"Leader, do we need to call Kakuzu and the others back?" Black Zetsu asked Pain, his voice slightly hoarse.
"No, that won't be necessary." Pain shook his head. "We've already obtained four Tailed Beasts, and the final phase of the organization's plan is halfway complete. There's no need to worry too much. If Kakuzu and the others actually manage to capture the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, that would be a bonus."
"I understand. Then I'll take my leave." Black Zetsu replied, controlling the pitcher plant to slowly sink back into the ground and disappear.
"It seems we don't need to begin the sealing today. In that case, we'll take our leave as well, Leader."
After hearing the conversation between Pain and Zetsu, Fujiwara Kirito already knew what was coming—the "Undying Duo" was about to meet their end, and Sarutobi Asuma would die too. Speaking of which, the reason he didn't deal with Asuma during the Chūnin Exams was because he knew Asuma's fate was sealed at Hidan's hands.
So, he just let things play out.
"Wait." Just as Kirito and Pakura were about to leave, Pain's voice echoed behind them.
"What is it, Leader? I've got soup on the stove back home," Kirito turned back lazily.
"Kirito, and Pakura, the two of you have been slacking off lately." Pain's mouth twitched slightly.
"Really?" Kirito and Pakura looked at each other.
Pakura gave an awkward smile, "It's true, Kirito. Since the capture of the Five-Tails, we haven't really done many missions."
Konan glared at Kirito and added, "Even the last time when we were supposed to pursue Orochimaru at the Heaven and Earth Bridge in the Land of Grass, you missed the timing because of your laziness, and Orochimaru escaped."
That was part of the excuse Kirito had made up in the beginning. After all, he never intended to kill Orochimaru.
Still, he had to keep up appearances.
Right away—
Kirito stroked his chin, looking seriously at Konan and feigning innocence. "Wasn't it because you didn't notify me early enough? That's why I was late, right?"
"You—" Konan gritted her teeth in frustration. Then Pain interrupted, "That's enough, Konan."
Pain turned to Kirito and said, "Kirito, the final stage of our plan is halfway complete. You can't keep slacking off. I'm giving you a mission next."
Before Kirito could object, Pain continued, "The Eight-Tails' jinchūriki. Right now, we have information on the other Tailed Beasts, including the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, but the Eight-Tails remains a mystery. You're not required to capture it yet. Your current task is to find its exact location."
"Alright. Leave it to me." Kirito agreed immediately, which surprised even Painand Konan.
Was this really the same lazy Kirito who never wanted to do any mission?
What they didn't know was that Kirito, having knowledge of the original story, already knew exactly where the Eight-Tails was hidden.
Yunlei Gorge, the place where Killer Bee had humiliated the Seven-Tails' jinchūriki in the original timeline.
Pain was momentarily stunned before nodding. "Very well. You can depart now. I'll notify you when the Two-Tails is ready for sealing."
"No need for that. It won't be too late to leave after the sealing. The Hidden Cloud Village isn't that large, and the chakra of a jinchūriki is different from an ordinary person. With my sensing ability, it'll only take a few days to locate them. Leaving now would just alert them. After all, their Two-Tails jinchūriki was just captured."
Kirito shook his head.
He wasn't about to let go of the corpse of the Two-Tails' jinchūriki.
Although the system hadn't triggered yet, there was a possibility a situation like with the Seven-Tails' jinchūriki might occur again.
After all, he had to milk the benefits to the last drop, right?
Also, this would be a good opportunity to observe Asuma's death up close.
In the original story, that guy died quite pathetically. It wouldn't hurt to confirm things in person.
Hearing Kirito's logic, Pain found it reasonable and didn't press further. He decided to let Kirito depart after the sealing ritual.
After leaving the cave, Kirito left Pakura and headed straight to Kurenai Yuhi's room.
Kurenai had just returned from a mission. After being apart so long, their reunion was like rain after a drought, and they spent an entire day and night in passion.
Exhausted, Kurenai collapsed into Kirito's arms, panting heavily.
"Why are you so aggressive today? That's not like you." Kurenai leaned against Kirito, and he gently kissed her bare hand.
"Because I won't be able to fool around with you for the next nine months," Kurenai said, her face blushing, eyes shifting between shyness, joy, and a trace of worry.
"Nine months?" Kirito was stunned for a moment. Then he remembered the night they spent together after Gaara's capture by Deidara about a month ago. His black eyes flashed with excitement. He quickly checked Kurenai's pulse and exclaimed, "Kurenai, are you pregnant?"
"Mhm." Kurenai responded, her voice as soft as a mosquito's.
"That's great news." Kirito was overjoyed. He couldn't help but recall Sarutobi Mirai—Asuma Sarutobi's posthumous daughter from the original story. Talk about fate being strange.
Although Kurenai had ended up with him instead, the timeline of the pregnancy hadn't changed much. In the end, it was his gain.
"But... is this really okay?" Kurenai's concern surfaced.
Kirito understood what she was worried about. He gently ran his hand over her shoulder and comforted her, "Don't worry. I'll handle everything."
"And now it's time I tell you something." Kirito took a deep breath and said seriously, "There's something you probably didn't know."
"What is it?" Kurenai looked puzzled.
"Actually... besides you and Izumi, I have many other women outside. Some of them are powerful, and some hold high positions. One of them is even in this village. She gave birth to a daughter for me."
High-ranking? Gave birth to a daughter? And in Konoha?
Kurenai wasn't stupid. She quickly figured out what Kirito meant and began running through the names of Konoha's higher-ups.
First off, it couldn't be Utatane Koharu—she had a son, and all those old men like Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo, and Mitokado Homura were out of the question.
Plus, Kirito had taste. He liked beautiful women, not women in their seventies or eighties.
That left only one likely candidate.
Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage—who also had a daughter around seven years old.
Thinking back, Tsunade's daughter hadn't shown much resemblance when she was younger, but the older she got, the more she looked like Kirito.
"So, you've figured it out." Kirito smiled.
"How could this happen? How did Lady Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin, end up with you—and even have a daughter that old? Just how old were you back then?!" Kurenai asked in disbelief.
(End of this chapter)