But Yamata no Orochi did not really count as a "tail." That thing... had heads.
"But why were these people collecting tailed beasts now of all times?" Naruto asked unhappily.
"According to my intelligence, it was not a matter of 'now of all times.'" Grandma Chiyo shook her head. "They were preparing. Extracting tailed beasts from Jinchuriki is not something that can be done easily."
"Just because of that?" Naruto's eyes widened. "Then why before—"
"You were still a child back then, weren't you? Capturing a mature Jinchuriki and capturing a child are two entirely different levels of difficulty. As long as they caught you, keeping you captive would have worked just as well."
Naruto had only been twelve when he graduated.
No matter how strong Naruto had been then, there had been limits.
So even if they had captured him early and kept him confined, there would have been no problem.
But things were different now.
Naruto, as a Jinchuriki, had begun to grow stronger, and he had many companions around him. At this point, proceeding in order was more suitable instead.
"Does Sunagakure have any intelligence on the enemy?" Sparkle asked.
"...I don't know. But the other person is most likely a puppeteer." Grandma Chiyo seemed to have figured out what was going on.
The Akatsuki Organization ninja who had poisoned Kankuro and laid traps... was likely "Sasori of the Red Sands."
Her own grandson.
"But if there are only two of them, we can handle them, right—"
Naruto felt that he could still fight them for another round.
"Don't be naive," Sparkle said. "How could there be only two enemies? Those are merely the ones you saw. And if their goal is the tailed beasts, then as long as they hold out until the tailed beast is