Naruto: Faint Smile - CH 105

[Takeshi POV.]

After several weeks of wandering aimlessly—or rather, wandering to very specific locations where the female population was inexplicably high—Jiraiya-sensei finally announced a new destination.

“Alright, kid,” he said one morning, his hands on his hips and his grin annoyingly wide, “it’s time to pack up. We’re heading to Kumo.”

I blinked, tilting my head slightly. “Kumo? As in Kumogakure? Enemy territory?”

Technically speaking Kumo and the Leaf were in peaceful terms, but that was… a very thin veil. If given the opportunity I’m sure they would not hesitate to kill us.

“The very same!” he said cheerfully, as though we were talking about going on a vacation and not casually strolling into a nation that had, at best, a tense relationship with Konoha, and I was being generous.

I sat there for a moment, processing his announcement. “I see.”

“You don’t sound excited,” Jiraiya noted, crossing his arms.

“Should I be?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. Unless it involved training, why would I find the opportunity exciting?

He groaned, rubbing his forehead like I’d given him a headache just by existing. “Takeshi, we’re going on an adventure! New people, new places, new... opportunities!”

By “opportunities,” I assumed he meant opportunities to spy on women, as it was the norm for him, but I decided not to voice that thought.

Instead, I leaned back slightly, my faint smile still in place. “What’s the reason for going to Kumo, Sensei? Actual work or... ‘research’?”

Jiraiya glared at me, but there wasn’t much heat in it. “I’ll have you know this is important work.”

“Important work,” I repeated, nodding. “I see.”

“Hey! Don’t use that tone with me!” he snapped, pointing a finger at me like I’d just insulted his entire family.

“I didn’t use a tone,” I replied calmly.

“Yes, you did!”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Yes, you—” He paused, realizing he wasn’t going to win this argument. Instead, he huffed and turned away, muttering something about “smart-mouthed brats.”

I watched him for a moment, smiling at him. It was almost impressive how predictable he’d become over the last few months. Whenever he mentioned something “important,” it was always a 50/50 chance it was either legitimate work or a thinly veiled excuse to pursue one of his more questionable hobbies, sometimes it was both.

This time, though, I had a feeling it was both.

“Sensei,” I said, tilting my head slightly, “if this is enemy territory, shouldn’t we be exercising more caution?”

“Of course, we’ll be cautious!” he said, spinning back around with a dramatic flourish. “But don’t worry. With a legendary Sannin like me, you’re in good hands.”

Could he fight the Raikage?

Nothing he had shown thus far indicated he was strong enough to fight someone as fast as the Raikage, but he was feared across the nations, so maybe there was something I wasn’t seeing.

“Forgive me if I don’t find that entirely reassuring,” I replied.

“Ungrateful brat,” he muttered under his breath before pointing at me again. “Look, kid, I wouldn’t take you to Kumo if I didn’t think you could handle yourself. And besides, it’s not like we’re going there to start trouble.”

“Unless your ‘research’ causes trouble,” I pointed out. As it normally did… I lost count of how many times I had to apologize on his behalf to mobs of angry ladies.

There’s only so much a man can apologize before it starts losing meaning.

Besides, I was running out of excuses. I had used every excuse known to man. I might start saying he has dementia, he certainly has the looks for it.

“That only happened twice!” he shot back, his face turning slightly red.

“Forty three times,” I corrected. “You are allowed to downplay your mistakes, but please use realistic numbers.”

He opened his mouth to argue, then closed it again, realizing I was right. “Whatever,” he grumbled, turning away again. “Just pack your stuff. We leave in an hour.”

I nodded, standing up and brushing off my pants. “Understood. Should I pack extra supplies in case we need to make a hasty retreat?”

Jiraiya froze, glancing back at me with a mix of irritation and grudging respect. “You’re way too good at predicting these things.”

“It’s not difficult,” I replied, already heading to gather my belongings. “You are remarkably easy to read.”

—------------------------------

An hour later, we were on the road, Tsuki comfortably perched on top of my backpack as she lazily swayed with each step. Jiraiya led the way, his usual energy back in full force as he hummed a tune I didn’t recognize.

“Alright, kid,” he said over his shoulder, “this trip to Kumo is going to be a little different from what you’re used to.”

“How so?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral. “If it involves watching naked women, then it's pretty much the same.”

“First of all, screw you, and second, we’re not going to be wandering aimlessly this time,” he said, shooting me a grin. “We’ve got a destination in mind.”

“Does this destination involve another hot spring?”

Jiraiya’s grin faltered slightly. “No! Well, maybe. But that’s beside the point!”

I nodded. “Of course.”

He sighed, shaking his head. “Look, just trust me on this one, alright? I’ve got some... contacts in Kumo, and I need to check in with them. It’s real work, I swear.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Contacts?”

“Yes, contacts!” he said, clearly trying to sound mysterious. “You’ll understand when we get there.”

I doubted that, but I didn’t press further. If nothing else, this trip would likely provide some form of entertainment—or at the very least, a distraction from our usual routine.

As we continued walking, Jiraiya began rambling about the wonders of Kumo’s landscape, its shinobi techniques, and its, quote, “beautiful mountain villages with even more beautiful women.”

I let him talk, my thoughts drifting slightly as I considered what lay ahead. Enemy territory or not, Kumo was bound to be an interesting place.

And if Jiraiya was involved, it was bound to be chaotic. I wonder if the women of Kumo will electrocute him, that would be fun to see.

—------------------------------------------------

[One month later.]

The towering peaks of Kumogakure loomed before us, their sharp edges cutting into the clouds like jagged teeth. The place was kind of cold, and the air felt… static. The journey had been uneventful, save for Jiraiya’s endless rambling about everything from Kumo’s shinobi techniques to, unsurprisingly, its “stunning natural beauty.” I wasn’t entirely sure if he was talking about the landscape or the women.

Most likely both.

As we crossed into Kumo’s territory, I kept my eyes and ears open. Enemy territory or not, it didn’t feel like we were in immediate danger. The guards at the border hadn’t even questioned us. Either they recognized Jiraiya or they simply didn’t care enough to stop two travelers who weren’t exactly hiding their presence.

When we finally arrived in the heart of Kumo, I found myself glancing around with faint curiosity. The architecture here was different—rugged and utilitarian, built to withstand the harsh mountain climate. It was efficient, much like the shinobi Kumo was known for.

“Alright, kid,” Jiraiya said, clapping me on the shoulder. “First stop, the inn!”

I nodded, adjusting my backpack slightly as Tsuki poked her head out, her ears twitching at the unfamiliar sounds of the bustling village. “Are we staying long?”

“Depends,” Jiraiya replied, grinning. “On a few things.”

I raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. Knowing him, it was better not to ask.

-------------------------------------------

The inn Jiraiya chose was... interesting. It was conveniently located right next to an all-female hot spring, which I immediately recognized as more than just a coincidence.

“This place looks cozy, doesn’t it?” Jiraiya said, his tone far too casual as he led me inside.

I glanced at the wooden sign outside, the words “Cherry Blossom Springs” painted in elegant calligraphy. “It’s certainly well-placed,” I said, my tone as neutral as ever.

Jiraiya either didn’t catch the subtle jab or chose to ignore it. “You already know what I’m all about, so zip it and let’s get checked in.”

He was right.

The inn itself was modest but clean, with polished wooden floors and a faint scent of incense lingering in the air. The receptionist greeted us warmly, her eyes briefly narrowing when she noticed Jiraiya. I couldn’t tell if she recognized him or if his mere presence was enough to set off alarm bells.

After some awkward small talk and what I assumed was Jiraiya’s attempt at charming the receptionist, which failed spectacularly, we were handed a key to our room.

Honestly, I was surprised at how bad he was with women. Statistically speaking, if you kept trying you would get your shot, but somehow, his flirting was so bad, he violated all statistical norms, failing every single time.

Anyway…

The room was simple, with tatami mats, a low table, and a pair of futons neatly rolled up in the corner. I placed my backpack down by the wall, Tsuki hopping out and immediately curling up on one of the mats like she owned the place.

“Well,” Jiraiya said, stretching his arms over his head, “this isn’t too bad, huh?”

“It’s adequate,” I replied, glancing out the window. The view overlooked the hot spring next door, where steam rose lazily into the air. I turned back to Jiraiya. “So, when does the actual work begin? Before or after you check the hotspring?”

He laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head. “Soon, soon. But first, I need to... gather some intel.”

“Intel,” I repeated, my faint smile unwavering. “I see, so after the hotspring.”

“Sometimes I hate you!” he said, pointing an accusatory finger at me. “This is real work, I swear!”

“Of course, Sensei,” I replied, sitting down at the low table and folding my hands neatly in my lap.

“Good. Glad we’re on the same page,” he said, grabbing a notebook and tucking it into his pocket.

I watched as he made his way to the door, his movements a little too eager for someone about to engage in “real work.”

“Sensei,” I called out just as he was about to leave.

He paused, glancing back at me. “Yeah?”

“Do you have a backup plan in case you’re caught?”

His grin faltered slightly. “I’m not going to get caught.”

I tilted my head. “You’ve been caught before. Several times.”

“That was different!” he said defensively.

“Three of those times were in the last month,” I pointed out.

He groaned, running a hand down his face. “You know, for someone so young, you’re awfully good at making me feel old.”

“Thank you,” I replied. “Someone has to.”

He muttered something under his breath that I didn’t quite catch before waving me off. “Just stay here and... do whatever it is you do. I’ll be back soon.”

As he left, I leaned back slightly, watching the door swing shut behind him. Tsuki let out a soft purr from her spot on the mat, clearly unbothered by the entire exchange.

“Well, Tsuki,” I said, glancing down at her, “it seems we have some time to ourselves.”

She flicked her tail lazily, her eyes half-closed.

I turned my attention back to the low table, considering how to spend the time. Knowing Jiraiya, “soon” could mean anything from an hour to several days.

Still, at least the room was quiet. For now, that was enough.