At sunset, a carriage rumbled along a mountain road, flanked by dense woods.
Orochimaru, clad in a fresh kimono, drove the carriage. Tatsumi couldn't help but speculate: Is Orochimaru a kimono fanatic? Why else is he always draped in them?
His mind spiraled into absurd analysis. Ninjas rarely wore kimonos—maybe Orochimaru's single status stemmed from a lack of kimono-clad women in Konoha. Did he turn himself female in some twisted experiment to wear them himself?
Tatsumi shivered. The theory felt disturbingly plausible.
Beside him, Mikoto sat quietly, her gaze fixed on Tatsumi with her usual calm intensity.
At the back, Nawaki, with his yellow hair and goofy grin, fumbled with a handful of gold bars. Compared to the others, his plain looks dragged down the carriage's average attractiveness.
He counted the bars repeatedly, oblivious to blocking everyone's view, then stuffed them into his underwear with a satisfied smirk. "Finally heading back to Konoha!" he crowed.
His excitement drew smiles from the group. Tatsumi stretched comfortably across the carriage.
After resting one night in Rogue Town, they'd begun the journey home. Unlike their rushed outbound trip, they traveled leisurely by carriage, nursing various injuries.
Konoha would send ninjas to secure Rogue Town. That was no longer their concern.
"You've all worked hard," Orochimaru said, his faint smile softening as Rogue Town faded behind them.
The mission, spanning nearly a week, had kept Orochimaru on edge, constantly guarding the three students. Now, his taut expression eased.
"Back in Konoha, I'm buying a hundred comic books—different genres, all about career women!" Nawaki rubbed his hands, eyes gleaming. Wealthy at last, he dreamed of love-action manga.
His secret stash from past years had been sold off cheap by his sister, Tsunade.
"Nawaki," Tatsumi said, "didn't Tsunade-sensei set a condition before the mission?"
"Forgot that ages ago!" Nawaki waved dismissively.
"She said seventy percent of your mission pay goes to her," Tatsumi reminded him. "For 'safekeeping,' to support your future."
"I'm nine!" Nawaki wailed. "What future? She'll blow it all in one night!"
Tatsumi shrugged. He wasn't thrilled either—Tsunade claimed twenty percent of his cut. With her gambling debts, no sum was too small. Gambling was a curse.
Orochimaru's brow furrowed suddenly, sensing a summons.
"What's wrong, Sensei?" Tatsumi asked, catching the shift.
"Konoha's sent word," Orochimaru said. He bit his thumb, formed seals, and slammed his hand on the carriage. "Summoning Jutsu!"
A small red snake materialized, spitting out a slimy scroll.
Tatsumi's stomach churned. His recent nausea wasn't his fault—Orochimaru's gross habits were to blame.
Orochimaru grabbed the scroll, wiping it on Nawaki's backpack before unrolling it.
Nawaki gaped. "…"
That backpack cost a fortune in the Hot Springs Country, he thought, mourning the postage.
Orochimaru scanned the intel. The letter from the cellar, previously sent to Konoha, ordered Rogue Town's leader to move the looted wealth to a small gold mine on the Fire-Rain Country border. It was signed by Sansho Hanzo.
Tatsumi was skeptical. Secret letters were destroyed after reading—why leave one in a cellar? And a gold mine on Fire Country soil? Hanzo, powerful as he was, wouldn't dare provoke Konoha, the strongest of the Five Nations, especially with tensions brewing toward a Second Ninja War.
Hanzo stirring trouble in the Grass Country was one thing—Konoha might tolerate it. But encroaching on Fire Country land? Madness, unless he was baiting a trap.
Was the ninja truly from Rain? Was the letter genuine?
Tatsumi suspected a ruse, but as a mere student, he had no say. Konoha's leaders—not him, despite the Third Hokage's "future successors" rhetoric—would decide. He was just a "salted fish," not even cannon fodder. These were problems for Konoha's elite.
Orochimaru tucked the letter away, silent.
Tatsumi, Mikoto, and Nawaki knew better than to pry. Ninja regulations forbade asking about classified intel. As students under a jonin leader, they weren't privy to such details. Orochimaru would share if he deemed it necessary. If not, they didn't deserve to know.
Tatsumi rolled onto his back, finding a cozy spot. The carriage's gentle sway lulled him toward sleep. Love this rocking vibe.
Orochimaru's golden eyes flicked to him. "Speaking of, Tatsumi, is your injury really okay?"
The chest wound from Scarman's kunai was still healing. Despite the pain, Tatsumi looked unfazed.
He grinned, waving his right hand. "Men don't admit weakness! This scratch is nothing."
"Good," Orochimaru said, nodding with approval.
Tatsumi blinked, unnerved. Sudden concern from Orochimaru? That's not his style.
The carriage trundled on, approaching a crossroad. A right turn would lead straight to Konoha.
As they neared, Orochimaru veered left.
"…"
Tatsumi hesitated, then spoke. "Sensei, did you take a wrong turn? We're getting farther from Konoha."
"No mistake," Orochimaru said. "Konoha's assigned us a new mission—to investigate that gold mine."
"But I'm injured!" Tatsumi protested.
"I just asked about your wound," Orochimaru replied coolly. "I was ready to skip this if you couldn't handle it. But you said you're fine."
"My chest—it hurts, Sensei!" Tatsumi clutched dramatically.
Orochimaru smirked. "No worries. Tsunade's team is nearby. We'll join them for a joint mission. She can patch you up."
"She's got that slug healing jutsu," he added. "Very… refreshing. Want to try it?"
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