"Ao- Aoba-nii..." Yamashiro Rinne's voice was anxious.
Yamashiro Aoba tried hard to adjust his expression before saying, "This matter is not small; you shouldn't know about it. I will inform Lord Hokage when I get back, and this person must also be taken back."
As he spoke, he took out ropes and firmly tied up the Otogakure Ninja, also wrapping gauze around their mouth.
The severity of the situation made Yamashiro Rinne and Kato Megumi even more worried.
To divert attention, Natsuki seized the opportunity to reprimand them: "You two, it's fine to be in love, but don't get so carried away that you don't even know you're being followed."
"Your little affair, Aoba-sensei and I saw it long ago, so why hide it?"
"As punishment, after we go back, all the D-Rank missions we take will be done by you!"
"...Boss, we understand."
The two hung their heads, feeling both shy and annoyed. Besides obediently accepting the punishment, they didn't dare say anything else.
Yamashiro Aoba nodded at Natsuki, clearly approving of his approach. Natsuki didn't ask further questions, nor did he intend for Runya and Megumi to ask more, as this matter truly shouldn't be known by Genin.
However, for safety's sake, it was better for the four of them not to separate for the time being.
"Just make do in my room tonight. Early tomorrow morning, we'll immediately rush back to the Village at full speed!" Yamashiro Aoba's eyes showed urgency.
"Aoba-sensei, my Summoning Animal is a Mountain Giant Eagle. It can carry seven people and flies extremely fast. How about we ride the Giant Eagle back to the Village tomorrow?"
Natsuki was actually also worried that Orochimaru might be in the Fire Country Capital, so returning to the Village as soon as possible was best.
Although his current strength allowed him to exchange a few moves with Orochimaru, and with Yamashiro Aoba cooperating, they might not be without a chance of winning, they were outside the Village without support. Furthermore, Yamashiro Rinne and Kato Megumi, the two youngsters, were not strong, and the risk of encountering an S-Rank rogue Ninja was simply too great.
It was best not to encounter them if possible, and Yamashiro Aoba clearly had the same thought.
As for the Mountain Giant Eagle Summoning Animal, a bounty for it had been posted at the Exchange Shop even before Tenten graduated. Someone had indeed sent a contract scroll for a Mountain Giant Eagle Summoning Animal. Natsuki and Tenten had both signed the scroll and even summoned the Giant Eagle to communicate with it, they just hadn't dared to fly around in the Village.
As expected, contracting a Summoning Animal like the Giant Eagle back then was indeed farsighted. Now was the time to use this convenient mode of transportation!
As for who obtained the contract scroll, Natsuki had reason to suspect Kakuzu, because the bounty Tenten offered at the Exchange Shop was quite high. Even Kakuzu, with his five hearts, would be tempted.
"A Mountain Giant Eagle Summoning Animal?"
"Alright, I'll count on you tomorrow!"
Yamashiro Aoba didn't object. He had to rush back to the Village as quickly as possible to inform Lord Hokage of the memories he had read.
Soon it was the next morning. After checking out, the group immediately left the city.
Just outside the city, Natsuki bit his thumb, quickly formed hand signs, and then slammed his palm on the ground: "Summoning Technique!"
Bang! An incredibly tall Giant Eagle suddenly appeared. The overwhelming sense of pressure made everyone's breathing hitch, and the dust stirred up by its flapping wings made it difficult for a few people to breathe.
The Otogakure Ninja had just woken up and fainted again upon seeing this.
Screech! The Giant Eagle let out a long cry, which counted as greeting Natsuki.
Although the Giant Eagle was big, it couldn't speak. Unless someone had a contract with it, it was very difficult to understand its meaning.
Natsuki leaped directly onto the eagle's back: "Badora, take us back to Konoha."
Badora was the name Natsuki gave it. Seeing the eagle's majestic appearance and learning that it could breathe fire, he subconsciously thought of Birdramon from Digimon and thus came up with this name.
Fortunately, the Giant Eagle wasn't dissatisfied; it was even a little happy because it had a name.
Seeing this, Yamashiro Aoba and the other two also carried the Otogakure Ninja and followed. Only when they landed on the eagle's back did they feel more clearly how enormous the Giant Eagle was.
If they weren't considering the flight weight, a few more people could fit on the eagle's back.
Whoosh! Badora flapped its wings and soared towards the sky. The people on the eagle's back instantly had their hairstyles messed up by the wind.
But it had to be said, the Giant Eagle was truly fast. In just two or three hours, the outline of Konoha appeared below. Natsuki quickly had the Giant Eagle land about a kilometer outside the Village.
The Giant Eagle was simply too big; if it landed too close to the Village, it might be attacked.
Only after getting off the eagle's back did Yamashiro Aoba let out a sigh of relief: "Alright, quickly follow me back to the Village. After that, you can disband on your own. Rest for a day tomorrow, and I will notify you if anything comes up."
Natsuki also waved at Badora: "Badora, you can go back now. Next time, I'll have Tenten prepare some delicious beef for you."
Badora let out another long cry and disappeared with a 'bang'.
Team Nine didn't dare to delay and sped up their return to the Village.
Just as they reached the main gate, the two gate guards were busy asking: "Aoba, you're back so quickly?"
"That Giant Eagle just now was..."
Yamashiro Aoba left behind a sentence: "I will report to Lord Hokage. Natsuki, you all register your return to the Village."
Then, carrying the Otogakure Ninja, he disappeared.
The two gate guards looked at Natsuki and the other two, but Natsuki didn't speak, just told them to register, and then Team Nine disbanded and went back to their respective homes.
Inside the Hokage Office.
Yamashiro Aoba placed the Otogakure Ninja on the ground and spoke with a hint of urgency: "...After we arrived at the Fire Country Capital, Yamashiro Rinne and Kato Megumi were tracked by this person while they were out shopping. Fortunately, Natsuki discovered it in time and captured this person."
"I used Mind Reading to extract this person's memories and found that he is indeed from Otogakure, and the founder of Otogakure is Orochimaru!"
"What?! Orochimaru!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly stood up. "I wondered why this Otogakure was so mysterious. Is it actually a Ninja Village founded by Orochimaru?"
For a moment, this aging Third Hokage hesitated. Perhaps he couldn't figure out Orochimaru's purpose, but he instinctively felt that Orochimaru was planning something.
The Land of Rice Fields where Otogakure was founded is located in the bordering area north of the Fire Country.
Furthermore, the sudden tracking of Konoha Ninjas by an Otogakure Ninja this time might have some purpose.
"Aoba, why was this person tracking our Konoha Ninjas?" Sarutobi Hiruzen hurriedly asked.
"In his memories, it's because Orochimaru is planning some action against Konoha and needs to investigate the situation of Konoha Ninjas. This person was assigned to lie low in the Fire Country Capital. Yesterday, he discovered that I brought Team Nine into the city, so he decided to follow and observe."
"However, he seems to be acting alone and doesn't appear to have any accomplices," Yamashiro Aoba said with a serious expression.
"Action? What action?"
"It's unclear! This person's memory doesn't contain that information; he obviously doesn't know!"
It was precisely because he didn't know that Yamashiro Aoba was eager to return and report.
Orochimaru was once One of the Sannin of Konoha and understood Konoha intimately. If he was going to target the Village, then the Village would be too dangerous, so preparations must be made in advance!