Northern Fire Country, an unnamed forest, an unnamed lake.
The water was clear as a flawless sapphire set into the earth. A slow breeze combed the surface into scales that threw back sharp light. Grass at the bank lay lush and green, wildflowers speckled the ground, birds and beasts and small things shared the space. Fish broke the skin now and then. It was all vigor and quiet harmony.
In the middle stood a jagged little island, lifting a dozen meters from the water. A blue parasol leaned open there, shading a lounge chair.
On it, Kageyama Kokugetsu wore a floral shirt, floral shorts, blue slippers, and sunglasses, a rod in his hands as he fished at ease.
To his left, a small table held chilled wine, fruit, soft drinks, and snacks.
To his right, another table bore a compact grill, a keen kitchen knife, sauces for searing and for sashimi.
Behind him stood a square camping tent big as a small room.
This was living. It would be better with a pretty girl for company.
He sipped wine, let a breath of cold drift from his lips, and smiled, content.
After a while he peeled off the shirt, dove, and ranged through the lake to his heart's content.
Two days later, after only token drills and mostly play, he packed up and left, wandering without aim in search of the next spot to enjoy.
He tried mountains, canyons, forests, fields, towns. When the elephant double's chakra ran low, he found a mission target and cast the jutsu again.
Six days after that, when his subordinates came looking, he showed his face and tied off the loose ends with ease.
He filed the report and, to his delight, received two days' leave. This time he put a bit more of it into training.
He returned to work without the slightest drag. Bright-eyed and full of energy, he drew silent respect from the squad.
No wonder he'd hit jōnin so young and was that strong. Even his work spirit was different.
Learn from the captain.
They were resting in the ready room when Division Captain Elephant arrived and sent Kokugetsu to the Hokage's office.
Let the mission not be too hard. I'd rather not go in person.
With that hope, Kokugetsu entered, bowed, and gave his greeting.
"Kokugetsu, Squad One's next mission is in the Land of Grass," said Sarutobi Hiruzen, grave. "You will investigate the leadership of Kusagakure, specifically their political leanings.
"Before the war, Grass leaned toward Konoha.
"The shift came with promises from Iwagakure, but there must be internal backers.
"If, once you have a clear picture, you are absolutely certain you can remove the hostile elements without leaving a trace that points to Konoha, do it.
"If not, bring the intelligence back. Root can act in stages."
A job that could be done or not done.
Then it would not be done. Ask why, and the answer was lack of absolute certainty that no threads would remain.
"Understood. I will act with care," Kokugetsu said.
"Go, and be cautious."
"Yes."
On the road he briefed his team and divided the work. Each would take a slice of Kusagakure's upper tier.
Power there was split—three parts with the village head and seven with the twelve zodiac-mask elders.
The head was strongest, but not forceful, easily swayed by others.
Intelligence work could not be rushed. Long stretches without progress were normal.
Troublesome tasks were not for him to handle personally. At a bandit den he picked a rogue shinobi for sacrifice and cast the Elephant Transformation.
After waving his tool on its way, he meant to stroll Kusagakure a bit, perhaps visit the Kannabi Bridge site.
At the door, he remembered there was someone in the village who could be of real use, and changed course.
Night fell like a curtain. The moon hung high, its light like gauze. Kusagakure in the deep hours was silent and mild.
Exhausted and nearly out of chakra after a day's toil, Uzumaki Koume stepped into a shabby hut that barely kept out wind and rain.
The door's old pivots rasped, but the hut stood in the far southwest corner of the village, out of the way, and no one would come to curse the noise.
She closed the door, crossed to a bed with a threadbare pillow and thin blanket, and sat, meaning to rest a moment before water, rice balls, and pickles.
"You're back at last. I've been waiting a long time."
The voice made her scalp prickle. She sprang up and looked to her side.
Light shifted. On the other corner of the bed, a figure in Konoha ANBU gear and mask eased into view—Kageyama Kokugetsu.
Her throat tightened on a scream that never left. Hands clasped at her chest, she spoke with care.
"Who are you?"
"You Uzumaki can't recognize Konoha's ANBU uniform anymore?"
Konoha.
Her heart jolted. "You have the wrong person, shinobi of Konoha. I'm not of the Uzumaki," she said softly, biting her lip.
When they fled, the clansmen who covered their escape told them to run anywhere but Konoha.
"There's no mistake. The hair, that red, the surging vitality, and what I've learned of your ability.
"Hair and life force can be explained away. That special healing is unique to the Uzumaki, and rare even among them.
"I don't know why you distrust an ally like Konoha, but I bear you no malice. If I did, you would already be bound.
"You have vast chakra and no way to use it. No defense. Reduced to a blood bag. It's a sorrow.
"As a Konoha shinobi, I won't watch an ally fall to this.
"The red spiral on our uniforms was not stitched there for nothing—at least not to me."
Some of her guard eased, but she still shook her head.
"So there was more to Uzushio's fall."
"Know this—you need not be afraid. In Konoha you have a patron, and a hard one.
"Uzumaki Kushina, the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki. She has begun to master the fox.
"She is wife to the Yellow Flash, Namikaze Minato, who is the prized pupil of Jiraiya of the Sannin.
"Most important, Minato is very likely to become the Fourth Hokage.
"You are Kushina's only kin. What do you have to fear?
"You could walk wider in Konoha than I can as a jōnin.
"And unless I misread, you carry a new life. You can feel it too.
"Stay in Grass, and do you want your child to live as you have?
"Whose child is it?"
Koume's resolve tipped.
All else was secondary. If there was a way, her child would not live that inhuman life.
"The only man in the village who was kind to me. He died in the war."
"I'll go with you."
"But answer me this—did you risk sneaking into Kusagakure only for what you just said, or is there another reason?" Koume lifted her head and squeezed out the courage to ask.
"If there isn't, or you don't wish to say, forget it."
Her courage drained away the next instant.
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