If he revealed Danzo's assassination attempt to Hiruzen Sarutobi and later killed Danzo, Sarutobi would surely suspect him.
And if Sarutobi learned about Danzo's actions, he would undoubtedly try to persuade him to forgive Danzo with his usual moralizing speeches.
Jiraiya had no interest in listening to those words.
He wasn't a saint. If someone wanted him dead, he would kill them first.
"Sensei, the border fortresses are nearly complete. I want to keep contributing to the village—I want to join the war effort," Jiraiya said to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"I understand your desire to contribute, but you just finished a mission. You need to rest first."
War meant death. No one could guarantee they wouldn't die on the battlefield.
Sarutobi didn't want Jiraiya rushing to the frontlines. Jiraiya's potential was too great, and if he died, it would be an enormous loss for Konoha.
"Sensei, I'm your student. Now that the village is at war, there's no reason for me to hide in the rear while others fight at the front," Jiraiya said, his eyes burning with determination. "As the Hokage's student, I must set an example and go to the battlefield."
Seeing Jiraiya's passion to serve the village, Hiruzen couldn't bring himself to refuse. He couldn't extinguish Jiraiya's fervor for the village, so he finally nodded.
"I'll consider it."
"Jiraiya, the position of Anbu Commander is currently vacant. I intend to appoint you as Acting Anbu Commander," Hiruzen said seriously.
Danzo had previously held the position, but after leaving the Anbu to establish Root, the position had remained unfilled.
Although there were other elite shinobi capable of taking the role, Sarutobi didn't fully trust those he hadn't personally trained.
After reviewing Jiraiya's recent battle report, Hiruzen had already decided to appoint him. Jiraiya's strength was beyond question, but more importantly, his Will of Fire burned brightly. With Jiraiya in charge, Sarutobi didn't have to worry about losing control of the Anbu.
However, Jiraiya lacked management experience. Strength didn't always equate to leadership. Hiruzen planned to have Jiraiya shadow him to learn the ropes before officially handing him the position.
Jiraiya's youth was another factor. If he were appointed directly, Danzo's allies would certainly object, hoping to secure the position for themselves.
The role of Anbu Commander was crucial in Konoha. Holding it granted a place among the village's upper ranks, with the authority to voice opinions on key matters. Many eyes were watching the position closely.
By making Jiraiya Acting Anbu Commander first, Sarutobi could dampen opposition and avoid office disputes.
"Thank you, Sensei," Jiraiya said, his excitement barely contained. He hadn't expected to be appointed so quickly—it was a pleasant surprise.
He had thought Hiruzen would only consider him after he reached the strength of an elite jonin. As far as the village knew, Jiraiya was only at jonin level, no one knew about his Sage Mode.
Hiruzen's decision showed complete trust.
Though it was only an acting role, Jiraiya knew the position would be his as long as he didn't make any political missteps. From this moment, he had officially entered Konoha's upper ranks. The position of Anbu Commander was on par with that of the Hokage's assistant or advisor.
"This is your new identification token, as well as the full list of Anbu personnel," Sarutobi said, handing Jiraiya a scroll and token.
The scroll detailed the background of every Anbu member—their age, personality, background, specialties, and weaknesses.
"Make sure no information from the scroll is leaked. Memorize it, then destroy it immediately," Hiruzen instructed with a stern expression. If the scroll's contents were exposed, Konoha's Anbu would have to be rebuilt from scratch.
"I'm not planning to announce your appointment publicly. Once you memorize their names, you can show the token, and they will follow your orders. Most of the Anbu squads are currently undercover in the Land of Rain, disguised as shinobi from other nations or bounty hunters to gather intelligence. Only three squads under your direct command, and another three that answer directly to me, remain in the village," Hiruzen explained.
"When you head to the battlefield in the Land of Rain, I'll provide you with a way to stay in contact."
Jiraiya nodded.
The three squads under Sarutobi's direct command were Konoha's elite of the elite. Like him, they would never leave the village easily and were there to protect it at all costs. Their identities were highly classified and weren't listed in the scroll.
"You also no longer need to hide your relationship with Tsunade," Hiruzen said with a smile.
Jiraiya's eyes lit up. If their relationship could be made public, he and Tsunade could finally share a bed.
Tsunade had refused to do so before because their relationship wasn't official. Without the recognition, she felt it wasn't appropriate.
The decision to keep it secret had come from the Senju Clan, who feared Jiraiya's association with them would provoke Hiruzen's suspicion and hinder his political advancement.
The Senju Clan hoped Jiraiya would rise to power and change Konoha's treatment of them. If they moved too soon, it could destroy Jiraiya's future and cost them dearly.
Now that Jiraiya had become Acting Anbu Commander, he was officially part of Konoha's upper ranks and could advocate for the Senju Clan's interests.
With Hiruzen no longer opposing close ties between Jiraiya and the Senju, there was no reason to keep the relationship hidden.
And with that, Tsunade would have no excuse to refuse him anymore.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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