Chapter 241: Assault in the Rain
Most of the time, Mizuki tried to stay cautious and observant, especially when the current events deviated significantly from his memories. Situations like these demanded patience and a careful reevaluation of next steps. He had grown accustomed to the advantage of foreknowledge, and now that it was gone, the sense of loss and disorientation wasn't easy to shake. It felt like playing a game that once offered full map visibility, only for a thick fog of war to suddenly descend—adjusting to that took time.
On the return journey, Mizuki found a quiet spot out of habit, leaning against the side of the ship. He watched the boundary where sea and sky met, blue and white merging into soft streaks of clouds. Once they returned to Konoha, chances to enjoy such a vast, natural view would be rare. The mission in the Land of Water, and all that he'd seen there, had deepened his appreciation for these moments of natural tranquility. It allowed his mind to relax, if only briefly, easing the spiritual exhaustion that had built up over time.
Konoha's departure from Kirigakure had been delayed by a day. Not because of any problems—rather, the Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei, had been overwhelmingly hospitable. She even contacted the daimyo of the Land of Water to arrange for a military ship to escort them. Out of respect, Kakashi had to spend most of the day engaging in formalities with Kirigakure's leadership—though it was really just the Mizukage herself. As for Mizuki, he used the opportunity to hide away under the excuse of organizing documents.
With the mission ending and the return imminent, the genin had lost interest in wandering. They had seen nearly all Kirigakure had to offer. All that remained was conserving strength for the journey home.
As for Mizuki's view on the enthusiastic Mizukage? Not particularly optimistic. All the preparation seemed wasted effort. Who knew what kind of baggage Kakashi still carried from childhood? He looked like he had moved on, but whether that was truly the case was a mystery even Kakashi might not know.
But ultimately, none of this concerned Mizuki. The idea of a romantic story between a female Kage and a ninja from another village belonged in fairy tales. Reality called for clear-headed thinking. Mizuki had no interest in speculating further—after all, he was a married man now, and the days of indulging in idle gossip were long behind him.
The return voyage was going smoothly. The military ship's speed was far superior to that of a civilian vessel, and it looked like they'd make it back earlier than expected. But one thing was off. The skies, which had been sunny and clear when they first came, were now gradually darkening with heavy clouds. The wind was picking up, and waves began crashing harder against the hull. A storm was brewing on the horizon.
"Mizuki, still out here watching the sea?"
Kakashi's familiar voice came from behind.
"Yeah. Don't you think the sea breeze feels nice?"
Kakashi ignored the small talk and got to the point. "The captain just notified us—there's likely to be a heavy storm. We should prepare."
"Prepare? Isn't this a warship? It should be able to handle storms like this without issue, right?"
"It's probably just routine, but we still need to be ready."
"In this kind of weather… a perfect opportunity for someone to fish in troubled waters. Kakashi, think we should inform the Kirigakure nin?"
"You mean warn them that we might be attacked?"
"Wouldn't the Kirigakure shinobi have an edge in this kind of environment? Sure, ninja don't fear the ocean—but with neither time nor terrain on our side, it wouldn't hurt to ask for help."
Other than Kakashi's proficiency with Water Release, most Konoha ninja preferred solid ground when fighting.
Jiraiya wasn't on the ship either. He had departed two days earlier after receiving a letter—he barely had time to say a few words to Mizuki and Kakashi before rushing off. His abrupt exit made sense though. Compared to fighting Orochimaru's subordinates, facing Orochimaru himself was a matter Jiraiya simply couldn't let go of.
"So the ANBU's kill order is already underway, huh? Talk about bad timing. That Orochimaru got discovered so easily… Danzo really is something else. Can't believe he tracked Orochimaru this far. Did Tsunade call Jiraiya to stop the kill order? Or to help carry it out? It's impossible to understand what goes on between the three Sannin."
Meanwhile, Orochimaru, still unaware of the danger looming over him, had reached for Sasuke with his snake-like claws. And with Jiraiya gone, Konoha's team was now in a much more vulnerable position. Even with Kakashi and Mizuki present, a reactive defense always risked letting something slip through.
Kakashi frowned at Mizuki's suggestion. "You sure it's a good idea to involve the Mist ninja?"
Just as Konoha wouldn't interfere with Kirigakure's pursuit of defectors, it was awkward to drag others into their conflict with Orochimaru. At the end of the day, it was still a "family matter."
"That's not an issue," Mizuki replied. "Konoha and Kirigakure are allies now, for better or worse. If danger shows up on the way back, they won't just sit back and watch."
Just then, the ocean wind whipped across the deck, bringing with it a salty mist and the first fine drops of rain.
"It's started," Mizuki said. "Kakashi, go prep. We don't want to get caught off guard."
"Right, I'll handle it. But with limited numbers, we should have Naruto and the others stick close together for support. The main fight will fall on you and me."
Mizuki nodded. "That makes sense. If anything changes, we'll adjust on the fly."
Only three Kirigakure ninja had come along. Leading them was the ANBU captain "Ken." He would return to the Land of Water once they reached the Fire Country. The other two were Chūnin Kanryū and Chōjūrō—who had just inherited the sword Hiramekarei. All three were familiar faces. The ANBU captain was best suited to team tactics, which wouldn't be as effective in these circumstances. The other two could barely hold their own but were still better than Konoha's genin.
With that, the plan was clear: have the nine lower-tier ninja support one another while Mizuki and Kakashi handled the frontline if danger struck.
Above, the storm clouds thickened, the rain intensified, and things were quickly getting worse. On deck, sailors hurried back and forth—adjusting the ship's heading, lowering sails, securing ropes, closing hatches and ventilation covers. The storm was no longer a distant threat.
It was here.
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