As what seems like a stroke of luck, we were able to escape and evacuate out of that HQ without much trouble. We are now traveling with almost a thousand people with almost 30% of them are civilians.
On our 3rd day of traveling, Ao and Neko went back to our group to tell us that the destination that we are about to go is safe and secured. That is why we doubled our efforts and travel twice as fast as we are going.
After 3 days' worth of travel, we were able to arrive at our new base without a hitch.
Everyone then moved and fixed the base to their own satisfaction and me, Neko, and our squad settled in on 1 of the abandoned bases near the center of the city, were Terumi's new office is currently placed.
After a few days of fixing the base and erecting barriers and defense system, Neko and I then went to Mei to finalize the things that we need to do for our mission.
"Good day Mei San." Neko and I said.
"Welcome Wolf, Neko, come in please, and sit down." She said.
We then went in the office where Chojuro is also present at Mei's back.
"I know that you came here to finalize the content of the mission that you need to do for us and to know the truth why I sent the mission to Konoha and not at the other Hidden Villages." She said while both Neko and I nodded at her.
"The reason I sent the request to Konoha is that I was grasping for my final straw. I know that Konoha is one of the Uzumaki Clan's strongest allies back then and I thought that if anyone would likely accept my request as a living branch member of the Uzumaki Clan, it would be Konoha." She said while Neko was shocked by what she said while I remained my composure.
"Yes, the Terumi Clan is a branch family of the Uzumaki Clan. Our ancestors were once an Uzumaki that left Uzugakure to form their own clan. Our Ancestors left the clan because they were not that great with seals even though they are Uzumaki. Our first ancestor's children were the one who gained the Lava Release and Boil Release, that is why when he created his own clan, he was able to pass down the Clans Kekkei Genkai." She said.
"The content of the mission that I sent to Konoha is to help us with our endeavor in defeating Yagura out of his position. The reason that your Anbu team was selected for this mission is that among my people, only Ao, and 12 of our Ninjas are the only ones that are trained and proficient in stealth and covert operations ." She continued.
"So, our job here is to scout, gather intel, and do other covert jobs?" Neko asked.
"To be precise, yes Neko san. After you arrived, the 13 people that I have for this kind of job has grown from a 13 man squad to a 21 man squad. You will conduct covert missions and assassinations of corrupt individuals that are funding Yagura's rein and his Kekkei Genkai Extermination. We also want you and the others to assassinate the ones that are carrying this job throughout the entire Land of Water, in order for us to gain the other Kekkei Genkai clans support. While you are doing this, we'll be able to move much more easily and we will be able to push back and defeat Yagura." She said.
"So you want us to do assassination and intel gathering? That will be easier since that is what we're good at." Neko said.
"Yes, but be careful, the enemies that you're going to observe and assassinate are not your average Ninjas. Most of them are strong and cunning, some of them are even protected by Yagura's secret forces." Mei said while the two of us nodded.
We then left her office after we finished discussing our job.
"Dogface!" someone yelled when we were walking on our way back to our barracks.
I then glance at the person that yelled the simple insult and saw none other than Tayuya.
"Yow, Strawberry-Chan, what can I do for you?" I asked.
"Stop calling me that Dogface! My name is Tayuya for f*cksake." She said.
"Well, Wolf is my codename, not Dogface. So I'll continue calling you Strawberry-Chan or Berry-chan for the time being until you call me by my codename." I said.
"Why you….." She said but sighed after.
"Well, what is it that you want from me Berry-Chan?" I asked.
"Sigh, I wanted to ask you to ….. eat lunch with me if ... if you want to." She said while her voice grows softer and softer until she was whispering her words.
"Sure, why not? Neko-san, I'll eat with Berry-Chan here. Can you tell my squad to not wait for me for lunch." I said.
"Sure Wolf, take care." Neko said while she vanished into a whirl of leaves.
"Well, let's go. Lead the way Berry-Chan." I said.
"Stop calling me Berry-Chan, you half face!" She said while changing my nickname, making me laugh.
"Hahahaha, that was a good one Carrot-Head." I said earning her glare and non-stop complaints.
We then walked for a few minutes while exchanging harmless insults at each other until we reached a Ramen shop where we can eat.
"So you also like Ramen?" I asked.
"Yes, it's like the food of the Demon-Gods!" Tayuya said while giving a wide grin.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA" I laughed at her words since I remembered a certain Uzumaki that appears to be related to this redhead.
"What's so funny you Teme Old-haired Dog Face. Are you mocking Ramen!" She said furiously.
"No, no, you just remind me of my friend from Konoha that seems to be related to you since both you and Mei are part Uzumaki. He also loves ramen and he always tells everyone that Ramen is the food for gods." I explained.
"You know an Uzumaki from Konoha? What does he look like? Is he well? Does he also have red hair?" She asked question after question.
"Stop asking questions after questions. I won't be able to answer you if you don't stop talking. Yes, I know an Uzumaki back home, he looks like a goofy fox with whisker birthmarks, he's fine (as fine as my family and friends can provide him), he doesn't have your usual Uzumaki Red hair though." I answered as simple as I can tell her.
While waiting for our order, she asked what it looks like in Konoha and other questions that surprised me at first since she's asking what's outside the Land of Water most of the time. Maybe it's because most of her life, she lives here in the Land of Water and she wasn't able to travel outside their Land because of the Civil War.
"Here's your order." The chef said.
Tayuya was eager to eat her Ramen, but for a reason, she was eyeing me intensely.
I then reached for my mask so I can eat my Ramen, but someone entered the Ramen shop loudly.
"BOSS!!!! I WANT 30 MISO RAMEN FOR TAKEOUT!" Stranger said, making Tayuya jump from her sit and glare at the man.
She then immediately looked at me again, but I was already finished eating my ramen.
Tayuya's eyes are bulging out from her face, then it turned into blind fury.
She then beat the stranger up into oblivion, and I took this chance to eat as many ramen as I can.
After a few minutes of watching Tayuya eating Ramen one after another while talking with me. I was surprised that even though she still calls me different names and occasionally shouts curses, she seems to radiate warmth and affection.
After we finished eating we then paid for our meal and Tayuya went out of the restaurant fast telling me to keep up.
But before I can even leave the shop, I was stopped by the chef which was the owner of the shop and gave me a bowl of ramen for takeout.
"Here young man, this is on the house." He said.
"No, it's okay sir." I answered.
"I insist young man. That was the first time I saw Tayuya-chan that happy for a long time now. Accept this as a token of gratitude for being her friend young man." He said.
I reluctantly accepted the Ramen from him since Tayuya was already shouting outside that I'm being too slow.
"Thank you Sir." I said.
"No need to call me Sir, just call me Akira. Sawada Akira."
"You can call me Wolf, Akira-Jiji. See you later." I said while he also reciprocated the goodbye.
"What took you so long, Dogface! AAAAHHHHHHHH, why didn't you told me you were going to order a take out! I should have also done the same. That's unfair you know." She said while pouting her lips making me smile underneath my Mask.
'Even though I'm outside my home Village, away from my family and friends, I can't help to be happy from gaining new bonds even in this kind of place.' I thought while watching her cute pout.
"Here, you can have it." I said with an eye smile.
"Nani? Are you sure Wolf?" She said.
"See, you finally called me Wolf, Tayuya-Chan. Yes, you can have it since you showed me around the base and even introduced me to a wonderful Ramen shop." I said.
"Stop calling me Chan, Dogface! Thank you." She said while she accepted the Ramen and whispered her thanks.
"Come on. You still haven't shown me the other half of the whole base." I said.
"Hn!" She replied with a smile on her face.
We then walked around the village to resume our free time as the sun is shining brightly in the blue sky, giving warmth and hope to everyone it graces with its presence.