The Konoha team would remain inside Kirigakure long enough to see Terumi Mei crowned as the Fifth Mizukage, standing inside her office now and watching her stamp the mission scroll as a success and hand over a scroll of money that Naruto and Sasuke verified.
"Here is a scroll for the Hokage. It entails my ideas for a stronger alliance deal."
Mei's Mizukage cap shadowed her eyes as she handed the scroll over to Jiraiya before looking to Jiraiya's right, at Kakashi.
"Let's hope you were right about me being a good Mizukage."
"You'll be far better than the ones before you."
Kakashi replied, and to most, it would have seemed disrespectful, but Mei laughed a bit, agreeing with him wholeheartedly. All leaders of the past make mistakes, but the ones the previous Mizukages made were ones not easily ignored by the people of Kiri. Kiri never had a Kage as strong as Hashirama or Hiruzen in his prime, nor did they have a genius like Tobirama or Minato.
"You'll have to work on your compliments."
Mei smirked, aware of how awkward this situation was for Naruto and Sasuke; Jiraiya, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy the drama, fingers twitching at the 'Lovers goodbye' scene he imagined in his head.
Kakashi nodded slightly, jerking his head towards the door as he looked at his students.
Naruto and Sasuke shared a look before leaving without a word, the door closing shut with a soft click.
"I'll be sure to work on my compliments, but you won't be around, so I might have to practice on others."
Mei raised an eyebrow in amusement.
"By all means, but I'm confident that you won't forget me, and who knows, you might see me sooner than you expect. Then you can practice all you want."
Mei finished with a wink, and Kakashi blinked in shock before shaking his head with a small, amused smile.
"I can agree that we might see each other sooner than expected. I'm working on something, and it shouldn't take me too much longer to achieve now that my student has mastered it."
Kakashi said playfully before he got a bit more serious.
"You remember all the information on the Akatsuki, yes? They're coming after all the Jinchuruki, but since Yagura is dead, they'll wait for the Three-tails to reform and then start. You're strong, Lady MIzukage, but you'll need to train as hard and improve. Zabuza and Haku too; they'll be useful in helping you."
Mei nodded seriously, thinking about Yagura still out there somewhere, and Utakata.
"I'll be sure to focus on my training regularly; I'll include Zabuza and Haku too."
Mei agreed with his suggestion, seeing that it was necessary for the near future.
"Oh, and Kakashi, call me Mei. Lady Mizukage makes me feel old."
"As you wish, Mei."
Kakashi replied, turning to leave with the grinning Jiraiya before stopping at the entrance of the door.
"Intelligence reports from our village put Utakata somewhere inside the Land of Fire. If Jiraiya or I run into him, we'll be sure to inform him of the situation in Kiri."
Mei nodded, grateful.
"Thank you. Inform him that his S-Rank missing nin status will be revoked, and inform him of the danger surrounding him; that should give him more incentive to come back where he'd be safer."
Kakashi nodded and stepped out, Jiraiya waving goodbye as he shut the door.
The team left the village after getting some supplies and taking a boat ride out; this one was more relaxed than their arrival.
"I should've had you leave a kunai somewhere."
Kakashi spoke to Naruto, having not even thought about Flying Raijin at the moment when they were rushing to Kiri.
Naruto blinked, having not thought about that either.
"I wonder if Dad ever forgot to leave a kunai in places."
Kakashi laughed and shook his head.
"He handed out his kunai like the free sample food at the village market."
"But most were reluctant to accept his generosity… considering it was usually the enemy."
Jiraiya added, a small smirk on his lips as he thought about the outward sunny personality of Minato and how the other Nations had only seen him as the grim reaper ready to take their souls in a flash of yellow light.
"Once we're back, we'll start your training again, Sasuke."
Kakashi spoke to the silent teen, wanting to assure him he wasn't forgotten.
Sasuke nodded, face neutral, but his eyes showed that he was excited.
"Hn."
The edge of Kakashi's mouth twitched at the familiar reply he usually got from the young teen.
The four continued to chat between themselves to varying degrees for about half a day, reaching the shore and undocking at the same port they arrived at.
Thanking the captain, Kakashi and the rest of the team set off for Konoha by the trees, going at a decent pace until the sun began to set, setting up camp on the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Noodles.
Sitting around the campfire after the two teens went to bed, Jiraiya looked over at Kakashi with a question he'd been wanting to ask since they left Kiri.
"How did you even know about Utakata? Even I didn't know he was in the Land of Fire."
"Well, you're more focused on outside things; had you been more focused on internal stuff, you'd have found him rather quickly. As for how, I'm a sensor."
Jiraiya nodded, knowing about the sensing abilities of Kakashi, but he didn't know the extent of them was already this fleshed out.
"They must be good if you can already sense stuff that far."
"Maa."
Kakashi waved it off.
"I still have a long way to go. The Land of Fire is my current limit without Sage Mode."
Jiraiya blinked, chuckling lowly so as not to wake Naruto and Sasuke.
"I think you'd make the sensors of this world want to strangle you if they heard what you just said. Especially if they knew how long you've been working on it. Most go their entire lives without reaching your level. Aside from the Yamanaka, you might just be the best sensor in this era."
Kakashi hummed.
"Perhaps, but I have some competition. Karin has the Mind's Eye of the Kagura, and when Naruto masters the power of the nine-tails as well as Sage Mode in the future, then I'm sure he'd give me competition in that area as well."
"Sage Mode and the Nine-Tails?"
Jiraiya spared a glance at the tent Naruto was in, eyes softening.
"Had you said that about anyone else, I might laugh, but there's something about that kid, and I don't just say this because of what the Old Toad Sage said."
Kakashi spared a glance as well.
"Yes, he's different."
Jiraiya leaned back against the tree behind him, legs near the fire.
"I'll be on watch; go get some sleep."
Kakashi nodded, handing Jiraiya a water flask and heading to his tent.
- The Next Day, Early Morning -
After eating a quick breakfast, they were off once more. Leaping from tree to tree towards Konoha.
"When we get home, I want you two to take the rest of the day off and be at training ground seven at 10 in the morning tomorrow. I'll inform Sakura at the hospital. It's time for more specialized training for each of you."
Kakashi spoke, looking to Jiraiya, who nodded that he'd be there.
"Like what?"
Sasuke asked, eager to know what kind of training.
Kakashi chuckled and teasingly waved a finger at his student.
"You'll find out tomorrow morning at the training ground. I don't want you up all night thinking about it and messing with your sleep. Don't worry, Sasuke, I promise it'll be worth it. In fact, this training will be long-term for each of you."
Kakashi faced forward, ignoring the clearly interested, eager expressions of his students.
- Konoha 12 hours later -
Checking in at the gate, the group quickly made their way to the Hokage tower, walking in after a knock.
"Mission success. The new Mizukage, Mei Terumi, sent a scroll concerning new ideas for a stronger alliance agreement as well."
Jiraiya placed the scroll in front of Tsunade and stepped back as she unrolled it.
Tsunade read over the scroll, eyes widening in shock.
- Chapter End -
Hope you enjoy the chapter; we're nearing a time skip. Can't wait to do that, but I might have Team Seven do one last mission together before the time skip. What do you all think?