Chapter 271: The Power of the Present is Insufficient, We Can Only Rely on the Past
Jiraiya's expression changed drastically.
Although Toad Gamatora hadn't mentioned who killed Naruto, everyone present instinctively assumed it was Hagoromo Gengetsu.
But upon seeing this scroll, Jiraiya learned the shocking truth: it was the Great Toad Sage who killed Naruto!
Jiraiya was bewildered and shocked.
Suppressing any burgeoning emotions toward the Great Toad Sage, he instinctively continued reading the scroll, his expression shifting dramatically as he read on.
Hagoromo Gengetsu aimed to collect all nine tailed beasts and merge them into the legendary Ten-Tails, heralding an unprecedented disaster for the shinobi world. Additionally, the progenitor of chakra, who once enslaved humanity a thousand years ago, would reappear.
In his last will, the Great Toad Sage detailed his vision of the future, emphasizing Hagoromo Gengetsu's plan and stressing the necessity of rallying the entire shinobi world to swiftly defeat him and prevent the foretold calamity.
Jiraiya fell into prolonged silence after reading everything.
The Ten-Tails plan; the shinobi world's impending disaster; the resurrection of the progenitor of chakra.
These monumental issues, which he had never contemplated, abruptly invaded his thoughts.
The Great Toad Sage... dreamed of such things? Is this why he killed Naruto?
The Ten-Tails...
Recognizing the severity of the issue, Jiraiya forcibly suppressed his grief over Naruto and the Toads of Mount Myoboku's deaths, handing the scroll to Tsunade.
Initially unwilling to accept it, Tsunade eventually took the scroll under Jiraiya's insistent gaze and read it.
Soon, her expression changed.
"Damn the Great Toad Sage! Damn Hagoromo Gengetsu!"
Compared to Jiraiya, Tsunade, already aware of the recent capture of the One-Tail, Two-Tails, and Eight-Tails Jinchuriki by the Akatsuki, believed the Great Toad Sage's words more readily.
However, she couldn't forgive the Great Toad Sage for killing Naruto.
"Tsunade, you're the Fifth Hokage now. Fulfill your duty!" Jiraiya reminded her after taking a deep breath.
An all-encompassing catastrophe loomed over the shinobi world.
Jiraiya, Tsunade, and everyone else could not wallow in sorrow over Naruto's death; more pressing matters awaited them.
'Naruto...'
Jiraiya buried his pain deep within.
His face now serious, reminiscent of the legendary Sannin, he looked at Tsunade, awaiting her response.
"I understand!"
Tsunade clenched her fists, gritting her teeth.
Naruto's death was just the beginning. If left unchecked, more tragedies would follow.
"Yamato, Guy, take your teams back to rest. The mission is canceled."
Tsunade, her face cold and stern, addressed Yamato and the newly arrived team, her gaze briefly passing over the unconscious Sakura. She quickly issued commands,
"A great battle is coming. I need you to be in top form, ready at all times."
"Yes!"
Yamato and Guy, still wiping their tears, responded promptly and led their teams away.
Tsunade then turned to Jiraiya.
"I'm convening another Five Kage Summit. The Daimyo of the five great nations must also attend. Given the time constraints, it will be a video conference."
While speaking, she handed the intelligence report from the Hidden Cloud Village to Jiraiya and gravely said to him and Shikaku Nara,
"The One-Tail, Two-Tails, and Eight-Tails Jinchuriki were captured by the Akatsuki on the same day. Adding the previously captured Seven-Tails, and the long-missing Four-Tails, Five-Tails, and Six-Tails, it's highly probable that Hagoromo Gengetsu has already collected eight of the tailed beasts!"
Jiraiya's expression grew more somber as he read the report and listened to Tsunade.
"Now, only Naruto's Nine-Tails remains."
Thinking of the Great Toad Sage's actions, he sighed deeply.
Tsunade continued, "The Nine-Tails... will take years to resurrect after its death. Given Hagoromo Gengetsu's demonstrated power and cunning, it's hard to guarantee he doesn't have a way to bypass the Nine-Tails. We cannot gamble, nor can we afford to be complacent."
"The power of the Ten-Tails, as described in the Great Toad Sage's will, is immense. We must convene the Five Kage Summit immediately and unite the entire shinobi world to defeat Hagoromo Gengetsu before he merges with the Ten-Tails!"
After speaking, Tsunade swiftly instructed Shikaku Nara to notify the five great nations and the other four major shinobi villages for the video conference.
She needed to keep herself busy with important tasks to avoid thinking about Naruto and the identical tragic fate of three of the most important people in her life.
Shikaku Nara had no objections and set to work immediately.
"There's one more thing!"
Tsunade turned to Jiraiya and said,
"You and I both know that Naruto only possessed half of the Nine-Tails. The other half is with the Fourth Hokage."
Minato Namikaze had split the Nine-Tails into two halves, sealing the Yang half within Naruto and the Yin half within himself using the Reaper Death Seal. Aside from the Namikaze couple, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who arrived later, was aware of this.
Afterwards, as Minato's teacher, Jiraiya learned of Minato's choice from Hiruzen. As the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade was also privy to this secret.
Jiraiya: "You mean to say..."
Tsunade analyzed calmly, "Since the Great Toad Sage foresaw Hagoromo Gengetsu merging with the Ten-Tails, it implies that the Yin half of the Nine-Tails, sealed with the Fourth Hokage, will also fall into his hands."
Jiraiya frowned, "But Minato used the Reaper Death Seal. Not even the Reanimation Jutsu can bring him back to the living. How would Hagoromo Gengetsu obtain the other half of the Nine-Tails?"
Tsunade shook her head, "I don't know. But I do know that Hagoromo Gengetsu likely has a method. Additionally, I know there's someone who can solve this problem."
"Orochimaru!"
Jiraiya's expression changed as he stared at Tsunade in shock,
"Tsunade, you mean..."
"Exactly!" Tsunade nodded before Jiraiya could finish, "We need Orochimaru's capabilities for the Fourth Hokage. Moreover..."
She looked out the window.
Recognizing Hagoromo Gengetsu's immense power, which even the thousand-year-old Great Toad Sage couldn't match, and considering the Akatsuki members, Uchiha clan, Hagoromo clan ninjas, and the probable possession of eight tailed beasts,
Even if the five great shinobi villages and the smaller ones united, they likely couldn't overpower him.
Especially regarding high-level combat power.
"Though it's disgraceful, we living have no choice but to seek aid from the dead. We need Orochimaru's Reanimation Jutsu!"
Tsunade stated each word with clear conviction.
Jiraiya wanted to argue against disturbing the dead with the infamously reviled Reanimation Jutsu.
But as he opened his mouth, he silently closed it again.
Even Mount Myoboku had been destroyed by Hagoromo Gengetsu alone. As Tsunade said, the power they currently possessed was insufficient.
The only way to gain strength comparable to Hagoromo Gengetsu's was to resurrect past heroes with the Reanimation Jutsu.
"It seems we have no choice but to see Orochimaru." Jiraiya sighed.
"He's already in Konoha, right when you left for Amegakure."
Tsunade said as she walked out.
"Though... he's in a very different state."