"Kazuyama, where are you going?"
"What do you think? To Kusagakure. Those bastards dared to spread rumors about me—they're going to face my punishment!"
After leaving Takigakure, Kazuyama Gekkō didn't hesitate to have Chōmei start supplying chakra. Even though the Land of Waterfalls wasn't far from the Land of Grass, he was already used to treating Chōmei like a portable power bank. For long-distance travel, Chōmei's power was simply more convenient.
"Oho, the perverted lunatic from Konoha is on the move."
"So, how exactly are you planning to take revenge?"
Chōmei's teasing tone immediately put Kazuyama in a foul mood.
"Chōmei, that's going too far. If I'm a perverted lunatic, then half the credit goes to you."
"Don't forget, we're a duo. I'm a pervert, I'm a lunatic—you can't escape that either."
"From now on, you'll be known as the brother of a lunatic and the brother of a pervert. What will the other Tailed Beasts think of you?"
"If Shukaku ever gets revived and hears about this, he'll laugh you to death."
"I don't care. I'm not afraid. After all, this is just Tailed Beast banter."
That made Chōmei pause—how could he forget how utterly shameless Kazuyama was?
After so many years together, he knew exactly what kind of person Kazuyama was.
The man was the definition of "shameless is invincible." Sure, he was angry now because someone had spread false rumors about him, but if word really got out, he'd get used to it soon enough.
After all, he knew what he had done.
Unfortunately, Kazuyama underestimated Chōmei's resolve.
"Hmph, Kazuyama, who are you looking down on?"
"I learned from the best. Face? What's that? Don't need it!"
"Go ahead—let's see who can hurt who more. I'm not afraid."
"Besides, how many Tailed Beasts are there? Including me, just nine. We're scattered across the world and barely meet once in decades. Why should I care?"
It's true what they say—you pick up the habits of the people you spend time with. Chōmei knew full well that once you throw away your pride, your combat strength shoots up.
The man and the insect locked eyes for a few silent moments before bursting into laughter, pointing at each other.
"Hahaha! Good brother! You're rotten!"
"Hehehe! Learned from you!"
Then the two of them broke into a shared, thoroughly shady laugh.
"Alright, let's get this done. After that, whoever wants to gossip can go ahead."
"Exactly! But Kazuyama, you've got to keep my meals coming. Things have been a little bland lately."
Since things had calmed down, most ninja had returned to their villages. The Aburame Clan's settlement was getting more crowded, but they were keeping fewer insects, which meant Chōmei's food supply was running low.
"Relax. I've already figured out where they're breeding their bugs. Once I deal with Kusagakure and Iwagakure, I'll get you a feast."
"Good brother. Truly my good brother."
When they arrived at Kusagakure, Kazuyama noticed the whole place seemed to be under martial law.
Using Flying Thunder God, he teleported straight to his student—and found her lying on a tree branch in broad daylight, sleeping.
"Damn it, Yugito! What the hell are you doing?!"
"Sleeping! In broad daylight!"
His fist was already swinging down, but Yugito suddenly snapped her eyes open and dodged in a way no normal human could—like a snake having a seizure, jerking and twisting unnaturally.
Kazuyama froze—not because she dodged him, but because her posture was so bizarre.
"Hey! You idiot sensei, don't you know scaring someone can kill them?"
"And don't you know cats sleep twelve to sixteen hours a day?"
"I was up all night working! What's wrong with sleeping during the day?"
Kazuyama had no comeback for that.
After all, Yugito was the Jinchūriki of the Two-Tails, and the Two-Tails was a Nekomata—a giant cat.
Her Taijutsu was all claw strikes, her ninjutsu revolved around mice… yeah, cat chasing mouse—it tracked.
"You've got a point, but don't sleep just yet."
"What's going on in Kusagakure? Why the lockdown?"
He almost let her distract him into talking about whether she was a cat. The village was the real concern.
At the mention of Kusagakure, Yugito's eyes lit up with gossip.
"I know! I heard they lost someone—a woman."
"How's that for intelligence gathering?"
Kazuyama resisted the urge to smack her into the ground so hard no one could dig her out.
The whole village was locked down—anyone could guess something had happened. And this was her big intel?
Sigh… he had no one to blame but himself for assigning her this task. Like frying beans with a kerosene lamp—asking for trouble.
"Alright, go back to sleep."
"You're not even curious? Ugh, forget it. I'm going back to my nap."
She shot him an annoyed glare before strolling off to find a better spot—clearly this one had bad feng shui, since her sensei had ruined her dream.
Watching her go, Kazuyama could only shake his head. Too much trouble.
"So the big fuss in Kusagakure is because Tomotsuki vanished, huh?"
"Figures. A member of the Uzumaki Clan with a rare awakened ability disappearing—no wonder they're on edge."
"That means it'll be harder for me to stir up trouble."
Floating above the village, he eyed the lockdown below.
A flash of red light flared from his body, and the red serpent Tagitsuhime flicked her tongue.
"Come on. Martial law won't stop you. With invisibility and flight, even the other four great ninja villages can't do a thing to you. How's a little place like Kusagakure supposed to?"
"But I can tell you're itching for action."
Kazuyama chuckled. Ever since becoming a father, his focus had been on his wife and child. It had been too long since he'd done what he did best.
Kusagakure might be small, but it was perfect for getting back into the groove.
"Tsk tsk… that smile's pure evil. I almost feel sorry for the folks down there."
"I'll rest here. If you need me, say the word."
With a look of disdain, Tagitsuhime vanished from sight. Thanks to their Coiling Serpent Technique link, she didn't need to stay visible.
"Chōmei, start refining all kinds of powders."
"Got it!"
If they were going to stir up trouble, they needed supplies—and for Kazuyama, that meant plenty of powder. A travel essential.
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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