Since Uehara Naraku was going to take five people on the return trip this time, it was naturally impossible to pass through the Land of Fire to avoid any trouble. Therefore, they chose a relatively stable route.
After leaving the port,
Uehara Naraku turned his head to look at everyone present and assigned tasks to them: "Hozuki Mangetsu, go to the Hidden Hot Water Village and book a hot spring inn; Mr. Zabuza, you take Kaguya Kimimaro and Haku to continue ninja training or relax..."
"..."
Hozuki Mangetsu and Momochi Zabuza were completely puzzled.
One was a genius ninja who, in Uehara Naraku's mouth, became a genius manager; the other, a member of the Seven-Swords Ninja of the Hidden Mist with countless kills, was regarded by Uehara as an enlightenment teacher and babysitter.
Kaguya Kimimaro and Haku couldn't help but turn to Uehara, and softly asked, "Uehara-kun, aren't you coming with us?"
Uehara Naraku shook his head and softly said, "Well, I'm going to practice hand seals with Kisame, and we'll meet in the afternoon at... the busiest place in the Hidden Hot Water Village!"
The Hidden Hot Water Village was the most famous tourist destination in the Ninja World.
Known for its unique hot spring pools, it was the most comfortable place in the Ninja World and also the most suitable place for enjoyment.
Even during the Great Ninja War, it was rarely affected.
Uehara's group could take a day to rest here after crossing the sea by boat.
After everyone else had left, Uehara Naraku and Hoshigaki Kisame had a private space to discuss their plans.
The matter Uehara Naraku was most concerned about was undoubtedly Hoshigaki Kisame's last private meeting with Uchiha Obito before leaving the Land of Water: "So, did you gain Obito's trust?"
"Ha, pretty much."
Hoshigaki Kisame grinned and chuckled lightly: "I told him that as long as his Eye of the Moon Plan is still being executed, after I become Uchiha Itachi's teammate, I will continue to help monitor Uchiha Itachi and pass him information about Itachi."
Before they collectively left the Land of Water, Uchiha Obito secretly approached Hoshigaki Kisame for a conversation, and Kisame's performance once again earned Obito's trust.
Or rather, Uchiha Obito had always trusted Kisame.
Hoshigaki Kisame originally prepared a bunch of information about Uehara, but Uchiha Obito didn't bother with such trivial matters.
After all, over these past years, Hoshigaki Kisame had been serving Obito, who was manipulating the Fourth Mizukage behind the scenes, making their relationship extraordinary.
Moreover, Hoshigaki Kisame was a very trustworthy person...
As long as Hoshigaki Kisame trusted someone, he would be 100% loyal, even at the cost of his own life.
"It seems that the plan is going smoothly."
Uehara Naraku was unaware that due to the worsening situation, Hoshigaki Kisame's status was rapidly rising in Uchiha Obito's mind, and Kisame would soon become an important source of information.
Uehara Naraku simply comforted his subordinate: "Once you become partners with Uchiha Itachi, you'll be able to enjoy a leisurely period."
Hoshigaki Kisame laughed heartily and nodded slightly: "Ha, it sounds like that Sharingan Itachi has a pretty good personality."
"I believe you can get along well with Uchiha Itachi."
Uehara Naraku was quite confident about this. He turned to look at Kisame and asked, "By the way, how many sets of hand seals did you prepare for me?"
"Thirteen sets..."
Hoshigaki Kisame took out a scroll and handed it to Uehara with a chuckle: "The hand seals inside are a mix of truth and falsities, most of which are related to Water Release and Earth Release hand seals."
"Thanks."
Uehara Naraku shook the scroll, satisfied, and stored it in his ninja tools pouch.
Of course, Uehara didn't need hand seals to release skills. He wanted to practice hand sealing mainly for fun and to confuse his opponents, lowering their guard...
In the future, he would be a proper ninja who could perform hand seals.
While practicing hand seals, Uehara Naraku spoke of Uchiha Itachi: "Uchiha Itachi is a pretty easy person to get along with. As long as you don't violate his bottom line, he will unconditionally accommodate anything you do..."
"Bottom line?"
"His brother, Uchiha Sasuke."
Due to the relationship established by their contract, Uehara Naraku also trusted Hoshigaki Kisame and disclosed all information about Uchiha Itachi: "As long as you don't harm his brother, Uchiha Itachi is a very easy ninja to manipulate."
"...Another one who acts like a father to his younger brother?"
Hoshigaki Kisame couldn't help but laugh lightly upon hearing this: "That Itachi the Clan Annihilator has the exact same weakness as Hozuki Mangetsu!"
Uehara Naraku sighed faintly: "It's the fault of this world that the love elder brothers have for their younger brothers is always somewhat pathological."
Whoever created this world was also a brother-obsessed person?
The Hidden Hot Water Village.
Upon entering this ninja village, Uehara Naraku and Hoshigaki Kisame followed their agreement and went to find the busiest place to observe the local customs of the Hidden Hot Water Village.
The busiest place in the Hidden Hot Water Village today turned out to be a gambling house.
Why was it a gambling house!
When Uehara Naraku received this news, his expression was subtly complex: "It can't be such a coincidence, right? I always feel like if we go there, we'll encounter an extraordinary figure!"
"Lord Uehara even thinks it's an extraordinary person?"
Hoshigaki Kisame's face showed curiosity, with a growing smile: "If it's not particularly dangerous, shouldn't we go and meet this distinguished figure?"
Uehara Naraku begrudgingly nodded: "What you said...makes sense, the danger posed by that distinguished person is indeed lower."
In this Ninja World, whenever gambling is mentioned, it's impossible to avoid mentioning a woman.
A woman renowned throughout the Ninja World.
One of the Konoha Sannin, the strongest female ninja, Tsunade.
In the Ninja World, no ninja is willing to intentionally harm her.
Tsunade, born into Konoha's noble Senju Family, was the first to advocate for medical ninjas as fundamental members of standard ninja squads. Because she mastered all medical ninjutsu, she gained the respect of countless ninjas.
Ninjas regard Tsunade as the finest medical ninja in the Ninja World; however, it's also acknowledged that her strength itself is formidable.
The reputation of the Konoha Sannin is not just built on healing people!
In the entire Ninja World, except for the leaders of the major ninja villages, other ninjas don't quite stack up against Tsunade.
In terms of appearance, pedigree, strength, and fame, Tsunade is seamlessly perfect, except she has one well-known flaw.
She is addicted to gambling.
Unfortunately, her luck has always been unsatisfactory.
Since Tsunade left Konoha and began traveling the Ninja World, a unique nickname has started to circulate in the Ninja World.
The Legendary Sucker.
"The Legendary Sucker has arrived?"
"It's already started!"
"She's already lost two hundred thousand ryō!"
"The Big Sucker's moves are indeed extraordinary..."
"She's also quite big..."
The gambling house was exceptionally lively today, with gamblers from all over the Hidden Hot Water Village gathering here, as well as some men trying to make quick money amidst the commotion.
Uehara Naraku dug his ears, subconsciously ignoring those strange remarks, and scanned the people around the gambling house, looking for his subordinates.
"Uehara!"
A crisp voice called out to him.
Kaguya Kimimaro squeezed through the crowd and walked up to Uehara Naraku, softly explaining: "Mr. Hozuki Mangetsu and Mr. Zabuza are already at the hot spring inn...they said it's too dangerous here, so they sent me to wait for you."
"Lord Uehara, it really is dangerous here..."
Hoshigaki Kisame's small eyes blinked, and his height allowed him to see the scene inside the gambling house, naturally also seeing the blonde female ninja sitting at the center of the gambling table.
As a ninja, how could he not recognize one of the Konoha Sannin?
Uehara Naraku looked at the blonde female ninja's exposed fair skin and clicked his tongue in admiration: "But that's what makes it interesting, isn't it?"
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