## Heading Toward the Sea of the Land of Water ##
"We're coming to this country, Senior Naruto?" Maki tightly clung to Naruto's body as she asked.
She and Naruto were riding on the back of an ink bird summoned by Sai, while Sai himself rode another ink bird leading the way.
"Do you really think you can find a way to control the tailed beasts here?"
Naruto frowned, "Not necessarily, but I have to keep moving so people can't track me easily. There's another reason why I came here."
He turned his head to look at Maki, who was still clinging tightly to him.
"You know that Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage, was the jinchuriki of the Three-Tails. He's already dead, so I plan to use the excuse of a diplomatic mission to talk with the Fifth Mizukage."
Sai turned his head slightly without stopping his control over the ink bird.
"You mean...we're going on a spying mission?"
Naruto shook his head.
"Come on, we're not here for adventure. This is a remote island far from our homeland, surrounded by sea with no real protection. What are you thinking?"
Sai shrugged and looked away again.
"We just want to convince them to help us, preferably by joining us to fight against Akatsuki."
He knew Konoha had contacted Kirigakure years ago, and the two villages maintained a good relationship. As for himself, he had never been there—he changed plans and went to Sunagakure instead, where he fought against Deidara and Sasori.
Even though he was still young, being the jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, a student of Jiraiya, and a jonin, he should have enough standing to meet with the Mizukage.
If it wasn't enough, he could reveal the last secret he had kept hidden—but he didn't want to.
Perhaps it was time to use his bloodline—the fact that he was the son of the Fourth Hokage. Since learning the truth about his parentage, he had never used his father's reputation, and only a few people knew—people who would never spread it around.
No one in the Five Great Countries knew yet. Maybe now was the right time to use his heritage to gain some convenience. Politics was such a pain...
## Orochimaru's Southern Island Hideout ##
Two young ninja strode down the corridor of the base, which had once been a prison for Orochimaru's test subjects.
Some prisoners noticed the Uchiha clan symbol on the back of Sasuke's shirt.
"That's Sasuke Uchiha! Without Orochimaru, what's he doing here?"
"The rumors are true!" another prisoner shouted, excitement in his voice. "He defeated Orochimaru and has come to free us!"
A more cynical prisoner cut in, "Don't be stupid—he's not someone you can just kill."
Eventually, Sasuke and Suigetsu were stopped by a girl roughly their age.
She had an unusual hairstyle—half red and long—and wore glasses. She wore a lavender shirt zipped low to her bellybutton and shorts—a clear eccentric.
"I get it," she said, adjusting her glasses. "So Sasuke, you actually came here alone. Looks like the rumors are true."
Suigetsu glared at the girl in annoyance.
"Seriously, am I invisible or something? Anyway, Sasuke wants to invite you to join us. Let's find a place to sit and talk."
"I haven't walked in ages. My legs feel like they're about to fall off."
Led by the girl, they arrived at an office and sat down. Sasuke got straight to the point.
"Karin, I need you to come with me."
"What?" Karin asked in surprise. "Why should I go with you? I'm the one in charge here!"
Sasuke leaned back in his chair. "Orochimaru is already dead. Why are you still staying here?"
Karin frowned. "But then, what about all these prisoners?"
Sasuke gestured toward Suigetsu. "Suigetsu, go release all the prisoners," he said, ignoring Karin's shocked expression.
Suigetsu stood up and walked out of the room. "It's good to be the boss."
"You dare!" Karin shouted at Suigets' retreating back—but he didn't even look back.
"Why keep them locked up? There's no reason to keep them here," Sasuke asked.
"I still refuse!" Karin stood her ground. "Why should I follow you?"
Sasuke sighed. "Fine then. If you insist, I'll just find someone else."
As he stood up to leave, Karin suddenly walked over to the door and shut it.
"I'll go." Her tone did a complete 180.
She took off her glasses and sat beside a clearly bewildered Sasuke, practically leaning right into him. "If you really need me… I'll help you."
Sasuke turned to look at her. "What's going on? Why have you suddenly changed your mind?"
"I've been dying of boredom stuck here this whole time," she whispered.
At that moment, there was the sound of the doorknob turning—Suigets had returned.
Spotting her chance, Karin leaned entirely against Sasuke.
"Could you give me some space?" Sasuke said, raising an arm between them.
"Don't be like that," Karin continued, trying to move closer. "Let's lose Suigets and just stick together, you and me, okay?"
Suddenly, the door was shoved open as Suigets stepped in, his Cleaver Sword slung over his shoulder.
"Come on, Sasuke, let's get going. Karin obviously doesn't want to tag along."
"She's changed her mind," Sasuke replied.
"I-I haven't!" Karin stammered hastily. "I just… coincidentally happen to be heading the same way as you guys." She quickly switched her stance again, making Sasuke raise his eyebrows in surprise.
"So lucky," Suigets teased sarcastically, slinging the sword behind his back. "Looks like we'll be sticking together for a while. Next, let's go find Jugo."
"Jugo?" Karin asked in surprise. "Are you taking him too? He's at the Northern Outpost."
"I know where he is," Sasuke said, standing up. "Let's go."
Karin folded her arms.
"The Northern Outpost isn't some paradise. That's where Orochimaru ran most of his human experiments. It's crawling with terrifying monsters."
Suigetsu grinned and took a sip of water from his water gourd.
"That sounds interesting, I guess. Not that it matters anyway. Sasuke's already decided who we're targeting. We just follow orders."
Karin shook her head again.
"I really don't like that guy. He's bad news."
"We're not exactly saints either," Sasuke said flatly. "As long as he gets the job done, I don't care about anything else."
## Mizukage's Office, Kirigakure ##
A figure wrapped in a long robe was sitting behind a desk when a Mist ninja knocked on the door and walked in.
"Milady Mizukage, several Konoha ninja have arrived at the village gates requesting an important diplomatic meeting with you. Shall I let them in?"
"Diplomatic envoys from Konoha?" came a female voice from beneath the robe, with a hint of mockery in her voice. "How rude of them not to send word ahead of time." The Mizukage sneered slightly. "Let them in, but just to be safe, have Ao and Chojuro come here as well."
The Mist ninja bowed and left the room, gently closing the door behind them.
Left alone, the Mizukage sat back at her desk and murmured to herself,
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