Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't the only person to sense Shukaku and the Nine-Tails' overwhelming chakra signatures.
Deep underground at the Root headquarters, Danzo Shimura also detected both presences in an instant. He'd been examining the corpse Orochimaru had left behind, studying the evidence of body-swapping techniques with intense focus. The moment those distinctive chakra waves registered in his senses, he immediately set aside his research.
An image of that boy with the irritatingly carefree smile flashed through Danzo's mind. His expression darkened with uncertainty. He didn't know what had transpired yet, but the Nine-Tails' sudden manifestation made Danzo's thoughts jump immediately to one conclusion: the Jinchūriki had lost control.
Abandoning the research laboratory without ceremony, Danzo rushed toward the Hokage's office, his cane striking the stone floor with sharp, rhythmic impacts.
He shoved the office door open without bothering to knock. Hiruzen shot him a distinctly dissatisfied look at the intrusion, but Danzo ignored the rebuke completely. He walked directly to Hiruzen's desk, his eye fixing on the scene displayed in the crystal ball.
"This isn't a rampage?" Danzo's voice carried genuine confusion. He stared at the crystal ball's surface, processing what he saw. "Then what..."
The twenty-meter-tall Naruto standing casually beside the Nine-Tails bore absolutely no resemblance to a Jinchūriki losing control. When Jinchūriki tapped into their tailed beasts' power, the transformation manifested completely differently from this.
Which left only one logical conclusion: Naruto possessed some method to separate himself from the tailed beast entirely. Some technique that maintained the Nine-Tails' independence while keeping the creature under his influence.
"This boy has no interest in being a ninja at all..." Danzo glanced at Hiruzen Sarutobi, the observation emerging with sudden clarity.
Ever since appearing at the Uchiha massacre scene, Danzo had investigated Naruto extensively. His findings revealed that the boy knew remarkably few ninjutsu techniques. His basic combat rarely involved ninja arts whatsoever. He simply used his fists to overwhelm opponents through raw physical superiority.
"Danzo, put away whatever schemes you're contemplating." Hiruzen's voice carried steel-hard warning as he stared at his old rival. "The current Naruto isn't someone we can manipulate or control at will."
Naruto's strength had apparently improved even further since their last encounter. Hiruzen felt compelled to warn Danzo directly. If this stubborn fool lost his mind and provoked Naruto recklessly, the consequences could prove catastrophic.
For now, Naruto hadn't demonstrated active hostility toward Konoha. They should let sleeping dogs lie.
Yes, the boy seemed somewhat dissatisfied with Hiruzen's concealment of his heritage. But that dissatisfaction remained directed at Hiruzen personally. They could still have a heart-to-heart conversation, settle their differences through honest dialogue. Everything Hiruzen had done served Konoha's development and security. On this fundamental point, he desperately hoped Naruto could understand his position.
An old man's simple dream was merely to see Konoha flourish and grow strong.
If Naruto's resentment proved too deep to overcome through explanation, then Hiruzen could always push Danzo forward as a scapegoat. After all, the leak regarding Naruto's status as the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki had originated from Danzo's machinations. That revelation had caused Naruto's childhood to suffer endless coldness and rejection from the villagers.
Sacrificing Danzo to vent Naruto's anger would be politically correct. Strategically sound.
However, Danzo's earlier observation made Hiruzen think more deeply about past encounters. He remembered the first time seeing Naruto on the back mountain all those years ago. The boy had been performing simple exercises, movements that seemed like basic physical conditioning at best. Novel in their execution perhaps, but Hiruzen hadn't paid them serious attention at the time.
Now, looking back with new perspective? Those "simple exercises" might not have been simple at all. Otherwise, how could such training produce a twenty-meter-tall transformed state? How could pure physical conditioning generate power rivaling tailed beasts?
After listening to Hiruzen's stern warning, Danzo's lips curled slightly. "Hiruzen, don't concern yourself with my actions. I know exactly what to do."
Hiruzen stared at Danzo, his gaze penetrating. He continued speaking with deliberate emphasis. "You'd better know what you're doing. And by the way, after this incident concludes, I plan to publicly announce Naruto's true identity to the entire village. After all, Minato's final wish was for the villagers to treat Naruto as a hero's son deserving respect. Not as a monster to be feared and scorned."
Hiruzen's voice dropped lower, tinged with regret. "A belated hero is still a hero."
In the end, Hiruzen released a heavy sigh. He could perform the Reaper Death Seal himself, which meant he understood the technique's mechanics intimately. The seal could trap the chakra signatures of the deceased within the Jinchūriki's containment. Reading between the lines, Hiruzen felt almost certain that Minato and Kushina's chakra had been sealed inside Naruto's body. The boy had likely already met his parents' spiritual imprints.
Therefore, further procrastination served no purpose. Hiruzen needed to provide Naruto with proper explanation and recognition as quickly as possible. Let the boy finally feel the village's genuine care and appreciation.
Danzo showed no particular concern for whatever Hiruzen wanted to do regarding Naruto's public status. He responded dismissively, "Handle it however you see fit. I'm currently occupied studying Orochimaru's body-swapping mechanics. I don't have time for these trivial administrative matters."
"Trivial?!" Hiruzen's temper flared hot. "You consider this TRIVIAL?!"
His hand slammed down on the desk, sending his pipe bouncing from the impact. Anger colored every word. "Naruto serves as our village's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki! Any public demonstration of his strength can never be dismissed as trivial! Furthermore, after you return to Root, you will immediately compose a formal apology letter. Then you will personally deliver it to Naruto and offer sincere apologies for leaking his Jinchūriki status all those years ago!"
Hiruzen's voice rose with each sentence. "We absolutely must handle Naruto's emotions carefully now! We cannot allow him to develop deeper dissatisfaction with Konoha itself!"
His frustration boiled over completely. "If you hadn't taken those unnecessary actions back then, I could still explain to Naruto that I concealed his heritage to strengthen his will and character! Now, thanks to your interference, I can't even offer that defense!"
Hiruzen's rage filled the office. Danzo's expression darkened considerably, his jaw clenching. But in the end, he didn't continue defending his past decisions. Instead, he simply stated flatly, "Understood. I'll compose an apology letter for Naruto."
After delivering this terse acknowledgment, Danzo turned and departed, his cane tapping an angry rhythm against the floor.
"Where are you going?" Hiruzen called after him.
"To write that apology letter."
The door closed with a decisive click.
"What a troublesome man..." Hiruzen pressed his palm against his forehead, genuine headache building behind his eyes. If not for their lifelong friendship, if not for certain matters that still required Danzo's particular expertise and endorsement, how could Hiruzen possibly tolerate the man until now?
"I still need to visit the scene personally. Things could spiral out of control otherwise." Hiruzen spoke to the empty office, his voice carrying quiet determination.
He immediately departed from the Hokage Building, moving swiftly toward Konoha's village entrance.
Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't the only shinobi to sense those two massive chakra fluctuations erupting at the village entrance. Various jonin throughout Konoha also detected the disturbance, their trained senses recognizing the distinctive signatures of tailed beasts.
Every Konoha ninja who sensed the commotion rushed toward the village entrance without hesitation. After all, when such a significant event occurred literally at their doorstep, they had to investigate directly. Only personal confirmation could provide peace of mind.
Jiraiya had spent yesterday evening collecting "research material" at the bathhouse, inspiration flooding his creative mind. After breakfast this morning, he'd hidden himself in his bedroom to draw illustrations for his next book. This would be another entry in the wildly popular "Icha Icha" series, one of his best-selling publications.
Of course, these particular materials couldn't be sold through legitimate channels. They required discreet black market distribution. Otherwise, the Konoha Police Force would confiscate everything immediately.
He'd just finished one illustration—a particularly detailed piece that captured essential visual elements with artistic precision. Jiraiya held it up, admiring his handiwork with deep satisfaction. He was preparing to begin the second illustration when sudden awareness crashed through his concentration.
That moment, Jiraiya sensed the overwhelming chakra signatures emanating from Konoha's entrance. His artistic focus shattered instantly. He set down his paintbrush, shoved his chair back, and rushed toward the door.
Bursting outside, Jiraiya discovered he wasn't the only one racing toward the village entrance. Multiple figures moved along the rooftops, all heading in the same direction.
"Lord Jiraiya! You've returned to the village?" A jonin called out in greeting, genuine pleasure lighting his features. "It's wonderful to see you again!"
Jiraiya offered a brief wave of acknowledgment but didn't slow his pace. Whatever was happening at that entrance demanded immediate attention.
The presence of not one but two tailed beasts manifesting simultaneously? That couldn't possibly be coincidence.
Something significant was unfolding, and Jiraiya needed to witness it with his own eyes.
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