"Kazuyama, I didn't expect you to be the Jōnin leading the Konoha team this time."
"Haha, what a coincidence! Must be fate!"
Back at their lodging, Yahiko greeted Kazuyama with a bear hug—it was clear how much he'd missed him.
"But hey, Kazuyama, who's that with you?"
"The way you two were acting... something's going on, right?"
Yahiko flashed a mischievous grin. Seeing that, Kazuyama quietly raised both hands, and the tiger seal etched into his bones appeared once more.
The moment Yahiko saw the mark, his smile vanished.
"Okay, okay! I get it! I was wrong!"
"Come on, let's grab a drink."
"Akaashi! Go get the sake!"
...
That evening, Kazuyama's group and Yahiko's team threw an impromptu party.
Pakura watched as Kazuyama laughed and drank with Yahiko and the others, her curiosity piqued.
The three younger members of the Konoha team were curious too, but they simply thought it was part of the inter-village cultural exchange. After all, Kazuyama had told them before they came—treat Takigakure like home and act with respect.
After dinner, everyone was drunk. Kazuyama used some Tailed Beast chakra to flush a portion of the alcohol from his system, keeping himself just buzzed as he returned to his room.
...
"So," Pakura asked, "what's the deal with them? You know them, don't you?"
"How could you tell?"
She shoved him lightly and rolled her eyes.
"How couldn't I tell?"
"From the way you interacted, you've clearly known each other for a long time."
"But how do you know ninja from Takigakure?"
She was genuinely curious. Even though ninja often visited other villages for missions, being this familiar with foreign shinobi was suspicious.
To others, it could even be seen as consorting with the enemy.
"You know my background. To prevent certain things from happening, I've made some contingency plans."
"Does that include your sensei too?"
Kazuyama blinked in surprise. She knew that too?
Pakura gently placed a hand on his shoulder. Her voice carried no blame—only concern.
"I know the pressure you're under. And if this hidden enemy you've mentioned really exists, then I'll support everything you're doing."
"But you have to keep me in the loop. I'm your wife—and I'm a capable fighter too."
As she spoke, a flame ignited in her hand, its heat causing Kazuyama to chuckle softly.
"Don't worry, it's nothing urgent. At least not right now."
"Besides, having Yahiko and the others come to Takigakure—that was my idea."
"It's just a safety net."
He grinned.
"Anyway, a good meal, some drinks, and a bit of exercise afterward—doesn't that sound perfect, Pakura?"
Pakura: …
...
Late at night, everyone else was asleep, but Kazuyama's eyes opened.
In the blink of an eye, he vanished using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
When he reappeared, he was in the courtyard he had purchased earlier—the one where Yahiko and his group were staying.
"You're here?"
"Yeah."
Yahiko and the others were also awake. It was obvious they'd coordinated to meet during the night.
"Looks like you've made some solid progress lately."
"Not bad. We're getting closer to the goal."
Kazuyama looked at the still-slightly-drunk Yahiko and gave him an approving nod.
Yahiko greeted him naturally and poured him another drink.
"I've already made my way into Takigakure's upper ranks. But Village Head Bobosai holds a lot of influence here—replacing him won't happen overnight."
Kazuyama nodded thoughtfully as he listened.
From the moment he'd laid eyes on Bobosai, he knew the man was no ordinary figure. Just like Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō Shimura, he had both power and cunning.
If Takigakure ever got involved in the major conflicts, Bobosai would probably earn a title for himself—just like Hanzō of the Salamander.
"There's no need to rush. It's only been a year. Do you really understand how powerful Village Head Bobosai is?"
"I saw him make a move once—when a tsunami hit the coastal area."
Yahiko drifted into memory. His eyes, instead of being dulled by alcohol, became clear as he recalled the scene that had shocked him.
"That was the first time I saw a Wind Release technique that felt like a natural disaster."
"A tornado and raging winds combined into a force as destructive as heavy artillery. Even the tsunami looked like nothing more than fragile paper."
That extreme?
Kazuyama raised an eyebrow in surprise. Yahiko wasn't someone who exaggerated—if he said it was terrifying, then it must've been.
To be able to wield Wind Release at that level... Bobosai was clearly no ordinary shinobi.
"Keep working your way in. With your charisma and strength, I'm sure you'll replace him sooner or later."
"As for Bobosai, he's not young anymore. Eventually, he'll have to step down—and hopefully not too far in the future."
If possible, Kazuyama didn't want to create another enemy. After all, fewer complications meant fewer risks.
"By the way, where's Yugito? I haven't seen her around."
"She's out on a mission. There's been a wild boar infestation in the northern part of the village."
"She probably won't be back for a few more days."
Kazuyama nodded, then asked about the upcoming Chūnin Exams.
Yahiko glanced at Konan nearby.
"Konan will be leading the team this time, and Yugito will be participating too. Honestly, her strength surpassed average Chūnin long ago."
"With that unbreakable will of hers, plus how hard she trains, even I can't help but be impressed."
"She really doesn't have a Kekkei Genkai? That kind of recovery is monstrous."
Monster-level regeneration?
Well, it made sense—she was a Jinchūriki, after all.
But that fact hadn't been shared with Yahiko and the others yet. For Kazuyama and Yugito, it was a vital trump card—something to be kept hidden unless absolutely necessary.
"My students are exceptional, of course."
"But I doubt anyone in this Chūnin Exam will be stronger than Yugito."
"Even Kakashi and the other two won't match her. I personally trained her in both taijutsu and ninjutsu."
"And with Tagitsuhime at her side, she's practically unbeatable."
Though all of them were his students, Kazuyama had the utmost confidence in Yugito. He'd taught her how to use the Tailed Beast's chakra without drawing attention, and that alone made her the most terrifying in her generation.
"Now that the mission's complete, I think we'll head back tomorrow."
"So soon?"
"No choice. The deadline's coming up, and we already took our time getting here. If we don't hurry on the return trip, it'll look bad."
Yahiko: …This was a mission? You were playing around the whole way?