Seeing the two of them like this, Tsunade understood. They had already discussed everything in private before coming here to inform her together.
Hiruzen stayed silent. He did not speak right away and only took a slow puff from his pipe.
Jiraiya's expression turned serious.
"Tsunade, I understand your concerns."
"The threat of the Akatsuki is already clear from the intelligence extracted from Kisame's head. Their strength is hard to measure, and there's also that mysterious person calling himself 'Uchiha Madara' behind them."
"But precisely because of that, Naruto needs to grow faster. He needs to become stronger. Staying in the village and training step by step is too slow. He needs to see a wider world, and more importantly... he needs the experience of facing real danger and real battles."
Jiraiya's gaze sharpened.
"Besides, although the Akatsuki's Eye of the Moon Plan is insane, according to our intelligence analysis, they need to collect the Tailed Beasts in a certain order."
"It is still far too early for them to target the Nine-Tails. Their attention is probably focused more on Shinichi right now."
He grinned.
"I'll be there, Tsunade. Even if something really does happen, I can at least protect Naruto and carve out a path to escape. Besides..."
He glanced at Hiruzen.
"The Old Man agrees with me too. Naruto can't be protected in a greenhouse forever. Some risks have to be taken!"
"After all... he is Minato's child!"
Hearing this, Tsunade's fingers stopped tapping on the desk.
As fellow ninjas who had fought together for many years, Tsunade knew better than anyone that Minato Namikaze, the Golden Flash who shone like sunlight, had always been the disciple Jiraiya was most proud of.
The office fell quiet for a moment.
"Heh..." Tsunade suddenly chuckled.
"One after another... none of you are easy to deal with."
She rubbed her brow and let out a long breath, looking both resigned and helpless.
"Since you've already decided, and the Old Man has also nodded... anything more I say would be pointless."
She looked up and stared at Jiraiya sharply. "Jiraiya, listen carefully."
"I want you to guarantee that no matter what happens, you will bring Naruto back in one piece... and yourself too!"
Meeting her gaze, Jiraiya smiled knowingly.
"Yeah, I guarantee it!"
Hearing Jiraiya's promise, Tsunade nodded silently, treating the matter as settled for now. Then she turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had not said much since entering.
"Old Man," she asked directly, "you didn't come here today just to accompany this brat Jiraiya and notify me, did you? Speak. What else is there?"
"You guessed it." Seeing the topic turn to him, Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled. "Yes, there is one more thing."
He paused, as if weighing his words.
"It's about Sasuke."
"With his current strength and the potential of the Sharingan, ordinary missions and training are already no longer enough for him to make a real breakthrough. His personality and talent both mean he needs harsher training."
Hiruzen looked at Tsunade.
"My idea is... to have him enter the Anbu."
"The Anbu?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. She thought for a moment as Uchiha Sasuke's files flashed through her mind, then nodded.
"With his ability and disposition, the Anbu is indeed a suitable place. Fine, I have no objection. I'll arrange for him to enter the Anbu later."
As she spoke, her tone shifted, and her brow furrowed again.
"But in that case... Team 7 will only have Sakura Haruno left. That fellow Kakashi... tsk!"
Thinking about reassigning people and balancing the strength of each team, Tsunade felt a familiar headache coming on.
But before she could start thinking it through...
Poof!
A thick cloud of white smoke suddenly exploded in the center of the office. Hiruzen and Jiraiya looked over curiously.
But Tsunade and Shizune...
The moment they saw Katsuyu's outline appear inside the white smoke, their hearts sank.
A summon of this size...
A familiar bad feeling crept up their backs.
Shizune, who had been silent until now, dropped the pen in her hand onto the documents with a clack.
Tsunade also sat up straight without thinking. The small bit of ease she had felt a moment ago vanished at once, replaced by a terrible premonition.
The smoke cleared.
Katsuyu was coiled on the carpet. Her three-meter-long body was extremely noticeable inside the spacious Hokage's Office.
Shizune's lips trembled as she was the first to ask.
"Kat... Lady Katsuyu... you wouldn't be bringing news about Lord Shinichi again, would you?"
Katsuyu's antennae swayed gently. Seeing that everyone in the Hokage's Office was part of Konoha's leadership, she finally spoke in a timid voice.
"Lady Shizune... you guessed correctly."
The middle of her body began to move. Katsuyu opened her mouth slightly and spat out an unconscious figure wrapped inside, placing him on the office floor.
"Lord Shinichi asked me to bring the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Roshi of Iwagakure... back to Konoha!"
For a moment, the office fell silent.
Shizune covered her mouth, her eyes wide.
Tsunade covered her forehead with one hand, looking helpless.
Hiruzen's fingers froze around his pipe as he stared at Roshi on the floor, his gaze turning sharp.
The smile on Jiraiya's face disappeared. He took half a step forward and looked at the unconscious Roshi on the floor with a frown.
"It's Roshi..."
Jiraiya's voice was low. His eyes drifted slightly as he recalled something from long ago.
"I didn't expect even he would be captured by Shinichi... Back then, when Minato and I were on a mission, Roshi and Han of the Five-Tails intercepted us. That battle was quite dangerous..."
Listening to Jiraiya's murmur, Hiruzen silently took another puff from his pipe.
Although Shinichi had never clearly said why he wanted to capture the Jinchuriki of other nations and bring them back to the village, Hiruzen understood.
It was nothing more than acting before the Akatsuki and taking control of as much scattered Tailed Beast power as possible.
Shinichi was using his own way to protect Konoha, and even... to protect the ninja world. So what reason did Hiruzen Sarutobi have not to support him?
"Hmph..."
Tsunade slowly lowered the hand covering her forehead and sighed.
"The Akatsuki... and that mysterious person pretending to be Uchiha Madara..."
"What a headache... how did the ninja world suddenly become like this?"
After saying that, she looked at Katsuyu.
"I understand. Roshi will be placed in the village's special prison for now and kept under strict supervision."
"Thank you for your hard work, Katsuyu. If there's nothing else..."
"There is, Lady Tsunade."
Katsuyu interrupted her. Her antennae curled and uncurled uneasily, making her look somewhat hesitant.
Everyone in the office focused on her again.
"Lord Shinichi..." Katsuyu paused for a moment, as if recalling those terrifying scenes and words. "He also asked me to bring you and the other lords a message..."
"After he successfully captures the Six-Tails Jinchuriki..."
Katsuyu repeated the words exactly.
"...He will personally go to the Land of Earth."
"Alone..."
"To attack Iwagakure!"
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