After Minatos Squad entered the Land of Rain, a new problem appeared before them.
How should they find Nagato? How should they find the Rinnegan?
Jiraiya told Minato that Nagato possessed the Rinnegan and was within the borders of the Land of Rain.
Other than that, Jiraiya didn't give Minato any more information.
First, Jiraiya didn't have much time then; second, after so many years, Jiraiya had almost forgotten Nagato's trio.
The mission for Minatos Squad was a last-minute decision by the Third Hokage.
After all these years, what had Nagato become? Where was he making his fortune? Was he dead? Had the Rinnegan been gouged out?
These were all factors Minatos Squad had to consider and the scope they had to investigate.
Minato stroked his chin in analysis and then made a decision: "Let's first inquire about the situation in the Land of Rain! I'll be in one group alone, while Kakashi, Rin, and Kurenai will be in another group. Kakashi will be the captain."
"Yes!"
Minatos Squad was divided into two teams: Minato alone, and Kakashi, Rin, and Kurenai as a trio.
However, before the mission began, Minato gave Kakashi his Flying Thunder God Kunai and also secretly left a Contact Toad to follow them.
If they encountered any situation, they could signal Minato at any time, and he could arrive instantly.
After all, this was an S-rank mission with the risk of encountering Madara at any moment; Minato naturally couldn't leave Kakashi and the other two unsupervised.
After Minato left, Kakashi, Rin, and Kurenai went to the place in town with the most middle-aged women to gather information.
Rin felt that if Kurenai had been grouped with Minato, she would have been able to go on a private date with Kakashi.
This cold environment with light rain falling was perfect for a date, for their hearts to connect.
Rin looked at Kakashi's profile; his features had the unique handsome elegance of a youth, and his hair tips were slightly upturned, carrying a bit of a Ninja's sharpness.
The current Kakashi was like a sharpened sword, unlike his previous state of looking completely drained because Obito had died in battle.
Rin's face turned red as she watched; it was truly wonderful that Obito wasn't dead, and Kakashi had regained his energy. Life would only get better.
Kurenai, watching Rin's lovestruck expression from behind, sighed, feeling like a total third wheel.
Then she thought of Ryou and clenched her fist.
Ryou, consider yourself lucky to have died so easily, otherwise I, Kurenai, would definitely have given you a taste of my medicine.
The three of them hid their headbands and entered a tavern in the town.
The environment inside the tavern was different from the cold outside; it was quite lively.
Various wine bottles and glasses were placed on the bar, and patrons sat before it, chatting casually with the busy owner.
The owner skillfully prepared dishes while responding with a smile.
The Land of Rain was known as the country that was always crying, caught between the Three Great Nations and manipulated at will.
But the people still remained hopeful, believing that Lord Hanzou would lead Amegakure to protect them.
Kakashi led Rin and Kurenai to sit at the bar, quietly listening to the conversation of a group of rogue Ninjas.
"I heard a young man joined the Akatsuki. He has Medical Ninjutsu comparable to Princess Tsunade. As long as someone still has a breath left, he can bring them back to life."
"That amazing? Is it true?"
"Of course it's true. That Medical Ninja also has a sort of monstrous strength."
"Some rogue Ninjas went to cause trouble, and he shattered a boulder the size of a house with one punch. He scared the life out of quite a few people."
"Everyone says he received Princess Tsunade's true teachings, which is why he has such superb Medical Ninjutsu."
"Because he saves people and has extraordinary Ninjutsu, Lord Hanzou bestowed upon him the name Yakuganra."
"Yakugan refers to an exquisite small cabinet for storing spiritual medicine, indicating his high medical skills."
"And 'ra' refers to Garuda, implying powerful strength."
"The title Yakuganra means this person has superb medical skills and extraordinary strength."
Kakashi repeated the name in his mind and continued to listen intently.
"I heard Lord Hanzou has already offered a high price to hire Lord Yakuganra. As long as Lord Yakuganra joins Amegakure, he'll be the number two figure."
"Lord Hanzou is that eager for talent?!"
"Of course. This is Medical Ninjutsu on the same level as Princess Tsunade, after all. Even the great Ninja villages would fight tooth and nail for him."
"But Lord Yakuganra refused. He said his goal is to bring order to the world. He joined the Akatsuki to end the wars in this world along with them."
"A heart of a Bodhisattva, a true saint!"
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go. After we finish this drink, we'll join the Akatsuki. If we go late, there won't be any spots left."
After the group of rogue Ninjas ate and drank their fill and left, Kakashi, Rin, and Kurenai looked at each other, all seeing the disbelief in each other's eyes.
"Someone's Medical Ninjutsu could be comparable to Lady Tsunade, and they have monstrous strength that can shatter mountains and rocks?"
"Why don't people from small places just say Hanzou is the Sage of Six Paths? They aren't even afraid of blowing their own horns until the sky cracks."
Kurenai said, "Kakashi, should we follow them? I always feel like those rogue Ninjas are bragging."
People from great Ninja villages look down on those from small Ninja villages, and people from small Ninja villages despise rogue Ninjas even more.
One link after another, there was a pecking order among Ninjas.
Kakashi said, "Regardless of whether they are bragging, this Yakuganra who appeared out of thin air is definitely not simple."
"And wasn't Lady Tsunade captured by Uchiha Madara? I suspect Yakuganra's whereabouts are related to Lady Tsunade's."
"Anyway, let's follow them and see!"
Rin and Kurenai looked at each other. Kakashi had a point. Although their mission was Nagato's Rinnegan, Lady Tsunade was also very important.
Since it was information outside of the mission, Kakashi and the other two didn't report to Minato; they followed the rogue Ninjas, wanting to go to the Akatsuki's base.
On the way, they had inquired clearly: the Akatsuki was an organization that aimed to break the shackles of the great nations and achieve peace in the Ninja World through non-violent means.
Such a peaceful organization shouldn't be too dangerous.
Kakashi and the other two closely followed the rogue Ninjas until nightfall, chasing them for dozens of miles through several small towns until they reached a brothel.
The Scarlet Pub.
"Forget it, it's late today. Let's blow off some steam first, and tomorrow we'll find a way to join the Akatsuki!"
"Makes sense. I heard Lord Yakuganra has visited this nightclub before. Let's go in and look later; maybe we'll run into him."
"Let's go, let's go, it's my treat. Let's all hunker down for the winter!"
"⊙﹏⊙."
Kakashi and the other two stared blankly at the rogue Ninjas as they entered the adult bar with their arms around each other's shoulders and lecherous smiles.
"A bunch of trash, truly useless."
No wonder rogue Ninjas were at the bottom of the Ninja World. How could you expect anything from guys who couldn't even keep the Three Prohibitions of Shinobi?
Kakashi no longer had any expectations for these people. They had made them chase so far that they were now hungry.
Rin looked at the scantily clad Courtesans in front of the scarlet pub with a red face and quickly shifted her gaze to Kakashi: "Kakashi, what should we do now?"
Kakashi said, "Let's find a place to fill our stomachs first, then regroup with Minato-sensei!"
Rin and Kurenai nodded.
A courtesan from the scarlet pub spotted the heroic-looking Kakashi, approached, and grabbed his arm: "Oh my, what a handsome young man. Big sister hasn't tasted a little snack like this in a long time."
"Do you want to come in and let big sister teach you how to be an adult? Don't worry, with your handsome face, big sister won't charge you; I might even pay you."
So good! Then why not hurry in and become an adult?
Kakashi's face instantly turned beet red, and he thought of The Romantic Hunter in his ninja tool pouch!
Kakashi was still a novice who had just come into contact with adult novels; he couldn't even last one round against this kind of top-tier succubus.
Truly embarrassing.
Rin quickly pulled Kakashi over and scolded the courtesan from the scarlet pub: "Get lost! Our Kakashi would never like someone like you."
"Kakashi, let's go!"
The courtesan wasn't angry either and smiled, winking at Kakashi: "Handsome, remember to come back tonight without your girlfriend!"
Rin complained while pulling Kakashi's hand: "Kakashi, you must never go to such shady places, okay?"
Kakashi nodded repeatedly, and just as he was about to leave with Rin and Kurenai, he heard a commotion from the scarlet pub.
"Oh! Lord Yakuganra can still walk out after taking on ten at once. As expected of a great figure whom even Lord Hanzou would treat with such respect."
"Little Chizuru, next time let all the girls from your Scarlet Pub come at me together; I will surely cut you all down."
Kakashi and the other two immediately froze, because this was Ryou's voice!