After Minato Squad entered the Land of Rain, a new problem confronted them.
How were they supposed to find Nagato—and the Rinnegan?
Jiraiya had told Minato that Nagato possessed the Rinnegan and was somewhere in the Land of Rain.
Beyond that, Jiraiya hadn't given Minato any more information.
For one thing, Jiraiya hadn't had much time back then. For another, so many years had passed that he could barely remember Nagato and the others.
The Third Hokage had decided on Minato Squad's mission at the last minute.
What had Nagato become after all these years? Where was he making his fortune? Was he dead? Had the Rinnegan been taken from him?
These were all things Minato Squad had to consider and investigate.
Minato stroked his chin as he thought it over, then made a decision. "Let's first find out what's going on in the Land of Rain! I'll work alone. Kakashi, Rin, Hong, you three will work together, with Kakashi as your captain."
"Yes, sir!"
Minato Squad split into two teams: Minato on his own, and Kakashi, Rin, and Hong together.
Before they set out, however, Minato gave Kakashi his Flying Thunder God Kunai and secretly left a Contact Toad to keep watch over them.
If anything happened, they could send Minato a signal at any time, and he would arrive immediately.
After all, this was an S-rank mission, and they could run into Madara Uchiha at any moment. Minato couldn't just leave Kakashi Trio to fend for themselves.
After Minato left, Kakashi, Rin, and Hong went to the spot in town with the most middle-aged women to ask around.
Rin thought that if Hong had been paired with Minato, she could have gone on a date with Kakashi alone.
The cool, drizzling weather was just right for a date,