"I'm telling you, I wasn't peeping—I was carrying out a covert mission!"
Inside the Konoha Police Force holding cell, Jiraiya kept shouting nonstop.
When no one answered him, he sat on the ground, fuming.
Unbelievable. He had barely approached the bathhouse, telescope just taken out, when the Police Force agents tackled him.
When did Konoha become this strict?
"Hey! Let me out! I'm the head of the Medical Corps! I was on a secret mission!"
As the cell door opened, a blonde woman was pushed into another room.
"That voice… could it be…?"
Hearing the familiar sound, Jiraiya strained his neck toward the gap in the iron door.
"Weird… why do I feel like I'm hearing Jiraiya?"
Suppressing the urge to break the cell wall down, Tsunade turned her head. Their eyes locked.
"It's really you?!" x2
After a brief reunion, and with Tsunade's help, Jiraiya—who had been away from the village for a long time—finally understood the situation.
Konoha had launched an extremely strict crackdown on illicit adult activities.
Rules that used to only apply to minors had, under Minato's suggestion, been expanded to all ages.
"Minato betrayed me!"
Jiraiya never expected his own student to propose such rules. He immediately wanted to rush out and confront him.
"Heh. From the looks of it, you got arrested for peeping again, didn't you? Jiraiya, Jiraiya… you never learn."
Arms crossed, Tsunade gave him a long, mocking stare.
"I was gathering research material…"
Jiraiya tried to argue, but Tsunade ignored him and continued speaking:
"Looks like starting today, the title of 'Legendary Sannin' is going to fade away."
Her words startled Jiraiya. He had only been peeping, but from her tone, it sounded like he wouldn't be coming back alive.
"Tsunade… what do you mean?"
"You must not know. According to the new Konoha regulations: gambling in prohibited areas brings fines. But getting caught peeping can lead to the death penalty."
"Nani?! Which bastard made that rule?!"
Now he no longer cared about denying anything—he grabbed the bars, ready to squeeze through and fight whoever wrote the laws.
"Hmph. Those were set by our newly appointed Fifth Hokage. Also, insulting the Hokage in the village…"
Tsunade gave him a meaningful look.
"Gulp."
Jiraiya swallowed, trying to maintain composure.
"What… happens?"
"The Internal Affairs Division will have a chat with you. And the person who reports it gets reduced punishment. Police Force brothers! I want to report someone!"
Tsunade shouted before Jiraiya could react.
"Tsunade?!"
Jiraiya was stunned.
What Internal Affairs?! What was even happening?!
"Sorry, Jiraiya. I'll make sure Lord Hiruzen comes to pick up your corpse."
Tsunade excitedly explained to the Police Force how Jiraiya insulted the Hokage. Satisfied, she was escorted out.
Before leaving, she waved at him.
…
Danzo eventually withdrew his forces.
Konoha told the Daimyō that Sunagakure was acting recklessly, and they feared a desperate attack on the Land of Fire.
Hearing how his own relatives were harmed, the Daimyō immediately approved Feng Bai's request and ordered the Allied Forces to halt operations.
Danzo's objective had been achieved anyway—Konoha had secretly gained control of some bases within the Lands of Moon and Lightning.
Having heard the withdrawal excuse through various channels, Ōnoki did the same—telling his Daimyō how dangerous Sunagakure was.
In the Land of Lightning, only the Kirigakure forces remained.
Not because Kisame was obedient—if they left too, Kumogakure would completely overrun the country.
The Lightning Daimyō had no choice but to offer even more money to keep Kirigakure's support.
He publicly cursed Iwagakure and Konoha for being unreliable.
Especially Danzo. That bastard showed up on the battlefield once and then demanded tons of medical supplies, claiming Konoha had suffered terrible losses.
No matter how much he yelled, it didn't change the fact that everyone else had already withdrawn.
Ōnoki used the chaos in Sunagakure and the large number of Iwa-nin to snatch several important clients from Suna.
He even stationed people near the borders of Loulan—an area Suna considered forbidden.
The only thing he worried about was the joint defense treaty between Konoha and Suna.
Chiyo, hearing the news, was shocked and furious. She sent people to condemn Iwa, while also asking Konoha for emergency negotiations.
In this chaos, Pakura finally arrived at the loyal Sunagakure—escorted by the Daimyō's own military.
The Suna shinobi and civilians crowded the streets, staring curiously at the hero who had officially been declared dead at the hands of Iwa-nin.
Many high-ranking officials were already preparing for death. They had been the ones who supported exchanging Pakura for peace. Now that she had returned as the Daimyō's personally appointed Kazekage, it was time for them to join Rasa in the afterlife.
Chiyo had no time to deal with them. She desperately needed someone who could share responsibility with her.
After the Daimyō's envoy announced Pakura's appointment—and condemned Rasa for selling out a hero—Chiyo rushed over to explain Sunagakure's current crisis.
After pleading and persuading, she laid out a "path forward":"The most urgent thing is to talk to Konoha. If they tear up our alliance treaty, Ōnoki will absolutely attack us."
"Chiyo."
Pakura cut her off in front of the envoy.
"When did Sunagakure need to survive by watching Konoha's expression?"
Her face was cold, voice filled with pride:"Sunagakure is the greatest spear and shield of the Land of Wind. If we rely on Konoha for everything, then we might as well let them run the Land of Wind's defenses. Don't you agree?"
"But Ōnoki—"
Chiyo was stunned.
How did she never realize Pakura was this aggressive?
"Ōnoki is not a problem. It's just Loulan. As far as I know, the true Dragon Vein was sealed by a Konoha team years ago and now sleeps beneath the old ruins. Even if Iwagakure takes it, it won't matter."
Chiyo froze even more.
Great. She thought Pakura was a hawk. But Pakura just handed Loulan away completely.