HPDBC Chapter 222: Loyalty
Chapter 222: Loyalty
Chapter 222: Loyalty
Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its characters belong to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I create.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
-Author notes-
Chapter 222: Loyalty
"Should I come back later?" Shizune asked.
"Everything is fine. Just leave that tray here," Tsunade told her.
Shizune did that and then left the room, knowing that they needed more time to speak in private.
"Let's move to the most crucial point right now," Tsunade decided to leave the topic of Naruto aside, not knowing that it was about to return anyway. "The Two Tails... where is it?"
"Did Naruto tell you that I had it?" Jiraiya asked.
"He said... that I should question you about it. You don't have it?" Tsunade was somewhat confused. By Naruto's words, she had expected Jiraiya to have the missing Bijuu, but his reaction said otherwise.
"I'm afraid not," the Sannin said.
Tsunade frowned. "Don't be cryptic with me about it. Returning that thing to the Cloud Village may be the only chance we have to avoid a war."
If they could make amends with the Raikage and he stopped backing the Stone Village... they might not dare to attack on their own.
"I'm afraid I have to disappoint you on that one. I don't have it, and you won't like where it is..."
"Where?" Tsunade demanded to know.
"Last I knew... sealed inside Naruto."
"What?! Jiraiya... this is not a moment for one of your jokes. If that's what it is." Tsunade wanted to slam her fists on the table.
Jiraiya's eyes moved to the bottle of wine sitting on the desk. He picked it up, opened it, and began to pour a glass. "You know me better than that. I only like making dirty jokes. I would never lie about something like this."
"That's what I thought." She nodded.
"But... he is loyal to some of its people. Naruto may not care for the village itself, but he is not ungrateful enough to turn his back on us during a moment of need. If... mmm?" Jiraiya snapped his head around.
"What is it?" Tsunade reacted to his sudden change.
"I could swear that I heard something... it sounded almost mechanical," Jiraiya said.
Tsunade frowned. "The room is secure." There were plenty of privacy seals spread around the walls of the office, and she had it searched for listening devices every other day. "I can call the ANBU and tell them to search the room."
Jiraiya shook his head. "You can do that later. I just wanted to tell you that you can trust Naruto. Even if he never becomes a loyal ninja to the village, he will not turn against Konoha unless it betrays him first."
"Very well... let's hope you're correct about him. He may be our best chance to survive, then..."
"There's one more thing I wanted to tell you before I leave," Jiraiya said.
"You're leaving again? You just came back." Tsunade said.
"It won't take long. But yesterday, I received a bit of information that I need to investigate... it's about the leader of Akatsuki." Jiraya had a grave expression as he spoke.
"You found his identity?" Tsunade knew he had been pursuing that intel for years. But other than the name 'Pain,' they didn't know much about this mysterious figure.
"Not yet, but I did find out where his hideout is. His base of operations is somewhere inside the Hidden Rain Village."
"That gloomy place? Do you want to go there alone? That seems reckless. Take a couple of ANBU agents with you at least," Tsunade suggested. That country had become very secretive since the war, and they didn't know what was truly going on there.
Jiraiya huffed. "I know what I'm doing. I wouldn't have survived this long if I didn't. I'll just go there to collect some information on 'Pain.' Then I'll come back. I have no intention of engaging in direct combat with Akatsuki right now."
"Be careful..." Tsunade said.
Jiraiya chuckled. "Of course." He stood up. "When I return, we can have a proper meal together and some drinks."
Tsunade watched him jump out of the window, as he had done many times before. But something felt off to her this time, and she didn't know what it was. "Jiraiya... you'll come back... right?"
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