"Heh, can't I just drop by to see you and Naruto?" Jiraiya let out a dry chuckle, but his guilty expression betrayed him.
He knew he had no real excuse; he had been back in the village for a while, yet only now had he thought of visiting Naruto.
Kakashi remained silent for a moment before finally speaking. "Jiraiya-sama, to be honest, you shouldn't have come back and gotten involved in this mess."
"Uh…"
Jiraiya was momentarily at a loss for words in the face of Kakashi's blunt statement. "Jiraiya-sama, neither Kuragami nor the Third Hokage would ever wear the expression you're showing right now."
Kakashi continued. "You're not cut out for this. Forcing yourself into the situation will only make things worse."
Jiraiya didn't respond. He knew exactly what Kakashi meant. Ever since Hiruzen had pushed him into the position of Hokage's advisor, he often felt uncomfortable. Politics and all its intricacies weren't something he had ever dealt with, and frankly, he found it exhausting.
Jiraiya took a deep breath and finally said: "Kakashi, I need your help."
Kakashi's gaze remained steady. "You must be joking, Jiraiya-sama. I'm a shinobi of the village. If you need something, you only need to issue a command."
"Kakashi, you know that's not what I mean!" Jiraiya frowned, frustrated by Kakashi's evasive response.
"Then what exactly do you mean, Jiraiya-sama?" Kakashi directly turned the tables.
The living room fell into silence again. Kakashi sipped the sake in the glass slowly.
After a long time, Kakashi spoke: "Look, Jiraiya-sama, I said you are not suitable for this."
"Kakashi, I have reasons to do this."
Jiraiya sighed and said: "Kuragami can't become Hokage."
"Why?" Kakashi raised his eyebrows.
"If Kuragami becomes the Hokage, the future will change completely, and everything will be out of control. At that time, terrible disasters may occur." Jiraiya said seriously.
"The toad at Mount Myoboku said that?"
Kakashi almost laughed when he heard this. Jiraiya should have given another reason, even if he said that he discriminated against Uchiha and didn't want Uchiha to become Hokage; it would be better than using the prophecy.
Jiraiya didn't say anything, but his expression basically agreed.
"Then, Jiraiya-sama, if you become the Hokage, where will you lead the village?" Kakashi asked.
"I…" Jiraiya was stunned when he heard this. He really hadn't thought about this question, but now he could only bite the bullet and say: "I will ensure the peace of the village until the Hokage's hat is handed over to the sixth Hokage."
When Kakashi heard this, he smiled with relief.
No wonder Kuragami Uchiha never took Jiraiya seriously. During this period of time, he was a little anxious because Jiraiya frequently showed up in the village.
But every time he went to Kuragami, Kuragami would just drink tea with him in the office and tell him not to worry. It was probably fun for Kuragami to see him getting anxious.
Kakashi's smile made Jiraiya a little confused.
"Jiraiya-sama, do you have any plans for the sequel to Make Out?"
Kakashi suddenly said: "If you don't have any inspiration, how about we go to the entertainment district in the village?"
"No… No need."
Seeing this, Jiraiya knew that Kakashi was clearly rejecting him. "It's getting late, I won't disturb you to rest."
Kakashi stood up to see him off.
When the two arrived at the door, Jiraiya suddenly slapped his forehead and said: "By the way, I was drunk and almost forgot something important."
"Kakashi, there are many more rebel ninjas from the Village Hidden in the Mist on the border recently. The village has received a lot of requests for help. Even Daimyo has sent a message asking about this matter. The Third Hokage intends to send someone to deal with it. You are the best candidate to lead the team."
Kakashi heard this, and his eyes sank. Are they going to transfer him out of the village?
"Okay, I understand."
Kakashi nodded without a change in his expression.
… … …
Not long after Jiraiya left, Kakashi also rushed to the territory of the Uchiha Clan.
After arriving at Kuragami Uchiha's house, Kakashi learned from the housekeeper, Keiko, that Kuragami Uchiha had gone out for training. After asking for directions to the training ground, Kakashi rushed to the training ground without stopping.
After arriving at the training ground mentioned by Keiko Uchiha, Kakashi saw Kuragami Uchiha meditating in the center of the woods at first sight.
"You came to see me so late; it seems like it's a big deal." Uchiha Kuragami's voice rang in Kakashi's ears, but he still maintained a meditative posture: "Jiraiya came to see you?"
"Yes."
Kakashi nodded: "He wants me to go to the border to clear out the rebel ninjas from Village Hidden in the Mist, whose number has increased dramatically in recent times for some reason."
"Do they want to transfer you out of the village?"
Uchiha Kuragami exited Sage Mode and slowly stood up: "It's not impossible. You have been in the Anbu where you can't show your true face for all these years. You also need some military exploits that can be shown in the open."
Although Kakashi had made considerable military exploits at Kannabi Bridge, in the eyes of some people in the village, the merits of this battle should be more attributed to the fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
Compared with Uchiha Kuragami's record of killing an entire Jonin team by himself, it is not so convincing.
In addition, Kakashi has been working in the Anbu, where he has not been able to show his face for all these years, so his achievements naturally cannot be shown in the open.
Therefore, if Kakashi can successfully complete this mission to the border, it will definitely be beneficial to him personally.
"If I leave, will you be fine in the village alone?" Kakashi asked.
"What problem can I have?"
Kuragami Uchiha laughed: "Unless they intend we tear each other apart and start a war directly in the village, but do they have the courage to do so?"
"On the contrary, you should think about how to complete this mission beautifully."
Kuragami Uchiha smiled: "If I guess correctly, they should want to transfer you and the old subordinates of the fourth Hokage out of the village. Although Genma and others are quite powerful, it will still be very troublesome if you are surrounded by them. Your strength has stagnated for a long time compared to the Third Shinobi World War. At that age, White Fang is much stronger than you."
"Do you also want to persuade me to take off this Sharingan?" Kakashi asked while touching his right eye.
"That's not the case."
Kuragami Uchiha shook his head: "That eye is a vow between you and my cousin. The Uchiha will always respect the will of a hero."
"But." He added while smirking: "I do have a few suggestions for improving your strength."