Naruto: I Have a Gravity Training Room-Chapter 463 - 461

Konoha, the Hokage's office.

A high-priority intel scroll delivered by Team Kakashi arrived, and it immediately jolted everyone in the leadership into full alert.

Without the slightest hesitation, they shoved every other task aside, raised a soundproof barrier, and only then began an official closed-door council.

Attending were the Four Six Paths, the Four Hokage, and Shikamaru as the office strategist. The content of this meeting was absolutely classified. They could not let even Natsuki hear a word of it, in case someone was listening through the walls.

This matter was too important. There could be no carelessness.

Tsunade set the intel scroll on the desk, her voice unsteady despite herself. "The Grand Alliance has only been around for a little over half a year, and we already have good news. And this time, we have Shikamaru to thank for it."

Shikamaru scratched his head. "I just did the usual analysis. The real credit goes to Kakashi-sensei and the others."

That was true. The top brass only needed to analyze. Kakashi's team had to think through far more on the ground.

Still, it was a genuine surprise. What started as a suspicion had turned into intel that might be tied to another Ōtsutsuki. Team Kakashi's efficiency was terrifyingly high.

Of course, everyone understood part of it came down to the enemy's lack of caution.

The Grand Alliance advocated investigating the other Ōtsutsuki, but it had not broadcast the matter publicly. The squads sent out to investigate all moved in extreme secrecy, leaving outsiders with no idea what was happening.

One side was prepared. The other side was completely unprepared. Getting results quickly was only natural.

"So what do we do next?" Natsuki asked, casually tossing out a question everyone already knew was coming.

"This is too big. Don't act rashly," Tsunade said, voicing what most of them were thinking. "We call the other Four Kage and Mifune and hold a joint meeting first. Some decisions can't be made by us alone. The Alliance has to discuss it, then we decide."

Anyone with sense could see that. This was Alliance business. It could not be forced through by unilateral orders.

So a meeting was mandatory.

Even Naruto, who usually looked like he ran on impulse, wore a steady expression as he nodded. He really had grown.

After that, Tobirama, Minato, and Natsuki were tasked with bringing everyone over. Hiraishin (Flying Thunder God Technique) made it absurdly convenient. Sasuke was learning it too, but he still couldn't transport people freely yet.

Shff. Shff. Shff. Shff. Shff.

Five flashes in a row, and the Four Kage and Mifune were all brought in.

It didn't matter what they'd been doing. There was no time to explain first.

A was holding a huge bowl, a chunk of meat in hand, right on the verge of stuffing it into his mouth. But with the sudden change of scenery and so many pairs of eyes locking onto him, he couldn't swallow a bite.

He set the bowl down, hovering on the edge of an explosion. "Natsuki brat, even if it's an emergency, you couldn't wait until I put my bowl down?"

Natsuki spread his hands. "It's urgent enough that I didn't have time to explain. Bringing you here was the explanation."

A was furious, but he could tell the situation really was severe if they didn't even have time for that. He forced the anger down for now and waited to hear what Konoha had to say.

Mei swept wet hair back from her shoulder. Luckily, she'd finished bathing. Otherwise, Minato might have literally found her in the bathroom.

Ōnoki, Gaara, and Mifune had all been busy too. Being yanked here without warning left them equally stunned.

Tsunade didn't waste words. She handed the intel scroll over immediately.

The five of them read it, and their eyes lit up at once. "So fast? And it's that Victor Minato asked about before?"

There was no way not to get excited.

Everyone had believed Natsuki when he said Kaguya had a companion, but deep down, many still doubted whether they could ever find anything.

After all, that Ōtsutsuki companion had been lurking in the shinobi world for a thousand years without leaving any trace. Even if they cast a wide net looking for anomalies, it should have been like searching for a needle in the ocean.

And yet. Just over half a year into the investigation, they had something.

It felt like heaven itself was backing the shinobi world.

Tsunade said, "It's still only Shino's inference based on lip-reading through his insects' viewpoint, but it's probably close. Whether Victor is an Ōtsutsuki, or merely part of an organization under an Ōtsutsuki, still needs deeper confirmation. Konoha can't decide this alone, which is why we pulled you here so urgently."

The Four Kage and Mifune nodded. Any lingering irritation faded.

If any of them had gotten this kind of news, they'd have been frantic too, and unlike Konoha, they'd have had no way to move this fast.

They had arranged for people to learn Hiraishin (Flying Thunder God Technique) from Natsuki, but nobody had mastered it yet. Without that, they simply didn't have Konoha's ability to convene a meeting instantly.

Like it or not, Konoha's operational tempo was on another level.

A immediately said, "Then we grab him. Arrest Victor and force a memory read."

"That's an option," Gaara said, "but it's not a good one. If this really is tied to the Ōtsutsuki, they're not an enemy we can underestimate. A capture might not be simple. And if we spook him and he escapes, we may never find him again."

Mei nodded. "Gaara's right. We can't be reckless. We're talking about the Ōtsutsuki."

Every person in the room treated the Ōtsutsuki clan with maximum caution.

They all understood one thing: the Ōtsutsuki are strong.

Without absolute confidence, they couldn't act. If the target slipped away, the lead might snap, and then they'd have nothing.

And besides, if Victor had been told about the God Tree, it was possible he was under an Ōtsutsuki's direct control.

If they grabbed him and still got no useful intel, it would be a catastrophic trade.

Ōnoki, however, said, "Spooking him might actually be the clever play."

Everyone froze and turned toward him.

Shikamaru understood immediately. "The Tsuchikage means: we rattle Victor on purpose. If he panics, he'll run to the Ōtsutsuki. All we need is to plant something on him, like Shino's insects. Then we can trail him and follow the line straight to the Ōtsutsuki."

Ōnoki nodded in approval. "Exactly. You really are a Nara, sharp as they come. So, got someone yet? My granddaughter Kurotsuchi is a fine girl, you know."

"I do," Gaara cut in at once. "Shikamaru is Temari's boyfriend. That is already settled and cannot be overturned."

As a younger brother, Gaara would protect his sister's happiness. He wasn't about to let Ōnoki set his sights on his future brother-in-law and make Temari cry.

Shikamaru's face went red, but he didn't deny it.

Ōnoki blinked, then snorted. "Kazekage, your sister moves fast."

Gaara shook his head. "They met during the Chūnin Exams. It's mutual. Don't make things up, Tsuchikage."

(End of Chapter)

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