The next day, outside Konoha Village, Gekko Chizan and his teammates were already on the road to Takigakure.
"Hey, Suzaku, Shibi."
"This time going to Takigakure, are we really just scouting?"
"If it comes to a fight, I'll be the first one running."
Gekko Chizan looked at the two beside him and couldn't help teasing.
Nara Suzaku, a special jōnin from the Nara Clan—well, actually just a chūnin, but since he knew a secret technique and was from the Nara Clan, he carried the title of special jōnin.
Aburame Shibi, the future father of Aburame Shino from the Twelve Little Giants, also a special jōnin—hmph, still just a chūnin!
"You're even lazier than I am."
"This mission is to gather intel on Takigakure, but it's mostly symbolic. That village is extremely well-hidden."
"There's a massive waterfall, and even if we wanted to get in, it wouldn't be easy."
The Nara Clan, the "deer" in the Ino-Shika-Chō trio, Konoha's brains—every member was a highly intelligent, tactically-inclined genius.
"Suzaku's right. Takigakure is the only village outside the Five Great Nations to possess a tailed beast."
"Even though they didn't participate in the Second Great War, we still need to verify a few things."
Gekko Chizan already knew all that, but Takigakure had never established any ties with the outside world.
This visit was probably just a formality anyway.
But the Seven-Tails...
Chōmei, huh? Honestly, he was kind of curious...
He didn't know who the Jinchūriki was at this time. If the Seven-Tails was not still sealed, he wouldn't mind giving it a shot.
After all, every Jinchūriki was someone to aspire to.
Most importantly, among all the tailed beasts, only the Seven-Tails could fly!
Gekko Chizan admitted it—he was lacking a technique that could let him fly.
Takigakure lay to the northwest of Konoha, shrouded by a massive waterfall.
Its geographical position made it a natural stronghold, easy to defend and hard to attack.
After two days of travel, the trio stood in awe before the massive waterfall in the distance.
It was rare to see such a grand natural barrier.
"So this is the waterfall hiding Takigakure... Truly magnificent."
Nara Suzaku sighed in admiration.
Shibi and Chizan nodded in agreement.
"Chizan, we'll leave the rest to you."
"Mm, alright... Huh?? What do you mean? Why me?"
Gekko Chizan suddenly sensed bad intentions. Sure enough, when he focused, both Suzaku and Shibi wore expressions like they were waiting to be entertained.
"Chizan, your kekkei genkai is the most suitable for scouting. So once you get through the waterfall, the intel gathering is up to you."
"Takigakure doesn't allow strangers in."
"What we can do is create an opening for you."
Gekko Chizan was stunned. Damn it, they'd been planning this all along.
"This has to be that old Third Hokage's idea!"
"He's totally getting back at me! I caught him peeping last time—this is revenge!"
Furious, Gekko Chizan's first thought was of his Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
That old bastard was definitely out to get him.
At that same moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen, poring over documents, sneezed a dozen times in a row.
When he finally stopped, he muttered with an annoyed face, "It's gotta be that brat Gekko Chizan or Jiraiya cursing me again!"
"They exposed me last time while I was peeping! Hmph! Chizan, you little bastard, just shut up and do your mission!"
...
So yes, the people who know you best are always your fellow comrades.
Konoha's three great peeping kings were all too familiar with each other—just as Gekko Chizan knew Jiraiya and Sarutobi Hiruzen were ultra-pervs,
Sarutobi Hiruzen also knew Gekko Chizan was ultra-wimpy!
So he tailored a mission just for him—one where he had to jump into danger with both feet.
"Watch your mouth, Chizan."
"Alright, let's prep and begin the mission."
Gekko Chizan felt absolutely miserable. Why did he have to do the scouting!?
"Takigakure's shinobi must have set up some defenses around the waterfall."
"So I'll use Shadow Gathering Technique to trigger the defense mechanism. Once it's activated, you'll slip right in."
"Shibi's bugs will support from the sides. Chizan, we're counting on you."
Damn, they'd even figured out how to get him inside. These people—each one more cold-blooded than the last!
Without hesitation, Suzaku summoned a wild boar using Shadow Gathering Technique...
Seeing the struggling boar all tied up, Gekko Chizan was speechless.
Shibi extended his right hand, and a few bugs immediately landed on the boar.
"These bugs will help you get in."
"Go, Chizan. We'll cover you from the outside."
Looking at Suzaku and Shibi's earnest faces,
Gekko Chizan really wanted to say, "Thanks a lot—to your whole damn families."
Then he activated his kekkei genkai, Transparent Release, vanishing from sight.
But just as the other two were marveling at his skill, he cleverly left a message carved into a tree:
"Daddy's here."
That was his backup plan. If anything went wrong, he'd beat a fast retreat.
Wasn't the whole reason he learned Flying Thunder God Technique to make escaping easier!?
"Alright, control your pig and ram it into that waterfall!"
The words couldn't have been more apt.
But to Suzaku, there was something oddly sinister about the phrasing.
Still, since Gekko Chizan was invisible, he couldn't see his expression.
He just used his shadow to slowly drag the boar toward the waterfall.
As soon as the boar touched the waterfall, it was like a door suddenly opened inside it.
Four or five figures instantly appeared outside the waterfall.
"Hm? A boar?"
"How did a boar trigger the alarm?"
"Who knows. Whatever, it's still a boar—we'll roast it for dinner tonight."
The Takigakure shinobi looked at the lively boar and sighed.
None of them noticed a few tiny bugs slipping silently through the waterfall.
.
Inside Takigakure, atop a tree.
"So this is Takigakure..."
"Hey, Shibi, are you sure your bugs are reliable? Don't let them get spotted."
Gekko Chizan had already released Transparent Release—he was inside now, but before doing anything else, he needed to recover some Chakra.
Looking at the few little bugs before him, Chizan felt exasperated.
That said, Takigakure hidden inside the waterfall did look fairly developed.
Though compared to Konoha... yeah, still a bit behind.
Suddenly, Gekko Chizan's eyes caught something very peculiar.
He couldn't look away.
The corners of his mouth lifted as he muttered, "A hot spring bathhouse nestled in the waterfall, huh..."
"Seems like a prime spot for intel gathering..."
"This kind of place is definitely Jiraiya's favorite. But now, it's up to me!"
"If I don't go to hell, who will!"