. He's never failed at peeking. How did the police force even catch him?"
Shimura Takeshi genuinely wanted to know how Jiraiya messed up again.
"Sensei, the police force isn't only Uchiha now. We have Hyūga, Aburame, Inuzuka. If the Sharingan can't see him, the Byakugan will. If the Byakugan can't, dogs and insects can. Forget Jiraiya…"
Itachi wanted to say "Even the Third Hokage would get caught doing that," but since the Third was technically his grand-teacher, that felt disrespectful, so he held it in.
"Oh…"
Shimura Takeshi crossed out his own signed approval and crossed out Jiraiya's name as well.
"Send someone to bring Jiraiya out. Give him a lesson, sure, but you can't really kill him. He's one of the Sannin—our best future workhorse— I mean, a valuable asset."
Shimura Takeshi smiled "kindly."
Itachi's expression grew strange.
He knew his teacher too well. Once Shimura Takeshi smiled like that, the target might as well be dead.
Poor Jiraiya… who knows how he offended him this time.
After taking the list, Itachi immediately understood why Shimura Takeshi had smiled.
Ah—"Insulting the Hokage."
Konoha Former Root Prison
After Root was disbanded, this prison had been converted into a death-row facility.
Everyone sentenced to death would be brought here. If the review found no issues, except for a few lucky ones sent to the Research Division, the rest would be executed.
In a solitary cell, Jiraiya looked up at the ceiling, completely despairing.
He only attempted to peek—how did that turn into a death sentence?!
And Tsunade… did she really hate him so much that she'd rather see him dead than…
Jiraiya scratched his head bitterly.
"If I really get reincarnated, I swear I'll never peek again."
He finally admitted it was peeping. Unfortunately, it was too late.
"Hyūga Isamu, Ikeno Kenshin, Uchikawa Naoto…"
Down the hallway, the Internal Affairs shinobi called off names one by one, pulling prisoners out for execution.
"Jiraiya…"
The footsteps stopped outside his cell.
"I was wrong! I want to see the Hokage! I want to see Danzō! I served Konoha! I bled for the Land of Fire! I'll never peek again!"
Hearing his name, Jiraiya completely abandoned his Sannin dignity, gripping the bars and trying to shout out his achievements.
"Your name has been crossed out. Someone's here to collect you. Come with us."
The shinobi stared at him blankly, just doing his job.
"I really— huh? I'm NOT dying?"
Jiraiya froze mid-sob, stunned.
"Move."
The shinobi didn't want to waste time, opened the cell, and shoved him out.
Passing through the dark hallway under envious stares, Jiraiya was led to the exit.
Warm sunlight hit his face. His eyes almost watered.
"Yo, Jiraiya. How was prison life?"
At the gate, Tsunade greeted him with absolutely no regret in her tone.
"Tsu… Tsunade! You—!"
Seeing it was Tsunade waiting for him, Jiraiya first felt anger, then emotion.
Great—she didn't forget him. She even came to pick him up.
Tsunade looked a bit embarrassed.
After posting bail, she completely forgot about him.
If Itachi hadn't noticed the report was filed under her name and reminded her, she probably wouldn't have known how Jiraiya died even after he died.
Let me know if you want the next chapter, name adjustments, or a smoother English rewrite (without changing plot).