"Ero-sennin? 'Hide at Mount Myōboku for a while'? What do you mean?" Naruto blinked in confusion.
Clearly, the three of them hadn't been briefed yet.
Jiraiya explained patiently, "Fresh intel from Kumogakure: the Hachibi jinchūriki was captured by Kabuto. That leaves only the four jinchūriki here in Konoha. Akatsuki will definitely throw everything at the village. To be safe, I'm taking you to the Mount Myōboku holy land to lie low."
But Naruto shook his head. "Then won't the village be in danger? We should stay and protect it!"
Jiraiya smiled and pressed a hand atop Naruto's head. "Alright, alright—I know you worry about the village. But if the jinchūriki aren't here, Akatsuki won't risk an assault. They've already lost once. Until they know where the jinchūriki are, they won't act recklessly. So by hiding, you actually make the village safer."
"If it's for the village's safety, then I'm willing to hide."
Naruto agreed at once—what he feared most was bringing disaster down on Konoha because of himself. The guilt would crush him.
Gaara was the one who looked shocked. "The Hachibi jinchūriki is… that Bee? The Bee who teamed with the Raikage as the A–Bee duo? Even he got taken?!"
Fū asked, "Gaara, you know Bee?"
Gaara nodded. "I've heard of him. Back in the Third Shinobi War, the A–Bee duo rose to fame, unstoppable on the battlefield. They only met their match when they ran into the Kiiroi Senkō (Yellow Flash), who wasn't the Fourth Hokage yet. The A–Bee duo is incredibly strong—and 'Bee' is the Hachibi jinchūriki Killer B."
Hearing that, Naruto and Fū couldn't quite picture it, but they understood Bee wasn't simple.
Someone that strong being captured meant Akatsuki was still no joke—and the one moving was Kabuto of all people!
"Kabuto… I really wanna deck him!" Naruto clenched his fists.
During the last Akatsuki incursion, Naruto's reunion with Haku and Zabuza left him hating Kabuto's corpse-manipulating tricks. He was determined to knock that guy down.
But Kabuto ran fast, and Naruto never got his punch in.
And now Kabuto was wreaking havoc in Kumogakure.
Jiraiya cut the topic short. "Quickly! Fū, Gaara—sign the scroll. Then I'll take you to Mount Myōboku."
Fū didn't hesitate. Gaara tried to bite his finger but his sand armor blocked it, so he bit the tip of his tongue instead and signed his name.
Jiraiya formed seals and performed a summoning. Two toads appeared in puffs of smoke: Fukasaku and Shima, the two elderly toad sages.
Fukasaku was the Great Toad Sage's close aide and a Mount Myōboku elder with real clout. If he thought the jinchūriki should be brought, that settled it. Shima—his wife—was formidable in her own right.
Jiraiya bowed slightly. "Elder, ma'am—sorry to trouble you."
Fukasaku nodded, sweeping a glance over the three. "Jiraiya-boy, these three, yes?"
Shima suddenly pointed at Natsuki, who was watching from the side. "Dear, there's another one over there. Jiraiya—why'd three become four?"
Natsuki waved both hands. "You misunderstand, Sennin-sama. I'm just observing."
"Ah, we see."
The two sages understood and said no more, preparing the reverse summoning.
Naruto suddenly jolted. "Matte! Ero-sennin, you're taking the three of us to Mount Myōboku to hide? What about Sasuke? He's a jinchūriki too, right? Isn't he in danger?"
"I also think Sasuke should come," Gaara suggested. "I know he's strong, but so is Bee. If even Bee was captured, Sasuke's in danger."
Fū bobbed her head—she agreed.
Fukasaku refused flatly. "You're talking about Uchiha Sasuke? He's contracted with Ryūchidō, isn't he? Mount Myōboku and Ryūchidō don't get along. He can't sign with us too, and if he's not under contract, we can't take him."
Toads at Mount Myōboku, snakes at Ryūchidō—hardly natural friends.
But Naruto wouldn't have it. His most precious Sasuke being at risk? No way he could hide in comfort.
"If Sasuke isn't going, then I'm not going either! Leaving Sasuke behind is definitely dangerous. I can't pretend I don't know. So, Ero-sennin—don't take Gaara and Fū either—"
"Baka!"
Jiraiya thunked Naruto on the head. "Sasuke has separate arrangements! For his safety, Natsuki will take him to hide elsewhere. Natsuki knows Hiraishin (Flying Thunder God). If they meet a powerhouse, they can bail instantly. They'll be fine. Besides, Sasuke is strong. If you want to surpass him, the right move is to train hard at Mount Myōboku!"
Naruto opened his mouth, then shut it.
If Natsuki was taking Sasuke, then Sasuke would be safe. That eased his heart.
And Jiraiya's words touched him: if he trained at Mount Myōboku and came back stronger, this "national treasure" would shine even brighter.
He'd amaze everyone.
Seeing Naruto calm down, Jiraiya finally exhaled. Problem children were the biggest headache—always ready to throw a tantrum.
Fukasaku and Shima formed hand signs.
With a single bang, Jiraiya and the three were carried off by Gyaku Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Reverse Summoning), and the two toads dispelled and returned to Mount Myōboku.
"Then it's my turn to take Sasuke to the Land of Lightning for a little—er—'sightseeing.' I mean, to 'support' Kumogakure. No rush this time—we'll travel nice and slow."
Stretching lazily, Natsuki headed straight for the Police Force HQ.
The force had been busy these days, recently restructured and in charge of village security.
As Natsuki arrived, he saw Shino leading Hinata and Kiba on patrol. He waved a greeting and slipped inside.
Neji and Sasuke were in the office, poring over patrol routes—making sure every inch of the village would be covered so no spy or infiltrator could slip through.
"You two look busy," Natsuki called.
"Natsuki, you're here."
Neji stood up at once and poured him water. "You, a proper Hokage aide, skipping paperwork at the Hokage's office to grace our 'little shrine'—what brings you?"
Natsuki laughed. "This isn't a little shrine, not with you two big deities enshrined in it."
After a bit of banter, Natsuki got to the point. "Fresh intel: the Hachibi jinchūriki, Killer B, was captured by Kabuto."
One line—and both Neji and Sasuke blanched.
They hadn't met the Hachibi host, but they'd studied him. Akatsuki's goal was jinchūriki; of course they kept tabs.
(End of Chapter)
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