As soon as Naruto and the others left, there was a bang. The smoke cleared, and Jiraiya appeared in the Hokage's office.
"What a capable kid—she was able to improve the Rasengan to this extent."
"Of course. You're not even considering whose daughter she is." Tsunade looked proud.
"Speaking of that, Tsunade, I remember you told me that Chinatsu's ninjutsu was taught by that guy Fujiwara Kirito, right?" Jiraiya asked again.
"Yes, didn't I already tell you? That guy Fujiwara Kirito seemed to have noticed Chinatsu a long time ago." Tsunade's eyes flickered with unease.
"Is it really just that?" Jiraiya narrowed his eyes slightly. "That kind of perfect Sage Jutsu, which surpasses the three great holy places, can't be something taught just because he noticed her talent. And Tsunade, don't you think Chinatsu looks a lot like Fujiwara Kirito?"
"You bastard, if you've got something to say, just say it. Don't dance around it." Tsunade stood up and slammed the desk.
Seeing Tsunade get angry, Jiraiya, who had been serious a moment ago, quickly changed his tone, waving his hands and laughing nervously, "It's nothing! I just think Chinatsu and Kirito look quite similar, I definitely didn't mean anything else!"
"You better not." Tsunade sat back down, rubbing her temples. "Tell me already—what did you really come here to say? Has the Akatsuki made a move again?"
The smile vanished from Jiraiya's face. He nodded solemnly. "While Naruto was in the Sand Village and later in the Land of Grass, I was secretly gathering intel on the Akatsuki organization."
"Since their target is the Jinchūriki, I also investigated the hosts scattered across the ninja world."
"I passed the intelligence I gathered about Akatsuki to the Kage of every village with a tailed beast."
"It turns out the Akatsuki organization moved faster than we imagined. Before taking Gaara's tailed beast, they had already captured two others."
"Not long ago, we received word that the Two-Tails Jinchūriki from Kumogakure failed to return from a mission."
"In other words, counting the One-Tail and the Two-Tails, the Akatsuki already possesses four tailed beasts."
"That's troublesome." Tsunade rubbed her forehead, visibly disturbed. Her thoughts were conflicted—she still had no idea what her little man's true goal was.
"That's not the only issue," Jiraiya continued. "What really caught my attention was the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki of Takigakure."
"What?" Tsunade looked puzzled.
Jiraiya explained, "Because Takigakure rarely communicates with outsiders, I went there myself. Among the four tailed beasts Akatsuki has taken, the Seven-Tails is one of them."
"We all know that when a tailed beast is extracted from its host, unless they're revived like Gaara was—at the cost of the caster's life—the Jinchūriki will die."
"But what shocked me was the former Seven-Tails Jinchūriki. Even though the beast was removed from her, she's still alive."
Tsunade already suspected that Kirito had fed her a Senzu Bean, but still asked calmly, "Any information on the Jinchūriki?"
"This came from the Takikage." Jiraiya pulled an envelope from his cloak. "The Seven-Tails host participated in the last Chunin Exams co-hosted by Sunagakure and Konoha. But on the way back, she was attacked. Two jonin bodyguards were killed, and she disappeared for nearly a week."
"When she reappeared, it was at the site of the ambush, but she remembered nothing. I examined her closely. There's no seal suppressing her memory—someone must've used an advanced genjutsu to erase it."
"In the current ninja world, aside from the two surviving Uchiha, the only one capable of that is Fujiwara Kirito."
"But what puzzles me is this: that guy, who even toys with Orochimaru for fun, isn't someone who'd go out of his way to save others. Resurrection techniques come with costs. It's hard to imagine he'd pay that kind of price for a Jinchūriki with no connections or political value."
Tsunade, scanning the report in her hand, twitched her lips slightly. Jiraiya didn't know—but she did. That guy must've saved her just because she was a pretty girl. If it were some gruff man, he wouldn't have lifted a finger.
Jiraiya went on, "Another thing—just like Yamato mentioned in his report, Qianye had plenty of chances to capture Naruto, but didn't. The same was true during the Kazekage rescue mission. That umbrella and chair left behind—it all felt deliberate."
"All of this seems strange."
"Unless…" Jiraiya gave Tsunade a long, searching look. He had long been suspicious of her mysterious husband's identity.
He'd even done some private investigation.
And the result was shocking. Tsunade had traveled to Tanzaku Town shortly before she became pregnant.
At that same time, members of Akatsuki had appeared there.
The timing was far too coincidental.
Add to that how much Chinatsu resembled Kirito, and the fact that Kirito personally taught her perfect Sage Jutsu—
If not for the massive age gap, he would've suspected Kirito to be Tsunade's husband.
"Unless what?" Tsunade narrowed her eyes. Her five fingers clenched into a fist, bones cracking, ready to pummel someone.
"Unless…" Hearing the crack of her knuckles, Jiraiya swallowed hard and changed course quickly, "Unless Kirito hasn't completely abandoned his feelings for Konoha… or he has some other motive."
"That's more like it." Tsunade relaxed, her expression softening.
Jiraiya turned away from her and let out a long breath. Inwardly, he was sweating—if he'd blurted out what he really suspected, he'd be in the hospital right now.
Meanwhile, in the Hidden Rain Village—inside the Akatsuki's cave base—
Present were Fujiwara Kirito, Pakura, Konan, and Pain.
"Leader, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki has been captured," said Zetsu as a massive pitcher plant emerged from the ground, splitting open to reveal a blood-soaked, unconscious woman.
"Good job. Where are Kakuzu and Hidan?" Pain asked coldly.
Zetsu chuckled. "Kakuzu said their assignment was completed, and after being delayed for so long, he's going to hunt down some high-bounty targets to restock the treasury."
"Hidan said sacrificing two Jinchūriki wasn't enough. He wants another for Jashin."
"Kakuzu's targeting Chiriku of the Fire Temple. Hidan… he's heading to the Land of Fire. He's got his eyes on the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. Seems he's still bitter over what Deidara said."
"The two got along well enough and left together. What now, Leader? Should I call them back?"
(End of this chapter)