Chapter 71: The Toad Sage Jiraiya
Uchiha Douhuan never expected that his first official meeting with Jiraiya would happen under such circumstances.
After being arrested, Jiraiya was surprisingly cooperative, sitting hunched over in the interrogation room with his hands cuffed, showing an awkward smile. His posture was identical to that of the habitual thieves the Police Force often detained, which explained why the patrol team didn't recognize him. After all, who would have thought that one of the legendary Sannin, the Toad Sage Jiraiya, would end up in such a situation?
Douhuan entered the interrogation room where Jiraiya was being held, gesturing for the guards to leave before walking in himself.
Hearing someone enter, Jiraiya looked up.
"Jiraiya-sama, you're making things difficult for us at the Police Force," Douhuan said as he approached, unlocking the cuffs. He knew that if Jiraiya really wanted to escape, the cuffs wouldn't make any difference.
"Hehe," Jiraiya let out an embarrassed chuckle, looking at Douhuan with curiosity.
"Uh, who are you again?"
"Let me introduce myself. I'm Uchiha Douhuan, the current clan head of the Uchiha clan and the newly appointed Captain of the Police Force."
"Oh! So, you're Uchiha Douhuan? I've heard about you before, but since we fought on different fronts during the Third War, we never met. A pleasure, a pleasure," Jiraiya replied with a grin.
"I didn't expect that my first meeting with the legendary Jiraiya-sama would be under such circumstances," Douhuan said, giving a wry smile.
"Hehe, unexpected indeed," Jiraiya chuckled, scratching his head.
"Come with me. Someone of your status shouldn't be kept here," Douhuan said, getting up and motioning for Jiraiya to follow.
Jiraiya immediately stood up and trailed after him.
"Wouldn't it be better to use a transformation jutsu to conceal your identity?" Douhuan suggested just before opening the door.
"Good point." Jiraiya awkwardly nodded, forming seals before transforming his appearance.
Douhuan led the disguised Jiraiya out through the back door of the Police Force headquarters and headed straight to the new detention facility by the Naka River. Once there, Douhuan showed Jiraiya into a room furnished with all the essentials.
"Please wait here for a bit, Jiraiya-sama. I need to finish a meeting, and then I'll come back with Kakashi," Douhuan said.
"No problem at all," Jiraiya replied with a carefree smile.
Before leaving, Douhuan gave instructions to the guards:
"Besides keeping him from leaving, meet any of his requests to the best of your ability."
Having settled Jiraiya in, Douhuan returned to his meeting.
---
After finalizing the Joint Investigation Team's action plan, Douhuan ordered his subordinates to arrange a banquet and bring two bottles of quality sake before taking Kakashi along to meet Jiraiya.
During the few hours while they were at the meeting, Jiraiya had remained surprisingly quiet, lying on the bed out of boredom. When Douhuan and Kakashi entered, he immediately performed a nimble flip and greeted them.
"Ah, Douhuan-san, Kakashi! Your place here is quite cozy! Is this some kind of Police Force guesthouse?" Jiraiya asked with a hearty laugh.
"In a way, yes." Douhuan smiled and set up a low table before laying out the dishes and drinks.
Seeing the spread of exquisite food and fine sake, Jiraiya's eyes lit up, and he rubbed his hands together in excitement.
"Ah, this is too generous! You really went all out."
"It's nothing. It's an honor to share a drink with the legendary Toad Sage of the Sannin. I did consider inviting some geishas to liven up the atmosphere, but since the Police Force is an official department, I thought it might leave a bad impression. I hope you don't mind," Douhuan said.
"No worries, no worries," Jiraiya waved his hand casually.
"Next time, I'll treat you to the best geisha house in the village!"
The three sat down and poured themselves drinks.
---
"Jiraiya-sama, did you come back to the village to release a new book?" Kakashi asked with a sly smile.
"Haha! Almost. I'm working on it, but it'll take a bit more time. As for coming back, the old man practically sent me eight letters a day urging me to return, so I thought I'd come see what the fuss was about," Jiraiya laughed sheepishly.
"But it's good to see you've gotten back on your feet, Kakashi. I'm glad."
"It's all thanks to Douhuan," Kakashi admitted.
"Come on now, don't put me on a pedestal," Douhuan chuckled, refilling Jiraiya's cup.
"Compared to Jiraiya-sama, a hero of the village, I'm just a minor character."
"Don't be modest! You're Blue Lightning Douhuan—a name that strikes fear into Kirigakure. You'll surpass me one day, that's for sure," Jiraiya said, drinking heartily.
After a few more drinks, Jiraiya suddenly asked,
"Kakashi, I heard you took Naruto in to look after him?"
Kakashi nodded.
"Yes, now that I'm no longer in the Anbu, I have the time to properly take care of him."
Hearing this, Jiraiya sighed.
"That's good. With you by his side, I'm relieved."
At this point, Douhuan spoke up,
"By the way, Jiraiya-sama, what were you really doing all these years outside the village? Don't tell me it's just because of some vague prophecy?"
"That's not just any prophecy," Jiraiya's face turned serious.
"The Great Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku is an ancient and wise being. He once foretold that a Child of Prophecy would appear—someone who would either bring peace to the Shinobi World or plunge it into destruction. My mission is to find and guide that child onto the right path."
"So that's the real reason behind your travels?" Douhuan said with a faint smile.
"I never would have guessed. I apologize for my earlier remark. Allow me to drink to that as an apology."
Douhuan poured himself a full cup and downed it in one gulp.
"So, Jiraiya-sama, have you found this Child of Prophecy yet?" Kakashi asked, genuinely curious.
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