The two soon arrived in the Hokage's Office.
The moment they sat down, Jiraiya didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point:
"The Akatsuki's base is indeed within Amegakure."
"Moreover, they control the entire Amegakure."
"--!?"
As these words fell,
Tsunade's expression instantly shook violently, then her gaze hardened, and her heart sank.
So Jiraiya's previous guess was completely correct...
That number one terrorist organization in the Shinobi World is actually lurking in the isolated Amegakure...
And they control all of Amegakure?
This is troublesome...
After all,
If it were just dealing with an organization, secret action might still be possible...
But to deal with an entire Shinobi Village, that would be no different from provoking a new Shinobi World War.
It could be said,
Once Akatsuki controls Amegakure, the situation becomes completely different.
Tsunade pondered in her heart,
Her expression subsequently turned grim.
And at this moment,
Seeing her so serious, Jiraiya across from her was momentarily stunned, then immediately helplessly raised his hand, waving it while smiling wryly:
"Ah, forget it, forget it, I won't keep you in suspense..."
"It's not as bad as you think."
"Huh?"
Hearing this, Tsunade was naturally momentarily stunned.
The terrorist organization Akatsuki already controls an entire Shinobi Village, and that's not bad enough?
However,
Before she could think it through,
She saw Jiraiya across from her staring at her, speaking seriously in a low voice:
"In fact,"
"The results of my investigation this time are completely opposite to what the two of us expected."
"First,"
"Although control of Amegakure has fallen into the hands of the organization called Akatsuki,"
"But, the civilians and Shinobi there are living a peaceful life never experienced before. It's a thriving scene... completely devoid of the darkness from the era of Hanzo the Salamander's rule."
"And moreover, to the people there... the leader of Akatsuki is their dawn and god, the hope and support for their survival."
Jiraiya spoke slowly, his tone serious, without a hint of joking.
However,
The more she listened,
The more confused Tsunade became.
What???
What's going on???
Amegakure, long a land of war, under the control of the terrorist organization, Akatsuki, has actually become thriving and peaceful???
This... did something get mixed up...?
Tsunade's beautiful eyes widened slightly, somewhat in disbelief.
And at this moment,
Jiraiya suddenly chuckled lightly, looked at Tsunade, and smiled:
"I wonder if you still remember..."
"More than twenty years ago, on the battlefield in the Land of Rain, we once encountered three orphans from Amegakure..."
As his words fell,
Tsunade's gaze shifted instantly, and she subconsciously nodded:
"I remember."
"Back then, that guy Orochimaru even wanted to kill them..."
"But you stopped him, and moreover, you specially stayed there, leading the three of them in practicing Ninjutsu..."
"No wait... why did you suddenly bring this up?"
Tsunade looked puzzled.
She naturally didn't understand why Jiraiya's topic suddenly shifted here.
However,
Jiraiya's expression remained unchanged, still showing a helpless smile, and said:
"Maybe neither of us would have thought..."
"Those three children I took in back then are now the leaders of the Akatsuki, the rulers of Amegakure."
"Likewise, they are regarded by the residents of Amegakure as gods and angels..."
"!!!"
As Jiraiya's words fell, Tsunade's pupils instantly shook, then sharply contracted!
Immediately after, her expression completely changed, frozen!
Wh-what...?!
The three orphans Jiraiya saved back then...
Are actually the leaders of the biggest terrorist organization currently plaguing the entire Shinobi World... Akatsuki!!!!?
In an instant, Tsunade's thoughts were almost completely interrupted.
At this moment,
She finally understood,
Why Jiraiya suddenly mentioned those children from back then...
However,
Before she could think it through,
She saw Jiraiya across from her continue speaking, his expression serious:
"..."
"That being said,"
"This is not the most shocking part of this investigation for me."
"What shocked me even more is the mastermind behind the scenes who schemed the 'Tailed Beast Capture' incident using the name of 'Akatsuki'—"
"!?"
Hearing this, Tsunade's heart shook once more, and she subconsciously repeated:
"The mastermind using Akatsuki's name...?!"
"So... the organization truly targeting the Jinchuriki... is not Akatsuki, but that mysterious behind-the-scenes individual...?"
Tsunade said in surprise.
The development of this situation had completely exceeded her expectations.
So,
The one capturing the Jinchuriki... is someone else?!
And that Akatsuki in Amegakure was merely being used as a decoy...?
Thinking of this point,
Tsunade's heart grew even heavier.
It seems the real situation is far more complex than we had imagined...
And at this moment,
Hearing Tsunade's words, Jiraiya nodded solemnly.
"That's right."
These were all pieces of intelligence he had already confirmed.
Tsunade lowered her voice and asked:
"The mastermind behind the scenes who schemed all these plots... who is it?"
As her words fell,
Jiraiya did not answer directly. Instead, he slowly leaned back, then looked out the window in a certain direction.
That direction was where the Uchiha Clan's compound in Konoha used to be.
"!?"
Seeing this, Tsunade's heart immediately startled.
She had already vaguely sensed something...
And immediately after, sure enough,
Jiraiya spoke in a low voice—
"That person,"
"Is someone we have overlooked."
"Because... he was already confirmed dead on the battlefield many years ago, and even... became a martyr of Konoha."
"And his name is—"
"Uchiha Obito."
As his words fell,
Tsunade's expression suddenly changed, her breath unconsciously froze!
What?!
This... how is this possible?!
The mastermind who schemed the Tailed Beast Capture incident under Akatsuki's name... is actually a fallen hero of Konoha Village?!!
Tsunade involuntarily gasped.
The truth was far more cruel than she had imagined.
After all,
Although she was not familiar with Obito,
She undoubtedly knew of his existence.
Because back then, he was one of Minato's three disciples, and also Kakashi's good friend...
However,
He unfortunately died on the battlefield during the Third Shinobi World War...
Therefore,
After the war ended,
He was posthumously recognized as one of Konoha's martyrs and heroes...
This was all history familiar to Tsunade.
What on earth is going on?!
Why would someone already dead appear as the mastermind behind the scenes...?
Tsunade looked at Jiraiya, her gaze confused.
As for Jiraiya,
She naturally believed in him unconditionally.
Although Jiraiya usually had a carefree personality and seemed unreliable, in critical moments, he was always the most trustworthy person.
Facing such a major issue of right and wrong, she naturally didn't believe Jiraiya would fabricate things out of thin air.
Therefore,
There must be some oddity here...
And at this moment, Jiraiya naturally also saw Tsunade's confusion,
However, his expression did not change, remaining solemn, and he spoke slowly and deeply:
"Maybe you also want to ask—"
"How could Uchiha Obito, a person from the past, suddenly transform into the mastermind behind everything...?"
"Clearly, he died long ago."
"Right?"
Having said this, Jiraiya paused, as if recalling something, and slowly said:
"But in fact, perhaps few people know,"
"After the war ended back then,"
"In truth, Uchiha Obito's body... was never found."
"...!?"
As Jiraiya's words fell,
Instantly, Tsunade was speechless, stunned.