With Kushina's due date approaching, Makoto tightened the village's security.
The Solarity Tower maintained 24-hour surveillance over the entire village, not letting any suspicious individuals slip by.
Even though history had already taken a different course, Makoto was still worried that someone might try to stir up trouble at this crucial moment.
Everything was set for the childbirth of the jinchuriki, and as long as no one interfered, the delivery would go smoothly.
At this time, Jiraiya suddenly returned to the village and went to visit Kushina.
Ever since Makoto took over as Hokage, both Jiraiya and Tsunade—the only remaining members of the legendary Sannin—had left the village.
However, keeping track of their whereabouts was not difficult.
Tsunade continued her usual lifestyle, traveling from place to place, frequenting the various casinos within the Land of Fire.
Her presence was often spotted in bustling towns, but she never stayed in one place for long—mostly because she had to dodge her debts.
Jiraiya, on the other hand, had practically made Amegakure his second home.
His three disciples were all in power there, so he spent most of his time in Amegakure.
Inside the Hokage Residence—
Makoto was not home, and Ayari had given Kushina and Jiraiya some private space to talk.
Kushina reclined on the bed, one hand resting on her large, swollen belly, her expression calm.
Jiraiya sat in a chair nearby, looking at her in slight surprise. "You named the child Naruto?"
"Yeah."
Jiraiya fell into thought.
He had once written a novel called Gutsy Shinobi Chronicles, in which the protagonist's name was Naruto.
Minato had read the book and even praised it, saying the story was great.
But Jiraiya knew in his heart that a novel filled with nothing but hot-blooded cliches wouldn't attract much of an audience.
Only someone like Minato would enjoy it—after all, most people preferred reading something more… mature.
His new work, Icha Icha Paradise, had been highly regarded by a certain magazine editor and was now being prepared for publication.
The fact that Kushina and Hyuga Makoto's child was named Naruto inevitably made Jiraiya think of Minato.
His disciple was now imprisoned, and even his disciple's girlfriend had become another man's woman.
This left Jiraiya feeling deeply melancholic.
He had considered rescuing Minato, but the First and Second Hokage had decided his fate.
Moreover, Minato's reputation in Konoha was now utterly ruined.
The only way to save him would be through force, but that would mean standing against Konoha itself.
Having muddled through life for so many years, Jiraiya felt that he had never truly figured things out.
"How is Minato… now?" Jiraiya hesitated before asking.
The Hokage had forbidden anyone from visiting Minato—not even him.
Kushina's eyes flickered, and she suddenly looked straight at Jiraiya.
"Jiraiya-sensei, can you do me a favor?"
Jiraiya nodded. "Go ahead."
"In a couple of days, I'll be giving birth. Since I'm a jinchuriki, the Hokage will have all his attention focused on me that day…"
........
Konoha's Main Gate.
Tsunade looked up at the newly built tower that had appeared atop the Hokage Rock and muttered, "What is that thing?"
"That's the Tower of Solarity, Lady Tsunade. The Hokage ordered its construction not long ago. It serves to protect Konoha," explained one of the gate guards, stepping forward proactively.
"Tower of Solarity…"
The towering structure loomed high above.
Tsunade gazed at it for a while before finally leading Shizune into the village.
Upon returning to her residence, she noticed signs that someone had been staying there.
She wondered if her granduncle, Tobirama, was in the village as well.
Afterward, she went straight to Jiraiya's place to meet him.
"Alright, spill it. Why did you call me back?"
Jiraiya poured her a cup of sake. "There's something big—something I need your help with."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow slightly. "Something big?"
Jiraiya pondered for a moment before saying, "To be precise, we need Lord Second Hokage's help. I was hoping you'd talk to him."
Tsunade casually picked up the sake cup, downed it in one go, and said, "Tell me the details first."
Jiraiya remained silent for a moment before saying, "It's about Minato. I want to break him out."
Tsunade frowned slightly. "Are you insane?"
Jiraiya slowly shook his head and poured himself a cup of sake. "I have to do this."
She narrowed her eyes at her old friend, studying him for a long time before finally asking, "What's the plan?"
Jiraiya replied, "Tomorrow is Kushina's delivery. She's a jinchuriki, so the entire village will be under lockdown."
Tsunade was taken aback. "Kushina's giving birth?"
Jiraiya hesitated for a moment before saying, "…It's the Hokage's child."
Tsunade was stunned for a few seconds before simply responding with an "Oh."
Jiraiya continued, "The lockdown is meant to keep outsiders out, but for us, it's an opportunity."
Tsunade just watched him, waiting for him to go on.
Jiraiya then got up and walked toward the bed, pointing in the direction of the Solarity Tower.
"You saw that tower when you entered the village, right?"
"Yeah."
"That tower monitors the entire village, similar to Sarutobi-sensei Telescope Jutsu, but far more advanced. It's guarded day and night, and if I make a move, the Hokage will definitely notice."
"…"
Tsunade was sharp—she understood his idea immediately.
However, she questioned, "Have you thought about what will happen once the Hokage finds out?"
Jiraiya said, "Minato is already a criminal. Do you think I still care about what happens to me?"
"…"
Tsunade remained silent, absentmindedly rubbing her sake cup.
After a long while, she finally spoke in a low voice. "Jiraiya, you'll drag me down with you."
Jiraiya smiled bitterly. "I know… but right now, you're the only one in the village I can turn to. I'm sorry, Tsunade."
Tsunade slowly walked to the window, standing across from him, her gaze also fixed on the tower outside.
There were once four massive stone faces there, but after she destroyed them, the Hokage never rebuilt them.
A sudden wave of regret washed over her—she had erased even the things that held her memories of the past.
She slowly said, "The village now is completely different from before."
Family, lovers, teachers, friends… too many had died.
The village had undergone a complete shift in power, now controlled by someone who felt unfamiliar to all of them.
Jiraiya said, "A lot has changed, but it's still Konoha."
The two of them talked for a long time, reminiscing about the past—about their youth, about the days they spent with Sarutobi-sensei, and even about Orochimaru.
They only spoke of their shared experiences from their younger days, moments that made them laugh from time to time.
But as they spoke, nostalgia and sorrow settled in.
Jiraiya gazed at the beautiful woman before him, momentarily lost in thought.
Yet, when he recalled the uncertain fate that awaited him after tomorrow, a sense of melancholy washed over him.
Tsunade turned her head to look outside the window and suddenly said, "Tonight, I'll speak with Second Grandpa and ask him to help."
With that, she placed her empty cup on the windowsill and turned to leave.
Jiraiya remained there, staring at the empty cup she had left behind, lost in thought.
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