"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!"...
Several dark figures flashed through the forest.
Their expressions were grave.
When they returned this time, if things really were as they suspected, how would they face their former comrade...?
"Hey, Jiraiya, if... if it really is... Sosuke... what will you do...?"
As she leaped from one massive tree trunk to another, Tsunade tried to look calm, but her voice trembled slightly as she asked.
Hearing her, Jiraiya froze for a moment. He stared solemnly ahead and answered in a low voice.
"Then I'll beat some sense into him!"
"I'll tell him what a true comrade is..."
Tsunade was taken aback, but soon looked much more at ease.
She gazed softly at Jiraiya's back, a hint of warmth in her eyes.
After all, Sosuke had a comrade like you, didn't he...?
Behind them, Sakumo silently listened to their conversation, his face expressionless. His remaining left hand, however, clenched tightly.
Comrades, huh...
That was exactly why... Sosuke... you had to die...
Jueliang, Kojika, I'll avenge you...!!
Meanwhile.
Inside the Hokage Building in Konoha.
The village's top officials had gathered there for a major meeting, led by the Third, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen sat at the head of the table, his calm gaze sweeping across the faces of the various ninja clan heads.
He gave a light cough, and Utatane Koharu handed him a stack of intelligence reports.
Hiruzen gestured, and a ninja quickly distributed the reports to everyone present.
Even Danzo, seated off to the side, received a copy.
Uchiha Maya and Hyuga Kushi both frowned as they examined the report.
It was less a report than a profile of one person—a remarkably detailed profile.
Looking at the gentle smile in the photograph, everyone raised their heads and exchanged glances. As if they had guessed what this was