Chapter 269: Anxious Waiting in Konoha
Konoha, Hokage's office.
Unlike its usual hustle and bustle, the office was now filled with a heavy atmosphere.
Tsunade paced back and forth behind her desk.
Jiraiya, who had returned to the village, looked out the window with an unusually anxious expression.
Present as well was the head of the Jonin squad, Nara Shikaku.
He stood quietly, deep in thought, his brows furrowing involuntarily.
Since receiving the information from Mount Myoboku about Hagoromo Gengetsu's attack, the three of them had been on edge.
Soon, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed.
The impatient Tsunade couldn't hold back any longer. She stopped, turned, and asked Jiraiya again, "Jiraiya, how is it? Can you contact Mount Myoboku?"
Jiraiya shook his head, "Still no response. Mount Myoboku has actively blocked the summoning contract, and the summoning jutsu is not working."
Tsunade frowned deeply, "What are those toads thinking?"
Jiraiya also didn't understand.
Upon hearing about Hagoromo Gengetsu's attack on Mount Myoboku, he had wanted the toads to reverse summon him there to provide assistance.
But after receiving the ssage about Hagoromo Gengetsu, Mount Myoboku had gone silent. Even summoning the toads wasn't working.
In all his years as a contractor of Mount Myoboku, Jiraiya had never seen such a situation.
It made him very worried.
Moreover, Naruto was still there.
"Ahem." Nara Shikaku coughed twice, trying to ease the tension, "Hokage-sama, Jiraiya-sama, there's no need to worry too much. Mount Myoboku, as one of the Three Great Sage Regions, has many powerful beings, including the legendary Great Toad Sage. I doubt Hagoromo Gengetsu could gain much there."
"The Great Toad Sage…"
Jiraiya thought of his past encounters with the sage.
Though he knew this millennia-old true sage was incredibly powerful, the sage's senility made Jiraiya uneasy.
At this critical mont, the Great Toad Sage better not lose his senses!
Furthermore, if it were anyone else, or any other organization attacking Mount Myoboku, both Jiraiya and Tsunade wouldn't be too concerned.
But this ti, they were up against Hagoromo Gengetsu.
Having personally experienced Hagoromo Gengetsu's power, even knowing Mount Myoboku's strength, they couldn't be at ease.
Tsunade had even considered sending Konoha's forces to aid them.
But with the distance to Mount Myoboku being too great, they would likely arrive too late to make a difference.
So, they could only anxiously await the outco in the office.
"Tsunade-sama!!"
At that mont, Shizune burst through the door.
"What's wrong?" Tsunade turned sharply, her tone rising with urgency.
Having rushed over, Shizune, panting, quickly explained, "Sunagakure has been attacked by the Akatsuki. The Fifth Kazekage, Gaara… has been captured. Sunagakure is urgently requesting assistance from Konoha."
"The Fifth Kazekage was captured by the Akatsuki?" Tsunade was instantly shocked.
Jiraiya also temporarily set aside his worries about Mount Myoboku, turning seriously.
He had investigated the Akatsuki for a long ti.
His recent absence from the village was due to his infiltration of Agakure, following leads that yielded nothing, leading to his return.
Now, hearing that the Akatsuki had made a move, even targeting one of the Five Kage, the Kazekage...
Coupled with Hagoromo Gengetsu's actions, Jiraiya felt a strong sense of impending calamity.
Tsunade asked urgently, "How many mbers of the Akatsuki attacked? To be able to defeat the Fifth Kazekage and the sand shinobi?"
"Two," Shizune replied.
In an instant, the office beca extraordinarily silent.
Despite the strange atmosphere, Shizune dutifully continued, "Of the two Akatsuki mbers, one is Deidara, a renegade from Iwagakure and forr disciple of the Third Tsuchikage. As for the other, their identity is unknown, but they are skilled in flight and summoning ninja tools."
Following the second Five Kage Summit, the five great shinobi villages had established channels for mutual communication.
With the increasing threat of Hagoromo Gengetsu, the villages had beco even more interconnected, sharing information. Sunagakure quickly identified Deidara.
"I understand." Tsunade rubbed her forehead, speaking slowly.
Despite having much to say, Sunagakure was an ally.
She steeled herself and issued the command, "Notify Team Three and Team Seven under Yamato's leadership to report to the Hokage's office imdiately."
"Yes!"
Shizune hurried off to convey the orders.
Watching Shizune leave, Tsunade couldn't help but shake her head, saying, "Kazekage… Jinchuriki of the One-Tail, truly a troubleso ti!"
"Sothing's not right."
Nara Shikaku suddenly spoke, "The timing of Hagoromo Gengetsu's and the Akatsuki's actions is too coincidental."
"Indeed." Jiraiya nodded, having considered this as well, "And both are targeting tailed beasts. I rember Hagoromo Gengetsu wasn't interested in tailed beasts before."
"Unless he has a purpose for the tailed beasts, just like the Akatsuki." Nara Shikaku continued the thought.
Seeming to grasp sothing, he imdiately analyzed, "Outside Mount Katsuragi, Hagoromo Gengetsu seed to clash with soone from the Akatsuki and won; near the lake where the Three-Tails was hiding, Hagoromo Gengetsu's subordinate, the ninja from Lockfront Village nad Hanare, appeared. Though he escaped, the Three-Tails was captured by the arriving Akatsuki mbers Deidara and Kisa; today, Hagoromo Gengetsu and the Akatsuki simultaneously target tailed beasts. It seems…"
Nara Shikaku's fingers trembled slightly. He took a deep breath and revealed the likely truth, "It seems that Hagoromo Gengetsu and the Akatsuki are not as hostile, competitive, or neutral as we thought. More likely, Hagoromo Gengetsu has already taken control of the Akatsuki! He is using the Akatsuki mbers for his own purposes! All the tailed beast captures are driven by Hagoromo Gengetsu's will!"
As Nara Shikaku finished speaking, the room fell silent.
Tsunade and Jiraiya's pupils contracted sharply.
One Hagoromo Gengetsu was already pressure enough. Now, with a group of rogue ninjas as powerful as the Akatsuki...
It was truly despairing!
Jiraiya's voice beca rough as he couldn't help but ask, "If that's the case, what does Hagoromo Gengetsu intend to do with the tailed beasts? With his power, even all nine tailed beasts combined wouldn't be a match for him."
Nara Shikaku shook his head.
With limited information, he couldn't deduce the answer.
The office fell into silence once again.
Before long, footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Fully ard, Yamato, Sakura, Sai, Guy, Lee, Tenten, and Neji entered the Hokage's office, led by Shizune, breaking the silence.
"Hokage-sama!" they greeted in unison.
Tsunade was about to speak when a communications ninja suddenly arrived, handing her a scroll.
"Hokage-sama, an urgent ssage from Kumogakure!"
Tsunade had a sinking feeling as she opened it.
Sure enough!
Kumogakure reported that their Jinchuriki of the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails were missing.
Reportedly, those involved included mbers of the Akatsuki and Uchiha Sasuke!
Tsunade looked up sharply, eting Nara Shikaku's gaze.
The worst-case scenario had co true.
But it wasn't over.
Jiraiya suddenly exclaid with joy, "I've reestablished contact with Mount Myoboku!"
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