"The Jinchuriki were captured? What happened?"
Aoba was surprised when he heard Tsunade's words.
By right, Nagato shouldn't start capturing the tailed beasts until about a year later.
'Did something special make him move early?'
'Or… did Black Zetsu begin to act?'
Tsunade didn't answer. Instead, she looked toward Kurotsuchi, "You tell him."
"Mm," Kurotsuchi didn't say anything extra and directly began explaining the situation in full.
In short, the incident started with Iwagakure.
First, the Four-Tails' Jinchuriki, Roshi, was attacked while operating outside the village and disappeared without a trace.
Then, the Five-Tails' Jinchuriki, Han, also went missing during the investigation.
Soon after, the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki, Killer Bee of Kumogakure, was attacked as well.
However, the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki clearly wasn't like the others. Since he was always inside the village, although he suffered serious injuries, he still managed to hold out until the Fourth Raikage arrived and drove the attackers away.
If one incident could be called an accident, the same thing happening again and again could no longer be dismissed as coincidence.
Onoki and the Fourth Raikage had both realized that a hidden power in the shinobi world was now targeting the Jinchuriki of every village.
Because the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki had fought against the attackers, they already knew which organization they were facing.
Those people all wore matching black cloaks with red clouds, clearly part of one organization.
And Onoki happened to know that organization. Over the years, he had even hired Akatsuki to do plenty of dirty work.
Combined with the earlier intelligence about Uchiha Madara, they now suspected that Akatsuki might have some connection to Madara's possible revival.
So neither dared to handle the matter alone.
After contacting each other, Onoki and the Fourth Raikage decided to invite the other three great ninja villages to meet once more in the Land of Iron and hold a Five Kage Summit.
A joint invitation from two major villages carried considerable weight.
"Akatsuki, huh…", Aoba blinked, surprised to find that Nagato had really started to act.
He also noticed the meaningful look in Tsunade's eyes. After all, there was a former deputy leader of Akatsuki living in his house.
Now that Akatsuki had begun targeting tailed beasts again, it was indeed time for a serious talk.
Of course, this wasn't something he could discuss in front of Kurotsuchi.
That was a Konoha secret. Very few in the village even knew about Konan's true identity.
However, Aoba's transference seal on Terumi Mei hadn't been triggered, nor had there been any news of Gaara being attacked.
It seemed only the Jinchuriki of Iwagakure and Kumogakure had been targeted so far.
That meant Nagato still remembered their agreement.
Right now, the One-Tail, Two-Tails, Three-Tails, and Nine-Tails belonged to Aoba.
Once Nagato gathered the remaining tailed beasts, they would settle ownership through a final battle.
Although it was mostly for Konan's sake, with the power both men possessed, they did have the right to make such a pact.
If Nagato lost to Aoba, then Akatsuki, in his eyes, was nothing more than a mob.
But if Aoba lost to Nagato, Konoha… well, Konoha actually did have people capable of stopping him.
Might Guy could open all Eight Gates, or Naruto could just unleash the Nine-Tails.
Nagato really wouldn't have an easy time.
The difference between tailed beasts themselves was even greater than the difference between humans and dogs.
"Right."
Just as Aoba was lost in thought, Kurotsuchi suddenly spoke again.
"What is it?", Aoba asked in confusion.
Kurotsuchi said, "The Fourth Raikage personally witnessed that the one who attacked the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki was Konoha's rogue ninja, Uchiha Itachi."
"Uchiha Itachi?"
Both of them were surprised.
But after thinking about it, they found it made perfect sense.
After all, when Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki came to Konoha before, it was precisely to capture a Jinchuriki.
However, both Tsunade and Aoba knew Uchiha Itachi's true identity, Konoha's undercover agent.
Tsunade's face was serious, "That means, in this case, Konoha can't avoid responsibility. We'll head to the Land of Iron tomorrow."
Konoha now held sway over three other villages, so no matter how one looked at it, attending the Five Kage Summit was beneficial. Besides, Tsunade wanted to give herself a little vacation, a chance to get out of the village for once.
As for village affairs, there were plenty of Hokage assistants. Missing one Tsunade wouldn't make a difference.
She looked over at Aoba again, "Brat, make sure you're ready. We're leaving tomorrow morning."
"Just the two of us?", Aoba blinked and pointed at himself.
"Is there a problem?"
"What about Shizune-nee?"
Tsunade frowned slightly, speaking in a very proper tone, "Shizune is the Hokage's secretary, so she needs to stay in the village and handle affairs. You've been idle lately anyway, so you'll come with me."
"Or are you saying you don't want to?"
By the end, Tsunade's gaze was practically threatening.
"Of course I want to."
Aoba sighed helplessly. The way Tsunade looked now didn't resemble someone going to a Five Kage Summit at all, more like she was heading off on a honeymoon trip.
Still, with him around, Konoha really had nothing to worry about.
As for Uchiha Itachi, if Kurotsuchi hadn't mentioned him today, Aoba might have completely forgotten about the man.
He should probably meet Nagato again soon. There was no longer any need for him to keep up the undercover act inside Akatsuki.
If Uchiha Itachi wanted to, he could return to Konoha anytime.
Aoba's answer made Tsunade very satisfied. She finally turned to Kurotsuchi and asked politely,
"And you? Are you going straight back to your village, or coming with us to the Land of Iron?"
Kurotsuchi thought for a moment and then asked eagerly, "I want to go with you to the Land of Iron, is that okay?"
Her grandfather thought her strength wasn't enough, so he'd only sent her to deliver the message and didn't plan to bring her to such an important event as the Five Kage Summit.
'Tsk!'
"Hmm?"
Kurotsuchi blinked. She could've sworn she just heard Tsunade make an annoyed "tsk" sound.
But when she looked again, there wasn't any sign of it.
"In that case, you can come with us tomorrow," Tsunade's tone was calm.
"That's great! Thank you, Lady Tsunade."
Getting her answer, Kurotsuchi instantly threw aside her earlier doubts.
"Alright, if there's nothing else, you two should get ready. We leave in the morning."
Tsunade nodded. As for Akatsuki, she'd wait until tonight to talk privately with the brat about that.
———
Not long after, Shizune returned and found Tsunade alone in the office.
"Already finished talking?"
Tsunade nodded and instructed her, "Shizune, for the next few days, you'll handle the Hokage's work. Tomorrow I'm taking that brat to the Five Kage Summit."
"Ah?", Shizune froze, then immediately realized Tsunade's wicked intent. She hesitated, saying, "Lady Tsunade, for the Five Kage Summit... isn't it standard to bring two guards?"
Tsunade looked completely unconcerned, "It's fine. That brat alone counts for several guards. Also, while I'm away, you'll be the acting Hokage."
"Alright then."
Shizune pouted helplessly and could only agree.