Because the mission required immediate departure, Shimizu decided to make a quick trip home. He gathered everything he would need, planning to head straight to the village gate afterward to meet up with Jiraiya.
Come to think of it… this was his first time carrying out a mission alone with Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin.
There was a faint sense of anticipation.
"Uzuki-kun."
That voice—
Orochimaru.
Shimizu's gaze sharpened slightly. "What are you doing here?"
Orochimaru was actually waiting near his house, as if he had been expecting him to return.
"You're heading to Takigakure for a mission, aren't you, Uzuki-kun?"
"I am. And you came all the way here… for what?" Shimizu asked bluntly.
Orochimaru didn't bother with pleasantries. "There's something in Takigakure that I need. It's called the Hero Water."
Hero Water?
What kind of thing was that?
"I'll be working with Jiraiya on this mission," Shimizu replied honestly. "It's not exactly easy for me to make any extra moves under his watch."
"You're too modest, Uzuki-kun." Orochimaru's lips curled into a strange, intrigued smile. "With your current strength, if you truly wanted to act, even Jiraiya wouldn't notice anything amiss."
"You're overestimating me." Shimizu shook his head. No matter how long he had served in the ANBU, he couldn't compare to someone like Jiraiya—a seasoned veteran in every sense.
And besides… Jiraiya was already watching him.
Orochimaru's smile deepened, tinged with something almost unsettling.
"The Hero Water is a miraculous liquid that can instantly increase one's chakra by a massive amount."
Instantly. A massive increase.
Shimizu's heart stirred.
Chakra limitations were a fundamental bottleneck for all shinobi. No one would ever complain about having too much of it.
For someone like him—without a Kekkei genkai—the importance of chakra was even more critical.
After all, if one wanted to unleash large-scale ninjutsu in battle, doing so without a substantial reserve of chakra was nothing more than a fantasy.
Still, he hadn't lost his rationality.
"Something that powerful?" Shimizu narrowed his eyes slightly. "Is it a permanent enhancement? There must be side effects."
"That, I don't know," Orochimaru admitted calmly, before continuing, "which is precisely why I need you to bring some back. Only then can I study it."
"And even if the effect is temporary, even if the side effects are severe… I can refine it into something permanent and harmless."
"When that time comes, I'll naturally share half of the results with you."
…Right. A scientist's confidence.
Shimizu had to admit, though—if something like the Hero Water truly existed, and he managed to bring it back, Orochimaru might very well succeed in perfecting it.
After all, Orochimaru's reputation wasn't for show.
A substance that could potentially grant a permanent increase in chakra…
It was worth the risk.
"Do you have any reliable information?" Shimizu asked.
Takigakure wasn't exactly small. He couldn't just wander around blindly searching for it.
There was no way he could openly investigate something like this right in front of Jiraiya, either.
"I only know that the Hero Water is a sacred liquid extracted once every hundred years from a giant tree within the village," Orochimaru said. "Its quantity is extremely limited. As for its exact effects or where it's stored, I have no information."
"…I see." Shimizu exhaled lightly. In the end, he would still have to rely on himself. There was no point hoping for more.
"Oh, and Uzuki-kun—if possible… the Seven-Tails—"
"You're thinking of capturing the Seven-Tails too?"
"Regarding the jinchūriki research… I've been studying it for quite some time," Orochimaru said, his tone almost regretful. "I've simply lacked suitable materials."
Lacked materials?
Konoha already had one.
The most classic, most representative example, no less.
And yet you don't dare touch that one?
Shimizu's thoughts flickered, but he didn't voice them aloud.
Still… if Orochimaru was this interested in Tailed Beasts…
"Then why didn't you volunteer for this mission yourself?" Shimizu asked.
"Heh… Uzuki-kun, you do have a sense of humor." Orochimaru let out a faintly mocking chuckle before explaining, "Sensei and Danzō are both laying the groundwork for the next Hokage. Danzō has already taken on the covert infiltration mission into Iwagakure, and with Minato still stationed on the front lines, how could they possibly allow me to involve myself in the Takigakure operation as well?"
"Not to mention, we still have to remain vigilant against Sunagakure."
"With Tsunade in a poor mental state at the moment… that leaves only me."
"I see, I see. Fine." Shimizu waved a hand, feeling it was necessary to be clear upfront. "But I'm not making any promises. I'll act depending on the situation… after all, the Third Hokage's order is to prevent Iwagakure and Kumogakure from seizing the Seven-Tails."
"As long as you keep it in mind, that's enough. And with your strength, Uzuki-kun, I'm sure—"
"Stop! Don't pin that on me!" Shimizu cut him off, already feeling a headache coming on. "I'll do what I can, but no guarantees."
"The Hero Water as well—no guarantees."
After all, stopping Iwagakure and Kumogakure from targeting the Seven-Tails would inevitably lead to conflict. Once the fighting started, he would still have to find a way to obtain the Hero Water… and on top of that, possibly help Orochimaru look into capturing the Seven-Tails' jinchūriki.
And to make things even more complicated, the original reason Jiraiya had brought him along… was because of Madara.
Once he had everything packed, Shimizu immediately set off for Konoha's main gate.
What a shame about those two Lightning Release chakra-infused kunai… Ever since he blew up the One-Tail's rear last time, he had never managed to recover them.
Who knew where they had ended up.
Even though Shimizu rushed to the meeting point at full speed, he still arrived a step behind Jiraiya.
"Did I keep you waiting long, Jiraiya-senpai?"
"Not at all—I just got here myself." Jiraiya sighed lightly, then added, "I thought you'd beat me here, actually. Didn't expect you to be late… did something come up?"
Shimizu's heart skipped a beat.
…Had he been found out?
He had specifically used his sensory abilities to check the surroundings before continuing his conversation with Orochimaru—there shouldn't have been anyone watching.
Unless… Jiraiya had actually planted ordinary civilians nearby to monitor him?
"Hmm? Don't tell me you went to see a little girlfriend?" Jiraiya nudged him with his elbow, waggling his eyebrows with a mischievous grin. "Judging by that reaction… did I hit the mark?"
That grin—completely shameless, unmistakably lecherous—didn't seem fake at all.
Shimizu let out a quiet breath of relief. To be exposed right after meeting Orochimaru would've been far too absurd.
"I've heard, you know. Seems like you've taken a liking to a girl from the Hyūga clan."
…What kind of nonsense was this?!
So that's what you've been doing since coming back—digging up gossip?!
"I even checked her out for you," Jiraiya continued confidently. "That girl… her figure's not bad."
"…."
And how exactly did you "check"?
Peeping again?!
Wouldn't the Hyūga beat you to death if they found out?!
"Ahem… I'm a man of integrity, you know. There's no way I'd do something like that," Jiraiya declared righteously. Then, with absolute confidence, he added, "Any woman—just one glance, and I can tell her exact measurements."
"…Right."
"Heh, I knew you wouldn't believe me." Jiraiya pointed at a young woman not far away and immediately said, "Look—take that young lady over there, for example. Her figure is—"
Before he could finish, he suddenly realized—
Shimizu had already walked off on his own.
"Hey?! Shimizu, wait up!"