On the vast ocean, fierce winds whipped up dark clouds. Waves crashed against the hulls of the Hidden Mist fleet like crazed beasts, sending up massive sprays of white foam. The mountain-like mass of dark warships swayed wildly with the rolling waves like a bunch of drunks, tilting back and forth as if they might capsize at any moment.
At this moment, on the deck of the flagship Tiger Shark at the very front of the fleet, Goji Yagura stood firm at the bow, holding a telescope and carefully observing the waters ahead. His feet were planted on the deck like nails, completely unaffected by the wind and waves.
Suddenly, Goji Yagura lowered his telescope and spoke to a nearby ninja:
"Signal the fleet. All warships drop anchor immediately and form standby formation."
The ninja received the order and shouted at the top of his lungs:
"Drop anchor! Form standby formation!"
The signal officer in the rigging heard the command and immediately began flag signals. Soon, the fleet's ships slowly furled their sails and began changing formation.
It had to be said that Hidden Mist Village possessed the strongest "navy" in the entire ninja world (after Tobirama Senju's death). Their ship-handling skills were truly first-rate. Despite the raging waves, the large and small warships completed their formation change in no time, arranging themselves in a sophisticated circular formation. Supply ships occupied the center, surrounded by escort vessels, with the tall main warships forming the outer ring. Countless ninja leaped between decks carrying thick iron cables, and soon the ships were connected by a spider web of cables. The swaying sensation immediately improved considerably.
Seeing the warships gradually stabilize, Goji Yagura nodded with satisfaction and prepared to return to his cabin to rest.
Just then, a figure came stumbling over—it was Jiraiya from Konoha.
"Mizukage-sama! Mizukage-sama! Whoa!"
The ship suddenly lurched, and Jiraiya nearly fell.
By all rights, Jiraiya was a well-traveled ninja with extensive experience, but he rarely went to sea. When he'd come to Hidden Mist Village, the journey had been smooth sailing, so he hadn't thought much of the ocean. But this expedition taught him what truly rough seas meant.
The motion nearly shook him apart—he was ready to vomit bile.
Are we not sailing the same ocean?
His roommate Momochi Zabuza told him: "You're right—we really aren't."
"When you came, you took the commercial shipping route. Those waters are calm with gentle breezes, naturally not so rough."
"Then why aren't we taking that route this time?"
Momochi Zabuza looked at Jiraiya like he was an idiot.
"Sir, we're going to war, not conducting business. Of course we take the shortest route. Besides, commercial routes are full of merchant ships. If word leaked out, wouldn't this whole operation be wasted?"
Jiraiya thought about it and found the logic sound, so he endured it patiently.
Daytime was manageable, but nights were torture. Just when he'd finally fall asleep matching the rhythm of the waves, a large wave would hit like a strong man kicking him hard in the kidneys, immediately throwing him from his bed.
This was no way to live.
Momochi Zabuza was also awakened and offered gentle comfort:
"Sir, that's just how it is at sea. You'll get used to it gradually."
Jiraiya rubbed his aching back.
"Hey, how do you manage to sleep?"
"I tie myself to the bed."
So with the help of rope, Jiraiya finally managed a few restless nights of "good sleep."
The next day, as Momochi Zabuza untied Jiraiya's ropes, he told him:
"Please bear with it. This journey is about seven days total. Today is already the fourth day. In two more days we'll reach relatively calm waters, and it won't be so rough."
From that day forward, Jiraiya prayed daily for that moment to arrive.
Finally, after what felt like years of torment, that day was about to come. The winds and waves grew even more violent. Momochi Zabuza said this was "the darkness before dawn"—once they passed this stretch, it would be smooth sailing.
Just as Jiraiya gritted his teeth, preparing to endure the final stretch aboard the wave-cutting warship, the Mizukage ordered: "Stop engines and drop anchor!"
Jiraiya couldn't take it anymore. He rushed over to argue with Goji Yagura, his emotions too agitated and his footing unsteady on the lurching deck—he nearly stumbled.
Then a cold voice rang out:
"Jiraiya, why are you still wearing wooden clogs on the ship? Aren't you afraid of falling into the sea?"
Jiraiya scrambled to his feet and called out loudly:
"Mizukage-sama, why stop and drop anchor! This..."
Before he could finish, several blades were pressed against Jiraiya's throat. Jiraiya turned pale with fright. He could see that the weapons at his neck included not only Suikazan Fuguki'sSamehada, but also Kurosuki Raiga'sKiba, and even Momochi Zabuza'sKubikiribōchō.
This was followed by angry shouts:
"How dare you!"
"Insolent!"
"Seeking death!"
Jiraiya looked completely innocent and confused.
What did I do to piss you all off so much that you want to kill me?
"Enough. He's a Konoha ninja who doesn't understand ship rules. Release him."
Goji Yagura said coldly with a stern face:
"Jiraiya, this is your only warning. There won't be a next time."
With that, he turned and returned to his cabin.
...
"What did I do wrong..."
Back in the cabin, Jiraiya began complaining, but was silenced by Momochi Zabuza's knife-sharp glare.
"Why are you making such a fuss! Do you know that if the Mizukage had just said the word, you'd be dead?"
"Huh?!"
Jiraiya looked completely bewildered.
Zabuza sighed:
"I should have told you—the rules at sea are different from on land. As long as you're on a ship, no one can question the captain's orders. The ship captain's word is law, it's divine decree. Violators can be executed!"
"So if he told you to eat shit, you'd eat it too?"
Jiraiya was somewhat disdainful of such mindless rules. But Zabuza said very seriously:
"If the captain gave such an order, I'd eat the hottest pile."
Jiraiya was shocked. Zabuza didn't look like he was joking at all.
"I just wanted to ask why we're stopping in this godforsaken place."
Zabuza shook his head:
"Can't you figure out something so simple?"
"What do you mean?"
Jiraiya was puzzled.
Zabuza pointed at the sky:
"Based on wind speed, our fleet might reach the designated location half a day early."
"Isn't that good?"
"It is good. That way, we'd arrive at the destination tomorrow afternoon."
"So what's wrong with... Oh! I understand. The Mizukage wants to launch the attack at night."
"You're not completely stupid."
"Then why stop in this awful place? Couldn't we find calmer waters?"
Jiraiya asked.
Zabuza smiled:
"First, if we reached calm waters, the wind speed would change and we'd have to recalculate timing and speed. We might not get it right. I bet there's a whole group on the flagship calculating right now."
"Oh, I see."
Jiraiya looked enlightened.
"Second, once we leave this area, we'll be in Sand Village's sphere of influence. What if there are patrol boats or summoning beasts? Wouldn't that expose us? Don't we need to be extra careful?"
"Makes sense, makes sense."
Jiraiya nodded while swaying with the ship's motion.
Just then, a loud shout came from outside the cabin:
"Orders from the Mizukage! Release the cables! Weigh anchor! Full speed ahead!"
Jiraiya was instantly moved to tears.
Finally made it through.
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