Konoha, reported by the Fourth Hokage at the start.

Chapter 349 People Jiraiya Knows

"Lady Tsunade seems... different today!"

On the way to the Hokage's office building, Sakura looked at Tsunade walking ahead and muttered something under her breath.

Her light steps made it seem like she was about to fly. Although she still had the same strong adult demeanor as before, there was something more ambiguous about her now, something that Sakura, still a little girl, couldn't see.

The three secret guards who had been providing remote protection all along were quite aware of the situation.

However, the price was that all three of them were feeling unwell.

They have experienced working through the night on missions before, and it's even happened quite frequently; going several days without sleep is normal for them.

But last night, the three of them were in a state of intense excitement that they had to suppress, which took a huge toll on their mental well-being.

The three of them are now saying they can't take it anymore, but they don't dare to ask Tsunade to switch shifts, otherwise, if they overheard Tsunade and their shadow clone having a passionate encounter last night, wouldn't that be an admission of guilt?

They dared not taste Lady Tsunade's monstrous punches.

However... Lady Tsunade's methods are worth learning.

The combination of the physical form of the Shadow Clone Technique and the Transformation Technique gives the self-entertainment a more realistic feel. All three guards can use the Shadow Clone Technique, and they are already thinking about how to better develop the combination ninjutsu of the Shadow Clone Technique and the Transformation Technique in the future.

"Yamato is missing?"

In the office, after listening to Naruto's words, Tsunade frowned slightly. She didn't know much about the power of the Dragon Vein, but this was the first time she had heard of it being able to make someone disappear.

"You two go back first. I'll go to the Root organization to check on the Dragon Vein matter first," Tsunade said, standing up.

"I'll go too," Naruto said.

Tsunade shook her head and said, "Don't rush, this isn't something that can be resolved immediately."

"I……"

Sakura pressed down on Naruto's shoulder, who was about to say something more.

"Naruto."

"I see."

Naruto lowered his head in frustration, turned around, and left with Sakura.

Jiraiya-sensei is dead!

Captain Yamato has also disappeared!

Why?

Why am I always so useless?

Naruto was deeply saddened. Jiraiya's death had been a huge blow to him, and Yamato's disappearance was also related to his recklessness.

He didn't want to lose either Jiraiya or Captain Yamato, but he was powerless to stop them, and this feeling was terrible.

Sakura patted Naruto on the shoulder without saying a word, and quietly accompanied him home.

"Lord Hokage, I am now..."

"You are now a member of Naruto's team."

In the office, Sai hadn't left. With Danzo dead and the seal of the tongue's root of trouble gone, he was free, but he didn't know what to do.

Fortunately, Tsunade gave him the place he longed for deep down.

"Yes, Hokage-sama." Sai nodded vigorously, his voice becoming much brighter.

"You should go and rest too," Tsunade nodded.

After Sai left, Tsunade went to Root to check the information records about the dragon veins.

Konoha doesn't have much information about the Dragon Vein. They only know that the Dragon Vein is a mysterious power controlled by Loulan. The only relatively certain information about the Dragon Vein comes from Minato's mission to Loulan twenty years ago.

The key lies in the ability to travel through time and space, past and future.

"Could it be that Yamato really traveled to the past or the future?"

After reading the information left by Minato, Tsunade frowned. She didn't quite believe the so-called time travel theory.

She is more likely to believe that Yamato's disappearance was caused by the energy erupting from the Dragon Vein, which turned her to ashes and killed her.

As for why Naruto didn't die...

Tsunade guessed that it was the Nine-Tails inside Naruto that protected him, which is why he was able to escape unharmed. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to be absorbed by the power of the Dragon Vein, with Centipede and Yamato disappearing while Naruto only fainted.

"However... let's define Yamato's disappearance as a disappearance!"

Tsunade sighed inwardly. Jiraiya's death had been a huge blow to Naruto. The mission to hunt down the Centipede was sent to Naruto in the hope that he would recover from the tragedy, but it unexpectedly resulted in Yamato's death.

If Naruto were to be told about Yamato's death, I don't know if he could bear it.

"Ugh!"

Tsunade sighed deeply, left the Root base, returned to the Hokage Building, and then went to the Anbu base with Shizune.

The interrogation team has been working in shifts to examine most of Danzo's memories, and they have learned a lot of sordid secrets, but they have not found any clues about the murderer who killed Danzo.

"You guys continue!"

Tsunade said something, walked out of the interrogation room, and went to the intelligence department, which was specializing in deciphering various codes, to see how well Jiraiya's codes were being deciphered.

"I'm sorry, Hokage-sama!"

The head of the intelligence department, responsible for cracking the code, reported to Tsunade: "We have searched through all the codes and passwords, but none of the codes left by Jiraiya-sama match any of the codes and passwords that the Anbu Kijiro village has used before."

It's been half a month since Jiraiya died in battle and sent back the coded information.

During this period, the Konoha Anbu intelligence department searched through all the intelligence codes and passwords used since the founding of Konoha, but found no corresponding information.

There is only one possibility for this situation: Jiraiya used a specific coded message that only certain people could decipher, and no matter how hard others racked their brains, they would never be able to figure it out.

Because the direction you're thinking of is wrong, you'll never be able to figure it out.

"The intelligence code for Lord Jiraiya may require someone very familiar with him to decipher, Hokage," the intelligence chief said.

"Someone Jiraiya knows?"

Tsunade frowned in thought.

The person Jiraiya knew was very likely her, but she had also studied the codes left by Jiraiya and had found nothing so far.

Then it must be someone who knows Jiraiya well?

Are you familiar with Jiraiya?

Or is he familiar with the current Jiraiya?

Tsunade shook her head slightly; the moment this question arose in her mind, it already explained everything.

She doesn't understand the current Jiraiya, and she doesn't know what the current Jiraiya is thinking.

The intelligence chief, who had been observing Tsunade's expression, said, "I think Naruto might be the key to unlocking the code."

Naruto is Jiraiya's student.

In recent years, Naruto has been the only one who has consistently trained with Jiraiya.

The person most familiar with Jiraiya's recent thoughts is undoubtedly Naruto.

Jiraiya would certainly want someone to be able to decipher the coded information he's sending; it's impossible for him to set a coded message that can't be solved.

Therefore, Naruto is the most likely person to decipher the code left by Jiraiya.

Tsunade understood this, but Yamato's situation was still unclear, and Naruto's current emotions... there was nothing she could do.

"Go and call Naruto over!" Tsunade ordered.

"Yes, Lord Hokage." Shizune went out to arrange for someone to call Naruto over.

Now that the Akatsuki could attack at any time, they desperately need the information left behind by Jiraiya.

The opponent is a powerful being capable of killing Jiraiya in Sage Mode. Without knowing the relevant information, many of them will die if they face him.

This is something Tsunade doesn't want to see, so Naruto will have to suffer.

(End of this chapter)