Jiraiya leapt down from the ceiling. "Originally, I wanted to scare you, but I forgot your vision at night is even clearer than in the day. My effort was wasted!"
Shigeo got up, changed into his pajamas, and jumped onto the bed. As soon as he lay down, he closed his eyes.
"Shigeo, come with me somewhere tomorrow. I want to find someone who can examine your body," Jiraiya said.
In fact, he had already been back in the village for two days. Just earlier, the Third Hokage had spoken to him for a long while, mainly about what had happened with Shigeo in Wucheng. He had released an enormous amount of tailed beast chakra, yet no one knew which beast it belonged to. They needed answers.
"Fine, I'll go with you tomorrow," Shigeo muttered, already half-asleep.
The next morning, Jiraiya carried Shigeo's backpack, looking curiously at the boy trailing after him. He tapped Shigeo on the forehead.
"What's wrong with you? Last night you were full of energy at the barbecue with your friends, and now you look half-dead?"
"Sensei, the sun's barely up. You dragged me out when we haven't had proper rest for two or three days while rushing back to Konoha. And I came back late last night too…" Shigeo complained, dragging his feet.
"Some things can't wait. Do you know what tailed beast power you're carrying? The Wucheng incident—you suppressed it all by yourself. That's incredible chakra. But what if that power erupts uncontrollably? Have you reinforced your seals? If it isn't dealt with properly, sealing the chakra can hinder your ability to use it. That's why I need someone to examine you carefully and figure out exactly what's inside you."
Jiraiya had long suspected Shigeo carried tailed beast chakra, but he hadn't expected it to be this strong.
The previous night, Konoha's high council had held a meeting that lasted until dawn. Some suggested confining Shigeo within the barrier at the rear of the village, having the Yamanaka clan probe his mind, then performing sealing rituals to analyze his body. That way, they could immediately determine the truth.
But the Third Hokage had vetoed it. He knew Shigeo's temperament—he would never cooperate. If the village forced him, provoking him could become a disaster.
So instead, Hiruzen had asked Jiraiya to take Shigeo to Aoyama Temple, to seek Elder Tengen, a reclusive sage who might be able to identify the tailed beast's nature. Jiraiya was also instructed to report back immediately once the truth was known, so the village could decide its course of action.
"For the village's safety they need answers," Jiraiya thought. "But what I worry about most is this child himself."
"I don't think it's the Nine-Tails inside you," Jiraiya said aloud. "Could it be the Four-Tails or Five-Tails, since you've been to Iwagakure? Whatever it is, how did you even get entangled with a tailed beast in the first place? Shigeo, do you actually know what's inside you?"
Jiraiya rambled on, but Shigeo barely reacted, dragging his feet indifferently. After a long silence, he finally muttered, "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
"That's not good enough. For your own safety, we need certainty. If a tailed beast goes berserk, it's too late to regret. Many jinchūriki in history have been devoured by their beasts. That's why villages fear them. We can't be careless."
After three days of travel, they arrived at Aoyama Temple, where Elder Tengen resided.
Though old and shabby, the temple was spotless. Incense smoke curled in the courtyard, where a young monk was sweeping. Seeing them, he pressed his palms together. "Please, come in. My master is waiting in the main hall."
Inside the hall sat an elderly monk with a snow-white beard, frail and toothless, his cloudy eyes barely able to focus. When he saw them, he slowly stood and shuffled forward.
Though Shigeo's own eyes were closed, his mirror-sense allowed him to "see" the old monk's stumbling approach. He couldn't help but laugh aloud. "Head Priest, I'm right here!"
He stretched out his hand to guide the old man.
"Shigeo, show some respect," Jiraiya warned sternly.
"Hahaha, it's fine. Neither of us can see clearly. Sharing a laugh eases the burden," the old monk chuckled, gripping Shigeo's hand. He settled onto his cushion, while the young monk brought mats for Jiraiya and Shigeo.
As they sat, the old monk felt along Shigeo's arm. His smile gradually faded, and the atmosphere in the hall grew heavy.
"Master, did you sense something?" Jiraiya asked anxiously.
"Yes… he does indeed harbor a tailed beast. If he wished, he could unleash that power," the old monk said slowly, voice slurred with age. He squinted, trying to pierce the blur of his vision, but could not.
"I've heard his chakra is five or six times greater than that of ordinary tailed beasts. Can you tell which beast it is? Is it whole, or just fragments of chakra? What explains such overwhelming force?" Jiraiya pressed.
He knew the possibilities—like Naruto, who held only the Yang half of the Nine-Tails. Or the Gold and Silver Brothers of Kumogakure, who had eaten the Nine-Tails' flesh and gained its chakra. Shigeo's case had to be clarified.
"Huien, fetch the Pure Water of Insight," the elder instructed. The young monk hurried out.
Meanwhile, the old master traced each of Shigeo's fingers, one by one. "Child, whatever happens, you must walk the right path. If you do, the shinobi world will be blessed."
"Mm," Shigeo nodded faintly. To him, "right" or "wrong" didn't matter—only that others didn't harm him. Otherwise, no matter who they were, he would never forgive them.
The elder smiled faintly at his answer, then turned to Jiraiya. "A child's path depends greatly on those around him. Especially at his age. You must treat him with care—extra care. Do you understand?"
(End of Chapter)
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