Naruto: Amongst the Whirling Tides Chapter 13

Hi all,

Here’s the next chapter. There will be another Naruto chapter tomorrow to make up for last week, then it’s back to the regular schedule.

Chapter 13

“How long before the ship arrives?” Inoichi Yamanaki asked.

The Jonin gathered in Jiraiya's office to discuss the appearance of the Hidden Mist ship. Naruto was among them. Some of them questioned Jiraiya's decision to invite Naruto to join them, but the old man remained steadfast. Although Naruto was unsure why he had been included, he didn't mind. He was curious to learn how they would handle the impending intrusion on their island.

"Two hours," Jiraiya said, his expression unusually serious. "The ship is moving swiftly, indicating that it's likely being reinforced with some kind of jutsu."

"Are they fleeing from something?" Hiashi inquired. "Considering the current turmoil that the nation is facing, it is a logical inference."

"It's too early to say," Jiraiya sighed, leaning back in his seat. "There could be several reasons. The worst-case scenario is that they are shinobi carrying out a mission for the Fourth Mizukage. But I can't understand why they would be interested in a desolate island."

"Do you think they might be searching for the secrets left behind by the Uzumaki Clan?" Naruto suggested. "You mentioned that many scavengers have come to the island before, hoping to uncover remnants of the demolished village."

Jiraiya considered that idea for a moment. "To the best of my knowledge, no one else has set foot on the island in quite a few years. It's been such a long time since Uzushio was destroyed that most people have given up hope of discovering anything here. Moreover, the presence of the mist surrounding the island makes it particularly challenging to reach the island.”

Jiraiya unfurled a scroll and laid it on the desk, revealing a map of the island. Although lacking in specific details, it had the dimensions of the island and a handful of notable landmarks.

"We need to operate under the assumption that they know a way onto the island," Jiraiya stated, his finger tracing several locations on the map, all situated along the coastline. "There are five potential locations where they can safely make landfall, including the sea cave we used to arrive here. Once the ship approaches the island, my spies will no longer be able to provide updates on its movements due to the mist. It is important that we cover all five locations to ensure we are fully prepared for their arrival."

"Considering the circumstances, the Hyuga clan would be the most advantageous choice," Hiashi stated. "I suggest that we form four separate teams to secure the remaining locations. Furthermore, it is necessary for our primary force to remain here and safeguard our encampment, as there is a possibility that the ship may utilise the sea cave for arrival."

The other Jonin nodded in agreement with the plan. Being able to observe the intruder’s movements from a distance was important, as they needed to determine their intentions without being seen themselves.

"The teams will need offensive capabilities," Guy said. "In case we are seen and have to engage the enemy. Ah, how exciting! I've been itching for a fight to get the blood pumping."

Naruto regarded the green-suited Jonin with disbelief, as though questioning his sanity. Engaging in a battle with an enemy force was the very last thing they needed at that particular moment. Even if they managed to emerge victorious, it could potentially attract attention and alert others to their presence on the island.

Anko appeared to share the same thoughts and had no hesitation in expressing them.

"Guy, do you have a few screws loose?" Anko asked. "We don't even know how many people are onboard the ship. How many shinobi are there? And what are their capabilities?"

"You will have to be careful and ensure that you are not seen," Shikaku advised, appearing to already formulate a plan. "I propose that each of the four teams be composed of four shinobi. The teams should consist of one jonin, two chunin, and one genin. Following Hiashi’s suggestion, at least one of them has to be a Hyuga.”

"Is it not dangerous to send Genin on such a crucial mission?" Choza asked with evident anxiety.

"You're underestimating them," Jiraiya countered. "Consider Naruto, for instance. His current strength is such that he's more than capable of beating some normal Jonin. He even managed to defeat Fu, a Jonin who worked under Danzo. If Naruto was back in Konoha he would have likely been promoted to Chunin by now. Then there's Shikamaru. If it weren't for the changes brought about by Danzo's ascension to Hokage, he would have certainly earned his Chunin rank already."

“We have no choice,” Shikaku nodded in agreement. “We need to keep enough shinobi here to secure this position. I will also devise an evacuation plan in case our encampment is breached.”

"I will choose the teams and give them thirty minutes to prepare before the mission commences," Jiraiya said, then shifted his attention towards Naruto. "I want you to be a part of one of those teams."

"Sure," Naruto shrugged. "Do you have any idea where the ship will land based on their approach?"

"That's an excellent question," Shikaku responded. "If we approach it logically, we should be able to predict their landing point with a reasonable amount of certainty."

“Ultimately, it doesn’t matter,” Jiraiya said. "I will send a toad with each team so that you can relay the ship's location to me. If necessary, I can have the other teams swiftly converge on your position to provide assistance. Additionally, once we have assessed the situation, I will join you to assist you with the confrontation."

"I'm going to get ready," Naruto informed them before leaving the tent.

After Jiraiya watched him leave, he soon became aware that his subordinates were scrutinising him closely. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Why did you invite him to join the meeting?" Hiashi asked bluntly. "Based on what I've observed, it seems like you're preparing him for a leadership role."

"I've noticed the same thing," Shikaku commented. He looked at Jiraiya with a curious expression. "Do you have something to share with us, Jiraiya?"

"Did you notice anything, Anko?" Guy leaned closer and whispered to her. "I didn't notice anything."

Anko rolled her eyes. "Obviously, you didn't think of it, muscle-brain. It's clear that you have just one thing on your mind, leaving little space for anything else."

"I can't hide it from you, as expected," Jiraiya admitted. "The truth is, I have every intention of grooming Naruto to assume leadership of this village in the future, in whatever capacity that may be."

"What is your reasoning?" Hiashi did not appear to accept his plan.

“First of all,” Jiraiya held up a finger. “Naruto's connection to this village runs deep, in ways I can't fully explain right now. Additionally, despite his youth, he possesses a remarkable level of wisdom and insight. He possesses a remarkable talent for deeply understanding people and getting the best out of them. That sort of ability is crucial in a leadership role.”

Hiashi looked sceptical. "You are merely jesting, I presume. The young boy demonstrates a complete lack of manners and consistently disrespects those in positions of authority. It is important that he acquires some tact."

"I don't believe it's true," Choza replied. "Although his approach may be misguided, he consistently brings about a positive impact on the people he encounters. Your nephew is a prime example of this."

"Not too long ago, he suggested that I should remarry and that Miss Mitarashi was the perfect candidate,” Hiashi replied. “I fail to see how that would be of any assistance to me."

"What?" Anko shouted. "Just wait until I get my hands on that little brat."

Anko stormed out of the tent while Hiashi, the typically reserved Hyuga clan leader, wore a small smile on his face. This unexpected act of retaliation took Jiraiya by surprise, as he had never seen Hiashi behave in such a way.

"We can set aside the Naruto discussion for now and concentrate on forming the teams," Jiraiya said.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Naruto nearly missed the teams' announcement, thanks to Anko, whom he had to pacify before she harmed him. He had a suspicion that his punishment had only been postponed due to the pressing nature of the mission at hand.

“The members of Team Three are Hiashi Hyuga, Hana Inuzuka, Taira Natsuko, and Naruto Uzumaki.”

Naruto winced at the thought of being stuck with Hiashi. The mission was going to be a nightmare. He had never met the other two before, so he didn't have any particular opinion about them. Hopefully, Hana would prove to be different from her brother.

The shinobi assembled in their designated teams. Naruto noticed that Shikamaru, Tenten, and Neji were the fellow genin selected for the mission. It was likely the most suitable choice from the current pool of genin. Lee still hadn't fully recuperated to join active duty, and Sakura was still developing her skills. He also considered Hinata as a viable option, but there were already an adequate number of Hyuga clan members among the teams.

"Allow us to introduce ourselves before proceeding," Hiashi declared. "I am Hiashi Hyuga, the leader of the Hyuga clan. My expertise lies in the realm of Taijutsu, and I possess exceptional tracking skills due to my Byakugan. For this mission, I will be assuming the role of team leader."

"You are the clan leader in this village at best,” Naruto joked. “The Hyuga back in Konoha might have a thing or two to say about being the leader of the main clan."

Hiashi stared at him in annoyance.

“Hello, teammates,” Naruto added hurriedly. “My name is Naruto Uzumaki. With me on your team, you have nothing to worry about. Believe it!”

“What are you good at?” Taira asked.

"I primarily focus on offence," Naruto explained. "I specialise in Taijutsu and Ninjutsu. Additionally, I am skilled in tracking and stealth missions due to my ability to summon shadow clones. Oh, and I possess the contract for the toad summon, which is why Jiraiya didn't provide us with a toad to communicate with him."

“So, you are the boy Kiba keeps complaining about?” Hana asked.

Hana Inuzuka bore a striking resemblance to her brother, sporting identical clan markings on her face. She opted for a simple attire, donning black shorts and a green vest, which suited the animalistic fighting style of the Inuzuka clan. What particularly caught Naruto's attention, however, were the three Ninten sitting at her feet. While he had limited knowledge of the clan, possessing three Ninten seemed rather remarkable.

"He tried to assert his dominance over me," Naruto replied. "Then he became upset and refused to accept that I wouldn't accept his unreasonable demands."

"I apologise for my brother," Hana sighed. "He still has a lot of growing up to do. Anyway, let me introduce myself. I'm Hana Inuzuka. I specialise in offence by using my clan techniques along with my three ninken, who are known as the Haimaru brothers. Additionally, I can function as a medic-nin, although my expertise lies more in veterinary medicine. My ninken are also skilled trackers."

The three ninken barked in response.

Naruto nodded and turned his attention to his final teammate. Taira appeared quite ordinary, possessing blonde hair, and blue eyes, and donning a regular chunin outfit. Her last name hinted at a civilian upbringing, unlike many others in their village. Naruto wondered how she had come to join their group, given the secrecy of their defection.

"My name is Taira Natsuko," she introduced herself. "I have expertise in stealth and espionage, employing genjutsu and poisons as my preferred methods for subduing opponents. I can also hold my own in taijutsu combat when necessary. You may be wondering how I ended up joining this village. The simple reason is that I am good friends with Anko. When she extended an invitation, I agreed to accompany her. I don’t have that many ties to the village, so it wasn’t a hard decision to make."

“Hopefully, you are not as sadistic as Anko,” Naruto muttered, causing the woman to smirk.

"Let's begin the mission," Hiashi stated, presenting a small map for them to peruse. "Our destination is the eastern coast of the island. It is most likely that the ship is likely to arrive in a small cove located there. Navigating this area is challenging due to the numerous rocks submerged just beneath the water's surface. It can be done, but it won't be easy."

“Where will we set up our surveillance?” Hana asked.

"Here," Hiashi said, pointing to a small grove of trees located to the west of the cove. "It is within the range of my vision, so it will allow me to observe the individuals on the ship once it arrives at the shore."

“The other teams are moving out,” Naruto said.

“Then let’s get going,” Hiashi replied.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Team Three journeyed eastward, navigating through the remnants of the village and venturing into the desolate land that lay beyond. Hiashi was in the front of the formation, as he would see danger coming before anyone else. Hana was bringing up the rear with her three Ninken, and Naruto was positioned on the right flank. He had summoned a few Shadow Clones that surrounded the formation, providing additional protection.

After arriving at their destination, they had to wait to see if the ship chose their location to disembark. Hiashi continuously scanned the horizon, his Byakugan allowing him to see through the dense fog enveloping the island. Since only a small portion of the sea was visible to the rest of the group, they had to rely on Hiashi to find the ship.

After an hour, Hiashi raised his hand to indicate that he had noticed something.

“I have caught sight of the ship,” Hiashi informed them. “Naruto, relay the message to Jiraiya.”

Naruto nodded. He bit his thumb and swiftly executed the hand signs to perform the summoning jutsu. In an instant, Gamakichi materialised before him amidst a billowing cloud of smoke.

"Yo," Gamakich raised a foreleg in greeting. "How are things going, Naruto?"

“Not bad,” Naruto replied. “I need you to send Jiraiya a message through the toads. Tell him—”

"Wait," Hiashi interrupted, "an unexpected event has transpired. Please refrain from sending the message for the moment."

"What's wrong?" Taira inquired, joining Hiashi by his side and gazing out at the sea.

“Don’t look at the sea,” Hiashi commanded, pointing with his finger. “Focus on the outcropping of rocks near the shoreline.”

The rest of the group followed the direction indicated and quickly realized what Hiashi had spotted. Figures were emerging from the ground, but their current position prevented them from seeing the entrance due to their line of sight.

“No way,” Naruto exclaimed. "Are there already more people on the island? Who was the team responsible for scouting this area? How could they have missed it?"

“It doesn’t matter at the moment,” Hana said. “What are we going to do about it?”

“How long until the ship reaches the shore?” Tairi asked.

"It will take about ten minutes," Hiashi explained. "The ship is approaching slowly due to the dangers of the cove. If they aren't careful, their ship could sink."

Naruto counted the people who had emerged from the ground. "There are only six of them. Should we attack them now?"

Hiashi furrowed his brow as he pondered the suggestion, then shook his head. "We can't be sure if there are more shinobi hidden underground. For the time being, inform Jiraiya that we've encountered some unforeseen difficulties."

“I got the gist of it,” Gamakichi said, saluting them. “I will see you later.”

Gamakichi disappeared with a pop.

"We need to take action," Naruto urged. "Let's gather some intelligence about the people below. Taira, you're our stealth expert. Can you approach them discreetly and find out if there are additional people present, beyond what we can currently see?"

"I can do that," Taira said, her gaze shifting to Hiashi as she waited for his confirmation as the leader in charge.

"Very well," Hiashi stated. "Exercise caution and ensure that you avoid detection. Once you have verified their numbers, please come back immediately."

"Hai," Tiara replied, quickly disappearing from view as she darted through the trees.

“Maybe I should send some clones after her,” Naruto suggested.

"While they may have their uses, remember that they only mirror your own abilities,” Hiashi said. “Unless you possess exceptional stealth skills, relying on them will ultimately expose our presence."

Naruto shrugged. He couldn’t disagree with that assessment.

They waited in tense anticipation for a few minutes, until the sound of a bird call reached their ears. It was a signal from Taira, indicating her return. She soon appeared before them and began speaking to Hiashi.

"There's no one else here except for the group of six people waiting on the shore," she informed him. "I explored the cave they came out of and discovered a small encampment, but there was no one else present. I believe they are an advanced party that surveyed the area before the main group arrived."

"Are they shinobi?" Hiashi calmly inquired.

“I believe so,” Taira replied. “They were unusually alert, and I found some ninja tools amongst their belongings.”

"Shall we capture them?" Naruto proposed. "By taking their comrades hostage, we can gain an advantage over the new arrivals. We should be able to defeat half a dozen of them without much difficulty."

"We are unaware of their strength," Hiashi asserted. "Nevertheless, it is not a bad strategy. What are your thoughts on the matter, Miss Inuzuka? Miss Natsuko?"

"I say we go for it," Hana declared firmly. "With our own allies on their way, even if we encounter any difficulties, we should be able to handle them."

"I feel the same," Taira agreed. "However, if we're going to go through with it, we should act quickly. The ship will be arriving soon, so we're running out of time."

“Then let’s take thirty seconds to decide on a strategy before we leave,” Hiashi said.

After a brief discussion on their plan to neutralise the shinobi, they left the grove of trees and headed towards the intruders' location. They maintained a low profile, utilising the terrain to conceal their presence. Upon getting closer, they took cover behind a boulder and carefully observed their targets.

"The individuals present lack any distinguishing attire that would indicate their status as shinobi from Kirigakure,” Hiashi noted. “However, it is evident that they are waiting for something, and the ship is the only thing coming. Are all of you prepared?"

The other three individuals nodded in agreement, and Hiashi motioned for them to start. Naruto's heart raced with anticipation as he joined the others in sprinting towards the shinobi on the shore. It had been determined that Naruto would face a single opponent, while the remaining three would confront the other five. Though it mildly bothered him, Naruto recognised that he held the lowest rank among the group, even though he believed he wasn’t the weakest. Their objective was to disable the enemy, as killing them would serve no purpose.

The opponents noticed them just as they were twenty feet from their position, prompting an immediate reaction. One of the shinobi swiftly executed three hand signs, causing the area to be instantly enveloped in a dense layer of mist.

“Dammit,” Naruto cursed. “Not this jutsu again.”

Why hadn't he taken the time to learn this jutsu? Water release was one of his main affinities, and even though it was a D-rank jutsu, it was really useful. However, he couldn't dwell on that now - he needed to concentrate on the mission at hand.

His field of vision had narrowed, allowing him to only see three feet ahead. Though his teammates were nowhere in sight, he couldn't dwell on that now. He quickly summoned five shadow clones and arranged them tightly around him. Then, he called forth his chains and extended them in both directions. Perhaps, with any luck, an enemy shinobi would stumble into one of them.

Naruto moved forward cautiously. Their strategy had gone out the window, and he had no way of targeting his original opponent. He would just have to play things by ear.

"Look out!" shouted one of his clones, leaping forward to intercept a kunai flying towards Naruto.

Naruto instinctively ducked, and it turned out to be a smart move. The kunai continued its trajectory after obliterating the clone, narrowly missing Naruto's head. Four of his remaining clones positioned themselves in front of him, facing the direction from which the kunai had been thrown.

In a flash, Naruto quickly pivoted to protect the rear, anticipating the enemy shinobi's next move. Just as he expected, a man materialised out of thin air, clutching a katana in his hand. With lightning speed, the man swung the blade towards Naruto, who instinctively leapt backwards to narrowly evade the deadly strike.

“Shit,” Nauto muttered, immediately recognising that he was at a disadvantage.

When he faced Fu, the situation was no different. His reliance on taijutsu against kinjutsu users was far from ideal. With his opponent's longer reach, closing in and causing damage would be challenging. Adding to the difficulty was the fact that the man's katana was infused with the wind element, greatly increasing its sharpness. A single slash from that blade could spell trouble for him.

"What do we have here?" The man stared at Naruto with surprise, his black eyes cold and merciless. "A mere babe in the woods. I almost pity ending your life, but not enough to spare you."

Naruto disregarded the taunt and manipulated his chains, fastening them to his opponent. Though he found himself at a disadvantage, Naruto possessed a means to level the playing field. Almost instantly, he became aware of the man's emotions, and the seriousness of his intent to kill him. The shinobi's unwavering determination stemmed from a desire to complete his mission, although Naruto couldn’t tell what it entailed. The shinobi had deliberately singled out Naruto as his first target, so he could swiftly conclude the fight and lend aid to his comrades.

Naruto dismissed two of his clones and had the other two flank his sides. It was time to see how much his fighting style had improved over the last week. He kept refining it as he went, feeling that the style was still far from complete.

Naruto dashed forward and engaged his opponent. The man's skill with his blade was evident as he attacked with precision, avoiding any reckless swings in the hopes of overpowering Naruto. Instead, his strikes were purposeful and elegant, cleverly targeting awkward angles that hindered Naruto's movements. Fortunately, thanks to the chains, Naruto managed to evade the onslaught, although just barely. The battle carried on in this manner for a minute, creating an impasse where neither side could score a decisive blow.

Naruto remained unhurried, aware that the man was squandering his chakra by channelling it into his blade, which couldn't be sustained indefinitely. He wasn’t concerned about the well-being of his teammates as they seemed capable enough, particularly Hiashi.

"You're such an annoying brat," his opponent growled. Taking a step back, he quickly began to perform a series of hand signs.

Naruto swiftly performed a hand sign, summoning a shadow clone to appear behind the man. Without pause, Naruto began another set of hand signs, while the clone delivered a punch directly towards the shinobi's head. Reacting quickly, the shinobi abandoned his own attack, leaping forward to evade the punch. However, in his attempt to avoid the attack, he was met with a forceful gust of wind unleashed by Naruto's Wind Release: Gale Palm jutsu.

The shinobi staggered backwards, unable to evade the clones' assault this time. The clone targeted the man's right hand, where he tightly gripped his katana. The weapon slipped from his grasp and thudded onto the ground. Seizing the opportunity, Naruto swiftly lunged forward with his clones to engage the man once again. Deprived of his katana, he became easier to manage. Despite possessing decent Taijutsu skills, they paled in comparison to Naruto's own abilities. Within a short span, Naruto delivered a flurry of forceful blows, causing the shinobi to slow down as his injuries accumulated on his body. With a final punch, Naruto rendered the man unconscious.

“That was a good fight,” Naruto smiled.

Naruto was surprised as the mist dissipated. He hadn't realised until this moment that the shinobi he fought was the same person who had conjured the mist.

He glanced around to assess the condition of his fellow teammates. Hiashi stood over two unconscious shinobi. Taira had already defeated her opponent, while Hana was close to finishing off the two she had been fighting. Her ninken seized the remaining shinobi's legs and delivered a powerful bite. Naruto winced as he collapsed, and blood began to pool on the ground from the wound inflicted.

Hiashi looked over at Naruto and gave him a nod of approval for taking care of his opponent. "Miss Inuzuka, quickly provide first aid to the shinobi and then let's retreat to the trees. The ship will arrive soon."

Hana followed his command, administering medicine to the man's leg and wrapping it with a bandage. They removed the shinobi's tools and restrained them using ninja wire. Naruto summoned more shadow clones, tasking them with carrying the captive back to their observation point.

“Should we interrogate one of them?” Taira suggested when they had arrived back amongst the trees.

“I doubt we have time,” Hiashi said.

“There’s no harm in trying,” Naruto said, pointing to the shinobi he had taken down. “I am going to wake him up and question him.”

Hiashi frowned, but he refrained from giving the order to stop. Naruto derived great pleasure from slapping the man's face, causing him to promptly wake up and look around with alertness.

“Hello,” Naruto smiled, releasing his chains and attaching them to the man. “My name is Orochimaru. I enjoy long walks in the park and playing with little boys. How may I address you?”

Hana couldn't help but snort at Naruto's silliness.

"My name is none of your business," the man spat. "What brings you to Uzushio? It's supposed to be deserted."

The man was broadcasting his thoughts in his mind so loudly that Naruto discovered his name was Asahi. He didn’t have much mental strength if he was leaking information like that, or perhaps his Adamantine Sensing Chains had improved. He had never received information so directly before. He decided not to reveal that he knew the man’s name, to prevent any possibility of putting his guard up against him.

“I am asking the questions here,” Naruto stated. “Who are the people arriving here on the ship? Speak now or I will have my sadistic friend here play with your comrades.”

The shinobi sneered at him, not cowed by the threat. It was no surprise, as shinobi were trained not to give away their secrets. Even threatening their comrades wouldn’t work. However, it turned out to be unnecessary, as the shinobi once again leaked information with his weak mentality.

Naruto was surprised by the revelations that the ship was carrying refugees fleeing from Kirigakure. That wasn’t a problem in itself. But the shinobi had also revealed the leader’s name, one which he recognised from the bingo book. They needed to be cautious of her.

Naruto swiftly struck the man's neck, rendering him unconscious, before rising to his feet.

“Why did you knock him out?” Taira asked. “You barely asked him any questions.”

“I got what I needed,” Naruto replied.

“What do you—” Hiashi started, only to pause when he heard a bird call, signalling that reinforcements had arrived.

Hiashi whistled in response, and the other teams began arriving en masse. Jiraiya arrived last and assessed the situation with a discerning gaze.

"Great job," Jiraiya praised. "You showed initiative by capturing the intruders who were waiting on the island. Now, has the ship arrived?"

Hiashi activated his Byakugan and turned to observe the cove. "The ship is currently approaching the shore," he said, "but it seems to have been damaged as it is leaning to one side."

“Alright,” Jiraiya nodded. “Have you found out anything from these shinobi?”

His teammates looked at him expectantly, waiting for an explanation. Naruto understood that by revealing what he knew, they would likely question his abilities. However, he was ready for this moment and realised that he couldn't keep the information hidden forever. His plan was to downplay it as much as possible, ensuring they didn't cast suspicions on him due to the nature of his abilities.

“They are refugees from Kirigakure,” Naruto said. “And their leader is Mei Terumi.”

The shinobi who recognised the name fell into a stunned silence. The adults got together to discuss the implications. Oddly enough, nobody seemed to question how Naruto had obtained this information, although his teammates gave him questioning looks. Shikamaru, Neji, and Tenten approached him, as they were also left out of the discussion.

“Hey, Naruto,” Shikamaru said. “Whose is this Mei Terumi that is causing such a ruckus?”

"Didn't you read the bingo book?" Naruto asked, clearly surprised. "Wait, I actually read something before you did? Is the sky falling?"

“Just tell us Naruto,” Tenten growled.

“She is one of the strongest kunoichi in the entire Elemental Nations,” Naruto said. “Given your fascination with the subject, I am surprised you haven’t heard of her. She rivals Tsunade in terms of power.”

“Really?” Tenten looked excited. “That’s amazing.”

“She sounds like a dangerous woman,” Neji said. “Why would she be fleeing her country though?”

“Who knows?” Naruto shrugged.

After the adults concluded their discussion, Jiraiya addressed the others. "I intend to go down to the shore and talk to Mei. She is a rational woman, so I believe we can have a productive conversation without it escalating into a conflict."

“Is this really wise?” Hiashi frowned.

"I'll be fine," Jiraiya waved his hand dismissively. "In fact, I'm so confident that I'm going to bring Naruto along too."

As Naruto prepared to voice his objections, the others spoke up before him. Despite their fervent arguments, Jiraiya remained steadfast in his refusal to listen. The passengers began to disembark from the ship, so Jiraiya and Naruto made their way down to meet them.

The people saw them coming, and they quickly scrambled into action.

Naruto noticed the red-haired woman approaching them with two shinobi by her side.

"Ah, there is Mei," Jiraiya said cheerfully, a hint of admiration in his voice. "She's as gorgeous as ever."

Naruto observed them with curiosity as they came to a halt ten feet away. Her bodyguards appeared ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.

"Jiraiya," Mei greeted him, her tone sharp. "What brings you here? And where are my subordinates? You better have a good explanation, or I might just boil you alive."

This woman was no joke. Why had Jiraiya brought him into this dangerous situation?

So, what do you think? How is the meeting between the two sides going to go down?

Thanks for reading.