The Daimyō wasn't an idiot.
...Even if Nara Kazuki still thought he was.
The two ideas weren't mutually exclusive.
Sure, maybe in some ways, the Daimyō was clever—after all, he not only identified the woman's true identity but even used her to deliver false intel to Konoha.
But he still hadn't given up on the fantasy of seizing total military and political power, and for that alone, Kazuki considered him a moron.
Maybe he'd never heard the saying "political power grows out of the barrel of a gun."
The Daimyōs of the past might've had sway in the chaotic Warring States era—hiring ninja for missions and throwing around money—but now?
Now even Genin bore the insignia of great hidden villages. The Daimyō's influence was steadily being sidelined. That desperation was showing.
But what did that have to do with ANBU?
Frankly, the more you knew, the more likely you were to get dragged into the Root division. And Kazuki had no intention of ending up in Shimura Danzō's sights any earlier than necessary.
That man was a walking shadow government. And cold-blooded to his core.
Kazuki clenched his fists and threw out another Shadow Clone, who immediately began layering Great Fireball Techniques.
His current Great Fireball no longer burned the classic deep orange—it was pure white. And Kazuki was curious how much hotter it could go.
So far, recorded flame temperatures topped out around 5,000 degrees Celsius. But that didn't include explosive ordinance or chakra-enhanced jutsu.
Would his Great Fireball eventually hit nuclear detonation levels?
Now that would be fun.
Which meant... more training.
Back in Konoha, Fox submitted the mission report and handed over the intel they'd retrieved from Ozawa Sora.
Kazuki was granted a single day off.
"Only a day? What is this, sweatshop labor?" he muttered, disappointed. He had planned to spend a good few days just stacking more chakra into his jutsu.
"During wartime, it was the same," Kakashi replied quietly, holding two bouquets.
Kazuki knew what that meant. Obito and Rin.
He didn't join Kakashi—because knowing Obito, that guy might be hiding in a bush nearby spying on Kakashi's mourning.
Obito, now masquerading as Uchiha Madara, had a habit of eavesdropping on emotional moments.
If the world of shinobi had stricter laws, Obito would've been arrested for Peeping Tom offenses a dozen times already.
...Speaking of which—
"Is that... Jiraiya-sama?"
Kazuki raised a brow at the infamous Konoha hot spring, where a certain white-haired pervert was crouched in the bushes.
Too bad it wasn't a white-haired beauty.
"Shh! Kazuki, my boy—get over here!"
Jiraiya waved him over with a gleam in his eye.
Kazuki sighed and hesitated... then walked over anyway.
He didn't know why Jiraiya was back in the village, but it was a good sign.
Once he saw Minato and Kushina, he'd learn about the pregnancy. Minato would ask for his help. And Jiraiya would likely stay.
"That one's got curves for days," Jiraiya whispered gleefully.
Kazuki exhaled sharply.
But if he wanted to maintain his "bond" with Jiraiya, he had to play along.
Yes, he was only doing it to build rapport.
Seconds later, they were spotted. Buckets and shampoo bottles flew at them.
Jiraiya grabbed Kazuki and bolted. Kazuki matched his speed easily—thank you, Might Guy's training regimen.
"Haha! Not bad, huh, Kazuki?"
Jiraiya threw an arm around his shoulders, grinning wide.
"Too exciting. Also... highly illegal," Kazuki replied, deadpan.
In truth, Jiraiya still had some sense of decency. Most of the time, they only glimpsed towel-clad silhouettes.
Nothing blush-worthy.
And even if they had? Kazuki wouldn't be impressed.
He'd seen far more imaginative content back in his previous life. The shinobi world didn't hold a candle to modern... visual media.
"Jiraiya-sama..." Kazuki tried to ask why he'd returned.
"Stop with the -sama! Call me brother!"
Jiraiya grinned again, slapping him on the back.
He'd assumed that was just drunken banter last time.
But Jiraiya was fully committed. So Kazuki inhaled deeply, then forced it out:
"Alright... Jiraiya... brother."
The words felt wrong.
This man could practically be his uncle.
But Jiraiya didn't notice. His tone turned serious.
"Kazuki, I'm here to talk... plot."
Apparently, he'd been developing a new book. He'd had a general idea for a while, but only recently hammered out a proper outline.
And after hearing Kazuki's earlier wild ideas—school gateboy romance, ninja widows, scandalous kunoichi teachers—he'd decided Kazuki had real talent.
He had to collaborate.
And so he'd come back to Konoha in secret, sneaking past the barrier team.
But don't worry—he left notes about the security flaws for Minato to read later.
"I think your idea about the widow character is solid," Jiraiya murmured conspiratorially, dragging Kazuki into a brainstorming session. "But her motivations need more depth—maybe—"
From a distance, Minato Namikaze approached with a basket of home-cooked food, intending to invite Kakashi and Kazuki over.
But then he overheard his teacher whispering about sultry widows and steamy plot twists...
His face turned beet red.
What the hell happened to my sensei?!