"An offshore branch?" Naruto furrowed his brow. "Then how are we supposed to get there?"
"The Land of Whirlpools has fishing boats," Nagato said. "They're not military vessels, but they'll be enough for us."
"Wait." Sasuke suddenly thought of something. "If we attack their branch, what happens here? What if they attack the village again while we're gone?"
"That's definitely something we need to consider," Konan agreed with a nod.
"I'll stay behind," Nagato volunteered. "The Rinnegan can protect the village. You can go carry out the mission."
"No!" Naruto immediately objected. "What if there are even stronger enemies at the branch? We need Grandpa Nagato's power."
"Then let me stay," Yuki-onna said. "I know the Shadow Organization fairly well, so I can predict their movements."
"You?" Karin challenged. "What if they really launch a full-scale attack? Can you handle them alone?"
A flicker of displeasure crossed Yuki-onna's face, but she quickly regained her composure. "I won't be alone. There are other ninjas in the village."
"Besides, Yuki-onna's Ice Release is well suited to defense," Sasuke reasoned. "She can create a large-scale defensive barrier."
"Then it's settled," Nagato declared. "Yuki-onna will stay and guard the village. The rest of us will go to the offshore branch."
Preparations were soon complete. They commandeered the largest fishing boat in the village. Its owner, a middle-aged man named Yamada, had volunteered to join the mission when he heard they were going after the Shadow Organization.
"My boat's sailed all over these waters. No one knows the routes better than me," Yamada said, thumping his chest.
"It'll be dangerous," Sasuke warned him.
"Dangerous?" Yamada roared with laughter. "I've spent twenty years at sea. I've seen every kind of storm! Besides, those bastards dared to target our village. They'll pay for it!"
Inspired by Yamada's