"Huh?"
The Four Kage and Mifune were stunned, their faces full of shock and confusion.
How could the Hokage be even more irresponsible than they were?
The Jinchūriki from their villages had been captured, and the Kage knew they each held an undeniable responsibility, though it was understandable considering how secretive Akatsuki had been, moving swiftly without giving them any chance to react.
But they hadn't expected the Hokage to be even worse. Despite the severity of the situation, she didn't even know where Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was!
Raikage A stood up in anger, shouting, "Tsunade, this is utter nonsense!"
Mei Terumi interjected, "Raikage, calm down. Control that short fuse of yours; Tsunade is pregnant!"
No one understood a woman better than another woman. After saying this, Mei turned her head and spoke gently to Tsunade:
"I understand you must have your reasons. Why isn't the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki in the village? Please explain the situation to us. These are desperate times, and perhaps we can help you..."
Ōnoki also knew that blaming Tsunade now was pointless, so he agreed with Mei Terumi's suggestion: "Yes, Princess Tsunade, tell us what you know."
"...."
Tsunade sighed deeply and spoke softly:
"Our Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is named Naruto Uzumaki, a young boy with blond hair. Half a year ago, he left the village with Jiraiya.
"I know letting the Jinchūriki leave the village was a foolish decision, but it was Jiraiya's idea. He promised to protect Naruto, so I didn't stop them...
"But I never expected it to be this long. It's been half a year, and they still haven't returned..."
Hearing Jiraiya's name, the Kage's anxious expressions gradually eased.
Raikage said, "Jiraiya? As in the one who is one of the Legendary Sannin like you? If he's with the Nine-Tails, then perhaps the Jinchūriki is safe..."
Rasa added, "Still, we can't let our guard down. Our opponent is incredibly dangerous..."
Ōnoki nodded, "The top priority now is to find Jiraiya and Naruto. This is of utmost importance!"
Tsunade said, "I have been searching, but so far, there's no trace of them."
Mei Terumi suggested, "Let's mobilize the forces of the Five Nations to search for them, Tsunade. Please give us more detailed information about the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, and trust us."
Mifune spoke up, "I will also send the samurai from the Land of Iron to assist in the search. Right now, protecting Naruto is our only option, and it's also crucial for saving the world."
"..."
After a moment of contemplation, Tsunade slowly nodded. "Alright..."
After that, Tsunade wrote down detailed descriptions of Naruto and Jiraiya on paper.
The subordinates of the other Kage quickly got to work, sending the information back to their respective countries using their unique methods.
Rasa said, "With the Five Nations searching together, I'm confident we'll find them soon."
Ōnoki added, "Once we find them, we can set the trap and wait for the fish to bite. If necessary, I will personally take action."
"Hmph!" Raikage snorted, "Do you think you're up for it? You were even late to this meeting. Let me handle it! They dared to take my brother—I will make them pay in blood!"
Mifune intervened, "Now's not the time for bravado. We should all work together; otherwise, the Five Kage gathering here will have no meaning."
As the others continued discussing, Mei Terumi quietly moved her chair closer to Tsunade and whispered:
"Tsunade, I understand if you have doubts about the Kage and their positions, but I need you to trust me. No matter what, Kirigakure and Konoha are in this together."
Konoha and Kirigakure had never had a particularly close relationship, and Mei's words left Tsunade somewhat stunned.
It wasn't just now—Tsunade had noticed from the beginning that Mei had been speaking on her behalf, even affectionately calling her 'sister.'
Could it be because they were both women?
Or... was it some kind of scheme?
Seeing Tsunade's doubtful expression, Mei smiled and covered her mouth:
"Tsunade, there's no need to be so wary of me. We're practically family."
"Hmm?" Tsunade was taken aback. "What do you mean by 'family'?"
Mei pointed to her own belly:
"Well, I should've introduced myself properly earlier..."
"I'm also Natsu's wife, and I'm carrying his child as well."
...