."
***
**Chapter 17: The Third Hokage's Deep Intentions**
**Konoha Hot Springs**
Rubik lounged comfortably in the warm, soothing spring water, his body and mind finally relaxing. In this cozy environment, those nagging dark urges seemed temporarily subdued deep within him.
In the end, Rubik held back. Senju Momoki was indeed a beauty who perfectly matched his tastes, but she was still just a young girl—he hadn't stooped to that level yet.
More importantly, Rubik could probably guess why Konoha had sent such a stunner to his side.
"Is it a honey trap to keep me, a Kage-level fighter, here? Or are they coveting the Uzumaki and Uchiha bloodlines? Still, deploying someone from the Senju clan? That's some serious investment."
Rubik mused as he soaked. Before arriving in Konoha, he'd anticipated they'd try everything to retain him—especially old coot Danzo, who would surely eye his bloodline. That's why he'd revealed just enough strength to show he wasn't an easy mark.
But he hadn't expected *this* move. Just because he was Jiraiya's student, they assumed he was a pervert? Minato, Naruto, Nagato—none of them were womanizers. So out of Jiraiya's disciples, *he* was the only one who seemed like one? No wonder Konoha was the premier ninja village—they read people well.
The memory of Momoki's pitiful gaze flashed in his mind, and Rubik quickly grabbed Tobi. This was a public bath, after all—if Tobi unleashed Hard Vortex Water Blade now, it'd be a disaster.
"Hey! You old perv! You've been dead silent—what are you up to?" Rubik called out to the other side of the bath.
That's right—Jiraiya was here too. Unlike Rubik, who was actually recharging, Jiraiya was here for his own brand of "recharge."
"Oh ho ho, so white... so big... turn a little more, just a bit more... bliss!"
Jiraiya's voice dripped with ecstasy as he pressed himself against the wooden divider separating the men's and women's baths.
Rubik's face darkened at the sight of Jiraiya's protruding rear. He stood up and kicked it hard.
"Are you even listening to me?!"
"OW—!!!"
Chaos erupted from the women's side—murmurs, rustling as they wrapped towels around themselves, and the sound of guests fleeing the springs.
"Ah! Rubik, you brat! Look what you've done! You ruined my surging inspiration!" Jiraiya wailed, clutching his butt.
"Heh," Rubik glanced at the massive red footprint on Jiraiya's ass, wondering if he'd gone easy, "I was doing a *good* deed, you're right about that."
"Ungrateful wretch! I've mentored so many disciples who revered me—how did I end up with a disrespectful punk like you?" Jiraiya lamented dramatically.
"Heh, assassinating the Hokage is tradition—be glad you have a 'filial' student like me. One day you'll end up as toad sashimi and learn your lesson," Rubik thought with a smirk.
"Enough clowning," Rubik cut in. "Help me out—how should I handle that girl?"
Rubik might be lecherous, but he had his wits about him. He wouldn't let "innately evil Tobi" take the wheel.
When it came to his core interests, staying clear-headed was a ninja's duty.
A normal beauty? No problem—punch away the trouble or kill if she became a threat, no qualms.
But Senju Momoki was different. She was personally assigned by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Hiruzen was useful to Rubik right now—he needed the Hokage to keep scheming Danzo in check. Plus, she hadn't crossed any lines yet; in fact, she was offering "perks." Turning hostile made no sense.
Most crucially—she was a *Senju*! With Senju blood, possibly direct lineage. He might pry out First Hokage Hashirama's Wood Release secrets from her! That was a treasure Rubik had coveted for ages.
The "gift" from old-timer Uchiha Obito wasn't just the Uchiha bloodline—it included perfectly fused Hashirama cells. In a way, he already had a touch of Hashirama's blood. Maybe he *could* learn Wood Release?
For all these reasons, Rubik was stumped on handling the clingy Senju Momoki. Send her away? Too wasteful. Keep her around? Risk losing control.
With no better option, he turned to his cheap master, Jiraiya. He'd ditched Momoki with an excuse, filled Jiraiya in, and hoped for advice.
Jiraiya wasn't a newcomer like him—he was the Third's disciple, a Konoha hero through two or three Shinobi Wars. A total flake day-to-day, sure, but still upper echelon. If questioned, Rubik could just blame Jiraiya's idea; even the Third couldn't argue.
Rubbing his reddened butt, Jiraiya said offhandedly, "A pretty girl chasing you and you're complaining? If Tsunade had done that back in the day, my grandkids would be older than you."
"Have you been genjutsu'd? When?"
"You little punk..."
"But for a strategy, your master does have one."
"Oh? Spill it, Master." Rubik perked up.
"Such a quick change..." Jiraiya muttered, then cleared his throat. "Ahem, ever heard of 'playing hard to get'?"
"Cut the sales pitch—get to the point!"
"Tch," Jiraiya smacked his lips. "Tell the girl you start as friends. Then give her occasional positive signals to keep her hooked. That way, she can report back to Danzo. When the time's right, we bail on the mission. As for the girl, the old man won't abandon her."
Rubik eyed Jiraiya up and down with a bizarre look, making the old man squirm.
"What're you staring at, brat?"
"Nothing," Rubik drawled, "just wondering how you know so many 'tactics.'"
"Hmph, that's life experience! You're still green."
"Ah! I got it!" Rubik slapped his thigh in realization.
"No wonder it sounded familiar! Isn't this the same play that club girl pulled on you back then? You almost stayed there forever."
"Shut up! Don't bring that up!" Jiraiya flushed crimson, furious. "I give you advice out of kindness, and this is how you treat your master? Heartbreaking!"
"Private Marseille (Sun Laughcry tone)." Rubik apologized insincerely. {T/N:- he referenced some random chinese 💩, so ignore}
"Don't use that dead guy's voice!" Jiraiya roared.
Rubik had to admit, Jiraiya's idea was solid. Play friends with Momoki for now, pry for Wood Release secrets. The "positive feedback"? Pure self-reward. Slip away when ready—perfect! ...Wait, something felt off.
"Hold up," Rubik frowned. "You said Senju Momoki works for Danzo?"
"Yeah, weird?" Jiraiya's face hardened with disdain.
"The old man (Third) would never send a village kid—especially one with Senju blood—on a sleazy mission like this. It's classic Danzo scum tactics."
He spat with disgust.
"But she has a mission scroll from the Third... Do you think the Third... allowed it?"
Recalling past-life "Third conspiracy theories," Rubik didn't fully trust the Hokage based on one meeting.
"Impossible!" Jiraiya snapped. "The old man isn't like that! He'd never let a village child get hurt. He's the Hokage!" His tone was absolute.
"You've only met him once—you don't know him. The old man... isn't simple." Jiraiya lowered his voice.
"He backs Danzo on the surface because the old goat's still controllable, hasn't crossed the line. It's a leash to stop worse behavior."
"I bet soon the old man will summon you personally, ask for your take on the girl. He knows you're no fool—he's not naive enough to think one girl could tie you to Konoha. His real target was never you!"
"It was the girl!" Jiraiya's eyes gleamed. "She's not just any kid—she's Senju blood. The old man won't let Danzo fully claim her!"
Rubik was stunned. Only now did he grasp that Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was no mere powerhouse—he was a shrewd, veteran politician. His穿越er's instinctive arrogance deflated instantly.
"What a 'Shinobi Hero'!" Rubik thought, alarms ringing. "So many greats out there! Stay arrogant as a traveler, and I'll die without knowing how... Time to drop the ego!"
"So," Rubik pieced it together, "the Hokage's true aim is poaching her from Danzo?"
"Exactly!" Jiraiya nodded. "Just relax and get along with her. As for Danzo... the old man will handle it..."
***