Since Jiraiya was the only one in the ninja world with the copyright to Su Mu's stories.
The first batch of novels released would always arrive at Konoha first.
Coincidentally, Su Mu was planning to rest for two days, so Jiraiya decided to return to Konoha to visit Tsunade.
As Jiraiya was about to leave, Su Mu called out to him, watching his receding back.
Perhaps Su Mu felt Jiraiya's life was a bit tragic.
He then dissolved the servant relationship between himself and Tsunade.
From the last time the servant relationship was confirmed until now, Tsunade had remained in Konoha.
Su Mu felt he had no particular feelings for her; after all, it was Tsunade who had requested to become his servant back then.
"I think you and Tsunade must have a lot to talk about."
"Time waits for no one, so hurry."
Su Mu smiled faintly at Jiraiya.
Jiraiya shook his head bitterly, "It doesn't matter, she's not the first time she's rejected me, and I'm already used to it!"
"Hahaha, see you next time!"
The twilight outside fell upon the small town of Tanzaku.
A cool breeze blew, and green leaves fluttered and rose.
Jiraiya walked slowly in the direction of Konoha.
"I've said what I needed to say. If it really can't change anything,"
"Perhaps he's not that stupid..."
Su Mu sighed helplessly.
Amegakure.
Pain sat on the rooftop, gazing at the distant, dark sky.
Rain poured down, flooding the flowerpots below.
A lightning strike split the sky.
Pedestrians on the street hurried towards their homes.
"We've already captured the Four-Tails."
"What should we do next?"
Behind him, Konan walked over slowly.
Pain remained silent, simply extending his hand into the rain.
Feeling the temperature of the tiny raindrops on his palm, Pain suddenly stood up.
"Tell them to stop acting alone from now on."
"One-Tail, Two-Tails, Five-Tails, Six-Tails, Seven-Tails, Eight-Tails... Nine-Tails."
"Gather them all for capture!"
As soon as Pain finished speaking, Kakuzu walked over, "Isn't that too troublesome?"
"It seems like a waste of Akatsuki's resources."
"Separately, the efficiency would be higher." httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Konan turned to face Kakuzu, "It's the leader's order, so we'll proceed with this plan."
"If everyone is together, it will save a lot of trouble."
"Itachi and Kisame, they should have gone to Konoha."
"Deidara and Tobi have returned and are resting."
"As for Hidan..."
Konan suddenly looked at Kakuzu.
Kakuzu paused for a moment and then sighed helplessly, "Fine, this guy has stayed at the inn long enough."
"I'll go get him. I just don't know if Mr. Su will allow me to..."
"Go ahead. Tell Mr. Su that I instructed you to. There shouldn't be any problem," Pain said faintly, his back to them.
Kakuzu was silent for a moment and then nodded slowly, "I'll go now."
"The real battle is about to begin..."
Pain leaped into the air and disappeared into the rainy night.
Konoha.
"No pushing, no pushing, there's enough for everyone!"
Jiraiya was caught in the throng of people on the street.
The reason was that the newly released novel, "A Chinese Odyssey: Cinderella's Return," had Jiraiya carrying at least a thousand copies with Su Mu's signature.
Jiraiya had intended to give some of these as benefits to everyone.
He hadn't expected the crowd to be so enthusiastic.
"Look at this mess on the street. Ever since Jiraiya came back, nothing good has happened!"
On top of the Hokage's office building, Tsunade looked down at the street through a pair of binoculars.
"Lady Tsunade, we've received secret intelligence from Iwagakure. The intelligence team is analyzing it!"
Suddenly, a ninja from the ANBU pushed the door open and entered.
"Quick, give it to me,"
Tsunade lowered her binoculars and sat down at her chair.
After reading the secret report, Tsunade frowned deeply, "The Akatsuki have already made their move..."
At that moment, hurried footsteps could be heard from outside the door.
"Fifth, I'm here!"
Everyone looked up to see Shikaku entering, panting.
Tsunade nodded slightly, "Shikaku, you've come at the right time. Take a look at this."
Shikaku took a deep breath to recover his composure, then took the secret report from Tsunade and read it carefully.
"Iwagakure has lost the Four-Tails..."
"This is not good news for the entire ninja world..."
Tsunade sighed, "Indeed. Although Iwagakure is the first village to have its Tailed Beast dealt with by the Akatsuki, they succeeded... This is very troublesome..."
"With this success, the Akatsuki will surely make even bigger moves next."
"However, Shikaku, what are your thoughts?"
Shikaku stroked his chin, deep in thought for a moment, "We still don't fully understand the Akatsuki's abilities. To prevent this from happening, we need to obtain concrete intelligence..."
"But now..."
Tsunade closed her eyes and vaguely recalled the scene in Tanzaku that day.
Konan's ability seemed to be using paper-like ninjutsu, and she was very adept at using explosive tags.
Kakuzu's abilities were unclear, but he possessed multiple elemental affinities.
And that Pain...
Tsunade rubbed her temples with a headache.
That Pain...
He seemed to possess gravity and repulsion abilities, and any attack would be reflected.
But this information alone was far from enough.
As the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade felt mentally and physically exhausted.
After a long while.
Shikaku walked out of the Hokage's office building with a troubled expression.
Jiraiya, who had just finished distributing Su Mu's signed books, happened to see Shikaku.
"Hey, Shikaku."
Hearing the familiar voice, Shikaku looked over abruptly, "Lord Jiraiya..."
In a certain tavern in Konoha.
Shikaku and Jiraiya placed their empty sake cups on the table.
"You've had a worried look on your face since you left the Hokage's office. Did something troublesome happen?"
Jiraiya poured more sake, asking in confusion.
Shikaku nodded slightly, "Ah... it's about the Akatsuki..."
Upon hearing the name "Akatsuki," Jiraiya stopped pouring the sake.
He had encountered members of the Akatsuki several times at Su Mu's inn, but since chakra couldn't be used inside, he didn't have a detailed understanding of their abilities.
"Last time in Tanzaku, you and the Fifth faced an ambush by the Akatsuki, didn't you?"
"Fortunately, they failed."
"But this time, Roshi, the Jinchūriki of the Four-Tails from Iwagakure, was captured and killed by the Akatsuki."
"His body was sent back, but the Tailed Beast inside him... was gone..."
Shikaku took a large gulp of his sake cup as he said this, "That's the most terrifying part."
"What do they intend to do after extracting the Tailed Beasts from the Jinchūriki?"
"With their first successful capture of a Tailed Beast, their subsequent actions will be even faster."
Upon hearing this, Jiraiya put down his sake cup.
He looked at the moon outside the window. The bright moonlight shone upon the roof of the Hokage's office building.
The lights in that room were on; Tsunade was working very hard...
"What did Tsunade say?" Jiraiya asked tentatively.
"Lady Tsunade asked me, and naturally, I hope we can grasp the Akatsuki's abilities so that we have countermeasures when they attack Konoha."
Shikaku seemed to have drunk a little too much. He picked up his chopsticks and kept picking at the peanuts on the plate.
Hearing this, Jiraiya stood up directly and walked out.
"Hey, hey, hey, Lord Jiraiya, where are you going!"
"The drinks aren't finished yet!"
"Huh? What's this..."
Shikaku suddenly saw a book left where Jiraiya had been sitting.
It seemed Jiraiya had forgotten to take it with him.
"The Dragon Soars into the Sea?"
"What kind of book is this?"
ps: Beware, the knife is coming.