Departure

No one had expected someone to be eavesdropping outside the window on their company's secrets, especially their plan to seize the Land of Hot Water for themselves. It was the most renowned peaceful nation in the ninja world.

Gato stumbled back several steps in panic. Just as he was about to signal the wandering ninja he had recruited to step forward, the blade of a kunai flashed into his view...

Naruto Uzumaki rushed in right after him. One hand pressed against his throbbing forehead while the other gripped one of Gato's men by the throat. "I just heard you talking. Who is the person in the Land of Hot Water?"

"Ji... Jiraiya."

The sleazy-looking man answered in a trembling voice, "Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin!"

Jiraiya!

That was the name!

A name etched deeply into his memory!

Whenever he thought of that name, endless sorrow welled up inside him, along with a faint warmth that was difficult to notice.

What kind of person was this man named Jiraiya, to make him feel comparable to Iruka-sensei and Sensei Kakashi?

His importance even surpassed theirs!

Naruto Uzumaki still wanted to dig deeper into his sealed memories, but the pain between his brows finally forced him to give up. His hand suddenly tightened, nearly choking the man!

"Naruto, are you all right?"

Sasuke Uchiha had subdued his opponent. Noticing this, he hurried over and looked at his companion with concern, thinking it was an aftereffect of the demon fox state.

Naruto Uzumaki shook his head, released his grip, and forced a smile at Sasuke. "I'm fine."

Fortunately, Sasuke was right beside him. He did not need to trace memories about Sasuke; they were nothing more than fights at the Ninja Academy...

After seeing that his two subordinates were all right, Kakashi Hatake crouched beside Gato and idly twirled his kunai. "Hey, tell me. How exactly does your company get to the Land of Hot Water?"

"By... by sea."

Gato blankly raised his head. From the corner of his eye, he had already seen that the wandering ninja and thugs in the room had been completely subdued by the three youths without any ability to resist.

Yet, with his sharp eyes, he still spotted the delicate-looking youth who had been following Zabuza Momochi. "Hey, kid, aren't you Zabuza's..."

Swoosh!

A senbon grazed Gato's ear!

Haku turned and stood beside Kakashi Hatake, looking down at him. "We have decided to terminate your commission."

"..."

Gato shrank back. Just as he was about to start yelling again, he saw Kakashi Hatake casually swaying the kunai in his hand. He swallowed and said quietly, "Sir, we can discuss anything. I have a great deal of money..."

Kakashi Hatake raised a brow. "Give me a sea chart from the Land of Waves to the Land of Hot Water. While you're at it, pick out a suitable ship for us. No problem, right?"

"Of... of course there's no problem!"

Gato gritted his teeth and nodded hard. A flicker of hatred flashed through his eyes before he buried it deep inside. His face remained as frightened as ever.

One of the wealthiest men in the world secretly swore to himself that once he was out of danger, he would immediately recruit more ninja and thugs to hunt down these people who dared threaten him!

No, capture them alive!

He wanted to watch with his own eyes as they were beaten to death!

However, after Kakashi Hatake obtained the sea route map and saw the shipping company's vessel, the jonin instructor suddenly said to the delicate-looking youth, "Hey, kid, you don't want him leaking our information, do you?"

Haku abruptly tightened his grip on the senbon. "..."

The meaning behind those words could not have been clearer.

Neither Zabuza Momochi nor Kakashi Hatake wanted their information falling into anyone else's hands, especially not someone as unscrupulous as Gato.

Kakashi Hatake left with his two subordinates. Only Naruto Uzumaki paused briefly as he passed Haku and said in a low voice, "Zabuza Momochi protected you too well. Is that why you're unwilling to act even against someone like Gato?"

The delicate-looking youth fell silent for a moment. He raised his head to watch the blond ninja walk away, his expression gradually hardening with resolve as senbon floated between his palms...

For Lord Zabuza and himself to survive!

A chill gradually seeped out from Haku's body...

The following morning.

This hastily assembled group was finally about to part ways.

Zabuza Momochi still wore an unhappy expression. His plan to use Gato's shipping company to amass money had failed, and to avoid running into Kirigakure's Hunter-nin Squad, he had no choice but to leave the Land of Waves with Haku.

The Demon of the Hidden Mist had no intention of abandoning his dream. To obtain information from within Kirigakure, he needed to find a country close to the Land of Water. Thus, he decided to take Haku by ship and flee to the Land of Sea or the ruins of the former Land of Whirlpools.

As for Maruboshi Kosuke, his mission could basically be declared complete. After Gato and his gang mysteriously vanished the previous night, Tazuna's family was as delighted as if it were New Year's, and the commoners of the Land of Waves had also voluntarily begun helping construct the bridge.

Kakashi Hatake had already taken Team Seven aboard a ship the previous night. They would depart from the Land of Waves and travel by sea to the Land of Hot Water.

Based on Kakashi's guess, and his understanding of that legendary ninja, Jiraiya was most likely in the Land of Hot Water gathering material for the sequel to "Make-Out Paradise." After all, the Land of Hot Water had plenty of hot spring bathhouses.

After they left the Land of Waves, a group of ninja arrived on the island. Yamanaka Fu was still at their head, but this time, there were many more ninja behind him.

A masked ninja carrying an enormous scroll on his back said to Yamanaka Fu, "Lord Danzo was not angry. He was very pleased that the village's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki could use the tailed beast's power, so he specially transferred our Sealing Squad here..."

"Understood."

Yamanaka Fu frowned tightly as he waited for his subordinates to return with their report.

In the end, they only discovered that an elderly Genin from the village was still carrying out a commission in the Land of Waves. They found no trace whatsoever of Kakashi's team having arrived.

This was bad.

They had lost them!

When Shimura Danzō received the report, he flew into a rage. He had assigned three missions in total, yet not a single one had been completed!

He finally had no choice but to order his subordinates to abandon their pursuit of Team Seven. After returning to Konoha, they were to continue blending in with the ANBU and wait for information on Kakashi's team.

The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki in Team Seven was of immense importance. If he failed to return to Konoha for too long, the Third Hokage would inevitably send ANBU members to investigate their whereabouts. At that time, Danzo could dispatch his own men in advance to surround and intercept them.

As for the dangers after being exposed...

He, Shimura Danzō, had plotted to assassinate the Third Hokage, conducted illegal human experiments, and done countless dirty deeds in secret. An obedient Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was enough for Hiruzen Sarutobi to erase every mistake he had made!

First update.

What did you think about Jiraiya gathering material?

Hiruzen Sarutobi: As Hokage, I will not comment publicly.

Kakashi Hatake: Magnificent! It is all for art!

Tsunade: I'll have someone prepare a hospital room and a graveyard. The rest depends on his luck.

Orochimaru: Heh heh, it seems he has forgotten our agreement...

Jiraiya: What agreement? Was it the one where... whoever transformed into... hehehe, let your brother... (^▽^)!