Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
Deep in the dense forest, four figures moved like arrows released from a bow, darting rapidly between the towering trees.
"Haaah—"
Aoki Yoru leaped rapidly between the branches. Just as his body gained momentum in mid-air, he couldn't help but let out a long yawn, a hint of moisture forming at the corners of his eyes, yet his feet didn't slow down in the slightest.
Ahead, Kakashi slowed down, landed beside him, and asked suspiciously, "You don't seem to be at the age where you can read Icha Icha Paradise yet, right?"
Looking at the two conspicuous dark circles under Aoki Yoru's eyes and his loose, lethargic demeanor—the whole person looking as if he had been drained several times over.
This state was so similar to when he first came into contact with Icha Icha Paradise at the age of fourteen. That day, he had opened the door to a new world, and then his whole being had sublimated. Afterward, he spent a whole week studying new introductory knowledge.
'Are students so precocious nowadays? Could it be that he is gifted?' Kakashi wondered in his heart.
If Aoki Yoru knew what Kakashi was thinking, he would definitely roll his eyes. In his previous life, he had been baptized by various Japanese teachers; he was a veteran of many battles. What kind of positions hadn't he seen?
"Didn't I get two Sealing Techniques from the Third Hokage a few days ago? I've been studying all night these past few days." As he spoke, he yawned again. "However, having said that, Sealing Techniques are really difficult. They require a wide variety of complex knowledge. I've been studying in the library during this time."
Kakashi nodded. This was true. He thought of his teacher and his teacher's wife; they were both experts in Sealing Techniques.
After a moment of silence, he accelerated, jumped to the front, and pushed forward with his head down.
The sky was clear, a blue so pure it was almost transparent, dotted with white clouds, connecting with the vast blue sea in the distance.
The salty sea breeze rolled with the waves. Seagulls kept sweeping overhead, their wings slicing through the air, emitting crisp "Caw—caw—" calls.
Aoki Yoru leaned against the bow of the ship, blowing in the sea breeze. After a few days of recuperation, his energy had returned.
"Kakashi-sensei, can you tell us the content of this mission now?" When he asked before, Kakashi said it was a secret mission.
He had just been rushing on the road these past few days, which made him itch with curiosity about what the confidential mission was.
"Call Kenta and Yui over together. It will save us from having to explain it to them later."
A moment later, the four gathered at the bow.
Kakashi said to them with a serious face, "According to information sent by an Anbu operative, someone has discovered the traces of the Three-Tails in the Land of Water. Our mission is to investigate its location and whether it has been discovered or sealed by the Hidden Mist Village."
"Kakashi-sensei, what is the Three-Tails?" Kenta and Yui asked with question marks on their faces. It was the first time they had heard the name Tailed Beast.
Aoki Yoru also timely expressed confusion and curiosity; after all, according to his identity, he shouldn't know about Tailed Beasts either.
"Tailed Beasts? They are aggregates of Chakra. There are nine in total, from the One-Tails to the Nine-Tailed, and each one possesses power that can destroy the world..."
As Kakashi slowly explained, the expressions of the two changed from confusion to curiosity to horror. Their worldview had been shattered; they hadn't expected such terrifying things to exist in the Ninja World.
At this moment, Aoki Yoru said timely, "But sensei, such an important mission shouldn't be entrusted to us, newly promoted Chunin, to investigate, right?"
Kakashi looked at him, his tone calm but cautious. "Don't worry, we are just posing as merchants to attract the attention of the Hidden Mist Village. The actual investigation is the responsibility of the Anbu."
Hearing Kakashi's explanation, Aoki Yoru secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't want to get himself involved in danger.
Tailed Beasts were the Ninja World's version of nuclear weapons. He didn't know how many eyes were watching them.
Just from what he knew, Obito and Black Zetsu, these two old schemers, were definitely watching in the dark. They wouldn't let the Tailed Beast out of their sight.
Plus, with the powerhouses of the Five Great Ninja Villages, if he inserted his small body into the mix, he might just become cannon fodder.
After three days of sailing, the group finally set foot on the land of the Land of Water.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and instinctively stretched their muscles. Although they weren't seasick, the feeling on land was different from on the ship; there was a sense of stability.
The Land of Water was completely different from the Land of Fire. Mist was everywhere, a vast expanse of white. Even the distant woods looked hazy and unclear, and the air was so cold that one couldn't help but shiver.
Everyone took off their headbands, changed into ordinary merchant clothes, and dressed up as merchants opening up trade routes, walking towards a nearby town.
Mizu City.
The largest city on the border of the Land of Water.
Aoki Yoru licked the popsicle in his hand, walking on the street, curiously observing the customs of the Land of Water. Perhaps because of the climate, the style here was completely opposite to Konoha.
He had been here for three days. The mission Kakashi assigned them was to gather information separately, especially asking him to perceive the clues around him.
Aoki Yoru didn't take the investigation seriously at all. Anyway, with the Village's usual habits, even if they caught the Three-Tails, they would just return it.
If he was careless, he might get hurt. It was better to just go through the motions and treat it as a vacation.
"Eh—"
Aoki Yoru didn't expect to see Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki, that pair of partners from the Akatsuki Organization, here.
It seems that ever since the Fourth Mizukage broke free from the control of the Genjutsu, Obito and Black Zetsu's intelligence gathering capability in the Land of Water had dropped significantly, otherwise they wouldn't have needed to come and investigate.
In order not to be noticed by them, he immediately looked away. One could not underestimate the keen senses of these powerhouses.
Immediately, he shrugged. Anyway, as long as he didn't face them head-on, it would be fine. He continued shopping; it was rare to come here.
"Hmm!" Uchiha Itachi frowned.
"What's wrong, Itachi-san?"
"Someone was looking at us just now. Maybe I'm just too sensitive!" This feeling was only for a moment; it might have been a curious passerby.
He shook his head. "Let's go, Kisame. The mission arranged by the leader has not been completed yet. I hope the Three-Tails is really there."
In the evening, when they returned to the hotel, Kakashi, Kenta, and Yui had also returned. The four exchanged information.
The intelligence brought back by Yui and Kenta was almost identical: half a month ago, dense fog suddenly appeared outside the city. Many people saw a huge shadow, and there were roars coming from the depths of the dense fog.
"According to information sent by the Village, it is very likely that the Three-Tails is hiding in Nanto Lake outside the city." As he said this, he looked at them seriously.
"The Village wants us to assist the Anbu in sealing the Three-Tails."
Hearing this, the expressions of the three suddenly froze. What a joke, asking them, these players who had just left the novice stage, to fight a BOSS.
"I saw Uchiha Itachi on the street today, and Kisame Hoshigaki, the S-rank missing-nin from the Hidden Mist Village, was with him. The most important thing is that both of them were wearing the same black robes with red clouds. They should have joined an organization."
Aoki Yoru looked at Kakashi leisurely; he really didn't want to get involved in this big trouble.
"Tell me the details." Kakashi became serious for once.
After explaining the situation he saw today in detail to Kakashi, Kakashi pondered for a while.
"When the time comes, Yui and Kenta, you go back to the seaside from last time and find a boat to wait for us. Aoki, you go with them. First, use your perception Ninjutsu to determine if it is in Nanto Lake, then be responsible for guarding the perimeter."
Hearing this, Aoki breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he wasn't at the center of the battlefield, he could still escape with his speed.