Bidding farewell to Mito Uzumaki, Rinjin returned home with Rii by his side.
It was already noon, and Yako and her group were still busy.
Though they were all covered in dust and sweat, their faces bore smiles they couldn't suppress.
As members of the "Konoha Infinite Liability-Free Company," they hadn't even officially started working yet but were already enjoying its benefits.
Each of them had their own room in an antique mansion.
Although it wasn't much, it was already considered luxurious for them.
For those who had pledged to follow Big Sister Rii for life, this place felt no different from their own home.
After a brief greeting, Rinjin returned to his room.
The room wasn't too big or too small. Tatami mats covered the floor, and a single low table was the only piece of furniture.
Sitting cross-legged at the table, Rinjin took out a brush and began writing a letter.
It had been over six years since he left home—six years since he was seven, and now he was almost fourteen.
After a moment of thought, Rinjin dipped his brush in ink and began writing to "Dear Lord Hanzo."
Dear Lord Hanzo,
Time flies, and the years pass like a fleeting shadow. Before I knew it, I've been in Konoha for over six years.
During these six years, I have upheld the spirit of Amegakure, fully tapping into my potential and carrying out my undercover mission with great fervor.
Reality has proven that my efforts have borne fruit.
Not only have I brought back a wealth of intelligence for Amegakure, but I've also climbed the ranks within Konoha.
So, I just wanted to ask: when can I return?
You promised three years!
But now, three years have turned into six!
Do you know what I've been through these past six years?
I've been living in constant fear of my identity being exposed, every single moment filled with anxiety.
Lord Hanzo, I've already risen to the rank of Jonin in Konoha!
Now, I'm even tasked with protecting the three personal disciples of Hiruzen Sarutobi during missions!
Personal disciples! One of them might even become the Fourth Hokage!
If this continues, I'm afraid I'll end up in Konoha's higher ranks!
And then what? Will I ever be able to return to the village? Will I ever be able to marry? Mikiko is still waiting for me to marry her!
Moreover, the missions are getting harder and harder. I'm genuinely afraid I might not survive one day!
Lastly, Lord Hanzo, I'm completely out of operational funds.
The 10,000 ryō you send me every month is all spent on treating colleagues to meals and visiting Kabukicho for intelligence-gathering purposes.
Don't blame me—it's a necessary expense for the mission.
Please, send me more money. I can't even afford shuriken anymore!
Your loyal servant,
Kohei Iwai
Satisfied with his heartfelt words, Rinjin nodded approvingly at the letter.
Once the ink dried, he carefully folded the letter and tucked it into his ninja pouch.
He stood up, left home, and headed toward the Hokage's office.
Although Hiruzen Sarutobi had entrusted him with handling matters related to Hanzo of the Salamander, Rinjin knew exactly what to do and how far to go.
Without hesitation, he greeted the guards at the entrance.
"Hey, bro, do you know where the 'Mutt' is?"
The ANBU operative turned his head and stared at Rinjin for three seconds before responding in a deep voice, "First floor, the office next to the stairs."
"Thanks." Rinjin nodded politely and strolled into the Hokage building.
Arriving at the designated office, he found the door open. Peeking inside, he saw a compact room with a small desk.
Behind the desk sat Sakumo Hatake, maskless, engrossed in some paperwork.
Knocking lightly on the open door, Rinjin stepped into the room with a warm smile on his face.
"Yo~ Dog Bro, long time no see."
Sakumo, looking extremely busy, glanced up briefly before returning to his work.
"What do you need?" he asked hurriedly.
Without wasting any time, Rinjin pulled the letter from his ninja pouch and placed it on Sakumo's desk.
"Dog Bro, this is for Amegakure."
"The contact address for Amegakure's operatives has already been given to you. Deliver it yourself," Sakumo replied swiftly, not even lifting his head.
Hearing this, Rinjin nodded, picked up the letter, and waved it teasingly.
"You said it, so if anything goes wrong, it's on you~"
At this, Sakumo immediately looked up, his face darkened. After a long sigh, he relented.
"Fine, fine. Leave it here!
Honestly, you're always causing trouble for me!"
Hearing this, Rinjin couldn't help but laugh.
"Dog Bro, the way you just spoke and looked—it's exactly like Mirror's wife!"
Sakumo froze, his face instantly turning as dark as the bottom of a pot. He spoke through gritted teeth:
"Rinjin, do you have anything else to say?"
Seeing Sakumo's reaction, Rinjin quickly shrank back and chuckled awkwardly.
"Dog Bro, do you have a spare ANBU mask? Could you lend me one?
The one I bought last time was terrible—completely non-breathable. I nearly got a rash wearing it.
And the worst part? It smudged!
You wouldn't believe it, but last time..."
Before Rinjin could finish his rambling, Sakumo sighed in exasperation, pulled a brand-new spare mask from his drawer, and handed it to him.
"Take it... But stop calling me 'Dog Bro'! I'm now the Deputy Commander of the ANBU! Use my title from now on!"
Rinjin accepted the mask with a grin and nodded obediently.
"Sakumo... Dog Bro, heh~"
Before Sakumo could explode, Rinjin quickly darted out of the office.
Leisurely days passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was time for the mission.
Early in the morning, Rinjin arrived at the village gates, wearing his new mask and carrying a backpack.
There, he found Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade already waiting.
After exchanging brief greetings, the four set off.
Their destination was Uzushiogakure in the Land of Whirlpools, located in the southeastern part of the ninja world—a place Rinjin had never been.
The journey from Konoha to Uzushiogakure would take about three days at a ninja's pace.
The first day passed quickly.
At night, the group found a cave, set up traps, and lit a fire.
When conditions allowed, most ninjas preferred to have a fire during missions.
As night fell, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru sat around the fire, discussing mission details with a scroll in hand.
Meanwhile, Rinjin, uninterested in their conversation, volunteered to keep watch outside the cave.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's instructions had been clear: these three were on the path from Chunin to Jonin.
Rinjin's job wasn't to eliminate all dangers but to let them face challenges themselves.
At most, he would step in to save their lives in critical moments.
Yawning out of boredom, Rinjin pulled out a copy of The Tale of Genji and began reading lazily.
Back in the cave, Tsunade occasionally glanced outside.
"Jiraiya, don't you think Darabombah seems familiar?" she asked, frowning in confusion.
"Familiar? How?" Jiraiya replied absentmindedly.
"His scent. I feel like his scent is familiar somehow!" Tsunade said.
Jiraiya rolled his eyes. "What are you, a dog?"
The next second, a dainty fist smacked Jiraiya on the head, leaving a lump the size of a bun.
"You idiot, Tsunade! You always sneak attack me!"
"I'll punch you again if you keep talking nonsense!"
As Jiraiya nursed his injury, Orochimaru suddenly spoke up.
"I don't know if his scent is familiar, but Darabombah-san certainly hasn't made any effort to conceal it.
For a ninja, masking one's scent is essential.
Darabombah-san is either careless or... doesn't care at all."
Tsunade nodded in agreement.
Jiraiya, however, was unimpressed.
"What's the point of guessing? Let's just tie him up and take off his mask!" he suggested, grinning mischievously.
Without waiting for a response, Jiraiya crouched low and stealthily approached the cave entrance.
Orochimaru and Tsunade didn't stop him.
If it were someone they trusted, they might have intervened. But Darabombah was a mystery.
Besides, their upcoming mission was an A-rank, extremely dangerous one. Testing his strength wasn't a bad idea.
At least it would give them some peace of mind and reduce the risks during the mission.
Soon, Jiraiya was close enough to Rinjin, who remained leaning against the rock wall, half-asleep with his book.
Seizing the moment, Jiraiya silently formed a hand seal.
Ninja Art: Wild Lion's Mane Technique!
His white hair shot out like arrows, wrapping tightly around Rinjin.
Seeing his target caught without resistance, Jiraiya laughed triumphantly and stepped out of hiding.
"Let's see what you look like without that mask!"
He reached for Rinjin's mask, but just as his hand was about to touch it, there was a puff of smoke.
When it cleared, all that was left was a sturdy wooden log.
"A Substitution Jutsu?! When did he form the seal?!" Jiraiya exclaimed, startled, his hair retracting as he scanned his surroundings warily.
From the cave entrance, Orochimaru shouted, "Behind you!"
Trusting his comrade, Jiraiya began forming seals, but before he could complete them, a strange sensation from a certain area made him freeze.
Then came a loud voice:
"Konoha Taijutsu Secret Art: A Thousand Years of Death!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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