"Chizan, I didn't expect Konoha's team leader this time to be you."
"Hahaha, well, that's fate for you!"
Back at the lodging, Yahiko came right up and gave Gekko Chizan a bear hug. It was obvious he had really missed him.
"But Chizan, who's the one that came here with you?"
"From the way you two act, tsk tsk, it's not a normal relationship, huh?"
A mischievous grin spread across Yahiko's face, but seeing that expression, Gekko Chizan silently raised both hands, and that bone-deep Tiger Seal appeared once again.
The moment Yahiko saw that seal, his grin instantly vanished.
"Whoa, whoa, okay, okay! I was wrong, alright?!"
"Come on, let's go drink!"
"Akashige, go buy the booze!"
That evening, Gekko Chizan and Yahiko's group ended up having a lively gathering together.
Pakura watched the three of them having so much fun and couldn't help feeling a little curious.
The three little ones were curious too, but they simply assumed it was just normal exchange between villages—after all, before coming here, Gekko Chizan had already told them:
When you come to Takigakure, you must be friendly. Just treat it like coming home.
After the meal, everyone ended up drinking quite a bit.
Gekko Chizan used the tailed beast's chakra to purge part of the alcohol from his system, keeping himself just slightly tipsy before finally returning to his room.
"Alright, tell me. What's going on between you and them? You know them?"
"How did you figure it out?"
Pakura shoved Gekko Chizan aside and rolled her eyes at him mercilessly.
"Like I wouldn't notice?"
"Looks like you've known each other for quite a while."
"But how did you get to know ninja from Takigakure?"
Pakura was genuinely curious.
After all, even if ninja sometimes carried out missions in other villages, to be this familiar with foreign ninja—that didn't seem right.
To outsiders, it could easily be seen as collusion with the enemy.
"You know my identity. To prevent certain things from happening, I've made some preparations behind the scenes."
"Including your teacher?"
Gekko Chizan was slightly surprised. She knew even that?
Pakura slowly placed a hand on his shoulder.
Her tone carried no blame whatsoever—if anything, there was concern.
"I know the pressure you're under. If what you said is true, if there really is a hidden enemy like that, then I'll support everything you do."
"But you have to tell me. After all, I'm your wife… and a capable fighter in my own right."
As she spoke, flames appeared in Pakura's hand.
The scorching heat made Gekko Chizan chuckle softly.
"Relax. It's nothing major—for now, at least."
"Yahiko's group coming to Takigakure was actually my idea."
"Just a bit of extra insurance, that's all."
"Anyway, after good food and good wine, a little exercise is the best thing, wouldn't you say, Pakura?"
Pakura: …
...
Late at night, everyone was already asleep, but Gekko Chizan opened his eyes.
With a Flying Thunder God teleport, he vanished from the room.
He reappeared in the courtyard he had purchased earlier—the one where Yahiko's group was staying.
"You're here?"
"Yeah."
Yahiko and his two companions were still awake as well. Clearly, they had already arranged to meet up at night.
"Looks like you've made quite a lot of progress lately."
"Not bad. That means we're getting closer and closer to the goal."
Gekko Chizan looked at the still slightly tipsy Yahiko and nodded in satisfaction.
Seeing him arrive, Yahiko naturally poured him another drink.
"I've already gotten into Takigakure's higher-ups, but the village chief, Saibon, holds enormous prestige here. Replacing him won't happen overnight."
Hearing Yahiko's explanation, Gekko Chizan nodded.
From the moment he had laid eyes on Saibon, he knew—this man was just like Sarutobi Hiruzen or Shimura Danzō: resourceful, powerful.
If not for Takigakure's neutrality, he might have become a legend like Hanzo the Salamander.
"Don't rush it. It's only been a year. Do you know anything about Saibon's strength?"
"I saw him make a move once—it was when a tsunami hit the coastal area."
Yahiko fell into recollection.
His eyes weren't blurred by alcohol at all; in fact, they became sharp and clear as he remembered something shocking.
"That was the first time I saw a Wind Release on the level of a natural disaster."
"Tornadoes and fierce gales combined to unleash destruction like heavy artillery. Even the tsunami was shredded."
That strong?!
Gekko Chizan was genuinely surprised. Yahiko wasn't one to exaggerate—if he said the wind jutsu was terrifying, it must have been terrifying.
To wield Wind Release at such a level… what a remarkable man.
"Keep infiltrating. With your charisma and strength, one day you'll definitely replace him."
"As for Saibon… he's not young anymore. Eventually, he'll step down. It won't be too late."
If possible, Gekko Chizan didn't want to create another enemy unnecessarily.
Better to have one less problem than one more.
"By the way, where's Yugito? Haven't seen her around."
"On a mission. There's a wild boar disaster in the northern part of the village."
"She'll probably be gone a few more days."
Gekko Chizan nodded, then asked about the upcoming Chunin Exams.
Yahiko looked over at Konan.
"This time, Konan will lead the team. Yugito will also participate—her strength has long surpassed that of an ordinary chunin."
"With her perseverance and hard training, even I can't help but respect her."
"Are you sure she doesn't have any kekkei genkai? That monstrous recovery ability of hers, tsk tsk…"
Monstrous recovery ability?
Well, of course—she was a jinchūriki.
But they hadn't told Yahiko's group about that yet.
For both Gekko Chizan and Yugito, that was a trump card—a secret to keep until absolutely necessary.
"My student is, of course, outstanding."
"But I doubt anyone in this Chunin Exam will be stronger than Yugito."
"Even Kakashi and his team won't compare. After all, I personally taught Yugito both taijutsu and ninjutsu."
"With Tagitsuhime by her side, there's no way anything will go wrong."
Though all of them were his students, he had absolute confidence in Yugito.
After all, he had taught her how to use the tailed beast's chakra without letting anyone notice.
Thanks to that, among her peers, she was easily the most terrifying existence.
"Since the mission is complete, we'll probably head back tomorrow."
"In such a rush?"
"Can't help it. The deadline's almost here. We had fun all the way here—if we don't hurry back now, we'll never hear the end of it."
Yahiko: … Is this a mission or a vacation?
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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