Chapter 177: Search

Chapter 177: Search

Jiraiya reached out and took the intel from Tsunade, casually flipping through it at first.

"What's this? Ninja profiles? No… an analysis of the attackers?"

At first, he was a bit inattentive, but as he read on, his expression grew more and more serious. By the time he finished reading through the profiles of the two individuals, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Where did this come from?" he asked gravely.

"From the second battlefield of today's operation," Tsunade answered.

"That place? Mizuki's team, the one that was bait for Akatsuki, working with Suna and Iwa?"

"That's right. And it really drew out some terrifying big fish." Tsunade confirmed. "But now I'm starting to wonder if this whole operation was a bit too reckless."

"Hmm…" Jiraiya pondered a moment, then jumped off the windowsill and stepped closer, placing the reports on her desk. "Whether it was reckless or not is hard to say. The Third's long-standing policies left Konoha with a lot of hidden dangers. It's necessary to clean them up. But your methods were a bit… lacking in foresight."

He paused, then continued, "These two… I've heard of them before, in bounty hunter circles in the underworld. I just never imagined they'd be part of Akatsuki—let alone such bizarre individuals."

"That's to be expected," Tsunade replied coldly. "Anyone who can work alongside Orochimaru… how bad can they be?"

Jiraiya's face darkened slightly at that, turning to look out the window at the occasional passing ANBU. "Let's put Orochimaru aside for now. The point is, if we got this much intel back, that means we won, right? At least, we beat them back?"

"That's correct." Tsunade nodded.

Jiraiya frowned. "I read the squad composition of Mizuki's team, plus the Suna and Iwa units. I don't see how they could beat opponents like those. Did something unexpected happen? Or did you send reinforcements?"

"No time for that." Tsunade sighed. "And there's one thing you got wrong—it wasn't just two of them. There was a third. Sasori of the Red Sand."

She pulled another file from beneath the pile and handed it over.

"Take a close look. It's all written in there."

Jiraiya read carefully, then finally exhaled long and slow.

"So we got lucky. Suna took the brunt of the loss… good thing Konoha came out intact."

"That's all you have to say?" Tsunade knocked her knuckles on the desk.

"What do you want me to say?" Jiraiya looked exasperated, waving the report. "There's a lot here worth discussing. Which part are you asking about?"

"You know what I'm talking about," Tsunade said sternly. "Some of this information is top-secret—stuff only someone at our level would understand. Like the Sage Mode. Don't you have something to say?"

"What's there to say, Tsunade? I had nothing to do with this."

"I'm not accusing you," Tsunade replied. "But remember that boy you mentioned from the Land of Rain? I think you handled that too lightly. That someone succeeded in learning Sage Mode—something even Orochimaru failed to master—and did it silently? When you're the only one known to have done it?"

"I told you—it wasn't me." Jiraiya repeated firmly.

Tsunade narrowed her eyes.

"I mean it." Jiraiya went on. "About two months ago, I ran into Mizuki again. We had a brief chat. He asked me two questions."

"Oh? What did he ask?"

"First—how many people can use Sage Mode. I told him. Then he asked—why so few? I had no answer."

"That's all?"

"That's all," Jiraiya said. "You know, Sage Mode was never a secret. Though most people only hear about it in rumors, anyone determined enough could find the clues."

Tsunade shifted the subject. "So after all your years wandering, did you find what you were looking for?"

"I found some things… but whether they're what I wanted, I'm still not sure. Still, with the Child of Prophecy so close now, this might be my best chance."

"You're still chasing that nonsense?" Tsunade scoffed. "Even Orochimaru failed. I may hate his methods, but I respect his mind. You think you can succeed where he failed?"

"Maybe Orochimaru didn't fail," Jiraiya said darkly. "Or maybe he didn't really try. Either way, I don't believe we should give up just because someone else couldn't do it."

He tossed the report back on her desk.

"Look—here we have someone who figured it out all on their own."

"He asked the right questions," Jiraiya continued. "That told me all I needed to know. But still—Sage Mode was a mystery even to the First and Second Hokage. They never solved it. And now look at the Uzumaki and Senju clans—nearly extinct."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. This world has produced many geniuses. Some of them went down dark paths. You saw what Hidan and Kakuzu were like."

"Immortality… out in the open like that?" Tsunade muttered.

"Don't forget Edo Tensei from a month ago," Jiraiya reminded her.

"We can't give up," he said seriously. "We can't let our fate be decided by others. Not anyone."

Tsunade exhaled. "Fine. I'll let you go celebrate this new reckless 'ally' of ours."

"Of course. But we won't be seeing each other for a while. When I get back, we'll talk more."

"Land of Water," Tsunade warned. "Be careful. Kakashi's intel says things are not looking good there."

"I know. But my Tale of the Gutsy Ninja isn't over yet. Let's see what the bloody mist has been hiding all this time."

…

Early the next morning, before sunrise, Mizuki awoke and climbed to the top of a tall tree with a clear view of the horizon.

Just as dawn broke and the sky lightened, a familiar figure joined him—Aoba Yamashiro.

"What's going on, Mizuki?" Aoba asked.

"Come sit. Watch the sunrise with me."

The last time Mizuki had watched a sunrise, it had ended with a fight against Kabuto. Hopefully this one would be more peaceful.

Aoba adjusted his glasses and sat.

"You didn't sleep much. What's on your mind?"

"Memories," Mizuki said quietly.

"Something bothering you again? You always seem deep in thought."

"Maybe. But thinking ahead is a good thing. You said you had a bad feeling before too, remember?"

"Yeah, well… ninja instincts. Who can say what's right?"

"That's true."

The sun finally rose, casting golden light across the misty valleys. The warm glow swept away the gloom. Bathed in morning air and gentle light, Mizuki felt a rare sense of peace.

"You've got something on your mind," Aoba said.

"It's nothing. A side effect, maybe," Mizuki replied.

Still, Aoba had noticed. Mizuki's state of mind hadn't been right lately. His spiritual exhaustion was obvious.

"If you say so. But take care of yourself."

Then he changed the subject. "What did Neji tell you last night?"

"You noticed that?"

Mizuki smiled. "Iwa's prisoner—Deidara—was switched. But it's none of our business. Let Iwa deal with it."

"Good. As long as there's no danger."

Aoba was right to worry. Mizuki knew the mental erosion from uncontrolled natural energy was scarier than physical wounds. He had felt his mind slip, his thoughts blur. At one point, he nearly collapsed. That kind of damage couldn't be ignored.

From now on, he would be far more cautious. No more uncontrolled Sage Mode. The cursed seal also needed to be contained—and soon. And the issue of his shortened lifespan… that needed resolving as well.

Just then, a messenger bird soared through the sky toward them. Mizuki extended his arm. The bird landed, and he took the tiny note.

"So the orders have arrived."

He read the message, then burned it with a spark of chakra.

"What did the village say?" Aoba asked.

"Now that things are settled, they're sending backup."

"That's good. What about our mission?"

"It's finished."

"Then I'll go check on the genin and the other teams."

"Go ahead. I don't think this joint mission will last much longer."

…

As expected, Tsunade's orders matched Mizuki's predictions. He had reported most of the battle details—except, of course, what he'd done with Shukaku. That part was left vague. After all, meddling with a tailed beast was a political nightmare.

Even if someone suspected him, there was no proof. Gaara was alive and well. Shukaku was safely sealed. If not for Mizuki's help, they probably wouldn't have even captured the beast. Suna wouldn't dare make trouble now.

All three villages seemed to reach a quiet consensus not to rush departure. By midday, someone finally arrived.

First came the group from Sunagakure. And at the front of the group, Mizuki spotted someone who made his head throb.

Sasori is dead. And now even old Lady Chiyo's come in person? Let's hope this doesn't turn into a purge instead of a retrieval…

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