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This bastard had been gallivanting around for years, and the moment he returned, he had the audacity to make a spectacle of himself at the village entrance?
What a disgrace!!
Though Jiraiya had been tracking the Akatsuki's movements outside the village, the Anbu squad accompanying him regularly sent back records of his activities.
In other words... aside from diligently searching for traces of the Akatsuki, Jiraiya had also been busy "collecting material" everywhere.
Due to his vow, he feared being mocked by Kazuki, so he refrained from peeping at women bathing.
However, Jiraiya had his own methods. If I can't peek secretly, I'll just look openly!
While indulging in his pleasures, he'd have the women accompanying him cooperate—killing two birds with one stone.
He got his fun, collected his "material," and didn't delay his novel writing. A true trifecta.
It was clear the Hokage was furious. The Anbu ninja quickly retreated to relay the message to Jiraiya.
"Lord Jiraiya, the Hokage orders you to—"
Delivering the exact wording seemed inappropriate, but if he softened it, Jiraiya's unpredictable nature might lead to... complications.
"Ahahaha—"
Scratching his head with a laugh, Jiraiya strode into the village—though not in the direction of the Hokage's office.
"Tsunade must be worried I'm exhausted and wants me to rest at home first before meeting her. As expected of my dearest, most admirable, and handsomest toad sage, Jiraiya's best friend!"
"..."
Watching the narcissistic Jiraiya show no intention of heading to the Hokage's office, the long-suffering Anbu ninja finally relayed Tsunade's exact words:
"Lord Jiraiya, the Hokage commands you to get your ass to her office immediately."
"..."
Jiraiya's laughter died abruptly, his smug expression twisting into awkwardness.
Noticing the Anbu's strange look, he coughed.
"Ahem, Tsunade's as temperamental as ever. Fine, I'll graciously go see her first."
He'd originally planned to visit Naruto and rest afterward, but now he had no choice.
True to form, he climbed through the window—walking through the door was too much trouble.
Perched on the windowsill, he waved cheerfully.
"Long time no see, Tsunade!"
"Get in here."
Tsunade glared, pointing at the floor.
"...Right."
Sensing her mood, Jiraiya obediently hopped inside.
Tsunade sat stiffly in her chair, arms crossed, staring daggers at him.
Under her withering gaze, Jiraiya hurriedly dumped a pile of scrolls onto the desk.
"Ahem, these are intel reports from the past few years. Not much on the Akatsuki, but plenty on other villages."
"You'd better read this first."
Tsunade tossed him another scroll.
Jiraiya opened it, puzzled.
Seconds later, his eyes widened.
"Impossible! Since when did the Akatsuki have the guts for this? Are they trying to provoke the Five Great Nations again?!"
Damn it! When I was searching everywhere, they hid like rats. The moment I return to Konoha, they sneak into Kirigakure and clash with the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura?
"The Akatsuki's actions have always challenged the Five Nations' limits!"
Tsunade rolled her eyes.
"Look closer. Doesn't this feel... off to you?"
Jiraiya frowned, scanning the report again.
"...They lured Yagura out of the village?"
"And?"
"Uh..."
He tugged at his wild hair until Tsunade's disgusted look made him stop.
"It doesn't add up. The Akatsuki gains nothing from attacking Kiri. Even if Obito wants revenge, this isn't the way. What's the real play here?"
He sensed deeper machinations but couldn't pinpoint them.
"Yagura's a perfect jinchūriki. Obito and two Akatsuki members wouldn't be enough to take him down," Tsunade hinted.
"So... the Six Paths of Pain intervened?"
Jiraiya thought of Nagato.
"Still, if Pain was involved—given how Amegakure's war played out—Yagura wouldn't have survived. He was severely injured, so how did Kiri rescue him?"
Logically, if the enemy was already down, why wait for reinforcements?
You'd either take them hostage or finish the job.
Hostage...
"Obito's ambitions are terrifying. Is he trying to control Kirigakure?!"
The Kyuubi attack flashed in his mind—Obito manipulating the Nine-Tails. Kazuki had mentioned the Sharingan's power over tailed beasts.
And Yagura, unfortunately, was a jinchūriki.
Even a perfect one was still a jinchūriki.
"Tsunade, this could trigger a storm across the shinobi world. Should we warn the other villages?"
Jiraiya's playful demeanor vanished, replaced by grim seriousness.
Tsunade sighed.
"Kazuki and I suspect the same—something even more insane. The Akatsuki might be using Yagura to ignite another Great Shinobi War."
"Then we—!"
Jiraiya tensed.
Why wait? Expose their plot! Alert the villages!
"Where's the proof? We have none."
"..."
After a stunned pause, Jiraiya cursed. "Damn it!"
Acting recklessly would backfire. Accusing the Mizukage of being controlled would enrage Kiri, painting Konoha as villains.
Even if other villages grew wary, so what?
Had Konoha been unprepared during past wars? Yet they'd still been dragged into conflict.
Except for the Second War's assault on Amegakure, Konoha had always been reacting.
Sometimes, even when you see disaster coming, you have no choice but to face it head-on.