Is This the Feeling of Companionship?

Morning, a gentle breeze blew.

The ship slowly sailed out. On the deck, Kyohiko sat at the bow, feeling the surge of chakra.

After a moment, he formed a hand seal.

Splash!

Water sprayed.

Immediately after, a crackling sound echoed on the deck.

A fish was washed ashore.

"Extra meal."

"Great!"

The nearby sailors immediately cheered and scrambled to pick up the fish, smashing it on the ground.

"This is the third fish you've brought up!"

Kurenai Yuhi's face was full of excitement.

After all, she was only eight or nine years old, at an age where everything was curious. Seeing such novel uses of water ninjutsu, she couldn't help but join the fun.

"How did you do it?"

"It's a sensing technique similar to the Hidden Mist Technique. If you encounter a Mist Ninja, mastering this technique would be quite useful."

Kyohiko explained.

Chakra sensing was a basic technique he saw in Senju Tobirama's notes. That particular note detailed the core techniques of the Hidden Mist Technique.

He had read many, but this was his first time practicing.

Fortunately—

Thanks to the bonuses from rewards like the Strength Enhancement Technique, his chakra control and micro-manipulation were strong enough, so mastering this basic technique wasn't difficult. He succeeded after practicing for a while.

As for the technique of washing fish ashore, it was an alternative application of Water Shockwave.

The two were chatting.

Above them, a "bang" explosion sounded.

Kurenai Yuhi turned her head, a hint of joy appearing on her face.

"Kakashi succeeded!"

She sensed a violent chakra fluctuation emanating from Kakashi's room.

"Let's go see."

Kyohiko immediately packed his things.

When compressing chakra, if not controlled well, it could easily injure the palm.

Kakashi must have been at it since yesterday, likely not resting much.

Although Jiraiya was in charge, he was also occasionally absent-minded and couldn't be fully relied upon—

And now he had disappeared.

He was probably chatting with Ichiro Matsuyama, or perhaps enjoying music and dancing on the ship.

Knock, knock, knock!

He knocked on the door.

However.

For a long time, there was no response from inside.

Kyohiko and Kurenai Yuhi exchanged a glance, then—

Bang!

He kicked the door open.

Kakashi, wearing a mask, collapsed on the floor. Only his eyes could still move, and at this moment, he was staring blankly at the doorway.

He vaguely saw two short figures anxiously breaking in.

Then, Kakashi's gaze shifted to the ceiling, and his tired heart was touched.

A feeling of companionship?

His vision blurred, and his consciousness grew hazy. He vaguely heard...

"Chakra is too depleted."

"Hold him up. I'll use chakra to control water and help him drink the Military Ration Pill."

"Okay!"

Returning outside, the door had already been repaired by the people of the Matsuyama Clan.

Kyohiko and Kurenai Yuhi stood on the corridor, gazing at a stretch of coastline emerging from the distant sea.

That was the Land of Waves!

The two of them looked out into the distance.

Kurenai leaned against the window frame, suddenly sighing softly as she said, "To be honest, Kakashi was always a genius back at the academy. I always thought it was natural for him to be stronger than us because of his talent, but now..."

Behind the genius lay a heavy price.

Kyohiko nodded, deeply moved.

"Geniuses aren't scary; what's scary is that they work so hard, too."

"..."

Kurenai tilted her head, her small eyes filled with immense confusion—

How could you have the nerve to say something like that?

Kyohiko coughed lightly. "I work hard too, but I'm just a plain, unremarkable ordinary person."

Kurenai couldn't listen to any more of this and immediately waved her hand.

"I'm going to see if Kakashi is awake."

Plain and unremarkable?

What a joke!

What kind of ordinary person is like you?

Kurenai decisively ended the conversation, otherwise, she might actually start feeling jealous—

If this was considered "unremarkable," she wanted to have it too!

Kurenai went back into the room to read, and Kyohiko didn't go over to disturb her.

He was happy to rest in the corridor.

Before long, they should be arriving at the Land of Waves.

In Kakashi's current state, even if he woke up soon, it was unlikely he would have much combat power in the short term; it would be good enough if he didn't hold them back.

He needed to maintain his own peak condition to avoid any accidents.

About half an hour passed.

Following a shout—

They had arrived at the Land of Waves!

A knock sounded at the door, and Jiraiya returned carrying a faint scent of alcohol, entering the room with a burst of praise.

"Hahaha, not bad! You two were able to quickly resolve the accident Kakashi ran into. It seems you can carry out the mission even without me."

"Sensei, it was so loud, yet you didn't even come to check!"

Kurenai rolled her eyes.

Clearly, she held a bit of resentment in her heart that Jiraiya had ignored Kakashi's recklessness while he was downstairs drinking.

"Who says I didn't come? I was watching the whole time."

Jiraiya laughed.

As he spoke, he snapped his fingers.

The seagull perched outside Kakashi's window instantly dissolved into foam and bubbles.

A Shadow Clone.

Kurenai's eyes widened, then her face flushed red as she quickly apologized.

"I'm sorry, I..."

"It's nothing. I just wanted to see your ability to handle unexpected situations. As for stopping him, given Kakashi's personality, interference wouldn't have been much use."

Jiraiya said, biting his finger.

Before long, a sturdy toad with armored iron bracers on its arms appeared.

Summoning Jutsu!

As the daughter of a Jonin, Kurenai was naturally not surprised.

She looked at it with curiosity.

"Sensei."

Kyohiko approached from the corridor.

He had sensed the chakra fluctuations and rushed over immediately.

"Hm, you and Kurenai did well. We'll disembark first to escort Mr. Matsuyama to find Gato. I'll have the Iron-Arm Toad carry Kakashi."

"Very well."

Kyohiko nodded.

Then, he casually handed his weighted arm guards and leg weights to Jiraiya, feeling his body become lighter than ever before.

The three of them and the toad left the cabin one after another.

In the eyes of ordinary people, ninjas were synonymous with mystery and power, so although they were shocked to see a giant toad, they were not overly fearful or surprised.

Outside, Ichiro Matsuyama had already prepared a carriage.

"Jiraiya, all of you should get in the carriage."

"No need. By staying outside, we can provide the maximum level of protection for your safety."

Jiraiya refused.

Upon hearing this, Ichiro Matsuyama was very pleased. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he boarded the carriage himself.

The Land of Waves was not particularly large.

It was composed of one main island and several smaller ones. From a distance, one could see many bridges and buildings, but the bridges only connected some of the smaller islands to the main one, and many areas still required travel by boat.

At a glance, one could see quite a few boats coming and going.

Kurenai Yuhi immediately heightened her vigilance.

The environment here was perfect for Kirigakure ninjas to set an ambush!

Jiraiya walked in the front, the Iron-Arm Toad carried Kakashi in the middle, and Kyohiko and Kurenai Yuhi brought up the rear, forming a triangular formation.

The Land of Waves was not large.

However, the journey from the pier to where Gato was located would take nearly half an hour.

There was no danger along the way.

Yet, Kurenai Yuhi seemed somewhat uneasy; as she ran, she leaned in close to Kyohiko.

"Kyohiko, I think I sensed a very subtle chakra fluctuation. Did you feel it?"

"No, but you might be right."

Kyohiko replied, his expression turning serious—

Kurenai Yuhi's sensory abilities were stronger than his!

Therefore.

It was very likely that Kurenai had sensed some kind of danger that he had failed to detect.

"Should we..."

"Don't rush. If there are enemies, Teacher will surely discover them. Trust Teacher, we wait for his orders."

"Right."

Kurenai Yuhi nodded.

That chakra fluctuation vanished, but she did not dare to lower her guard.

The carriage drove past a puddle, and the woods on both sides gradually grew denser, with boats faintly visible moving back and forth on the water.

In the morning, a light mist permeated the air.

Things in the distance could not be seen clearly.

Kyohiko refined his chakra and quietly let it seep outward, expanding his sensory range.

He detected something.

The puddle ahead!