In the dead of night, Yagami donned his mask and moved through the Taverns and bathhouses, weaving threads of rumor.
Drunkards, their minds hazy and muddled, were the easiest targets for Genjutsu. In the Uchiha Police Force's records, sixty percent of crimes were blamed on a loss of self-control after drinking. Life was bitter; most people used alcohol to numb the pain.
"Have you heard? One of the Sannin, Lord Jiraiya, finally returned to the village."
"Returned? Where was he? Was he on some top-secret mission?"
"I never saw him during the war in the Land of Whirlpools. It's like he didn't even fight. I haven't seen him in nearly three years."
"I heard he was broken by Hanzo and stayed in the Land of Rain to train their ninja."
"Bullshit! Lord Jiraiya would never bow to Hanzo, let alone train Rain ninja!"
"No, I heard he's actually the principal of the Hidden Rain's ninja academy now!"
The rumors grew increasingly absurd. In the court of public opinion, "rogue ninja" was the lightest accusation leveled against him. Jiraiya's absence from both the Land of River and Land of Whirlpool fronts during the Second Ninja War was a fact that left both civilians and ordinary ninja deeply confused.
...
Mount Myoboku
Jiraiya leaned half-slumped against a stone, a low table before him cluttered with empty sake bottles.
Looking at the despondent Sannin, Fukasaku Sage spoke up. "Jiraiya, pull yourself together. Hiruzen Sarutobi will surely suppress these rumors. A bit of gossip is nothing to a Hokage."
Of course, if Yagami stopped fanning the flames, the rumors would fade. By manufacturing a new distraction—like the scandalous news of the Sarutobi clan playboy, Sarutobi Nichiyu, refusing to marry a widow from the Nara clan—public attention was quickly redirected.
"I know," Jiraiya muttered. "Sensei has already tasked Fox from the ANBU to handle it. Fox... he's an elite division commander; he'll resolve it soon. I despise the ANBU's methods, yet here I am, relying on them."
Fukasaku Sage sighed. "Jiraiya, you must continue the search for the Child of Prophecy mentioned by the Great Toad Sage. This setback is minor compared to finding the one who will change the world. This is the understanding between Mount Myoboku and Hiruzen: we fight for the Leaf, and you help us find the boy.
We share some responsibility for your three-year stay in Rain. I'm sorry. Once this settles, why not look for the child within the Leaf? The Great Toad Sage's vision of the future has grown even darker; he doesn't know where things went wrong. We need the Child of Prophecy more than ever."
Jiraiya took a long drink. "I'm planning to leave the village. I can't stay here for now. Perhaps only the next war can truly redeem my reputation. I heard there are a few geniuses in the Academy, but I won't be staying for their evaluations."
In the Ninja Academy, Minato Namikaze, who was six months away from graduation, remained unaware that his destiny had just shifted drastically.
...
The full moon hung in the sky like a silver plate—the final full moon of the 40th year of the Leaf. New Year's was only fifteen days away.
Yagami, wearing his face cover, entered the Tsuruzuki Tavern carrying a bag of dango. Yuki, the shop assistant Qiaoyi had hired, smiled as she finished wiping a table. "Mr. Koji, you're back!"
Yuki was an orphan with no talent for chakra. Unable to attend the Academy, she worked odd jobs around the village.
"Yeah, I'm back."
Yuki had worked there for over a month but rarely saw the master of the house. "Mr. Koji" was often away on missions. Yagami headed to the back courtyard to see Qiaoyi. Since becoming pregnant, her expression had softened significantly. The shadows of the Hidden Stone Village and the suffocating life of a spy had finally left her.
Seeing the dango she loved, Qiaoyi smiled brightly. Yagami chatted with her for a while and left her one million Ryo, telling her not to worry about money—he could always earn more through missions.
That night, Yagami went to the ANBU base. He navigated to the scroll archives and pulled the Hidden Leaf Defense Layout. Opening it, he studied the security of the Hokage building. With the Mayfly Technique now in his arsenal, it was finally time to make a move on the Scroll of Seals. The scroll was packed with S-rank forbidden jutsu; learning even one would be a massive gain.
He frowned as he read a piece of intel: the Second Hokage had placed a sensory barrier around the building. The fact that the Scroll of Seals was kept there rather than at the Sarutobi compound proved its defenses were superior.
After studying the layout, Yagami summoned Purple Cat to his office. He wanted to see if the Fox Division had handled guard duty for the Hokage building recently; their reports might contain updated details.
When Purple Cat entered, Yagami pulled her into his lap. As his hands began to wander, she caught his wrist. A sudden sense of foreboding rose in his chest.
Purple Cat removed her mask, her pale skin glowing beneath her blonde hair. Like a kitten revealing its soft underbelly, she dropped her guard. She pulled off Yagami's mask as well.
Pressing her forehead against his, Yamanaka Rika whispered, "I'm pregnant..."
Yagami forgot all about the Hokage building. He looked at her in shock, then pulled her into a soft kiss. "Rika... don't push yourself around the New Year. Get some rest."
She cupped his handsome face, gazing at him. In the dim light of the underground base, the two clung to each other. War, death, and tragedy were momentarily held at bay by this warmth.
"Rika, I'll have White Sheep take over as my temporary assistant."
"No," she insisted. "I'm a ninja. Even pregnant, I can handle paperwork. I just can't go on missions outside the village anymore."
"I'll take fewer long-term missions next year," Yagami promised. In his heart, he added, 'I'll spend more time with all of you.'
A wave of concern hit him. If all his women were pregnant, what was he supposed to do? 'You all could have at least coordinated a schedule; this fire needs an exit.'
Rika blushed suddenly. "Fox... I heard that after three months, it's okay. It's only been a month and a half so far, so you'll have to endure for another six weeks..."
"I knew you were thinking about it too," Yagami teased. "But your health and the baby come first."
Rika had the Yamanaka clan to look after her, so he wasn't too worried. However, a cold light flickered in his eyes—White Crane Yamanaka Ryu was a potential problem. He would have to keep an eye on her.
They talked for a while longer before Yagami resumed reviewing mission reports. The Fox Division hadn't been assigned to the Hokage building recently; that duty fell mostly to the Black Ant and Golden Eagle divisions. The Fox Division was currently the ANBU's "Top Muscle"—Yellow Dog only called on them for Elite Jonin or Kage-level threats.
Since the full moon had just passed, Yagami decided to strike around the 14th of the first month of the new year.
Leaving the ANBU, he thought: 'I'll go see No. 6. She surely won't turn me away.'
He used the Mayfly Technique to glide toward the orphanage and flickered inside using Body Flicker.