CHAPTER 213

Change of Identity

Three months had passed since Jiraiya took on the mantle of the Fifth Hokage.

With the joint efforts of Jiraiya and Tsunade, the villagers gradually adjusted to his leadership. After all, much of the policies from Hiruzen Sarutobi's tenure remained unchanged.

Except for the restoration of the Konoha Military Police Force, the rest of the village's administrative structure remained largely the same.

The reason for reinstating the Police Force was straightforward—Jiraiya needed a reliable faction under his command to counterbalance the existing power struggles in the village.

Despite the Hokage being the village leader, Konoha was a web of competing interests. The Hokage merely represented the dominant faction. Any attempt at reform risked upsetting powerful groups.

Though Jiraiya had little interest in village politics and preferred to be a warrior on the front lines, Tsunade, who oversaw internal affairs, thought otherwise. To implement meaningful change, they needed their own power base within Konoha.

Rubbing her sore shoulders, Tsunade gazed at the dense green foliage outside the window, trying to ease the exhaustion of paperwork.

Then, shifting her focus to Jiraiya—who was currently being scolded by Shizune—she sighed. "Jiraiya, you're the Hokage now. Can't you take your job seriously? Where do you disappear to every day?"

Jiraiya scratched his head sheepishly. "Tsunade, you've racked up a mountain of gambling debt. I'm trying to write another book to cover the costs."

Tsunade looked momentarily embarrassed before quickly changing the subject. "Jiraiya, we need to discuss the village's internal situation and the challenges ahead."

With Tsunade acting as his chief advisor, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane had mostly stepped back from active governance.

The most influential factions in Konoha now were the major clans—the Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka (Ino-Shika-Cho), the Hyūga, and the remnants of the Sarutobi clan.

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio had openly pledged loyalty to Jiraiya's administration.

The Hyūga clan, as always, maintained strict neutrality, refusing to pursue major government positions—a reassuring stance.

At present, the biggest internal threats to Konoha came from the remnants of Root and the entrenched Sarutobi loyalists within Anbu and other critical departments. The latter had become one of the biggest obstacles to Jiraiya's reforms.

Hearing this, Jiraiya sighed in frustration. He could dispatch Anbu to hunt down the last of Danzō's operatives, but the deeply rooted Sarutobi faction within Konoha's infrastructure was another matter.

Although Jiraiya and Tsunade had effectively led a political coup, Hiruzen had willingly stepped down as Hokage.

By minimizing internal conflict, they had stabilized the transition. However, the Sarutobi clan's continued influence complicated things. While Hiruzen was alive, taking action against his clan had been out of the question.

The key issue was Hiruzen's stance on the matter.

Exhaling deeply, Jiraiya now understood the burdens Minato had faced. Although he had indirectly removed his former teacher from power, the Third Hokage's legacy still loomed large over Konoha.

"I understand. I'll visit the old man in a few days."

Tsunade nodded slightly, then handed him letters from Amegakure and Uzushiogakure.

Jiraiya opened them, quickly scanning their contents. They contained congratulations on his appointment and proposals for increased cooperation between the villages.

Jiraiya's expression turned thoughtful. "I never expected Amegakure's leadership to be my former students from the Hidden Rain. What a twist of fate."

Tsunade frowned. "Jiraiya, don't tell me you plan on supporting them."

Jiraiya shook his head. "Of course not. My duty as Hokage is to protect Konoha's interests. Yes, they were once my students, but now they are Amegakure's leaders, prioritizing their own village's future. That hasn't changed."

Tsunade's expression softened. "Good."

Then, changing topics, she asked, "How's the hunt for the remaining Root operatives? Some of Danzō's hardliners have been spotted near the Fire Daimyō's castle. They might pose a threat to his security."

Jiraiya rubbed his chin in thought. "Tsunade, could we use this opportunity to tighten control over the Daimyō? I hear Uzushiogakure now operates as a fully independent state, directly governed by its people."

"Step by step," Tsunade cautioned. "The shinobi won't support any direct action against the nobility."

She hesitated—partly because the Fire Daimyō's authority was deeply ingrained, and partly because he shared ties with the Senju clan. Taking aggressive action against him wasn't so simple.

Jiraiya nodded. He was never one for governance.

For now, he would rely on Tsunade's expertise while ensuring Konoha remained fair, avoiding past mistakes—like the Uchiha Massacre and the Yūgito Nii kidnapping incident—that had shaken the village's foundation.

With the internal situation discussed, Tsunade turned to external threats.

Kumogakure and Iwagakure remained Konoha's historical rivals, both having engaged in large-scale conflicts in past wars. Fortunately, the rising power of Amegakure and Uzushiogakure diverted some of the pressure. Suna remained an official ally under their treaty.

In the short term, Konoha wasn't in immediate danger, but in the long run, stability was uncertain.

A comprehensive defense plan was necessary, including the formation of a stronger rapid-response force to guard against potential invasions.

As Jiraiya absorbed this information, he grew pensive.

Even though the last war had ended, the nations were merely using this time to prepare for the next inevitable conflict. True peace in the shinobi world remained elusive.

Leaving the Hokage Office, Jiraiya quietly reflected on the choices of his former teacher.

Hiruzen's concessions to Kumogakure had, in retrospect, prevented prolonged war. Allowing Danzō to handle the Uchiha situation, while ethically dubious, had preempted a civil uprising within Konoha. But these compromises had come at a steep price—eroding trust between the Hokage and the village's most powerful clans.

The Uchiha and Hyūga had long suffered under oppressive policies, while the Sarutobi clan remained untouched.

Such favoritism had fostered resentment, and when Jiraiya and Tsunade seized power, none of the major clans had openly opposed them.

But Jiraiya's real concern was whether he, too, would one day become as conflicted as Hiruzen—trading morality for pragmatism.

Would he, in the name of the Will of Fire, suppress rival factions to consolidate his own power? If so, he would be no different from the leaders he had once criticized.

Sighing deeply, Jiraiya pulled a slip of paper from his pocket and tore it up.

The note had come from a spy within Konoha, containing the contact details of Orochimaru—information Orochimaru had deliberately sent him.

When they were the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru had always evaded him.

Yet now, barely three months into his reign as Hokage, Orochimaru had sought him out, offering a deal.

Subscribe to Patreon.com/Akeyno to get 30+ chapters