The time until the Five Kage Summit was only a few days away.
Originally, Onoki, who had been sitting comfortably, was now extremely irritable and uneasy.
This was because, recently, the Jinchuriki of the Four-Tails, Rōshi, and the Five-Tails, Han, had both gone missing.
Recalling the information he received from the Fourth Raikage about Akatsuki capturing Jinchuriki, Onoki immediately concluded that the disappearances of these two Jinchuriki were definitely linked to Akatsuki.
It was one thing for Rōshi, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, to go missing.
After all, Rōshi had never gotten along with Onoki and had been traveling outside the village. If he went missing, Onoki would just consider him as someone no longer part of Iwagakure.
But the case of Han, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, was different.
Han wasn't as "rebellious" as Rōshi. He had always respected Onoki and was one of Iwagakure's rare top-tier combat forces.
"Contact Akatsuki and ask them if they really captured our two Jinchuriki."
Since Iwagakure had some business dealings with Akatsuki in the past, Onoki knew some channels to contact them.
"Uh, father, with all due respect, I don't think Akatsuki will admit it."
"I've told you countless times—when working, you must address me by my title."
"...Alright, Lord Tsuchikage."
Glancing at his honest son, Onoki sighed and said, "Whether Akatsuki admits it or not is not important. What matters is that we show Iwagakure's stance."
With two of the village's Jinchuriki gone missing, if Iwagakure did nothing, wouldn't people start thinking that the village had become cowardly?
Onoki didn't care whether Akatsuki was responsible or not. Once everyone believed that they were the ones behind it, the truth no longer mattered.
Besides, in the current ninja world, other than Akatsuki, who else would capture Jinchuriki?
"By the way, when you ask them, make sure your tone is firm."
"Understood, Lord Tsuchikage. I'll make the arrangements."
Akatsuki, in the Hidden Rain Village.
To seal all the Tailed Beasts as quickly as possible, Black Zetsu had been working tirelessly.
Not only did he personally supervise Pain, ordering the organization's members to capture the Jinchuriki as quickly as possible, but he also made preparations for the potential war that might come later.
"How is it? Any news on the Six-Tails Jinchuriki?"
The chaotic situation in the Shinobi world forced Nagato to accelerate the process of sealing the Tailed Beasts.
Sure enough, Black Zetsu was found by him as soon as he returned to Amegakure, asking about the Six-Tails Jinchuriki.
"We found him. He's in a small, unknown village in the Land of Water."
"That's good. I'll go personally this time."
"Hmm? Is it really necessary?"
Black Zetsu was surprised by Nagato's decision.
In his view, capturing the Six-Tails Jinchuriki was something a team could handle easily. There was no need for Nagato or Six Paths of Pain.
"We've been making a lot of moves lately. If the Mist Village isn't completely foolish, they'll definitely be on guard."
"Do you think giving this mission to someone else might lead to failure?"
"Yes."
Nagato's concern was indeed justified.
Every formal member of the Akatsuki was very strong.
However, when facing one of the Five Great Shinobi Countries, aside from Pain, no one in the Akatsuki was truly up to the task.
Wasn't the Third Raikage strong enough back then?
He had reached the peak of Taijutsu and ninjutsu and had an unparalleled physical defense.
And yet?
He was still overwhelmed and defeated by Iwagakure's human wave tactics.
"Notify Itachi and the others, let them rest for the next couple of days. Once I capture the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, we will begin the sealing process immediately."
"Okay, I will notify them."
As soon as Pain from the Akatsuki left, a Rain Ninja, an outer member of the Akatsuki organization, arrived at the base.
"Hmm? What are you doing here?"
Zetsu recognized this person as the main contact for handling external missions and recruitment for the Akatsuki.
Since the Akatsuki had started capturing the Tailed Beasts, the external mission window had long since been closed.
"Lord Zetsu, I am here to find the leader."
"The leader has left for something. If it's not urgent, you can come back in a few days."
"Well..."
Seeing that the person seemed hesitant, Zetsu became interested and asked kindly, "Is it something important?"
"I'm not sure if it's important or not."
"Then why don't you tell me about it first?"
This person knew that the status of formal members in the organization was worlds apart from that of the outer members.
Facing the inquiry from a formal member, he couldn't refuse.
"It's about this... The Jinchuriki from Iwagakure has gone missing. We need to inquire."
"Ah, so that's what it is. I already know about it."
"Then... how should we respond to Iwagakure?"
"Respond? Why respond? Just delay them."
"Huh? Is this really okay?"
"Why wouldn't it be? Just do as I say, got it?"
"Got it."
After receiving the order from Zetsu, the contact person walked away anxiously.
Standing in place, Zetsu looked in the direction where Nagato, the self-proclaimed God, had left and muttered, "It's good that Nagato left. Otherwise, with Nagato's personality, he'd probably just admit it right away."
"Then why didn't you have that person deny it earlier?"
At this moment, the rare voice of White Zetsu, attached to Black Zetsu, spoke up.
"Whether they deny it or admit it, it doesn't matter. Right now, all we need to do is delay the time."
While Nagato and Konan set off towards the Land of Water to capture the Six-Tails Jinchuriki,
Tsunade, along with Shizune, had arrived at the Land of Waterfalls.
"Tsunade-sama, why are we here?"
As someone Tsunade had raised since childhood, Shizune understood Tsunade very well.
After traveling across the ninja world for so many years, Tsunade rarely left the Land of Fire and mostly stayed within its borders.
First, because the Land of Fire was the wealthiest in the ninja world, and the casino industry here was the most developed.
Second, because most of Tsunade's connections were in the Land of Fire, and if she lost money in the casino, she would need these connections to pay back.
The title of Princess wasn't given for nothing.
She truly had a family connection with the Land of Fire's Daimyo.
That's why Shizune was so surprised that Tsunade would come to the economically underdeveloped Land of Waterfalls.
"After staying in the Land of Fire for so long, sometimes it's necessary to change the mood," Tsunade said.
Not believing a single word Tsunade said, Shizune guessed that Tsunade was probably just bored of the casinos in the Land of Fire and wanted to try the ones in other countries.
However, as Tsunade's little follower, Shizune knew what was okay to ask and what wasn't.
"So, Tsunade-sama, where are we going now?"
"Of course, we're going to the nearest casino."
Upon hearing this, Tsunade, confirming her guess, immediately muttered softly, "Ha, I knew it. Lady Tsunade could never change her nature."
"Huh? What are you saying, Shizune?"
Shizune waved her hand and hurriedly explained, "I meant to ask, Lady Tsunade, do you know where the casino is around here?"
"I don't know."
"Then why did you—"
Tsunade gave Shizune a side glance and continued, "But we can ask."
"Huh?"
"Huh what? Hurry up and ask."
"Oh, I'll go do it right now."
Watching Shizune hurriedly ask passersby for directions to the casino, Tsunade stood with her arms crossed, frowning, thinking about something the Third Hokage had told her when she returned to the village recently.
"Tch, that old man really knows how to cause trouble for me."
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