Naruto: After Seclusion Becoming Naruto Grandfather

Unlike Jiraiya's visible disgust, the Third Hokage, whose life had been spent in shadows and schemes, showed no such reaction to the Daimyo's revelation about poisoning his brothers.

In fact, after spending so long trapped in Uzumaki Chito's punishment and growing increasingly twisted, he found himself quietly admiring the Daimyo's ruthless pragmatism.

With a soft chuckle, the Third Hokage addressed the Daimyo of the Land of Fire:

"Your Excellency, the successor to your throne is your son, Hikaru."

The Daimyo froze, his expression shifting to one of sneering disbelief.

"Impossible," he spat. "That whelp is nothing more than a child with the lowly blood of a ninja."

He glared at the Third Hokage, his tone dripping with contempt. "The ministers of the Land of Fire would never recognize him as Daimyo."

"You're lying to me, Sandaime. You've been conspiring with the usurpers and now you're using Hikaru's name to deceive me."

Hearing this, Jiraiya's simmering disdain for the Daimyo boiled over. The man's casual dismissal of Hikaru's heritage—and his blatant insult to ninja blood—sparked a fury that Jiraiya couldn't contain.

The white-haired Sannin's battle-hardened aura surged forth, his shawl of white hair rising like a wild flame. The oppressive pressure of his anger filled the room, and the Daimyo, overwhelmed, nearly soiled himself in terror.

Seeing the tension, the Third Hokage intervened sharply, his voice cutting through the room.

"Jiraiya! What do you think you're doing? This is the Daimyo! Show some dignity and humility!"

Jiraiya froze at his mentor's rebuke, his body stiffening. His face contorted with conflicting emotions—anger, frustration, and a bitter sense of betrayal.

After a moment, he turned toward the Third Hokage, his voice low and tense:

"Sensei, with all due respect, I am the Hokage now."

His eyes burned with conviction as he continued, "Is it wrong for the Hokage to defend the honor of the ninja in his village?"

The Third Hokage's face darkened at Jiraiya's defiance, a flicker of fear mingling with his anger.

He's rebelling.

The realization struck like a bolt of lightning. The Third Hokage knew all too well how fragile his position was. His current authority rested entirely on his reputation and his past bond with Jiraiya. His resurrection by Uzumaki Chito was an unnatural state—his power was a pale shadow of what it once was.

And hadn't he already been killed by one apprentice?

To maintain his influence, he needed to tread carefully, keeping Jiraiya under control while preserving the illusion of respect.

Drawing a deep breath, the Third Hokage steadied himself. When he spoke again, his voice carried a venomous edge:

"Jiraiya, do you think being Hokage gives you the right to act recklessly? Without the Daimyo's support, how will our village survive? How will our people eat if we lose their funding?"

He leaned forward, his soul-bound form looming as his tone turned scolding:

"You are endangering the entire village for the sake of your precious pride. As your teacher, it is my duty to correct you. Now come here and apologize to the Daimyo!"

Jiraiya felt as though a storm had descended upon him. The words hit him like hailstones, leaving him dazed and frustrated.

Through the haze of anger and disappointment, he saw the truth that the Third Hokage tried to hide. The fear in his master's eyes, the desperation behind his anger—it was all too clear.

Why is Sensei so afraid? Jiraiya thought.

He already knew the answer. The role of Hokage had revealed to him the fragile underbelly of Konoha's political structure. Even as the Fifth Hokage, Jiraiya had felt the weight of dependence on the Daimyo's financial support.

Still, the sight of his once-great mentor—now reduced to a hollow, scheming shadow—filled him with a deep sadness.

This isn't the man who taught me to strive for greatness, he thought bitterly. This is just... a ghost.

Finally, Jiraiya let out a tired sigh and waved his hand dismissively.

"Fine. Talk to the Daimyo yourself," he said, his voice resigned.

Turning on his heel, he strode out of the Hokage's office, his movements tense and hurried.

"Jiraiya! Do you have no sense of discipline?" the Third Hokage called after him, his voice shrill and scolding. "You're the Hokage! Where are you going? Come back here!"

The words followed Jiraiya like a whip, but he didn't look back. His pace quickened, his heart pounding with a mix of frustration and shame.

As he fled the oppressive atmosphere of the office, Jiraiya's inattention betrayed him.

Bang!

He collided head-on with Nara Shikaku, who had been hurrying to deliver a report.

The impact sent Shikaku stumbling back, his exhaustion turning to irritation as he glared at the person who had barreled into him.

But when he looked up and recognized Jiraiya, his frustration quickly turned to concern.

"Godaime, are you—"

"Don't call me that," Jiraiya interrupted, his voice hollow.

He offered Shikaku a faint, rueful smile and shook his head. "Just... call me Jiraiya."