The border of the Land of Rice Fields - a mountain forest shrouded in morning mist
Morning dew drips from the needle-like leaves, refracting into a rainbow of colors in the rising sunlight.
Jiraiya squatted by the extinguished campfire, stuffing the last sealing scroll into his ninja tool pouch. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Naruto haphazardly stuffing crumpled clothes into his backpack, while Karin carefully sorted and packed medical supplies into her waist pouch.
"Hey Naruto, your underwear is showing." Jiraiya chuckled Jiraiya, pointing with his pipe to the orange fabric hanging on the outside of the boy's backpack.
"Ah!" Naruto hurriedly stuffed his underwear back in, his ears turning bright red. "Pervy Sage, what are you peeking at?!"
Karin chuckled and pushed up her red-rimmed glasses, "A loser is a loser, can't even pack his own luggage." As she spoke, she naturally reached out to straighten Naruto's rolled-up collar.
Jiraiya watched the two children interact, a gentle smile playing on his lips. He stood up and brushed the grass clippings off his hakama. "Naruto, Karin, is there anywhere you particularly want to go next?"
Upon hearing this, Naruto immediately raised his head, his azure eyes shining like stars. "Pervy Sage! Let's go to the Land of Snow!" He gestured excitedly, "Last time, Sister Koyuki said she would take us on a sightseeing train when the new railway was completed, but that Sasuke guy..." His voice suddenly lowered, and his fists clenched unconsciously.
Karin silently stood beside Naruto, her sleeve lightly brushing against his arm. "I... I didn't even have time to try all the special desserts of the Land of Snow." She tried to change the subject, "I heard they have a kind of blueberry daifuku made with glacial water..."
Jiraiya's pipe paused in mid-air.
He recalled the night Sasuke resolutely left during the blizzard a few months ago. He also remembered the secret report he received yesterday—the news that Orochimaru might have already gone to sea to evade capture. He gazed at Naruto's still-chubby face, the fox-like wrinkles under the boy's eyes trembling slightly as he pursed his lips.
(It's too early to tell him Orochimaru's whereabouts...)
"The Land of Snow..." Jiraiya deliberately dragged out his words, then burst into laughter at the two little ones' nervous expressions. "Alright! Then the Land of Snow is our next destination!"
"Yay!" Naruto jumped three feet high, his ninja tools jingling in his backpack. "This time I'm going to eat ten bowls of snow-topped milk ramen!"
A faint whooshing sound came from the treetops as Six Paths dark figures silently swept past. Gekko Hayate crouched on a cedar branch thirty meters away, his pale face fragmented into mottled patches by the shadows of the leaves. He held up two fingers, and the Anbu immediately assembled in tactical formation.
"Proceed according to Plan C." Hayate lowered his voice, his pupils scanning his companions. "The Lord Hokage's intelligence indicates that members of Akatsuki may have already gone to the Land of Rice Fields."
A cold voice came from beneath Uzuki Yugao's mask. "There are samurai from the Land of Iron patrolling the border of the Land of Snow; we need to make arrangements in advance."
"I'll handle the clearance documents." The black blade of the Namiashi Raidō's gleamed softly in its sheath. "Aoba Yamashiro is in charge of clearing the surveillance barriers along the way."
The six of them simultaneously formed hand seals, their figures disappearing into the morning mist like ink dissolving in water. Unbeknownst to them, Jiraiya's peripheral vision kept following the direction the Anbu had gone.
Naruto excitedly waved a brochure about the Land of Snow: "Look at this! A hot spring inn under a glacier!"
"Idiot, is that the point?" Karin pointed to the small print and explained, "It says here that the Snow Ninja Village has recently opened a new ice sculpture exhibition..."
Jiraiya laughed and ruffled the hair of the two children, their laughter startling the birds in the forest. He looked up at the northern sky, where leaden-gray clouds were slowly moving.
(Orochimaru, you'd better stay far away this time.)
Land of Wind - Sunagakure
A gentle breeze rustled the sand outside the window. Gaara sat alone in the room, the hot tea in the teapot emitting a faint fragrance. He closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into the sealed space, conversing with Shukaku within him.
Since the mysterious Heavenly Screen appeared, Shukaku no longer roars and disturbs his sleep as violently as before. Occasionally, it will even speak to him and exchange a few words. Gaara can sense that this Tailed Beast, which once hated humans, seems to be slowly changing.
"Hmph, brat, you've been sleeping quite soundly lately." Shukaku perched on the sandy ground of the sealed space, its round body swaying slightly. Its tone remained arrogant, but less hostile.
Gaara smiled slightly and calmly replied, "It's thanks to you not causing any trouble lately."
"Tch! I'm just too lazy to bother with you!" Shukaku turned his head away, scratching his belly with his paw. "Besides, even I found what the Heavenly Screen was showing a bit interesting."
Gaara nodded, his gaze calm. Ever since being defeated by Naruto and moved by his words, he had learned to listen to others, even the Tailed Beast that had once caused him so much pain. He gradually understood that Shukaku was not a purely evil beast; it also had emotions and thoughts, but it had been forced into this state by the long period of sealing and the fear of humans.
"Hey, kid," Shukaku suddenly spoke, his tone tinged with disdain, "Last time the battle between you and that Madara Uchiha was shown on the Heavenly Screen, your Sealing Jutsu were so crude! Even I couldn't stand watching that level of sealing!"
Gaara paused for a moment, then smiled wryly, "Well... it's mainly because it was his clone that was sealed, right? If it were his real body, perhaps it would have been successful."
"Huh?! You dare talk back?!" Shukaku slammed its tail against the sand, kicking up a cloud of dust. "I was trying to teach you out of kindness, and you dare make excuses?!"
Gaara sighed helplessly, his tone gentle. "Alright, I didn't think it through. So... Shukaku, would you be willing to mentor me?"
"Hmph! That's more like it!" Shukaku proudly raised its head. "My Sealing Jutsu are far superior to yours humans! If you had learned them sooner, that Madara Uchiha clone wouldn't have been able to move at all!"
Gaara smiled slightly, "Then I'll leave it to you. I want to become stronger so that if a crisis really arises in the future, I can protect everyone in the village... and you too."
"Whoa--!" Shukaku shuddered, as if pricked by something, and covered his face with his claws. "W-why are you suddenly saying such cheesy things?! I don't need your protection! I'm Tailed Beast! I can't die! Even if I can't beat them, I can wear them down! Hmm!!"
Gaara couldn't help but chuckle as he looked at Shukaku's expression. This Tailed Beast was clearly being stubborn, but he could sense a hint of... warmth in its words?
"What are you laughing at! If you laugh again, I won't teach you anymore!" Shukaku said angrily, waving its claws.
"I'm sorry." Gaara's smile faded, but his eyes remained gentle. "So, when shall we begin?"
"Now! Immediately! Right now!" Shukaku yelled, "I don't have the patience to wait for you to dawdle!"
Gaara nodded, sat cross-legged, and listened attentively to Shukaku's instructions. Outside the window, the wind and sand continued, but Sunagakure seemed more peaceful than ever before.