The nightscape of Konoha.
A breeze swept through from the distant forest, carrying the scent of flowers and the aroma of alcohol.
Tsunade leaned against the low couch in the corner of the tavern, a few bottles of sake and empty plates scattered across the table, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.
Beside her, Marshtomp sat obediently, its round eyes blinking occasionally, accompanied by a soft gurgle as if echoing her laughter.
"Haha, this little guy is much better behaved than you, you pervert."
Tsunade raised her cup, her laughter tinged with drunkenness.
Jiraiya, sitting across from her, twitched his mouth and forced an awkward smile. "Hey, Tsunade, you're not seriously enjoying drinking with a fish, are you?"
"It's far more interesting than someone who spends all day peeping into bathhouses."
Tsunade shot him an annoyed glance before pouring a bit of sake for Marshtomp.
Marshtomp obediently sniffed the drink and let out a gentle gurgle, as if understanding human speech.
Then, it gave Jiraiya a blank stare, as if implying something.
Jiraiya scratched his head helplessly, forced to watch the two—one human and one beast—enjoying their drinks with enthusiasm.
But he quickly composed himself, the awkwardness on his face gradually replaced by seriousness.
"Tsunade, I didn't come here today just to drink."
"Hmm?"
Tsunade looked up, seemingly surprised.
Without further explanation, Jiraiya retrieved a small scroll from his robe.
He carefully unrolled it and gently placed it on the table.
A faintly glowing Ninja Beast Egg appeared steadily before them.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, swirling her cup lightly. "What's this?"
Jiraiya shook his head and pushed it toward her with a smile. "Take a closer look."
Tsunade leaned in and studied it for a few seconds before suddenly sensing an unusual aura.
Her expression shifted from indifference to mild surprise, and she glanced sideways at Marshtomp beside her.
"...Did it hatch from an egg like this too?"
"Yes." Jiraiya nodded, a hint of pride in his smile. "You guessed right. This is a Ninja Beast Egg. The Ninja Beasts that hatch from it are different from Summoning Beasts—their life forms depend on their masters."
"Really?"
"Touch it, and you'll know."
Tsunade set down her cup and reached out to touch the Ninja Beast Egg.
The moment her fingertip made contact, patterns emerged on the eggshell's surface, and its color shifted to pink.
Tsunade froze, her palm clearly sensing the initial stillness within the egg give way to a faint heartbeat.
Gentle and delicate, like the breath of a newborn.
"This thing..." she murmured, "It's strange, yet so tender."
She looked up, her gaze complex.
She had never been fond of accepting gifts, but at this moment, her expression visibly softened.
As her fingers lightly traced the eggshell, she seemed to glimpse the life forming inside.
"So that's how it is..."
Tsunade glanced at Marshtomp. "You were born through resonance with Jiraiya?"
At this question, Marshtomp looked at Jiraiya.
It seemed reluctant to admit this fact and simply took a sip of sake on its own.
Jiraiya: "..."
"Today is your birthday. I thought... I'd get you something special."
As he spoke, he secretly watched Tsunade's reaction.
Yet to his surprise, Tsunade suddenly let out a soft laugh, her smile carrying a rare gentleness.
"Thank you, Jiraiya."
She reached out and took the Ninja Beast Egg, her tone calm yet sincere.
"I really like this gift."
Jiraiya's smile froze for a moment before quietly transforming into contentment.
He was about to say something when Tsunade abruptly pulled him into a shoulder hug.
"Stop standing there foolishly, let's keep drinking!"
Tsunade's laughter regained its usual boldness as she raised the sake gourd and took a large swig, then patted Marshtomp's head.
"Drink one for me!"
"Gurgle!"
Marshtomp responded with a simple-minded sound.
Jiraiya sighed helplessly but couldn't help laughing along.
Hokage's Office.
A crystal ball floating in mid-air shimmered quietly.
Rippling light patterns flowed across its surface, reflecting the scene of Tsunade and Jiraiya drinking together.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the office, pipe in mouth, his gaze heavy as he silently watched everything unfold.
The wind chimes hanging from the eaves gently swayed in the breeze, producing clear, crisp sounds.
He slowly took a drag from his pipe, exhaling white smoke that dispersed into the air.
On his desk lay another intelligence report from the Anbu.
It was a detailed investigation report about the origin of this Ninja Beast Egg.
The conclusion, however, was both laughable and frustrating.
In the slum district of the Land of Rain.
A shop called the Breeding House was openly selling them.
"...What an absurd investigation."
Hiruzen murmured, his voice tinged with disbelief.
A place capable of creating new life forms, originating from such a location?
It was so ridiculous it almost seemed like a joke.
After multiple cross-verifications, the Breeding House did indeed exist.
What concerned him more was that both Jiraiya and Orochimaru had been active in the Land of Rain.
Moreover, both had moved about secretively without reporting to him...
Orochimaru not reporting was one thing, but Jiraiya hadn't reported either?
Hiruzen slowly extinguished his pipe, a thoughtful glint appearing in his eyes.
He opened another file on his desk, densely packed with recorded movement patterns and contact lists.
Orochimaru had recently made multiple private contacts with Danzo, while Danzo's Root organization was secretly deploying personnel to the Land of Rain.
This series of clues formed an intricate web pointing toward some unknown experiment.
He closed his eyes, rapidly sorting through the clues in his mind.
Danzo collaborating with Orochimaru.
New type of Ninja Beast Eggs appearing in the Land of Rain.
Jiraiya accidentally encountering and bringing back a sample.
Finally, a reasonable deduction emerged.
"An artificial chakra lifeform... modeled after the Tailed Beasts."
He opened a drawer and retrieved a scroll. As it unfurled, it revealed research materials on Forbidden Techniques left by the Second Hokage, Tobirama.
Hiruzen turned to a specific page where neat handwriting recorded:
Tailed Beasts are essentially chakra lifeforms.
Theoretically, if one could replicate the chakra and consciousness resonance pattern, Sub-Tailed Beasts could be created.
Hiruzen read slowly, his eyes profound.
"Lord Tobirama..."
He looked again at the egg.
"Orochimaru... Orochimaru."
He sighed softly, somewhat helplessly.
He began to ramble a bit, even though the Third Hokage wasn't particularly old yet.
"Your talent..."
He closed the documents, ash slowly falling onto the desk.
Then he retrieved another piece of intelligence, which recorded that Root had secretly conducted another project over the past few years.
Small-Scale Artificial Tailed Beast Experiment.
Danzo, regarding the experiment Orochimaru was testing, why did Jiraiya get involved?
However, it now appears this research has already yielded results.
Thinking this, the Third Hokage decided to adopt a wait-and-see attitude toward the matter.
He would let Danzo act freely.
After all, once these small artificial Tailed Beasts are perfected through testing, it would be tremendously beneficial for Konoha.