The Masked Shinobi

Mysterious Reports

Warnings: mentioned of character death and violence, and lots of dialogue

Please enjoy!
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'That brat, interrupting my important research. I swear it's like you don't seem to understand the importance of it!' Jiraiya thought in irritation, making his way to the Hokage tower. It's been two days since the toad sannin received a messenger toad from Minato asking him to come to the village immediately.

After finally arriving at the Hokage tower, the toad sage entered by using the window instead of the door. He expected his former student to politely request him to use the door like everyone else, as usual. However, the Toad Sage was not expecting to find said student sleeping on a few pieces of his paperwork that was scattered among his desk. Next to three other large stacks of paperwork wait to be done, on the left corner of his desk while a picture of his genin team, a small bottle of aspirin, and an empty teacup on the right corner.

Jiraiya strolled up to the Hokage's desk, and pick up and examined the half-empty pill bottle. Then shifted his gaze to the photograph in the picture frame, and at the sight of the silver-haired child, the toad sage remembered that tomorrow is that day. The sannin sighed, knowing that Minato will be a depressed mood today, and won't be in his office tomorrow. That was when the Toad Sage felt the presence of the Anbu guard in the room. However, there was only one guard instead of the usual two that are tasked with watching over the Hokage.

"So, you're the only one here? Where's the other Anbu that's supposed to be on shift?" Jiraiya asked, looking at the false ceiling panel that concealed the crawlspace that the Anbu agent was hiding in.

The moment of silence passed before the Anbu agent wearing a cat mask appeared knelt in front of the Hokage's desk, before standing to and turning his attention to the Toad Sage. Then gave a short polite bow before taking off his painted porcelain cat mask.

"Shisui has been tasked with escorting one of our spies to the rendezvous point, which Obito Uchiha has secured." Tenzo explained with a small smile, knowing that Jiraiya already knows all the Fourth Hokage's Anbu guards.

"I see. What about him?" Jiraiya asked, looking down at Minato's sleeping head that laid in folded arms on top of some paperwork.

"Lady Kushina invited this team over for dinner last night again," Tenzo simply explained, sending a sympathetic glance to the exhausted Hokage.

"Ah," Jiraiya retorted in a knowing tone, remembering when he joined team dinners and the massive migraines that came with it. Since the three loudest people in the entire village were sitting around the same table. Then added with a smirk, "I wonder if the neighbors sent in another complained again."

Tenzo gave a light chuckle before asking in a more serious tone, "Lord Jiraiya, I have a question for you?"

"What is it?" Jiraiya questioned, wondering why the Anbu agent in front of him looks so worried.

"Ever since I've been reassigned to the Hokage's Anbu, I've noticed that Lord Fourth acts differently around this time every year. I don't mean to pry, but I'm just concerned," Tenzo explained with a slightly concerned expression.

Jiraiya closed his eyes as he lets out a considering hum, before opening his eyes and asking with a small grin."Tell me, Tenzo, how long have you been under Minato's command?"

"About ten years, sir," Tenzo replied, taken back a little from the random question. But noticed the sudden solemn look in the Toad Sage's usually cheerful expression.

"Ten years already," Jiraiya repeated, still amazed at how much the Tenzo has improved since the day he was put under Minato's command at age fourteen. The toad sannin then added, "well, I guess I can tell you about it, but you mustn't tell Minato. It's a very painful subject for him."