Dong dong dong--
Akaseki and Ranwu took Get-Well Gifts and came to Kato House.
But after knocking on the door for a while, no one opened it.
"Huh? Is there no one?" Ranwu wondered.
After Akaseki mastered "Sage Mode", his non-visual perception also improved significantly - although the improvement was not that obvious when he did not enter "Sage Mode", he could still hear something... There was someone in the room, but there was no response.
"Then..." Akaseki didn't want to reveal that there was any movement in the house - he just thought it was Dan Katō's mental state that he hadn't adjusted yet and didn't want to see anyone.
But Akaseki suddenly heard again at this time that people inside started to come over, so he stopped talking.
Dan Katō doesn't seem to miss Gate of Opening, but just sorted out something...
Well, a man who lives alone cannot Gate of Opening or Akaseki understand immediately.
Creaking--
The door opened a crack.
What was exposed from the crack in the door was a tired eye, against the backdrop of pale skin and white dry hair, which startled Ranwu. "It's Akaseki and Ranwu... wait for me a moment." Dan Katō immediately closed the door, his voice hoarse as if he hadn't spoken for a long time.
Akaseki couldn't help but frown when he saw the door closed.
Dan Katō seemed very rude, secondly, just now... Akaseki always felt that there was still indifference and caution in Dan Katō's tired eyes.
Soon after, the door reopened.
Akaseki Observe again at this time...
What just happened seemed to be his own hallucination. Although Dan Katō's expression was a little sad and tired, he still maintained his usual warmth.
"I'm sorry if I get you a glass of water... snacks, but I don't prepare them at home." Dan Katō can't eat solid food at all now.
After inviting the two people into the house, Dan Katō, who still looked sick, was busy pouring tea, and seemed to be in good spirits.
And...
Although due to Dan Katō's health, Akaseki and Ranwu did not take the initiative to bring up the topic of fighting, Dan Katō actually seemed to be open-minded and took the initiative to ask.
"Ah... By the way, you are here to send invitations, right?" Dan Katō was still joking in a leisurely manner at this time.
"What invitation?" "Of course not!"
Akaseki:???
Ranwu:...
"Hahaha, you are not young anymore." Dan Katō said with a smile.
"Then you and Sister Tsunade should go first..." Ranwu retorted decisively.
However, Dan Katō was speechless.
When Ranwu saw this, he couldn't help feeling regretful - he still didn't know what happened between him and sister Tsunade...
Akaseki:???
"Huh? Aren't the elder sisters Jonin Kato and Tsunade already Elite Jonin?" Akaseki wondered.
Dan Katō, Ranwu:...
Akaseki is very confused, why does Ranwu seem to be unable to understand what people are saying today?
"Speaking of which, when the war is over, I should really be able to be promoted to Elite Jonin, Ranwu..." Akaseki said, holding his head high. Akaseki felt that what Dan Katō said made sense. He was not too young now. Being promoted to Elite Jonin at the age of seventeen was not without precedent!
As for the "invitation", of course it means inviting everyone to a banquet after being promoted to "Elite Jonin"...
Moreover, during the war, there were many Jonin promoted, but not many Elite Jonin. Akaseki probably will be counted as part of the "reward" after the war.
By then, Akaseki's age will not be a problem...
After hearing this from Dan Katō, Akaseki became even more convinced that his evaluation of Elite Jonin was what everyone expected!
Akaseki and Ranwu originally just wanted to sit down for a while, but Dan Katō was more talkative than expected, so they stayed until noon.
"Ah... it's already been this long, so I won't let you eat. After all, you may not be used to liquid food." Dan Katō said calmly.
Seeing that nothing happened to Dan Katō... at least nothing happened mentally, Akaseki and Ranwu also left with peace of mind.
"Huh?" After Akaseki left a few meters away, he couldn't help but look back and took another look. Kato House had already closed the door.
"What's wrong? Forgot something?" Ranwu asked in confusion.
"No... it's nothing." Akaseki shook his head.
Akaseki always felt... After sending himself and Ranwu out, Dan Katō didn't leave, and seemed to just stand there blankly.
Although he was blocked by the door, he seemed to be staring straight at himself and Ranwu... I don't know what he was thinking.
"Going to eat Yakiniku at noon?" Ranwu is not ready to go home for dinner.
"Yakiniku? Let's go, Pine Deer Pavilion!" Akaseki waved his hand.
In the two years before Akaseki, when I was the supervisor of Party A in Kusagakure and Yugakure, I was still the kind of person who would supervise and verify... I was no longer shy about my wallet.
So the two of them came to the Pine Deer Pavilion, the place where they had dinner together for the first time.
Seeing Akaseki's extravagant order, Ranwu broke into a cold sweat for him.
"I won't be called to Hokage Building for investigation after having a meal with you, right?" Ranwu complained.
"Investigation? What is there to investigate? This is all my legitimate income. We Uchiha Clan hate the kind of ninjas who get unjust gains in missions!" Akaseki said righteously.
After dinner...
Whoosh--
A Anbu member appeared in front of Akaseki and Ranwu. "Akaseki Jonin, Ranwu Special Jōnin, Lord Hokage please." Anbu Ninja said directly.
Ranwu:...
"Lead the way." Akaseki waved his hand and commanded Anbu Ninja.
Soon after, Akaseki and Ranwu appeared, followed by Hokage Office.
"Little Ranwu, I'm sorry, I just came back and I had to ask you to come." After seeing the two of them, Sarutobi said apologetically to Ranwu.
As for Akaseki...
I have been resting in the village for almost a month.
"I just finished eating... ahem, it's nothing." Ranwu looked relieved at this time...
"I'm looking for you two this time for a confidential mission." Sarutobi said at this time.
Akaseki was stunned when he heard this - just now he was wondering what would happen to him.
Unexpectedly, there is really a mission? Originally, Akaseki heard what Orochimaru said before, and thought that he would not be given any missions in the short term...
"Confidential mission? Not on the battlefield?" Ranwu Sarutobi heard this, and it didn't sound like some kind of battlefield arrangement.
"It's not the battlefield, it's...Land of Water." Sarutobi said in a deep voice.
Akaseki was a little surprised when he heard this - Orochimaru also mentioned Land of Water at that time, saying that "if you have a chance, you can go", so why did you observe Swamp, but...
Now? Land of Water's mission?
Akaseki When I heard Orochimaru say this, I felt baffled.
After all, Konoha has no leisure time now, so he should go to Land of Water to get involved!
"Land of Water?" Ranwu was also puzzled for a while, and then said in shock, "Could it be that... Land of Water is also going to join the war?"
Previously, due to the internal strife in Land of Water, it had not been taken into consideration.
If Land of Water really joins the war at this time, the end of the war may be far away!
"No, don't worry, Land of Water is not going to intervene in the war, and we are not going to fight Kirigakure... On the contrary, this time Kirigakure invited us to do a secret mission." Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head.
"Kirigakure..." Akaseki whispered. Sarutobi glanced at Akaseki approvingly - obviously, Akaseki had realized something.
Under normal circumstances, as one of Five Great Ninja Villages, Kirigakure will not hire Konoha to do any task for Land of Water no matter how difficult it is...
Not to mention whether it will increase the influence of Konoha on Land of Water, it is just a matter of face.
Especially that Third Mizukage, he is not an open-minded person!
So...
In this case, Kirigakure will come to Konoha, and Akaseki can only think of one possibility!
"Yes, although Kirigakure invites you this time, but... you may fight against other Mist Ninja." Sarutobi also warned of the risk at this time.
Sure enough!
Akaseki sighed in his heart.
That Third Mizukage really fought hard with Karatachi Xuancang and the others!
Trying hard to attract foreign aid also requires...
"Of course, it's only "possible." This time Third Mizukage's commission is to hope that we, Konoha, can assist him in re-capturing Six-Tails." Sarutobi told the mission content. Akaseki estimated that this should not be something that Third suddenly learned about recently...
It is very likely that before Orochimaru set off, Kirigakure was already in contact with Konoha - after all, it was such a big deal to capture Tailed Beast, and the two parties had mutual concerns about each other, so cooperation could not be achieved by just chatting up a message.
Therefore, Orochimaru mentioned Land of Water to Akaseki before leaving.
Just because the matter hadn't been settled at that time, Orochimaru didn't say much.
As for why Orochimaru knows, if the mission is confirmed, it is likely that Akaseki will go to Land of Water?
Since we want to help capture Tailed Beast, the best candidate is of course Uchiha Clan!
In the opinion of almost everyone in the village, the strongest Uchiha Clan among Konoha currently should be "Konoha's Akaseki".
After all, even Uchiha Clan's own Clan Elder didn't know that Uchiha Clan Chizuru had quietly regained his sight...
Therefore, in Orochimaru's opinion, as long as this cooperation is finalized, Akaseki will definitely be the ninja who goes to Land of Water.
"Six-Tails... when were they released?" Akaseki said with a strange expression.
"Judging from the current news, two Jinchurikis of Land of Water have passed away one after another a few years ago." Sarutobi shook his head with emotion - Land of Water's situation is special. I'm afraid they themselves don't know that Jinchuriki has died long ago.
Not only was Jinchuriki's death sudden and not planned, but the chaotic Kirigakure had no spare time to arrange the inheritance of Jinchuriki. The two Tailed Beast had been "released" for several years. "Three-Tails is also in the wild? Do they need to be recaptured?" Ranwu asked curiously.
"No, not long ago, Three-Tails was recaptured, and... was sealed in Karatachi Yagura's body. Do you still remember this person, right?" Hiruzen Sarutobi said.
Akaseki was stunned when he heard this - he was the guy who came to Konoha when Chunin Ninja Exams was there, the defeated subordinate of Minato!
But Akaseki didn't say it...
After all, Shinnosuke lost to Karatachi Yagura!
"No wonder Mizukage is so anxious." Akaseki also understood at this time.
The son of Karatachi Xuancang became Jinchuriki. For Third Mizukage, who was obsessed with power, he was already pushed to the edge of the cliff...