After hearing Tsunade's reply, Nara Shikaku pondered for a moment before speaking again.
"Lady Hokage, when exactly do we depart?"
"Let's leave in three days. There are still some matters in the village that need arranging."
Kakashi and Nara Shikaku both nodded slowly. Just then, urgent knocking sounded at the door.
"Come in," Tsunade called.
The door opened, and the person who entered was Yamashiro Aoba. His expression was anxious as he lowered his head to report, "Lady Hokage, there's been a major discovery regarding the Akatsuki."
Tsunade's brows furrowed slightly. "What information?"
Yamashiro Aoba then raised his head.
"It's about the Akatsuki member we captured alive last time—Kisame Hoshigaki. After extracting his memories, we uncovered a shocking fact."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone focused, listening intently to what he would say next.
"The one behind the Akatsuki… is Uchiha Madara!"
Hearing that name, everyone was stunned. Tsunade shot to her feet, her pupils shrinking.
"What's going on? Didn't Uchiha Madara die decades ago? Aoba, are you certain this information is accurate?"
Cold sweat dripped from Yamashiro Aoba's temple as he nodded slightly.
"Lady Hokage, the information is accurate. In Kisame Hoshigaki's memories, he personally met Uchiha Madara. There's also another piece of intelligence—regarding why the Akatsuki are capturing Tailed Beasts. It's for something called the 'Eye of the Moon Plan.'"
The Eye of the Moon Plan? What was that? Tsunade was puzzled. Nara Shikaku and Kakashi exchanged a glance and shook their heads in unison.
Yamashiro Aoba then explained everything Kisame Hoshigaki knew about the Eye of the Moon Plan.
"Revive the Ten-Tails and cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi, plunging the entire world into an illusion…" Nara Shikaku muttered, stroking his chin.
"We have to inform the other four Kage about this. It seems this Five Kage Summit is critically important. If things go wrong, the entire shinobi world could descend into chaos." Tsunade lowered her head as she spoke quietly.
Soon after, Yamashiro Aoba, Kakashi, and Nara Shikaku left the Hokage's office together.
Tsunade turned her gaze toward the sky and remained silent for a long time.
...
Meanwhile, inside the Hidden Leaf Village, Nagato and Konan were hiding together in a narrow alley.
"Nagato, should we contact Rorin for this operation?" Konan lowered her head in thought for a moment, then looked at Nagato and asked.
Nagato slowly shook his head.
"We can't involve Rorin in this matter. First, we can't rely on him all the time. Second, if he gets dragged into this, it might expose our relationship."
"We'll just have to spend a bit more time finding where Kisame is being held ourselves," Nagato added.
After that, the two of them began moving through the Hidden Leaf Village, searching for isolated Leaf shinobi.
Whenever they found one, Nagato used the Human Path's mind-reading ability to probe their memories for any information about Kisame.
Afterward, he would simply knock the Leaf shinobi unconscious. Of course, he no longer intended to kill any Leaf shinobi.
After searching the memories of ten Leaf shinobi and compiling their information, they finally learned Kisame Hoshigaki's detention location.
"What next, Nagato?" Konan asked, looking at the unconscious Leaf shinobi on the ground.
Nagato glanced toward the location of the Torture and Interrogation Force and said softly,
"Next, we wait until nightfall before making our move."
Afterward, Nagato carried the unconscious shinobi and placed him with the other nine.
The two quietly waited for night to arrive.
...
Inside Ichiraku Ramen, Jiraiya and Uzumaki Naruto, who had just returned from Mount Myoboku, were seated.
Both of them stared blankly at the ramen in their bowls, lost in thought.
"An octopus? Why would I encounter something like that? And someone who fights with power dwelling in their eyes… that's Sasuke, right?" Uzumaki Naruto murmured, recalling the prophecy told to him by the Great Toad Sage.
On the other side, Jiraiya, equally silent, was thinking about what the Great Toad Sage had told him privately before.
"What was originally destined has changed… Does that mean my fate has changed as well?" Jiraiya muttered.
At that moment, Kakashi and Nara Shikaku arrived at Ichiraku Ramen. Lifting the curtain, they saw the backs of Uzumaki Naruto and Jiraiya.
The two approached them, and Kakashi spoke, "Jiraiya-sama, Naruto, you're back?"
Hearing this, Uzumaki Naruto and Jiraiya slowly turned around.
"Kakashi-sensei? What's up?" Uzumaki Naruto asked softly.
Kakashi's expression was serious. He exchanged a glance with Nara Shikaku before saying,
"Actually, it's…"
...
Hokage's Office.
Jiraiya suddenly pushed the door open and strode in.
"Tsunade, something this serious happened, and you didn't even tell me?"
Tsunade, who was handling village affairs, slowly raised her head.
"Jiraiya, you're back."
Jiraiya nodded, and Uzumaki Naruto, who had followed him, poked his head in and said,
"Granny Tsunade, I'm back too."
Tsunade smiled slightly and nodded at him.
"Granny Tsunade, take me along to the Five Kage Summit this time."
Uzumaki Naruto suddenly spoke.
Kakashi and Nara Shikaku also returned to the Hokage's office.
"Don't be ridiculous, Naruto. The Five Kage Summit isn't that simple," Jiraiya said softly.
Uzumaki Naruto stubbornly shook his head, his gaze firm.
"Since the Akatsuki's target is us Jinchūriki, then I'm directly involved. Of course I want to attend this meeting."
"I don't want to be someone you protect. I want to face the enemy head-on. I'm part of the Hidden Leaf Village too—how can I hide behind all of you?"
Uzumaki Naruto waved his hand, trying to talk his way through.
Hearing this, Jiraiya and Tsunade exchanged a glance. Jiraiya slowly shook his head, and Tsunade understood.
"Naruto, this Five Kage Summit is mainly to discuss strategies against the Akatsuki, not to fight them. And we're not stopping you from participating in battles. We've always trusted you."
Tsunade spoke with a serious expression.
"And right now, you still haven't fully mastered the power of the Tailed Beast inside you. So your main goal is to keep improving," Jiraiya added.
Hearing this, Uzumaki Naruto lowered his head in silence, thinking: Is it because I'm still not strong enough? Do I still lack the power to protect everyone?
Suddenly, Jiraiya had a flash of inspiration. He looked at Tsunade and asked,
"Oh right, Tsunade, that bone kid—has he come back yet?"
Tsunade slowly shook her head.
"He hasn't returned yet. I've already had Shizune go investigate."
Everyone's gaze turned to Shizune.
Shizune smiled helplessly.
"Yeah, there's no record of Rorin returning to the village. I also checked the place he rented temporarily—no one's there."