Even as we rested alongside Hiashi and Hanabi, I couldn't truly settle into calm. My body may have been still, but my thoughts were racing. The revelations on the Moon were only the beginning, and other matters demanded my attention.
That night, I returned to Yumegakure. My first priority was to meet with Kuro, Mitsue, Michel, Takama, and Kaito. What I had seen needed to be shared.
Thanks to Michel's technique, the others were able to experience a projection of my memories. It allowed them to feel what I had felt during the encounter on the Moon. Predictably, they were just as stunned as Kaito had been.
The first point of debate was Kaito's initial suggestion that I be declared missing in action to all but trusted allies. It didn't take long for everyone to agree that this would be a mistake.
From there, I presented a detailed report on the situation unfolding on the Moon.
Michel was the first to break the silence. "Honestly… I was hoping that particular movie storyline wasn't real."
Takama turned toward him, puzzled. "Movie? What are you talking about?"
Michel folded his arms. "Beyond the written canon, there were animated stories—movies released outside the main material. The last one told the tale of what happened with Hamura and the Moon. This civil war… it takes place about three years from now in that timeline. Only one person survives the conflict, and he tries to destroy the world, twisted by a misinterpretation of his ancestor's words."
"Who is the survivor?" I asked quietly.
"A boy named Toneri Ōtsutsuki," Michel answered. "In the story, he sought the pure Byakugan from the Hyūga to merge it with lunar blood and awaken the Tenseigan. He took your sister's eyes to do it."
Kuro scoffed. "What is it with the Ōtsutsuki and stealing eyes from their own family? I lost one and never asked for a replacement…"
Mitsue's curious voice chimed in, "Do you… want a new eye?"
Kuro hesitated. "No—well… maybe. Ugh, fine. Yes. But only if it comes with cool upgrades."
Kaito cleared his throat, steering the conversation back. "The situation on the Moon is dire. Are you sure we shouldn't send reinforcements?"
Takama's sharp gaze moved toward me, waiting for my response, but Michel interjected first.
"Actually, the civil war happened because no one could communicate with Hamura. With Hinata there… that issue may resolve itself."
Still, Takama insisted, "Even so, she needs guardians. She's still recovering from the Akatsuki's attack."
I responded calmly, "The puppets are the primary threat, and I've discovered that my spiritual threads can sever the lines of power that control them. That alone gives us an advantage. If Michel is right and communication is what caused this spiral… then I may be able to end this war. How peaceful that ending is, though—that's another matter entirely."
Kaito rubbed his forehead thoughtfully. "Then I propose this: let's not divert resources for now. Let's monitor Akatsuki's movements and see if they begin repeating the events from the original timeline. If they're the same moves… we may better understand Shikashi's objectives—and decide when and how to reveal Hinata's survival so that our next confrontation is the last, and on our terms."
Michel, Takama, and Mitsue nodded in agreement.
Kuro, meanwhile, was still staring at her reflection, tilting her head as if imagining what a new eye might look like.
I smiled faintly and added, "One more thing—I've considered it. Since I can't intervene directly anymore, I thought of warning Tsunade and Jiraiya. If we can delay Jiraiya's journey to Amegakure… we might buy time before Pain's path is triggered. A delay in the story… might give us the edge we need."
Michel gave a thoughtful nod. "I don't see a problem with that—as long as the warning is done from Yumegakure rather than in the real world from you. Using Yumegakure as a channel gives us flexibility."
<<<< o >>>>
Once again, Tsunade found herself in Yumegakure—or at least, a dreamlike echo of Konoha within Yumegakure no Kai. She didn't mind the projection much. Here, her ancestor Kyo Senju often appeared with advice she hadn't expected: his obsession with preserving the Senju line was oddly heartening, and his tips for securing money through means he'd failed to use in his own time had proven… surprisingly effective. Some ventures had yielded nothing, sure, but others? She had to admit, gambling with personal funds beyond the Hokage's eye brought a certain thrill.
That quiet moment fractured when a swirling portal tore open, and from it emerged Jiraiya—wrapped in a towel, fresh from what seemed to be a public bathhouse.
His face froze in disbelief the instant he saw her. "Tsunade… great to see you! You wouldn't happen to know how I got here, would you?"
She narrowed her eyes, fists twitching. He could already see the punch coming and braced himself.
Before she could launch it, a calm voice interrupted from the doorway.
"Apologies for bringing you both here so abruptly. Lady Tsunade was in a private place, which made things easier. But I have urgent news for the two of you."
Standing in the doorway of her office was Hinata Gin. Tsunade already knew this wouldn't end without a headache.
"Well, I suppose if one of the priestesses from the Moon Cult of Yumegakure has come to talk to us, it must be serious…" Jiraiya said as he casually took a seat on her desk, as if it were his own.
Hinata waited silently, respectful. Tsunade noticed the girl wouldn't speak until acknowledged. She gave a silent nod.
"The Akatsuki situation is deteriorating rapidly," Hinata began. "I understand you're considering dispatching elite agents to gather intel. I'm here to convince you not to do that—by offering the information directly."
Jiraiya raised a brow. "Free information, huh? I'm listening. But why am I here?"
Hinata turned her eyes on him. "Because Akatsuki's base is in Amegakure. Among their inner circle are Nagato and Konan—the children you trained during the end of the Second Shinobi War."
The words hit like a shockwave. Tsunade could see it clearly: Jiraiya was stunned.
"They were… dead," he whispered.
"Not exactly," Hinata said, her voice somber. "Nagato, bearer of the Rinnegan, is now known as 'Pain.' He controls six reanimated bodies simultaneously, each with unique abilities, connected by his chakra. They see and feel as one—a hive mind. One is a weapons platform, another absorbs chakra and nullifies Jutsu. A third can summon creatures or other Pains. The fourth of them extracts souls and can retrieve information. The fifth is used for information and resurrection. But the sixth… It uses Yahiko's body. That one can repel or attract anything—chakra, people, jutsu—on a catastrophic scale. With enough power, he could destroy Konoha outright.
Each body can produce black chakra rods. If they strike, they disrupt internal chakra flow. Each body alone is dangerous; together, they can overpower Jonin with ease. And the real Nagato still possesses all their abilities—plus the full elemental spectrum. His physical form, however, is heavily damaged."
Tsunade spoke before Jiraiya could react further. "How do you know this is true?"
"In the Crystal Tower, information is traded for knowledge. Much of this was provided by Amegakure residents—others by those who chose to share after arriving in Yumegakure. One last detail: Amegakure is constantly under a rain technique—a Jutsu cast by Pain himself. Any intrusion is immediately known. His path to peace involves threats, he plans on using the Bijuus… and killing family, if needed."
Jiraiya was silent for a moment. Then, his tone changed. "Why tell us this now?"
Hinata looked at him directly. "Because if I hadn't, you would've found Akatsuki's base yourself and gone alone to investigate. You still might. But now you have a chance to escape. Your death would devastate Naruto. He's already lost enough."
Tsunade leaned forward. "Anything else you wish to share?"
"Yes." Hinata turned again to Jiraiya. "When Naruto finishes his current training, instead of going to Amegakure, perhaps guide him to Mount Myōboku and help him master Sage Mode."
A portal opened behind her—a towering spire of white marble and crystal reaching toward a starlit sky.
"You'll remember this conversation when you wake. Forgive the intrusion. I wish you both a good day," she said with calm grace, stepping through the portal.
The moment it closed, Tsunade and Jiraiya were left in silence.
Tsunade studied him.
"You know. I am going anyway, right?" he muttered.
She sighed. "I know. But you're not going alone. Maybe you can train Naruto. Meanwhile, I'll gather a task force strong enough to get you out if it all goes sideways… and it probably will."
He didn't argue. She saw the truth in his expression.
He was already preparing for the worst.
"…Alright," Jiraiya finally said, voice heavy. "Let's do this right."