A knock sounded.
Kurenai blinked. "I'll get it."
She put the file down and walked to the door, fastening her collar on the way.
"Lord Jiraiya?"
She opened the door, surprise on her face.
Before her stood a middle-aged man with a head of white hair, a forehead protector with the kanji for "oil," a red haori, and two red lines of face paint.
"Kurenai?"
Jiraiya gave her a once-over and grinned. "Didn't expect a change of outfit—you look beautiful."
"Thank you for the compliment."
Kurenai found his gaze a bit lecherous, and recalling his reputation made her uncomfortable.
"You're here to see the Hokage, right? I won't intrude—please excuse me."
Kurenai bowed slightly and turned to leave.
Jiraiya's eyes tilted after her until her back vanished, then he looked away.
He turned to see a stone-faced Natsume, paused, then smiled a greeting. "Lord Hokage."
His tone didn't show much concern.
In his view, men are all lustful.
Starting with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Natsume making Kurenai his secretary was probably the same deal.
Which, to be fair, wasn't entirely wrong.
But seeing Kurenai that way was a different matter.
Natsume sighed inwardly. Humans really do run double standards.
"Lord Jiraiya, what brings you to me?"
"I heard about your glorious exploits while I was away and couldn't resist coming back for a look."
Jiraiya beamed. "Much better than the old man."
He'd left Konoha mainly because of Mt. Myoboku's prophecy—
but also due to Hiruzen's late-life shenanigans.
He truly couldn't stand them anymore.
Compared to that, Natsume seemed heroic and wise.
Jiraiya had been investigating him these past few days—
asking many people and getting mostly glowing reports.
That made him even more confident Natsume was the Child of Prophecy.
"I doubt you returned just to praise me."
Natsume casually picked up a file. "You've met plenty of people these last few days—just not me."
Jiraiya wasn't embarrassed at being called out.
If a Hokage couldn't track his movements in Konoha, that would be pretty pathetic.
Or else he'd been stripped of power.
"I mainly didn't know you well enough."
Jiraiya kept smiling. "I was teammates with Tsunade. If she took you on, you must have exceptional qualities. But hearing is one thing; seeing is another. I hope you'll forgive me."
"So what's your conclusion?"
Natsume didn't look up.
"Lord Hokage, do you know the Great Toad Sage?"
Jiraiya didn't answer directly.
"I do."
Natsume smiled faintly. "I'm contracted with Shikkotsu Forest."
Jiraiya sighed inwardly.
What a pity.
He and Hiruzen had a similar thought—
Tsunade wasn't the best fit to teach Natsume,
since she didn't have much to teach him.
But since she'd gotten there first, nothing he could do.
"The Great Toad Sage once prophesied that I should find a Child of Destiny who can bring peace to the ninja world."
Jiraiya said earnestly, "I believe that might be you."
"Me?"
Natsume shook his head. "I don't think I'm any Child of Prophecy."
"Why?"
Jiraiya was surprised. "You now wield power on par with the God of Shinobi. Don't you want to do something?"
"If you mean bringing peace to the ninja world, that's not something one person can accomplish."
Natsume said offhandedly, "Only when everyone is the child of prophecy will true peace come."
"That's impossible!"
Jiraiya's eyes widened as he reflexively denied it.
Though Natsume's words sounded somewhat reasonable, to him it was an affront to the Great Toad Sage.
He wouldn't accept it.
"The Great Toad Sage's prophecies never miss."
Jiraiya said firmly. "Only the Child of Prophecy can bring peace to the ninja world."
"So what do you want me to do?"
Natsume glanced at him.
"Find the path to peace, of course."
Jiraiya didn't even have to think. "I don't know what it is now, but the Child of Prophecy will."
"Don't you think putting everyone's hopes on one person is a bit… nebulous?"
Natsume's mouth twitched.
"The prophecy says so."
Jiraiya fell silent a moment, then answered.
What a pitiful life.
Natsume couldn't be bothered to argue further. "Lord Jiraiya, did you come just to talk about the Child of Prophecy?"
Sensing Natsume's impatience, Jiraiya gave a wry smile.
This was his first time meeting a ninja so indifferent to prophecy.
Was that the influence of the Slug Sage?
He thought for a moment and decided to postpone the matter of taking a disciple.
Since Natsume didn't believe in Mt. Myoboku, he naturally wouldn't become Jiraiya's student.
"Lord Hokage, do you remember the mysterious Wood Release user during the old man's tenure—the one who took Uchiha Shisui?"
Jiraiya's expression grew serious.
"I remember. But to this day, we haven't found any trace."
Natsume feigned confusion. "Bringing it up now—do you have a lead?"
"Yes."
Jiraiya nodded. "That mysterious Wood Release user belongs to an organization. I've locked onto one member—Kakuzu."
"Kakuzu? I've heard of him. A famous bounty hunter on the black market."
Natsume paused. "You're sure your intel's solid?"
"Mm."
Jiraiya said gravely, "Kakuzu used to work alone, but in recent years he's often acted with a teammate. The two wear the same outfit—without a doubt from the same organization."
"That is surprising."
Natsume rubbed his chin. "For an organization to recruit such powerhouses under the Five Villages' noses, they must have big ambitions."
"I think so too."
Jiraiya's face turned solemn. "For Konoha's safety, we have to root them out."
"Mm."
Natsume agreed. "I'll leave this to you, Lord Jiraiya. Konoha will give you full support."
"Yes!"
Jiraiya answered crisply, then relaxed and chuckled. "I knew you'd agree."
He'd come mainly to get Natsume's approval.
Though his status was high, he wasn't the Hokage.
Outside the village, to mobilize personnel or resources, he needed authorization.
Which could be slow.
Miss a fleeting chance and it'd be a loss.
So giving a heads-up was necessary.
And it let him gauge Natsume's character.
For now, even if he didn't care for prophecy, he clearly cared about Konoha—
which meant he wasn't some villain.
Having said his piece, Jiraiya didn't linger and disappeared.
…
Hokage Secretary's Office.
An ANBU appeared and reported Jiraiya's departure.
Kurenai nodded and went to the Hokage's door.
She reached up and unfastened the top button, emphasizing a snowy arc.
"Natsume."
Kurenai entered. "Did Lord Jiraiya give any instructions?"
"Have ANBU cooperate with his operation."
Natsume waved casually.
He wasn't interested in Jiraiya's life or death.
If Jiraiya was determined to follow the original path of investigating Akatsuki, so be it.
"Understood."
Kurenai replied crisply, then asked, "Anything else?"
"That's all."
Natsume thought for a moment. "Kurenai, you can go."
But Kurenai didn't leave. She stood there, a bit hesitant.
"What is it?"
Not hearing heels click away, Natsume looked up.
"How are you feeling now?"
Kurenai's heartbeat quickened. With a look of concern, she said, "You seemed tired before. If you still are, I can keep massaging you."
"I'm fine now."
Natsume paused, somewhat touched.
"That's good."
Kurenai let out a breath and smiled. "Handling Konoha's affairs is hard work. If you feel tired again, you can come to me."
"I certainly will."
Natsume agreed without hesitation.
How could he refuse such a good thing?
"I'll head back to my office. Call me if you need anything."
Kurenai turned and left in heels.
As she closed the door, she gave Natsume another smile.
With the slanted line of her leaning neckline, it was rather alluring.
"Really nice."
Natsume once again felt that being Hokage wasn't all grunt work.
For now, he had only one Hokage secretary—Kurenai.
When Yamanaka Ino grew up, there'd be two.
Ahem.
That was for later.
Natsume returned to his work handling village affairs.
After finishing most of it, he was at loose ends.
He decided to go check on his student, Uchiha Sasuke.
He cast the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Natsume appeared at the Uchiha compound.
"Natsume-sensei."
Sasuke approached at once when he saw him.
He already knew Natsume's trip to Hozuki Castle had been to help him awaken his eyes, and he felt grateful.
After attaining Enlightenment (Satori), his ocular power was increasing by the moment.
Once it reached a certain limit, he'd be able to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan—
without an intense emotional trigger; it would come naturally.
"Looks like you've recovered well."
Natsume sized him up.
"Thank you, sensei."
Sasuke hesitated, then bowed slightly.
Rare for him.
First, because Natsume truly treated him well.
Second, because of Mikoto's request.
In his mother's words: though Natsume is only a few years older than you, a teacher for a day is a father for life. Don't be too casual before him—treat him as an elder.