Thump, thump.
The sound of something hitting the window caught Taiichi's attention.
He put down his book and looked over. Jiji, Captain Yamaguchi's summon bird, was perched on the windowsill, flapping its wings awkwardly to maintain balance. Its increasingly plump body could barely fit on the narrow ledge.
Taiichi walked over and opened the window, letting the fat bird inside.
"Jiji, you really need to go on a diet. If you get any fatter, you won't be able to fly."
Despite his words, Taiichi opened a drawer and pulled out a bag of treats, pouring some onto the table.
"Jiji! Taiichi is mean! Telling Jiji to diet but giving Jiji delicious snacks!"
Taiichi rubbed his nose sheepishly. He had only meant to tease the bird a little, but he hadn't expected to feed it into obesity. Captain Yamaguchi had already complained to him about it a few times.
The bird was a glutton. Ever since tasting Taiichi's homemade snacks, it demanded them every visit.
"Is there a mission?" Taiichi changed the subject.
"Jiji! Yes, mission!" Jiji lifted one of its legs, which was almost swallowed by fat.
Taiichi noticed a tiny scroll tied to it. He untied it and read the miniature text.
Frowning, Taiichi absorbed the details. It was an extraction mission. The target: Sakumo Hatake.
Sakumo Hatake? The White Fang? Does someone like him even need extraction? Taiichi was puzzled.
"Jiji! Taiichi! Hurry up! Roll it back up and put it on Jiji's leg! Jiji has to tell the others!" Jiji urged between pecks at the snacks.
"Oh... right."
Taiichi tied the scroll back on. Jiji struggled to take off, eventually launching itself out the window.
Taiichi packed his gear and headed for the village gate. Captain Yamaguchi would have more details.
When he arrived, Yamaguchi was chatting happily with a blonde ninja.
Even from the back, Taiichi recognized him. It was Minato.
"Taiichi! Over here!" Yamaguchi called out.
He pulled Taiichi over. "Minato, let me introduce you. This is my squad's ace, Taiichi Matsushita."
"Oh? Your ace? How tough is he?" Minato teased.
Yamaguchi froze, confused by Minato's tone.
"Captain... Minato-senpai and I go way back." Taiichi tugged Yamaguchi's sleeve, smiling helplessly.
"You... Senpai?" Yamaguchi was shocked.
"Haha! Masasuke, you didn't know? Taiichi is Tsunade-sama's disciple. Calling me Senpai is perfectly appropriate," Minato explained.
"I didn't know you had connections like that! You hid it well, Taiichi!" Yamaguchi patted Taiichi's shoulder, delighted. Knowing Taiichi was Tsunade's disciple made him even more confident in the team's medical capabilities.
Soon, the rest of the members arrived.
Minato briefed them. "The village has sent a diplomatic note to the Cloud Village. They shouldn't press Sakumo-senpai too hard. Our mission is just a precaution."
Everyone relaxed. It sounded like an easy job. Just a safety net.
They introduced themselves. Minato's squad consisted of three Chunin: Makoto Inuzuka, Sora Gekko, and Rin Nakamura. Taiichi had never heard of them—likely casualties of war in the original timeline.
Time to move. The joint team left Konoha, heading for the rendezvous point in a forest on the border of the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Moon.
---
Meanwhile, in Konoha's Root Base.
Danzo Shimura returned from the Hokage's meeting, fury burning in his chest.
Why Hiruzen? Why was he in the light while Danzo rotted in the dark? Why did Sakumo get the credit for Root's hard work? Why did Hiruzen get all the talented seedlings?
It all came down to that one second of hesitation years ago.
That memory was a demon that tormented him daily. He hated his own cowardice. He hated Hiruzen's decisiveness. He hated Tobirama for not giving him a second chance.
"Someone come here," Danzo's voice was low and dangerous.
A Root ninja appeared instantly, kneeling.
"Deliver this investigation report to the Cloud Village. But do it tomorrow at this time. Do you understand?" Danzo ordered, his voice dripping with malice.
"Yes, Lord Danzo!" The ninja didn't question the order. He was a tool of Root.
Let's see if your luck holds, Sakumo, Danzo thought. Delaying the delivery was all he could do without risking exposure.
---
On the road to the Land of Hot Water.
Taiichi and the others were unaware of the political sabotage. Since there was no rush, they traveled at a moderate pace.
"So, Taiichi, this mission is kind of related to you?" Yohei asked, sparking everyone's curiosity.
Taiichi briefly explained the incident with Chizuru Kurama.
Minato's team was amazed. A mission triggered by a Genin saving a teammate months ago? Fate was strange.
The atmosphere was light. Yohei, being his usual outgoing self, quickly befriended Minato's squad, showing them a different side of the Uchiha clan.
Minato and Yamaguchi watched approvingly. Team cohesion was vital.
Two days later, they reached the border.
"Beyond this is the Land of Hot Water. Stay alert. Focus only on the mission. We speed up from here," Yamaguchi instructed, staring pointedly at Yohei.
"Captain, you don't think I'm going to cause trouble, do you?" Yohei asked innocently.
Yamaguchi took a sip of water. "I know you will."
"Hahaha!" Everyone burst out laughing, especially Makoto Inuzuka. He laughed so hard the puppy on his head fell off and barked at him angrily.
---
Kumogakure (Cloud Village). Raikage's Office.
Danzo's report finally reached the Third Raikage.
"Karui, what is this?" The Raikage asked, doing one-armed curls with a massive custom dumbbell.
"It's a diplomatic note from Konoha and an investigation report regarding our... acquisition operations for Bloodline Limits."
"Oh?" The Raikage put down the weight and picked up the note.
As he read, veins popped on his forehead.
CRACK.
His fist smashed the desk into splinters.
"What is Konoha trying to do?! They kill my men and then threaten me? Demand I recall the pursuit team? In their dreams!" The Raikage roared, shaking the building.
Karui didn't blink. She calmly picked up the investigation report from the debris and handed it to him. "Raikage-sama, we might have to do exactly that. Unless you want to become the public enemy of the ninja world."
The Raikage snatched the report and read it.
Meanwhile, Karui signaled her subordinates. They efficiently swept away the broken desk and brought in a new one. It was a well-rehearsed routine.
Finished reading, the Raikage felt like his chest was going to explode. He wanted to smash something else.
"Raikage-sama, the village budget is tight. That was the eighth desk this month. Please consider the budget," Karui said flatly.
"Are Konoha's intel ninjas rats?! How do they know everything?!" The Raikage bellowed.
The report was too detailed. If Konoha released this to the other villages, Cloud would be isolated. No one would hire a village known for stealing clients' children. Reputation mattered.
"Send a reply to Konoha. Tell them we will cease the official pursuit of Sakumo Hatake. But if he dies by someone else's hand... that's not our problem," the Raikage decided decisively.
"Yes, sir."
"Also... wait a day before recalling our pursuit teams. They're far out; communication delays are expected," he added slyly. "And leak the info that Sakumo is heavily injured in the Land of Lightning. Let the vultures know. Maybe someone else will finish the job for us."
Karui looked at him, surprised by his cunning.
"Yes, sir."
Watching her leave, the Raikage grit his teeth. You kill my people in my land and think you can leave safely? Dream on.
Even if Sakumo survived the Raikage's initial strike, the bounty hunters and rogue ninjas would swarm him.
---
Border of Land of Hot Water and Land of Moon.
Taiichi and the joint team waited at the rendezvous point.
The scheduled time had passed two hours ago.
The relaxed atmosphere was gone. In the ninja world, tardiness usually meant death.
"Should we wait, or cross into the Land of Moon to search?" Yamaguchi asked.
Another hour passed. They couldn't wait any longer.
"We need to leave someone here just in case," Yamaguchi suggested.
But splitting their force was dangerous.
"I'll handle it," Minato said. He wove signs. "Summoning Jutsu!"
A small toad appeared.
"This is a messenger toad from Mount Myoboku. I'll leave it here to watch. Enemies won't notice a frog." Minato also handed the toad a special three-pronged kunai. "Hide this well."
Taiichi's eyes widened. Flying Raijin Kunai. Minato had already mastered it? This mission just got a lot safer.
"Let's go." Minato led them into the Land of Moon.
"Makoto, summon your partners. It's showtime," Minato ordered.
"You got it!" Makoto summoned three large ninken (ninja dogs).
"Makoto can communicate with his dogs over short distances. We'll split into pairs, one dog per team, and fan out," Minato proposed.
"Agreed."
Taiichi paired up with Makoto. Their guide was a small dog perched on Makoto's head—Kuromaru.