Heavy snow fell. Inside a mountain cave, Naruto had changed his appearance as well. His orange jacket bore black patterns, and he wore a red Hokage robe. His features had grown more resolute.
"Why is winter here so cold? It's almost as bad as the Land of Snow!" Naruto leaned beside the fire to keep warm, looking lazy and thoroughly comfortable.
Jiraiya said, "This is the interior of Rainbow Country. It won't be like this once you reach the coast."
Naruto grumbled, "It's pretty close to the Land of Water, Pervy Sage. What are we doing here? It's been almost a year already. When are you taking me to Mount Myoboku to learn Senjutsu?"
Jiraiya poked at the fire with a stick and said, "Don't rush, don't rush. Once we finish investigating this matter, I'll take you there!"
Huddled up, Naruto held a map and said, "Pervy Sage, you deliberately took a ship from the Land of Tea to Rainbow Country, making a detour. And judging by the direction we're heading next, you're going to the Land of Water, right?"
The corner of Jiraiya's mouth curled up. "That's right. Our destination is the Land of Water!"
Naruto asked doubtfully, "Why? Pervy Sage, the Land of Water is one of the Five Great Nations. And after the new Fifth Mizukage took office in Kirigakure, the situation has stabilized. Aren't you afraid of causing diplomatic trouble and making Granny Tsunade angry?"
Jiraiya waved a hand. "You sure know a lot. You're becoming more and more like a Hokage!"
"Really? Pervy Sage, do you mean it?" Naruto instantly broke character. That goofy smile of his made Jiraiya laugh.
Jiraiya stopped keeping him in suspense and tossed Naruto a scroll.
"What's this?" Naruto opened the scroll in confusion. The instant he saw its contents,