The Hokage Office in the Hokage Tower was still brightly lit, filled with a mood of frustration that clashed with the silence outside the window.
Files were piled high like mountains, disorderly occupying most of the large desk, with some having even fallen to the floor.
Reviewed, pending, emergency encrypted... various scrolls and papers were mixed together, presenting a daunting sight.
Jiraiya, temporarily acting as Hokage, sat before the desk.
He was almost buried in the piles of documents. His eye bags were deep, and his usually vibrant eyes were bloodshot and circled by heavy dark rings, making him look as if he'd been punched twice.
His hair was tousled like weeds from frantic scratching, stubble sprouted on his chin, and his entire demeanor suggested exhaustion.
"Haah!"
He lethargically yawned, tears welling up in his eyes.
The pen in his hand aimlessly poked at a scroll before him regarding a supply request for a border outpost. The writing began to dance in his blurry vision.
Finally, his patience reached its limit.
"Aaaahhhh!!"
He threw down the pen and frantically clawed at his white hair, letting out a frustrated scream: "When is the old man coming back?!"
"When will this dark, endless nightmare end?!"
"Seriously, I shouldn't have been soft and agreed to this. I should have continued my travels for inspiration, dedicating myself to the great cause of literature, not sitting here with these damnable..."
Thwack!
A sharp sound interrupted his lament.
A not-too-thick file scroll accurately flew over, hitting him square in the face.
Jiraiya's complaints stopped short. He sheepishly took the file off his face and turned to the other side of the office.
There, on the large sofa, Tsunade languidly sat up. Her golden hair was slightly dishevelled over her shoulders. Her eyes were drowsy, and her face showed the displeasure of being woken up.
Clearly, that file was what she had been using to cover her face for a quick nap.
"What's all the noise about?" she complained. Then she stretched, the loose top contouring a breathtaking silhouette.
This incredibly impactful sight instantly chased away most of Jiraiya's sleepiness. His eyes widened, and he instinctively swallowed.
But in the next second, Tsunade's murderous gaze swept over him, and she spoke: "Stare again and I'll gouge your eyeballs out."
"Ahem, ahem! Well, about that..."
Jiraiya immediately shifted his gaze as if electrocuted. He awkwardly coughed twice, forcefully changing the subject: "Speaking of which, the Feudal Lord's court is pressing again."
"They're demanding we send more personnel. And judging by the tone, they hope that either you or I personally go there. How should I reply?"
The Feudal Lord was unaware of Tsunade's current hemophobia, otherwise he wouldn't have placed hope in her.
"Didn't we already send Asuma over, along with Yūgao Uzuki and several Anbu ninja?"
Hearing this, Tsunade's beautiful brows immediately furrowed. She complained, "That composition is enough to handle most unexpected situations. Is the Feudal Lord short of guards? Why is he endlessly nagging?"
"He said 'it's not enough'," Jiraiya said, spreading his hands helplessly. "The number of 'Voids' is increasing, making the Feudal Lord and his people more nervous."
Tsunade instinctively clenched her fist, but took a deep breath, repeatedly telling herself in her mind that it was the Feudal Lord, forcibly suppressing her annoyance.
"Annoying..." She rubbed her temples irritably and frowned, "Don't reply immediately. Phrase it vaguely to stall for time. Let the old man deal with this mess himself when he gets back!"
"Oh, right."
As if remembering something, she looked at Jiraiya and asked, "What were you doing a few days ago, asking me sneakily to look up the archives of all registered Leaf ninja with the characteristic of blue eyes, without letting the two old fools know?"
"..."
Jiraiya's expression instantly became a little unnatural. His eyes drifted, and he vaguely waved his hand: "Nothing, I was just... checking around."
Tsunade initially thought he had discovered some spy, but seeing his clearly guilty look, she instantly realized something.
Her face darkened slightly, and she asked, "Don't tell me the Mount Myōboku toads have passed along some mystic prophecy to you again?"
Jiraiya's lips moved, but he ultimately remained silent, instinctively avoiding Tsunade's gaze.
This silence was tantamount to confirmation.
He was, in fact, searching for the Child of Prophecy spoken of by the Great Toad Sage, but he had found no leads at all.
The only person that somewhat concerned him was Minato's child, the boy named Naruto Uzumaki.
"You!" Tsunade was immediately furious. She seemed about to reprimand him for being led around by those ethereal prophecies again, wasting his energy and the village's resources.
However, just as she was about to speak...
Swish!
A figure materialized like a phantom, kneeling in the center of the office!
The newcomer was in standard Konoha Anbu attire, wearing an animal mask, but his breathing was slightly ragged, betraying barely concealed panic.
The sudden intruder forced the words back down Tsunade's throat. She and Jiraiya focused their attention on the Anbu ninja.
"Jiraiya-sama! Tsunade-sama!"
The Anbu ninja took a deep breath and reported urgently: "Just now, an emergency occurred at the Forbidden Scroll Archive. The 'Wrath,' one of the 'Seven Deadly Sins' that was strictly sealed..."
"It... it broke through the sealing barrier by itself and flew away from the archive!"
At these words, Jiraiya's eyes widened, and he abruptly stood up from his chair.
"What did you say?!"
His face, tired from staying up all night, was instantly replaced by shock and disbelief. All sleepiness vanished. He even wondered if he was too exhausted and experiencing auditory hallucinations.
A sealed ninja tool broke through the barrier and flew away by itself?!
"It's absolutely true!" the Anbu ninja spoke rapidly. "We saw it break the seal and fly off with our own eyes. It flew towards..."
Buzz!!
Before he could finish, a burning sensation, seemingly originating from the soul level, surged from the distance.
Jiraiya and Tsunade's expressions changed almost simultaneously. Both suddenly turned and fixed their gazes on the window.
They saw that in the southeast direction of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, where the Hyūga Clan compound was located...
A column of light composed of pure golden flames violently tore through the last shred of pre-dawn darkness, so dazzling, so sacred, that it illuminated a good half of Konoha as if it were daylight!
Even the sculptures on the distant Hokage Rock were plated with a shimmering, fluid golden glow!
"What is that?" Tsunade's pupils contracted.
"That direction... is the Hyūga Clan?"
Jiraiya stared intensely at the golden light column, speculating: "Is that the power of 'Wrath'? Could someone have been acknowledged by 'Wrath'?"
Why? Why would someone suddenly be acknowledged by 'Wrath'?
What happened to the Hyūga Clan?
Connecting this to the abnormally quiet behavior of 'Root' and Danzō Shimura lately, a spine-chilling thought entered both their minds. A powerful sense of unease, even dread, welled up.
"Quick!" Tsunade said grimly. "Immediately send people to the Hyūga Clan to inquire..."
Boom!!
Her words were interrupted again.
The office window glass vibrated with a slight hum, and the water in the teacups on the desk shook violently!
Looking afar, several thick black smoke columns, mixed with firelight, rose into the sky, quickly dirtying the barely lightening dawn.
A dark, oppressive "flock of birds" appeared over Konoha.
"Enemy attack?!" Jiraiya and Tsunade's expressions changed. They spoke in unison.
That direction is...
The Barrier Team!
"Emergency Alert!"
Without any hesitation, Jiraiya ordered: "Phase Three!"
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