Tsunade's question was what everyone wanted to know.
"Perhaps he can't come back for now," Jiraiya guessed.
That was the only answer.
Konoha had too many matters that required the Hokage's attention, and Shihōin Naraku had not handed the position over to Kakashi Hatake.
So if he really was all right, he would have appeared in Konoha long ago.
Kakashi raised his one exposed eye. "Lord Naraku went after Isshiki to kill him. Isshiki himself knows the most about that. If Isshiki has escaped, he should know what happened to Naraku."
"Whether he's dead or alive, sealed away or trapped, Isshiki is the only one with the answer."
"That's not right!" Tsunade shook her head.
"Ōtsutsuki Isshiki sent two subordinates to Konoha specifically to investigate Naraku's whereabouts." "What does that mean?"
Shikaku said, "It means they don't know."
"Don't know what?"
"They don't know whether Naraku is actually in Konoha."
"If Isshiki had confirmed that Naraku was dead, or that Naraku had been sealed somewhere absolutely secure, he wouldn't need to send people to check on the situation in Konoha."
"That would be unnecessary and would only increase the risk of exposure."
Kakashi's brow twitched. "So... Isshiki doesn't know Naraku's current situation either?"
"That's right." Shikaku nodded. "He doesn't know."
"That's right." Shikaku nodded. "He doesn't know."
Jiraiya picked up the thread. "So after Isshiki returned to his lair, the first thing he did was..."
"Confirm that Naraku couldn't return."
Shikaku's gaze sharpened. "Only once he confirmed that would he dare to start moving again."
"Let's make an assumption..."
"Lord Naraku went after Isshiki and Momoshiki, most likely in an unfamiliar alternate space."
"And no one knows what was in that alternate space."
"It's very possible that Isshiki and Momoshiki set a trap in that alternate space," Jiraiya guessed.
"Exactly."