Hiruzen was annoyed. He wondered if Takemi had been led astray by Kakashi.
Or was Kakashi influenced by Takemi?
Is it really appropriate to say that a C-rank mission is simple?
Although Takemi had gone through the same thing back then, Kakashi had only just left Anbu at that time, so it was normal for him to retain Anbu habits.
"But you've been out for so long, why are you still like this?"
Hiruzen was a bit vexed, but in the end, he still handed out a simple C-rank mission.
Takemi hadn't left the team yet. With two Jonin supervising, there shouldn't be much of a problem, right?
"Old man, you were looking for me?"
Just as Hiruzen was feeling depressed, Jiraiya's voice suddenly came from outside the window.
"Seriously, I'm busy right now."
"We have news from Mizuki."
Hiruzen rubbed his temples, but before he could speak, Jiraiya interrupted him.
"Mizuki? Oh, the one everyone's talking about on the street, right? Seriously, no wonder Takemi turned out like this. It seems Konoha's education really does have problems. Don't blame me!"
"..."
Hiruzen tightened his grip on his pipe. He now felt like he might have a problem too.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have taught a pervert like Jiraiya, a gambler like Tsunade, and Orochimaru...
"Now is not the time to talk about this!"
Hiruzen startled himself. He immediately shook his head. There must be problems in other areas, and he still had important matters to attend to.
"Takemi has already uncovered quite a bit. Mizuki is connected to Orochimaru."
"Orochimaru?"
Upon hearing that name, Jiraiya immediately became serious.
"Did he say anything? What's his objective? Could it be this Chunin Exams?"
"Uncertain. And Mizuki himself is only a Chunin, he wouldn't know much."
Hiruzen shook his head, speaking very seriously as he held his pipe.
"However, this matter must be taken into consideration, especially since Orochimaru has the Akatsuki behind him. It's hard to say..."
"I understand."
Jiraiya nodded gravely. The Akatsuki's actions were utterly reckless.
"It seems I really need to be extra vigilant this time. I never expected it to be so complicated."
Jiraiya also had a headache. A joint Chunin Exams turning out like this was truly absurd. But since things had come to this, there was nothing he could do but prepare everything.
"Then I'll be going. If anything happens, contact me. Seriously, that bastard Orochimaru..."
"Don't rush, there are still a few things."
Seeing Jiraiya about to leave, Hiruzen immediately called him back.
"What is it, old man? Don't tell me you want to invite me to watch the crystal ball?"
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow, then asked with a mischievous grin, which almost made Hiruzen hit him on the head with his pipe.
"Be serious. How is Tsunade's research coming along?"
"Why don't you go ask her yourself?" Jiraiya pursed his lips.
He quickly thought of something and said, "Wait, don't tell me Danzo really..."
"Sigh, according to the investigation, he hasn't completely stopped." Hiruzen sighed deeply.
Ever since he obtained that piece of Obito's flesh, he had initiated a secret investigation into Danzo.
And this investigation indeed uncovered many problems, especially concerning the First Hokage's cells, which made his eyes widen in disbelief.
"But he can't be touched for now. Orochimaru's actions this time might be related to him, and I still need to observe, so..."
"I understand. I'll go ask Tsunade."
Jiraiya understood his teacher. Finally, he nodded and agreed, which made Hiruzen relieved.
"Then I'll leave it to you. Besides that, there's one more thing I need your help with."
"Wouldn't it be better if you just told me everything at once?"
Jiraiya pursed his lips, and Hiruzen's expression became serious.
"This matter concerns Naruto, and possibly even Minato and Kushina."
"What?!"
Jiraiya's face changed, filled with anxiety.
"What's going on, old man? Hurry up and tell me!"
"Last night, the Nine-Tails Chakra within Naruto erupted, and Takemi was there. He said..."
Hiruzen held his pipe, smoke swirling as if to obscure his face, only his voice echoing.
"Within the Nine-Tails' seal, there are two other Chakras, and these two Chakras are very likely Minato and Kushina..."
On the road to the Land of Waves, Naruto was full of excitement. Sasuke, though silent beside him, clearly seemed to be in a good mood.
"Yay! We're finally out!"
Only Sakura looked troubled. She glanced at their quiet employer—a drunken old man named Tazuna—and then at Kakashi and Takemi, who were walking side-by-side at the back.
After hesitating for a while, she couldn't help but ask, "Kakashi-sensei, Takemi, is it really okay for our first mission to be outside the village?"
"Sure enough, you Konoha people are trying to scam my money, aren't you? These kids are actually on their first mission?!"
Tazuna couldn't hold back either. He had just arrived in Konoha and submitted his mission request.
Although he admitted he had a little bit of an ulterior motive, he never expected Konoha to be so fast and just assign him directly.
But what exactly was this assignment?!
"Relax, it's just a C-rank mission." Kakashi spoke nonchalantly. He glanced at Sakura, then finally looked at Tazuna.
"Two years ago, when I first led a team, Takemi's first mission was C-rank, and he even did several in a row. Now, with so many people, it's just a C-rank mission, it's nothing."
"That's right, it's just a C-rank." Takemi also spoke with a smile from the side.
He reached out and patted Naruto and Sasuke's shoulders, saying with a carefree laugh, "Although these two kids, one is unhappy and the other is thoughtless, and there are some issues with their education, they definitely have the ability. Rest assured."
"Bastard, what are you saying?!"
Naruto couldn't hold back now, and Sasuke rolled his eyes beside him.
"You guy..."
"Education... has problems?"
Tazuna felt no relief at all. Instead, he became even more worried. What terrified him even more was that Kakashi actually nodded beside them.
No, what about your Konoha's reputation?
"Time really flies. In the blink of an eye, so much time has passed."
Kakashi and Takemi paid no attention to Tazuna, Naruto, and the others. The two of them fell behind and started chatting.
Kakashi's visible eye curved. Although he had many worries, at least for now, he seemed to be in a good mood.
"I still remember your first mission, your performance was quite ordinary. You couldn't stand the sight of blood."
"The first time, that's inevitable."
"But later, you kept getting better, even performing remarkably against Jūzō and Itachi."
"That's right."
Takemi nodded with a smile, but Sasuke's ears perked up.
Itachi?
He knew Takemi had encountered Itachi, but he didn't know the specifics. Now that these two were talking about it, how could he not be curious?
Not only him, Naruto, Sakura, even Tazuna couldn't help but lean in to listen.
"But history really is a circle. I remember our first mission was also to the Land of Waves back then. I never expected it to be the same this time."