In Orochimaru's eyes, aside from his curiosity about the world and his desire for immortality, nearly everything else—and everyone—was merely a question of utility value.
Jiraiya had deep feelings for this world, especially Konoha Village. He seldom paid much attention to such trivial matters, even when people went astray. Not long ago, he had unhesitatingly given up an easily attainable Hokage position, which truly reflected his inner thoughts—he knew he couldn't possibly handle every single detail of such complicated matters. Ever since childhood, guided by the sages of Mount Myōboku, Jiraiya had gradually developed doubts about the prophecy he once trusted so deeply. Still, guided by the dream of world peace, he refused to rule out any possibilities. So long as the desired outcome could be achieved, even if the process deviated somewhat, Jiraiya still had the confidence to correct any mistakes along the way using his own power.
As for Mizuki, several months ago he found some interest in the Gang of Four. Now though, perhaps Sakon and Ukon's Summoning Technique—the Rashomon—still had some value, and Ukon's Kekkei Genkai Secret Technique – the Parasite Demon Demolition Technique – might attract Mizuki's attention. But that was all it amounted to. After all, the Summoning Technique Rashomon itself originated from Konoha, and more advanced applications like [Triple Rashomon] or [Quintuple Rashomon] weren't hard to come by. As for Ukon's bloodline limit, while it did have research value, its practical use was another matter entirely. Mizuki had mastered cell-level chakra manipulation; he wasn't the least bit afraid of the Parasite Demon Demolition Technique. If the parasite dared enter his body, Mizuki would ensure it never returned. There were also multiple ways for him to defend against it—one only needed to think them through. Even younger ninja like Kiba Inuzuka or Kankuro had managed to defeat opponents wielding this ability, meaning its potential wasn't all that impressive. Eventually, Mizuki took only a small blood sample from each of the three Otogakure ninjas for research and then handed them all over to Kakashi Hatake for processing. When it came to dealing with prisoners, Kakashi had far more experience.
The Konoha ninja had defeated their enemies without serious incident and successfully arrived at the Land of Fire. The Anbu Commander who had accompanied them partway now departed, and after two more days' travel, the eight Konoha ninja together with the two Mist ninja safely returned to Konoha Village, thus bringing this mission to a successful conclusion.
If asked what left the strongest impression on Mizuki during this mission, he couldn't say exactly. Perhaps the greatest gain was his interaction with Jiraiya. Simply obtaining that A-rank Fire Release Ninjutsu technique alone made the journey worthwhile. After working hard for many days, his efforts hadn't gone to waste.
As for the two ninja from Kirigakure who had joined them and the follow-up arrangements, none of that really concerned Mizuki or Kakashi anymore—it fell squarely under Tsunade's jurisdiction and required her personal coordination.
Returning to the village as a deputy leader, Mizuki now had no further duties. He handed the mission report and summary directly over to Kakashi Hatake for processing, then briefly waved goodbye to Kakashi before heading home.
It's often said that short separations are sweeter than a newlywed couple reuniting. But Mizuki's case was a bit different. He hadn't been away from Tsubaki for long—it was more like a brief separation within their honeymoon phase.
If asked what the biggest difference was between his current mood and how he felt returning from missions before, it would be that now there was someone waiting for him at home. That unspoken sense of responsibility sometimes made Mizuki feel as if he'd grown timid—under his current mindset, he couldn't even guarantee he still had the courage to grab a Fuma Shuriken and fight head-on against Deidara and Red Sand of the Desert.
Unfortunately, when Mizuki returned home, he found himself disappointed—Tsubaki wasn't there.
He hadn't been back in days, and the house looked completely different. The contrast between living alone and sharing the space with someone else was clear. All the bottles and jars he used for experiments were gone. The large water vat in the main room, once filled with bizarre aquatic creatures, now held only beautiful ornamental fish gracefully swimming about. Most of the experimental materials that previously occupied so much space had also disappeared, replaced by simple furniture and decorations. Even the windowsills—once filled with plants hiding his research samples—now held charming potted flowers. The atmosphere had changed too—from a sterile, isolated scientist's lab into a warm and welcoming home. Whether it was just an illusion or not, Mizuki could've sworn the lighting inside the house had become brighter than before.
"This really feels like a proper home... though, where did all my fashion magazines go? And the spare change in the drawer by the bed is gone too!"
Instantly, Mizuki had a bad feeling!
...
Inside the Hokage Tower, Tsunade supported her temple with her right hand while slowly flipping through the report submitted by Kakashi Hatake.
"Hmm? You two gave Mist Village and the Fifth Mizukage quite high praise. Such detailed descriptions—this must be written by Mizuki?"
"That's correct," answered Kakashi, who stood nearby waiting patiently. "Lord Jiraiya and I reached a similar conclusion."
"I see. Then take a look at these adjectives you chose: attractive appearance, open-minded and graceful, young and capable, virtuous and talented, widely respected—in short, what exactly are these? Are you sure neither of you has fallen under some spell cast by this new Mizukage?"
Tsunade looked displeased as she stared at the visibly awkward Kakashi Hatake, waiting for his response.
"Well, actually, I didn't want to write it this way, but Lord Jiraiya insisted..."
Kakashi replied with an embarrassed smile.
"Jiraiya again? Well then, that explains it. What about this next part? 'In his late twenties, repeatedly unsuccessful in arranged dates, emotionally delicate, and anxious about marriage'? How does any of this relate to your mission? Did I send you two out to investigate the private lives and gossip of a village Kage? Why include this unofficial news in an official mission report?"
"This part was Mizuki's idea—he insisted it was extremely important..."
"Ahh, again? That newlywed sure has some wild ideas up his sleeve. Let me guess—what comes next? [pretty boy strategy]?" Tsunade angrily slammed the report onto the table. "So the Konoha ninja have really stepped up their game!"
Kakashi Hatake scratched the back of his head, looking slightly guilty as he said, "That last line was just something Mizuki muttered under his breath. I thought maybe it could work, so I added it in..."
"Wait, Teacher Kakashi..." Shizune, who had been standing there blankly all this time, suddenly cut in with a cold voice, "Do you also think women in their thirties who aren't married are desperate to get hitched and fall easily for the [handsome-man ploy]?"
"How could that be?" Kakashi hurriedly defended himself.
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