The next day, outside Konohagakure, Kazuyama Gekkō and his teammates had already set off for Takigakure.
"Hey, Suzaku, Shibi," Kazuyama called out, a teasing smirk on his face. "Are we really just going to scout Takigakure this time? If there's going to be a fight, I'll be the first to run."
Suzaku Nara, walking beside him, gave a lazy shrug. Despite being officially a Chūnin, his mastery of the Nara Clan's secret techniques had earned him the title of Special Jōnin. Beside him was Shibi Aburame, another Special Jōnin and father of the future Aburame Clan prodigy, Shino.
"You're even lazier than me," Suzaku quipped. "This mission is just to monitor Takigakure's movements—a formality. The place is so hidden it's hard for anyone to get in, let alone cause trouble."
Kazuyama chuckled, his eyes narrowing playfully. "A huge waterfall guarding the village? Sounds like a hassle."
Suzaku nodded. "Takigakure may not be one of the Five Great Villages, but it's the only one outside them with a Tailed Beast. Even though they didn't join the Second Shinobi World War, we need to confirm their status."
Kazuyama Gekkō, of course, knew all of this. Takigakure had always maintained a distant stance, never establishing formal diplomatic ties with the outside world. This visit was likely just a formality. However, the Seven-Tails...
Chōmei. To be honest, he couldn't help but feel a spark of interest. He had no idea who the current Jinchūriki of the Seven-Tails was. If it was still in a sealed state, he wouldn't mind making an attempt. After all, every Jinchūriki was an existence worth coveting.
The key, though, was that among all the Tailed Beasts, only the Seven-Tails had the ability to fly! And Kazuyama knew he lacked that particular skill.
Takigakure, situated to the northwest of Konohagakure, was nestled behind an enormous waterfall. The village's location was strategic, an easily defensible yet difficult-to-attack stronghold.
After a two-day journey, Kazuyama Gekkō, Suzaku Nara, and Shibi Aburame finally reached their destination. The sight of the massive waterfall took their breath away, its roaring cascade a natural marvel.
"That's the waterfall hiding Takigakure? Truly magnificent," Suzaku remarked with a rare tone of admiration.
Kazuyama and Shihori nodded in agreement, their gazes fixed on the imposing barrier of water.
"Kazuyama, I'll leave the rest to you," Suzaku declared abruptly.
"Uh, sure... Wait, what? Why me? What do you mean by 'leave it to me?'" Kazuyama asked, his suspicion growing as his expression turned wary. Something definitely felt off.
Suzaku and Shibi exchanged amused glances, both clearly enjoying the moment.
"Kazuyama, your Kekkei Genkai is perfect for exploration. After we pass through the waterfall, it'll be up to you to handle the scouting," Suzaku explained.
"Takigakure isn't going to let strangers wander in freely, The best we can do is create an opening for you."
Gekkō Kazuyama was stunned. Damn, they're actually turning this back on me.
"Did you bastards seriously get this idea from Old Man Third?!" Kazuyama fumed. "He's totally getting back at me! I caught him spying last time—it has to be him!"
Seething with anger, Kazuyama Gekkō immediately thought of his Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. That old bastard—he's definitely getting back at me.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen, busy reviewing a stack of documents, suddenly sneezed dozens of times in quick succession. When he finally managed to stop, he rubbed his nose and muttered in irritation, "It must be those two bastards—Kazuyama or Jiraiya—cursing me!"
Recalling a recent incident, his eyes narrowed. "You ratted me out last time I was peeping!" he huffed, shaking his head. "Hmph! You little brat, Kazuyama Gekkō—just focus on your mission!"
...
The people who know you best are often your like-minded comrades. This rang especially true for the three infamous peeping toms of Konohagakure. They understood each other well, just as Kazuyama knew that Jiraiya and Hiruzen were notoriously lecherous.
Hiruzen, in turn, fully recognized Kazuyama Gekkō as a pushover. That's why he assigned him a tailor-made mission—a risky reconnaissance task clearly designed to make him bear the brunt of the danger.
"Watch your words, Kazuyama."
Kazuyama groaned inwardly as they concluded, "Okay, get ready to start the mission."
Why was he always stuck with these tasks? A reconnaissance mission of all things! His frustration mounted as Suzaku laid out the plan.
"The Takigakure ninja will definitely be on guard near the waterfalls," Suzaku explained. "I'll use the Shadow Gathering Technique to trigger their defense mechanism. Once that's done, you can slip inside."
Shibi added, "My insects will assist from the side. Kazuyama, we're counting on you."
Kazuyama's mood soured further. They even had a detailed strategy in place! These people are really devious, he thought, watching Suzaku already demonstrating his Shadow Gathering Technique on a nearby wild boar. The boar thrashed helplessly as it was bound by shadowy tendrils.
Shibi extended his hand, and a swarm of insects descended onto the boar in an instant. "These insects will help you get in," he said matter-of-factly. "Go, Kazuyama, we'll meet you outside."
Looking at their earnest expressions, Kazuyama wanted to retort but found himself muttering internally, Thanks a lot, guys.
Resigned, he activated his Kekkei Genkai, Transparent Escape, vanishing from sight. However, while Suzaku and Shibi were marveling at his skill, Kazuyama quietly left a mark pinned to a tree: "Your father is here." It was his emergency backup plan, a distraction in case he needed a hasty retreat. After all, mastering the Flying Thunder God Technique had one purpose for him—escaping swiftly!
"Go on, control your pig and crash it into that waterfall!"
There was nothing inherently wrong with his words. Yet, to Suzaku, they always carried a faintly sinister undertone.
Kazuyama Gekkō had already concealed himself, disappearing from view, leaving Suzaku to handle the task alone. He focused on manipulating the shadow, inch by inch, to guide the wild boar toward the base of the waterfall.
The moment the boar made contact with the cascading water, the seemingly impenetrable wall parted briefly, revealing what appeared to be an entrance. For a fleeting moment, the veil of water gave way, and four or five figures stepped into view.
"Huh? A wild boar?" one of them muttered, surprised.
"Why would a wild boar trigger the alarm?" another questioned, confusion evident in their tone.
"Who knows? Never mind—it's still a pig. We'll just use it for dinner tonight," one ninja concluded with a hint of resignation.
The Takigakure shinobi eyed the animated boar with faint amusement, their expressions tinged with helplessness. None of them noticed the small insects that had silently slipped past them, vanishing into the waterfall's concealed depths.
...
Perched in a tree overlooking Takigakure, Kazuyama Gekkō scanned his surroundings.
"So, this is Takigakure…" he murmured, taking in the village's unique structure nestled amid the cascading waterfalls.
Beside him, Shibi's bugs buzzed faintly, prompting a skeptical glance. "Hey, Shibi, are these bugs reliable? Don't let anyone find out we're here," he added with a note of caution.
Kazuyama had already dispelled his Transparent Escape Technique, deciding it was unnecessary now that he'd entered the village. For the moment, he focused on conserving his chakra before making his next move.
As his gaze wandered over the village, he couldn't help but notice its surprising level of development. While it couldn't quite compare to Konohagakure, it wasn't as primitive as he had expected.
His eyes suddenly locked onto a curious sight, and he paused, intrigued. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he muttered, "A hot spring bath house nestled in the middle of a waterfall… Interesting."
Kazuyama's smirk widened as an idea took shape. "Seems like a good place to gather information. This kind of spot is definitely Jiraiya's favorite haunt. Guess it's my turn now."
With a wry chuckle, he added, "If I don't go to hell, who will?"