"He was already an adult by then. His character should have been settled. He shouldn't have changed so drastically afterward."
"That's exactly what makes it even more suspicious."
Jiraiya's expression grew increasingly grave, disbelief creeping into his voice.
"Throughout his childhood, his time at the Ninja Academy, and the Shinobi World War, he was pure-hearted and kind."
"Yet sometime after the Shinobi World War ended, his personality changed completely."
"I'm even starting to wonder whether this is the same person at all. Could someone have switched him out?"
"What on earth happened?"
Tsunade was just as baffled, her mind full of questions.
"And the part that makes the least sense is that Naruto has always respected the old man."
"But his future self is ruthless and calculating at every turn. He's clearly determined to wipe out the Sarutobi Clan completely."
"With how much he values his bonds and loyalties, there's no way he'd turn on people once they'd outlived their usefulness and slaughter them all."
Jiraiya took a deep breath and went straight to the heart of the matter.
"There's only one possible explanation."
"During that missing period after the Fourth Shinobi World War, the part that hasn't been shown, something must have happened to Naruto that was enough to change him completely."
Tsunade nodded firmly, fully agreeing with his assessment.
Nothing else could explain such a radical change in Naruto's personality.
Without a moment's hesitation, Tsunade stood and called out through the doorway in a low, firm voice.
"Send orders to the Anbu. Assign another elite squad to watch over Naruto and protect him in secret."
Jiraiya nodded in agreement.
"That's the safest arrangement."
"Let's hope we're just overthinking this, and nothing disastrous happens."
Tsunade looked up at the Sky Screen overhead and let out a long sigh, her