Jiraiya saw that Shigeo refused his help with changing clothes and asked calmly,
"Are you wondering why I came back instead of running off to report to the village?"
Shigeo blinked, then nodded.
"Yes. Shouldn't you be heading straight to Konoha? The sooner the village knows about this, the better, right?"
"As a ninja of Konoha, I'll of course report everything. But Shigeo, can you tell me why your body carries the presence of five tailed beasts?" Jiraiya's voice carried more curiosity than judgment.
Shigeo rubbed his fingers together, thought for a while, then shook his head.
"I don't know either. Somehow, without me realizing, tailed beasts just… appeared inside me. The same ones that already exist in this world. Why are there duplicates? I can't explain it. They're just… lodged inside me somewhere. Weird, right?"
The truth of his mirror-like eyes—capable of replicating any jutsu he saw—was a secret he had only ever told Rōshi, the Four-Tails' jinchūriki. No one else. Even the Great Toad Sage had merely hinted that he could master any technique he laid eyes on. If Jiraiya had thought harder, maybe he'd have guessed. But since he hadn't, Shigeo wasn't about to tell him.
Because if it came down to choosing between Shigeo and Konoha, Jiraiya would always choose the village. Shigeo had no desire to gamble with that. He already had enough power to protect himself—but he didn't want to be treated as the enemy of the world, not when he was barely seven or eight years old. So he kept his secret. Especially with the Third Hokage still in power, he would say nothing.
Jiraiya sighed, then nodded.
"Alright. Let's eat something and then head back to Konoha."
The breakfast was tasteless, heavy with unspoken tension. Afterward, the two hurried back toward the village.
Shigeo had considered breaking away on his own, but he had already promised the Third Hokage to complete three tasks for the village. He wasn't the type to go back on his word. Besides, even if they knew about the beasts inside him, what could they do? They wouldn't dare try anything—unless they wanted to risk Konoha's very survival.
Sure enough, when Jiraiya delivered the news to Hiruzen Sarutobi, the old man nearly toppled from his chair.
"W-what did you just say? Five tailed beasts? Impossible!"
"Elder Tengen swore it. He even used the Water of Clarity," Jiraiya reported.
"You… you actually saw five tailed beasts?" The Third Hokage's mind whirled, every possible consequence flashing before him. Was the world about to change?
"I didn't see them myself, but that's what Elder Tengen claimed." Jiraiya frowned. "But sensei… could he have been mistaken? Maybe he's growing senile. After all, the Nine-Tails is sealed inside Naruto—how could there be a second one? Even Shigeo himself seemed clueless. Could this be some strange misunderstanding?"
Hiruzen paced in circles, then finally said,
"Whether it's true or not, this matter must remain between us. From this moment forward, you are forbidden from telling anyone. If others ask, you know nothing. Understood?"
"Yes." Jiraiya bowed his head.
"As for Shigeo—treat him well. A knot can only be untied by the one who tied it. Perhaps he can control these beasts. After all, in the chaos at Takeshi Castle, five beasts' worth of chakra burst forth—and he still didn't lose control. That alone proves something. For now, we must believe in him."
The Third Hokage drank deeply from his teacup, trying to steady his nerves. He hoped Elder Tengen had been wrong. Nothing like this had ever happened before.
At last, he repeated solemnly,
"Remember. Tell no one. I'll handle the higher-ups with another explanation. And tell Shigeo himself—he must keep this secret, too. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
Jiraiya left the office, releasing a long sigh, scratching his head. The weight of what he carried felt crushing.
He strode down the corridor—and ran into Danzo Shimura.
"Jiraiya. You're back. Well? What's inside Hyūga Shigeo?"
"This is for the Hokage to say, not me," Jiraiya deflected, walking past without stopping.
Danzo frowned and sneered.
"You think that boy is impressive? He's just a brat of seven or eight."
Jiraiya stopped and glanced back, silent.
Just then, a familiar voice called from downstairs.
"Jiraiya-sensei, are you up there?"
Danzo froze like a cornered rat. Panic flickered across his face, and he scurried like a startled insect, ducking into a side room.
Jiraiya stared, baffled. When had Danzo become so afraid of Shigeo? Wasn't he the one always scheming to drag the boy into Root?
"Danzo-sama? What's wrong?" Jiraiya knocked on the door.
"Go away!" the voice barked from inside. Trembling, desperate not to be found.
"Sensei, what happened?" Shigeo's voice came from the end of the hall as he walked toward them.
"Danzo's inside," Jiraiya replied, grinning faintly. "Oddly enough, he refuses to come out. Strange, since that room only holds office supplies. What's he doing in there?"
Shigeo's expression hardened. He strode up and kicked the door.
"Danzo! You in there? Come out!"
If Jiraiya hadn't been standing nearby, he would have gone in and snapped the man's neck on the spot.
Inside, Danzo's face drained of blood. No window. No escape. Just the boy's voice, ringing out:
"Danzo! You're back in Konoha, huh? Then tell me—am I a ninja of the village, or an enemy to be hunted? Decide now!"
Even Hiruzen, sitting in his office, heard the shout. He bolted to his feet and hurried out, shocked.
"Shigeo? What's going on out here?"
(End of Chapter)
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