The Journey Back

"Konoha Ninja Village's Hatake Kakashi!" the voice said.

Jin looked the other man over. Seeing his lazy demeanor and the book in his hand, which appeared to be Icha Icha Paradise, he smiled. "So it's Kakashi the Copy Ninja! I'm truly glad to meet you! I need to trouble you with something: escort them to Konoha and hand them over to Uchiha Fuchiu of the Uchiha Clan! I still have other matters to attend to! We'll meet up in Konoha in a week!"

"Oh? And why do you trust me so much? Fine! Stop looking at me like that! You win! But I have a question. What is your relationship with the Uchiha Clan? I heard you have the Sharingan now? Where did you get it? If you answer my questions, and we aren't enemies, I'll definitely take them to Konoha," Kakashi said.

"First question: I'm related to the Uchiha Clan. More specifically, I know someone from the Uchiha Clan. Second question: I have a Sharingan, and Danzo has one too. Third question: Danzo only has one Sharingan now. We're definitely friends. You can rest assured of that! I'll be relying on you, Jonin Kakashi!" Jin answered, half truth and half lie, throwing in a compliment at the end.

"My mission is already complete! As for the three of them, don't worry! I won't charge anything for this escort mission!" Kakashi said.

Jin gathered the three of them and quietly instructed them, "Don't reveal my identity. If anyone asks my name, tell them I'm Uchiha Siwan. Go back to Konoha with Kakashi first. I'll return in a week; I still have one very important matter to handle. I can manage it alone! Stay safe, everyone! See you in a week! Remember to call me Uchiha Siwan."

"Grandpa, take care of yourself!" Kimimaro said cooperatively.

"All right! White, don't cry! I'll come see you in a week. If I don't make it back, stay in Konoha for the time being. Our enemies won't dare seek revenge in Konoha. Goodbye!" Jin said as he winked. White is such a good actress! She's even crying! Well, she's still a child!

The three of them understood and continued the act to the end.

Once Kakashi saw that the four had finished speaking, he walked over and said to Jin, "Rest assured, Senior!"

Jin smiled at Kakashi. "Good, good! You've got courage and responsibility! But be careful. Orochimaru might come out and attack us! Perhaps even Momochi Zabuza and Kurosuki Raiga of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!"

"What? You're not joking, are you? If that's true, I'll have to request reinforcements!" Kakashi said in shock.

"Reinforcements? The more, the better. But don't get too nervous. Orochimaru is very weak right now and hasn't recovered to his peak. As for those other two, find someone to deal with them yourself. I'm leaving! See you in a week!" Jin smiled, waved, and headed off into the distance.

That small figure seemed so towering in Kakashi's eyes. A senior who had fought Orochimaru and come away unharmed—that was what Kakashi believed Jin to be. This was exactly the result Jin wanted. Though he had fooled Kakashi, that wildly popular handsome guy, it was necessary. Otherwise, Kakashi would have been unable to explain Jin's strength to the Third Hokage. As for how the Third Hokage would assess Jin's strength, that was no longer something Jin needed to consider. By then, the Third Hokage would never be able to find that old man, Stubby Scale Weight, again. Jin would reclaim his identity—the Uchiha Clan's idiot and freeloader.

Jin had long since marked the three of them with his chakra. As long as they were within two thousand meters of him, he would be able to detect their whereabouts. What Jin needed to do now was secretly protect the three of them and ensure they reached Konoha safely. He had thought of this plan after seeing Kakashi. Kakashi had a certain standing in Konoha, after all. If Kakashi brought the three of them to Konoha Village a week later, it would be much easier than Jin taking them in himself. Jin was still an unregistered outsider, after all. No one could enter or leave the village without permission. Kakashi could also temporarily take responsibility for the three of their identities. At the same time, Jin had his eye on Kakashi's strength. An extra helper on the road could only be beneficial! To keep Kakashi from seeing through his true identity over the course of the week, Jin chose to leave!

A day later, a sudden downpour disrupted the journey of Kakashi and the other three. The unluckiest one, however, was Jin. He was currently sheltering from the rain in a large tree, carefully observing Kakashi's group with his mind.

"Boom! Crack!" A bolt of lightning descended from the sky. "Damn it! With so many trees around, why did it have to strike me? There's no justice!" Kurosuki Raiga cursed, his face blackened with soot as he hid in a tree not far from Jin.

Jin thought in surprise, What's going on? Why is he here? Damn, he's fine even after being struck by lightning? Could his abilities have gotten stronger? Why do I never run into such good fortune? Divine lightning in the heavens, strike me too!

"My Lightning-nature chakra actually got stronger! Could it be that absorbing the power of lightning will make me even stronger? My heavens! Wouldn't that make me invincible?" Raiga muttered. "Thunder God in the sky! Please send divine lightning down upon me!"

Jin quietly listened to Raiga's shouting. He wasn't foolish enough to go out and get drenched in the rain.

"Why isn't there any response? Damn Thunder God, what a load of crap! You can't even send down a bolt of lightning! Damn it!" Raiga cursed. "Looks like I need to find a way to absorb more lightning. There's no one around here, right?" Raiga looked around. Once he made sure no one was nearby, he headed toward Kakashi's group through the heavy rain.

Jin quietly considered what Raiga had just said. Can the power of lightning really be absorbed? If I can master that method, then I'll be able to unleash a Super Big Ball Rasengan with insanely powerful attack strength! Right now, the Rasengan can only be made bigger. But if a Rasengan of the same size were several times more powerful than Kakashi's, then my Rasengan could destroy his. Haha! Good! Damn Raiga! Why are you running around everywhere in a rainstorm? Now I have to go check on them! I hope nothing happens!