Konoha, Hokage Office.
Standing on the balcony before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the endless Sea of Clouds slowly rolling before her, Mimi wondered what she was thinking beneath her mask.
Tsunade had been locked up for a week. Mimi had not gone to see her, but she had kept watch over her all the same.
Have you been reflecting properly?
"Your Highness, Jiraiya requests an audience."
"Let him in."
The tightly shut office door opened. Jiraiya looked toward the figure outside on the balcony and froze slightly.
Just from the back, the incomparably familiar Jiraiya could tell that it was not Tsunade.
Walking behind her, Jiraiya remained silent for a long while before asking in a low voice,
"Who are you?"
Why are you here?
The figure turned around. Mimi looked at Jiraiya.
His feet retreated involuntarily by a step. Coming to his senses, Jiraiya stared at Mimi in shock.
"What did you do?"
"Use that clever brain of yours and think carefully. It shouldn't be difficult to understand." Mimi said, "You've been jumping around in my lair recently. You've worked hard."
The news he had received was that Tsunade had locked Mimi up.
He had initially been delighted by the success of their operation.
But in the current situation, that meant—
Tsunade had failed.
A chill sank into his bones. After taking a deep breath, Jiraiya asked with a trembling voice,
"You locked Tsunade up?"
"Yes." It was not a question that could not be answered. Mimi said, "She wouldn't listen, so I had no choice but to lock her up."
"How dare you!" Jiraiya cried out.
"Why wouldn't I dare?" Mimi chuckled.
I only locked her up. Could it be that I did something excessive?
It's not like I won't let her out.
Jiraiya gradually understood everything.