White Rose

"These brats' ninja uniforms have faint Uchiha Clan crests on them. Looks like they're from the Uchiha Clan. One of the other two brats looks a lot like Gray Fang, and the red-haired brat is obviously from the Hyuga Clan."

"They're Konoha Ninja, all right."

Only then did Jiraiya reluctantly admit, "That's right. I'm Jiraiya."

"Senior Jiraiya, what brings you to the Land of Hot Water?" Shiyu asked.

Jiraiya cautiously glanced around. "This isn't the place to talk. Let's find somewhere decent to chat."

The four of them went into a tavern and entered a private room.

Jiraiya picked up his cup, looking slightly tipsy. It was hard to believe they were there to discuss anything serious.

"I never thought that old geezer would take on new disciples. That's really rare!"

"Since you're the Third Hokage's disciple, you're definitely my junior. You're Genin, right? What are you doing here? And where's your Jonin leader?" Jiraiya asked in confusion. Ninja of their level generally wouldn't be sent on missions in another country.

"He went to investigate somewhere else. We came here to complete a mission," Hinata Kurenai said.

"What about you, Senior Jiraiya?" Shiyu asked.

"I'm here for a mission too, much like you. Mine just happens to be an S-rank mission."

"S-rank?" Kakashi Nao swallowed. S-rank missions still seemed impossibly out of reach to him.

"Hmm? A brat from the Hatake Clan? Don't be discouraged! By the time you're my age, you might be able to handle S-rank missions with ease!" Jiraiya consoled him. Then he turned to Shiyu. "My mission doesn't seem to be making much progress for now. What about you? Can you tell me what your mission is?"

After ensuring that their conversation was completely secure, Shiyu explained the purpose of their visit.

"You're looking for classified documents? And for a place called White Rose?" Jiraiya immediately grew serious.

"That's right, Senior Jiraiya. Do you know anything?" Shiyu asked.

"Remember that hot spring inn on Rose Street?" Jiraiya suddenly asked.

"You mean...?" Shiyu said.

"That inn's name is White Rose!"

"Ah!" The three of them understood.

"In that case, let's hurry to White Rose!" Nao said.

"They might recognize you. How about I go and have a look?" Jiraiya paused, then added, "Actually, that might not be a good idea either. If even you recognized me, they might see through the true identity of the handsome and dashing Jiraiya."

Everyone sighed, thinking Jiraiya was far too full of himself.

"Then I'll take this form!" Shiyu instantly transformed into the Kumogakure rogue ninja. "This is the ninja who died fighting us. If I look like him, they won't suspect a thing!"

"Perfect! You really have a good head on your shoulders," Jiraiya said. "Then you go. The three of us will back you up."

Shiyu agreed and headed for the White Rose hot spring inn.

Jiraiya and the others quietly followed behind him.

It didn't take long for Shiyu to reach White Rose.

The same enchanting, sensual woman saw Shiyu, and her expression changed at once. "You're here?"

"Mm." Shiyu nodded.

"Did you take care of those little Konoha rats?"

"I did," Shiyu replied.

"In that case, come in." The woman didn't seem to suspect anything and let Shiyu enter White Rose.

The woman immediately led Shiyu inside. A group of burly men then appeared at the entrance and stood guard. With the entrance so heavily guarded, Jiraiya and the others could only watch from outside.

"Shiyu, could he be in danger?" Kurenai asked anxiously.

"Relax. He's clever. If he's in danger, he'll let us know. Then we'll storm in at once."

After Shiyu entered the inn, the woman led him farther inside, to a room that looked like a study. She pulled a book outward.

Click. The sound of a mechanism came from somewhere.

A very well-hidden secret door appeared.

"Come along~" the woman said, licking her lips with an eerie look.

"Mm." Shiyu naturally walked inside. Taking the opportunity, he activated the White Rinnegan to examine his surroundings, but what he saw was beyond anything he could have imagined.

"Is that... Teacher Hizashi?" Shiyu saw Hizashi Hyuga and Noguchi deeper inside. They appeared to have been captured.

"Something's wrong. Could this be a trap?" Shiyu felt uneasy, but still decided to keep going.

"Heh, I have good news for you," the woman suddenly said.

"Go on," Shiyu replied.

"We took care of a little rat for you." The woman looked at Shiyu as if testing him.

"Oh? You mean that Konoha Jonin? His Taijutsu was decent. He escaped with that Noguchi fellow," Shiyu immediately improvised.

"Oh? I see. For a moment, I thought you were one of our enemies." The enchanting woman shook her head. "Keep following me. I'll take you to the Great Cult Master. You lost your target, but luckily, they seem to have followed you to the Land of Hot Water. Then they started asking around about our whereabouts, so the Great Cult Master was able to capture them easily."

Shiyu seemed to understand. White Rose was merely the entrance to the enemy's base. Hizashi Hyuga and Noguchi must have been exposed and captured by the so-called Great Cult Master.

After walking through the passage for a while, Shiyu finally reached the place where Hizashi Hyuga and Noguchi were being held. The moment they saw the Kumogakure rogue ninja, they understood.

"One of us!" Hizashi Hyuga whispered so softly that only Noguchi could hear. Noguchi understood as well.

"Great Cult Master, he's here," the enchanting woman said respectfully.

"Very well. You may leave." The man addressed as the Great Cult Master had his back to Shiyu, so Shiyu couldn't see his face.

"Lord Evil God! Another enemy of the Gakin Cult has arrived!" The Great Cult Master raised both hands and shouted fervently.

"We have another Uchiha Clan test subject! This is wonderful!"

"Where are your companions, brat from the Uchiha Clan?"

Shiyu's heart jolted. I've been found out?!

"The Gakin Cult? The Jashin Cult?! This is the Akatsuki's Third Unit—the cult that Hidan joined! So the organization that went to such lengths to obtain the Land of Artisans' meteorite iron was them!"