After dinner, Gekko Chizan stood in the courtyard, eyes closed, feeling the even more humid air around him.
"What's wrong? You went out this afternoon and came back like this."
Pakura slowly walked out from the house and came to stand beside Gekko Chizan.
With his lover at his side, Gekko Chizan opened his eyes, his gaze heavy. He was still trying to figure out where the Three-Tails had gone.
Could it be that the Three-Tails was still being used by Black Zetsu and Uchiha Second-Generation Madara for something?
He couldn't figure it out. Not at all.
But soon he had another thought — since he couldn't make sense of it, then he simply wouldn't think about it.
"It's nothing. I was just wandering around this afternoon. You know me, I can't sit still."
"Where are Kakashi and the others?"
Because he was preoccupied, Gekko Chizan hadn't arranged anything for Kakashi and the other two kids.
As a teacher, Gekko Chizan really hadn't learned the proper skills. Or rather, one could say that the disciples reflected their teacher.
Look at how Orochimaru treated him — that's exactly how he treated his own disciples.
Including Yugito and the others, those kids had plenty to say about this.
"They all went to train. I taught them a few methods for using chakra."
"They're practicing now."
Gekko Chizan nodded and looked at his lover with gentle eyes.
Honestly, ever since Pakura became a teacher, she really did look more and more like one — unlike him.
"Pakura, go get some rest. I'm planning to head out again."
"But don't worry. I won't do anything crazy."
Pakura knew Gekko Chizan definitely had something in mind. With his ability, he wouldn't run into danger even if he went out, so she agreed.
Receiving her approval, Gekko Chizan grinned, but he didn't head out directly.
Instead, he formed an shadow clone, and once it appeared, it walked to the edge of the house, acting as a guard.
"I'll leave a clone behind. It'll keep you safe."
"Although I don't think Kirigakure will try to harm us, it's better to be safe."
Right after that, Gekko Chizan pressed his hands together, and a different energy wave rose through his entire body.
Sage Mode. With his current strength, entering Sage Mode was smooth and natural. Serpent Coil Technique activated at the same time.
Three-colored light faintly shimmered — the aura of the three Snake Goddesses appeared on him.
A moment later, Gekko Chizan's figure slowly vanished from the courtyard.
...
"Chizan, didn't we tell you not to summon us in the middle of the night? Tell us, what's going on?"
"Seriously, I was having such a nice dream."
"Alright, you two — who doesn't know you stay up for an entire year once you start? Tch."
Gekko Chizan shook his head, showing a helpless expression.
The three Snake Goddesses knew him well. Once summoned, one went invisible, one flew, and one started sensing.
Every time he summoned them, they talked this much.
"I'm begging you three, can you not scold me every single time you appear?"
"We're not on home ground. This is Kirigakure. I need your help."
Hearing his tone, the three Snake Goddesses immediately stopped talking and waited for him to assign the mission.
"Help me find someone. Hmm… she's young, about the same age as my disciple Kakashi."
"She's a girl. As for her strength… I can't say for sure."
When they heard this, the three Snake Goddesses all showed a rather inappropriate smile.
This really made Gekko Chizan feel awkward.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"What do you think?"
The three Snake Goddesses smiled lewdly, because they thought his intentions were lewd.
A girl. A young girl. Tch-tch. Coming to Kirigakure to look for one?
Honestly, Gekko Chizan's actions were a little suspicious.
"Hey hey hey, what are you imagining?"
"Cut it out. Stop overthinking and hurry up and find her."
This was Gekko Chizan's second objective. He had been building his own group for a long time — after all, the enemies in the future wouldn't be something he could face alone.
"Chizan, that's too vague."
"Do you have more specific features? That way we can find her faster."
"The environment here is humid, and honestly, I don't like it."
Tagorihime looked at the surrounding mist and frowned. Even though she was a serpent and loved dark, damp places, Kirigakure's mist was different from the cold dampness of underground caverns — it carried a suffocating deadness that annoyed her.
Even after reaching the level of a Snake Goddess, she preferred places rich in spiritual energy.
Gekko Chizan recalled for a moment, then said:
"Hmm…"
"Bright green eyes, reddish-brown hair."
"Her age is just like I said — about the same as my disciple Kakashi."
"Nothing else."
"Oh, right. If you sense her chakra, her strength should be pretty good."
Yes — the person Gekko Chizan wanted to find was Terumi Mei.
The future Fifth Mizukage of Kirigakure, wielder of the two kekkei genkai: Lava Release and Boil Release.
Someone who stood at the top through pure strength.
And one of the important people he intended to steal away.
Terumi Mei was around Kakashi's age. At this stage, she had not yet grown strong — the perfect time to abduct her.
With her general appearance and characteristics, the three Snake Goddesses simultaneously activated Sage Art sensory techniques.
"Right — help me sense if there are any Uchiha in Kirigakure."
Hearing his words, the Snake Goddesses didn't ask further — they had all heard from Gekko Chizan about Uchiha Madara.
The sensory search began. Gekko Chizan floated above Kirigakure. With their help, he could relax a little.
Using his insect vision to observe the village below.
After a long while, Ichikishimahime spoke first:
"Chizan, I think I found the girl you mentioned — but the place she's in…"
"How to put it… it's a little strange."
Gekko Chizan was confused.
"There's a strong smell of blood around her."
"And her aura is weak."
The smell of blood? A weak aura?
Gekko Chizan suddenly remembered — Kirigakure was still the Village of the Bloody Mist at this time.
This was widely known.
Children were raised with killing-based education. To graduate, students even had to kill their own classmates with their own hands.
Judging from the current timeline, the Bloody Mist era was in full swing. It seemed that Terumi Mei was also one of the victims.
But Gekko Chizan wasn't worried about her. Her strength was reliable — even now, when she was still young.
Well, not that young. She was the same age as Kakashi, after all. Tch-tch. A rare female powerhouse.