"The village is in such a good spot."
Jinzō and the others stood on the ridge, gazing down at the settlement below.
Yeah, no kidding. This place sat right where the Fire Country brushed up against Taki and Grass. If you were heading toward Iwagakure, you'd have to pass this way.
The shinobi from Grass and Taki weren't exactly terrifying, but they were still countries with daimyo, meaning politics mattered more than kunai. If the lords of those lands cozy up to the Earth Daimyo, then Iwa would have the funds and cover to push troops through here without much resistance.
The kicker? The strip of land where their borders met was basically a "no man's land." Technically on the map, but nobody really controlled it. As long as enemy squads didn't come marching through in broad daylight, everyone just looked the other way.
Which also meant… this was prime real estate for skirmishes. In the future, Minato would make his legend right here — the Kannabi Bridge campaign.
"Man, this village must be insanely lucky," Jinzō muttered. "Anyone walking past here could end up catching a stray shuriken."
Minato gave a nod, and the three darted toward the smoke rising from the little town. People were moving down there, which at least meant it hadn't been wiped off the map.
At the entrance, they found an old man leaning against the gate, snoring so loudly Jinzō swore his eardrums were vibrating.
"...No way," Jinzō whispered, eyes widening. "What if his snoring scared the Iwa-nin away?"
Minato's face froze. "That… would actually explain a lot."
"Hiss!" Jinzō winced as Kushina's fists smoked from clocking both of them on the head.
"Use your brains, idiots!"
The two "brainiacs" rubbed their new lumps, glaring. So the smart ones get punished and the dumb one throws punches. Great system.
Their bickering was loud enough to wake Grandpa Guard, who blinked at them in confusion.
"Eh? Kids these days… go play somewhere else, I'm working." He waved them off and went right back to napping.
"Working?" Jinzō thought. Buddy, if this is 'guard duty,' then no wonder this village is still standing — no one's dumb enough to take it seriously.
Minato, ever the diplomat, stepped forward with his best smile. "Hello, sir. We're shinobi from Konoha. We've come to check on the situation here."
The old man's eyes shot open. When he saw their forehead protectors, he jumped up and screamed at the top of his lungs:
"NINJA-SAMA IS HERE!!"
It was like pulling a lever. Suddenly, half the village poured into the street.
Jinzō instantly drew his kunai, Minato and Kushina flanking him. But the mob didn't attack — they just stared with starstruck eyes.
"Ohhh, they're so young!""The blonde one's gonna grow into such a handsome man!""That girl—kawaii!! I wanna squeeze her!!"
That last one came from a hulking man, and Kushina physically shivered.
Pervert alert. This place is cursed.
The village chief finally waddled out, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry, sorry. Everyone's just very… enthusiastic. Konoha shinobi have always looked out for us."
Enthusiastic? Try terrifying, Jinzō thought, stepping back as hungry eyes bored into him. He half expected to get carved up for souvenirs.
Still, Minato had to hold the team captain role, so he played it cool. "We've received reports of rogue ninjas nearby. Can you confirm?"
The chief sobered. "Yes. Strays have appeared now and then. But after a few patrols from Konoha shinobi, they vanished."
Not much to go on. The three would have to investigate themselves.
When Minato explained they might need to stay a few days, the crowd cheered. His scalp tingled.
The chief hurried them into a guest house, only chasing the mob off after yelling at them like naughty kids.
Inside, the three finally had space to breathe.
"…Something's off," Jinzō muttered.
Minato nodded. "Yeah."
Kushina, meanwhile, looked baffled. "What's off? Everyone was nice. Honestly, I kinda liked it!"
"That was too nice."
"Too nice?!"
Jinzō shot her a flat look. "Enthusiasm like that doesn't come free. Unless this village is basically Konoha property, no one invests that kind of goodwill. Which means either the mission notes lied, or…"
He trailed off. Minato's face mirrored his own.
"…this place isn't what it looks like."
That night, cloaked by darkness, the three prowled across rooftops. They searched for hours but found nothing unusual.
"Tch. If only I had some sensory jutsu," Jinzō muttered.
Kushina blinked. "Wait, I do."
Both boys whipped around. "…What?"
"I've got Kagura's Mind's Eye."
Jinzō's jaw dropped. "AND YOU DIDN'T MENTION THIS?!"
"I did!"
"In your dreams maybe!"
She glared. "Want me to knock you out so you can check!?"
Minato scrambled between them, hands raised. "Please, Kushina, just—use it."
"Fine. Hmph." She pressed her palms together. "Kagura's Mind's Eye!"
Her eyes widened. "There are shinobi here."
The boys tensed. "Where?"
Her gaze dropped. "…Directly under our feet!"