Even after entering the clan compound, Kajirama didn't stop his slightly aching legs, Obito and Rin were fairing much worse though, because from their ragged breathing and flailing arms, it was obvious that the latter two had lower stamina than Kajirama.
"Hey! Slowly down Kajirama." Obito shouted in a complaint. "We... *Huff*... Can't..."
"*Huff* *Huff* *Huff*..." Rin didn't even have the energy to complain since she focused on breathing for her dear life, she figured that she should rather enjoy the bliss of being able to breathe than whine.
"We're almost there guys." Kajirama stopped for his friends, but from his panicked expression, one would be able to tell that he was worrying over something.
"Yeah... But, we can't..."
Not wanting to listen, Kajirama interrupted him as he continued to drag them.
"Oy! Are you listening!?"
"Kajirama-kun..."
Even Rin wanted to protest when she saw that Kajirama still was hell bent on rushing without rest.
It didn't take long before they arrived at Kajirama's house. Obito sprawled on the doorway, his chest heaving up and down. While Rin also didn't bother on her image as she sat down on the ground and leaned on a cemented wall.
Kajirama accompanied them by resting for a few minutes before he grasped the doorknob of the house, he gulped nervously, apprehension on what the other side would have in store for him. And as he had expected, when he opened the door, he couldn't help but shiver as he saw Biwako standing in front of the hallway with her arms crossed. Her hair overshadowed her expression, but her aura alone gave Kajirama the chills, he swore that he caught the image of the shinigami flickered for a second behind her back.
"O-oh, ha-hah-ha. Obā-chan, wh-what's up? Fancy seeing you here." Kajirama stuttered gibberishly. When he saw that he got no reaction, it made the kid's nerves heightened to a terrifying degree. "H-how the weather? Nice I pre-"
*Thwack*
"Owwww!!!" Kajirama didn't even manage to finish his nonsense as a stainless steel saddle wacked him heavily on the head. He clutched his head in pain and hissed when he touched the area that was 'attacked'.
"Kajirama Sarutobi-Ogata." Now Kajirama knew that he was in deep trouble when he heard the tone of his grandmother. He sniffed, he missed being called 'Kaji-chan' now...
"Where have you been, huh!?" Mercilessly, Biwako pinched Kajirama's ear. "Did you somehow forget that it is your birthday, Kajirama!"
"Ow ow ow ow ow! Obā-chan! Stop it, I know..." Kajirama hissed as his ears were turning red from the pressure.
Thankfully, Hiruzen arrived just in time to prevent Kajirama from further scolding. The old man chuckled as he slowly strode over. "You should stop now, Biwako." He looked over outside the door, as he noticed two puny heads peeking over at them.
He raised a brow. "Oh? We seemed to have more guests, you two should be Kajirama's friends I presume?"
Rin timidly nodded in affirmation. Meanwhile, Obito was busy staring at Hiruzen with his widened eyes as if he was mind-blown. "H-Hokage-sama!?"
Seeing this, Hiruzen was used to his reputation in the village. He beckoned for them to enter as he chuckled kindly. "Come in little ones."
Seeing his friends hesitating, Kajirama playfully taunted with a smirk. "What now Obito? Where's all the bravado of you becoming Hokage, was it gone?"
"Oy, teme!" Obito shouted like how he usually acted when irked. But then when he saw Biwako and Hiruzen's gaze on him he shrunk, he was surprised however that they weren't annoyed, but was still sporting the same kind and warm gaze. He pouted indignantly "I... you didn't exactly say that Hokage-sama was your jī-san, I was just surprised y'know."
Rin was behind Obito, she eventually relaxed by the tender feeling that the two old couples were showing. She looked over the two as she noticed a stall, a big man towering behind them. "Ano... Kajirama-kun..."
Kajirama had been so focused on gently rubbing the large bloated area of his head that was swollen smacked from Biwako's saddle that he didn't even notice the man that had the same hair as him behind Hiruzen and Biwako. He turned around when Rin called out to him. "What is it, Rin?"
"... Is that your Otō-san?" Rin pointed over.
"Huh? What do you mean, my Otō-san isn...'t..." Kajirama drew when he looked over in bewilderment on where Rin was pointing. He paused, however, when he saw a man, with the same hair, somewhat the same shape as his face, if not counting all the baby fats on his face. It didn't take Kajirama long enough for the child to identify who the man was. He was shaking, shaking with the motions that broke like a dam: fear, surprise, elation, and... pain. Trying to comprehend if what he was seeing was true.
"Tōu-san...?" Kajirama whispered with uncertainty. He choked back his tears and watched for the man's reaction.
Jiraiya's heart almost stopped, the words that he wanted to hear since the anticipation he felt of the child's birth but wasn't able to since the day he left, Kajirama was still a small little thing and wasn't able to utter such words. But, now... It was coming out of Kajirama's mouth.
"Yo! You've grown up, gaki." Jiraiya raised a hand in greeting and spoke gregariously, as he tried to calm himself from the feelings of turmoil he was having. "Last time I saw you-"
"Otō-san!" Kajirama exclaimed as he rushed and then leaped to his father's arms, giving him a crushing bear hug.
"O... Otō-san... I missed you, I missed you so... So much..." Kajirama wept between sobs and hiccups.
"Jeez, you're a noisy little gaki, Kajirama." Although Jiraiya spoke as such, slow streams of tears flowed down each of his eyes.
Kajirama wasn't even bothered, his father was back, and he came back to celebrate his birthday, he savored every moment of their embrace, while occasionally rubbing the snot and tears that were overflowing on his face to his father's red haori, staining the garment. Jiraiya noticed this as he smiled bitterly for his garment, nevertheless, he didn't evade his son, he also missed Kajirama dearly, a day didn't pass in this whole time he was out not thinking of his son in the village, now that he had returned from such a long time, Jiraiya wouldn't care about his haori if it meant they could hug much longer.
Hiruzen, Biwako, Obito and Rin didn't want to intrude on such a private moment, so they kept their silence as they watched with smiles on their faces.
Obito whispered to himself. "Was Kajirama's Otō-san missing or something..?"
Hiruzen with his keen senses managed to hear the low whisper. He looked down over Obito and informed. "Kajirama's father is a formidable shinobi, I sent him out for an important mission because of his capabilities."
"Hn." Obito habitually nodded his head in an Uchiha way.
Hiruzen smiled in amusement when he saw the Uchiha kid creaking his neck over his direction, sneakily glancing on his face. Rin asked the question that Obito was wanting to ask, but was too nervous about the presence of his idol.
"Ano... Hokage-sama."
"Hm?" Hiruzen looked over the young girl.
Rin hesitated for a moment before eventually asking. "Is Kajirama... Really your grandson? I mean... He didn't exactly mention it to us."
Hiruzen and Biwako smiled and then began to talk with both the children. It didn't take long for Rin and Obito to relax, although they were still tensed in their presence.
...
-Later That Night-
Obito and Rin had already left the house after a while they finished dinner and the celebration of Kajirama's birthday.
Since it was now quite late in the night, Kajirama was forced to go to his bed and sleep, much to his annoyance. However, Jiraiya promised they would spend all their time together tomorrow to make it up to him. That made Kajirama willing, albeit with a bit of hesitance, nevertheless, he followed Biwako to his room while looking back to Jiraiya and Hiruzen who was in the living room.
"I'm shocked, sensei." Jiraiya spoke. "He's now all grown up, I guess it wouldn't be long before he would start the academy with his age right now?"
"Hmmm." Hiruzen replied. He took a deep intake of his pipe, then he exhaled as smoke came out of his mouth before he continued. "Biwako informed me that Kajirama has a knack for Ninjutsu. Furthermore, from my observation on his training, he had the perseverance of a budding Shinobi that's shown when he trained the stances and katas of his Tai and Kenjutsu for hours, although he whined occasionally, he isn't like my own, Asuma."
"The child's young, but he had a clear mind over his thoughts. Resourcefulness along with a wit that's not unlike Orochimaru's, and with that student of yours, Minato."
"Orochimaru and Minato, huh..." Jiraiya felt proud. He let out a grin. "He is like me-"
"No he's not, Jiraiya." Jiraiya was heartlessly denied by Hiruzen's blatant tone.
"Eh? C'mon I'm not that bad..." Jiraiya pursed his lips.
"He inherited your determination, that's for sure. But the shine of his brilliance at such a young age wasn't within you when I trained you as a genin, Jiraiya." Hiruzen kept jabbing hits at his former student as he kept on smoking his pipe. He smirked when he saw the sulky look of the grown man.
Hiruzen then stayed silent, Jiraya also kept silent but he kept on releasing curses at the old man under his breath.
Eventually, Hiruzen broke the ice that was bothering him. "So Jiraiya, what made you come back without notifying us?"
"Oh, sensei? Didn't we promise that we will be doing some 'data gathering' on Konoha's hot springs when I come back? The council members didn't want to know that within my report do they?" Jiraiya found an opportunity to jab back, he grinned mischievously as he threw out a fun memory with smugness.
This somehow upset the Kage, as he glowered. "Be serious, Jiraiya! Don't forget that... Biwako is around, be careful lest she hear of such imprecate, not to mention I'm now your father-in-law!"
Jiraiya gave out a mirthful laugh at his former mentor/father-in-law as he saw him glared at him. After a few moments of good laughs, he slowed down and took a deep breath, turning solemn a moment later, he closed his eyes for a moment as if sensing something before he spoke. "Get rid of your ANBU, sensei."
This got Hiruzen's attention. The old man knew that whatever information his former student was about to let out, it would be significant, he knew that when he saw how Jiraiya acts. Hiruzen nodded at the dark corner of the room. After a moment, some shadows that were seen on the ground flickered and disappeared after the moment's notice.
Jiraiya formed a hand seal, after doing so, his finger tips shone with several kanji and shouted in a low, but deep tone as he slammed the hand on the table. "Fūin!"
The Kanjis on his hand spread out in a form of undecipherable scribbles, encasing the room throughoutly. After it is done, it disappears.
"Was the Oto no Yokusei Fūin Shiki[Sound Suppression Sealing Technique] be in need of such secrecy?" Hiruzen was apprehensive about what Jiraiya's Intel should be, he bet it would be major for how cautious he acted.
"Sorry, sensei. I know you trust your ANBU, but I don't." Jiraiya frankly responded. He took out a scroll from the hem of his haori, and then put it on the table under Hiruzen's gaze. "The intelligence I received from my spy network are disturbing."
Hiruzen listened, as he continued to smoke.
"Kumo and especially Iwa, had been moving oddly, a few foreign shinobi that are on the Tsuchi no Kuni [Land of Earth] went missing, including a few of our own. According to what I've been gathering so far that's in this scroll... It wouldn't be long before Iwagakure [Hidden Rock Village] would begin another war if this conflict continued..."
"As a few of our mission concerned the Tsuchi no Kuni [Land of Earth], our shinobis and the rest of the other villages' would also eventually clash. Is that what you're saying?" Hiruzen finished the words Jiraiya was about to speak, he received a nod of affirmation from the Sannin which got him to deep thoughts.
"Although, we don't want another war. We should protect our people, I'll send an espionage team that consists of the Ino-Shika-Cho three-man-cell, and find out what's going on in the border."
Jiraiya nodded.
They kept on their discussion for a few hours in the night, while the villagers of Konoha were ignorant of the fact that the flames of conflict were brewing.
*So this is where the butterfly effect would be showing. A lot of things would be changed.*