Naruto's Review : First Viewer is Senju Tobirama?

"What? Gaara has gone missing?"

In Konoha, Naruto, who had been in a great mood today, was stunned to hear Jiraiya say this in the Hokage's office.

"Could it be the Akatsuki making a move?"

Beside him, Sasuke frowned.

Although he wasn't particularly close to Gaara, if Gaara's disappearance was really related to the Akatsuki, didn't that mean their plan was moving ahead of schedule?

One small action could set off a chain reaction.

If the Akatsuki's plan was advancing, Konoha would naturally need to adjust its strategy.

And for Uchiha Sasuke, it meant he would soon face Uchiha Itachi head-on.

But unlike what was shown on the screen, the current Sasuke wouldn't face Itachi alone.

"It's most likely the Akatsuki," Jiraiya said with a troubled expression. "No one else in the ninja world would target a Jinchūriki."

Jiraiya was clearly worried.

He knew that a confrontation with the Akatsuki was inevitable, but he didn't expect it to come so soon.

Konoha hadn't even managed to revive Yahiko yet, and now Nagato was already pushing forward with the plan to capture the Tailed Beasts. What exactly was he thinking?

"Naruto, didn't you collect some of Gaara's tissue samples when you were in the Sand Village?"

"Yes, Dad. Are you thinking…?"

"That's right."

Minato nodded at Naruto, then turned to Jiraiya. "Naruto has Gaara's tissue samples. We can ask Lord Orochimaru to use the Reanimation Jutsu to summon Gaara."

"Minato, you're right. If we can summon Gaara with the Reanimation Jutsu, it would mean he's already dead. If the summoning fails, it proves he's still alive, and we can form an elite team to head to the Land of Rain and rescue him."

"Exactly my point."

"No time to waste. Let's go to Orochimaru immediately."

Jiraiya knew exactly where Orochimaru was.

Ever since Orochimaru returned to Konoha, there were no longer any overt guards keeping an eye on him.

However, in secret, three squads of ANBU worked in shifts to monitor him 24/7.

Orochimaru himself was fully aware of this; he just didn't care.

Anyway, now that he had turned over a new leaf, being monitored didn't bother him.

Orochimaru was clean and clear of wrongdoing, with a conscience as clear as day!

"Orochimaru, we need your help with something."

"What is it?"

In a certain laboratory, Jiraiya and his group quickly found Orochimaru.

Without wasting time, Jiraiya pulled out a small bottle.

Inside the bottle were tissue samples from Gaara's body.

"Help me summon Gaara using Reanimation Jutsu. Here, these are the materials."

Handing the materials to Orochimaru, Jiraiya turned to Minato and said, "Minato, could you make another trip to the death row prison and bring back an inmate sentenced to death?"

"Got it. I'll be back right away."

As Minato disappeared in a flash, Orochimaru chuckled and said, "Flying Thunder God sure is convenient."

After saying that, he focused on the small bottle he had taken from Jiraiya.

"If I remember correctly, Gaara was the One-Tails Jinchūriki from Sunagakure. Did the Akatsuki make a move?"

"We're not sure yet, but they're highly suspicious."

"So, what do you plan to do about it?"

Orochimaru set the bottle down and looked at Jiraiya with a wide smile.

The clone body of Yahiko was only a few days away from being ready.

When Yahiko was revived and realized that his two old companions and their former teacher were now on opposing sides, what kind of emotions would stir in him?

Would Jiraiya send Yahiko back to the dangerous Amegakure, or would he keep him in Konoha?

Orochimaru found this situation utterly fascinating.

"What do you mean, 'what to do'? We'll do what needs to be done. I can't just avoid the problem because it's difficult. Escaping isn't my style. Sometimes, a straightforward solution can bring surprising results. So, of course, I'll handle it. You'll see how I deal with it when the time comes."

"..."

Everyone stared blankly at Jiraiya, who had just spouted a bunch of nonsense.

What he said was as good as saying nothing at all.

Of course, they could understand Jiraiya's feelings at this moment.

Especially Minato.

Even though he knew that Obito was the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails attack, he still couldn't bring himself to kill him.

Even Kushina, who always argued fiercely, would likely just seriously injure Obito instead. Something like making him bedridden for three months. She probably wouldn't truly go for the kill.

"Sensei, the death row convict has been brought over."

"Thank you, Minato."

"It's no trouble."

Minato gave a bright smile and handed the convict over to Orochimaru.

Orochimaru wasted no time and immediately began using the Reanimation Jutsu.

In no time, Gaara's Reanimated body appeared before everyone.

"Tch, so he really is dead, huh?"

Orochimaru smirked slyly and started to awaken Gaara's consciousness.

"Where is this? Hmm? Naruto?"

As soon as Gaara opened his eyes, he was still a bit dazed.

Looking at the group before him, his gaze immediately locked onto the blonde who was destined to be entangled with him.

"It's me, Gaara. Quickly, tell us what happened. Why did you die?"

"Ugh..."

Hearing those words, the previously confused Gaara suddenly snapped back to clarity.

"So that's it... I'm already dead, huh."

His memory was stuck at the moment when Kisame forcefully woke him up, followed by Black Zetsu knocking him unconscious again.

When the Akatsuki used the Phantom Dragon Nine Consuming Seals to extract Shukaku, Gaara had been unconscious and didn't know what happened afterward.

"Yes, you are already dead. So, can you tell us how you died?"

Hearing Jiraiya's words, Gaara nodded and began recounting what happened that day.

"Blah blah, blah blah~ that's how it went."

"You're saying you were killed by a guy wearing a black cloak with red clouds, holding a big circular blade, and who was really good at Water Style jutsu, and had a shark-like face?"

"At that time, I think I wasn't dead yet, just unconscious."

"Hmm, I understand now."

"So, can you tell me who that shark-faced guy is?"

"If I'm not mistaken, that shark-faced man should be Kisame from the Akatsuki."

"Akatsuki?"

Hearing the name of this organization, Gaara immediately reacted. "Is that the group Naruto warned me about, the one I should watch out for because of Deidara?"

"Yes."

"So, their target is Shukaku, not me?"

"You could say that."

".Alright, I understand."

The next steps became clear.

Jiraiya began arranging for someone to inform the Hidden Sand Village about Gaara's situation.

At the same time, he sent a communication toad to the Hidden Rain Village to contact Nagato.

He told him to come to Konoha in a few days to witness Yahiko's revival together.

"It's just... I wonder if Nagato will actually come."

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