Looking at Kakashi's outstretched hands, Okamoto Dousuke was stunned for a moment. He hadn't expected Kakashi to have such a thoughtful side to him.
This considerate gesture seemed at odds with Kakashi's usual cold and aloof demeanor.
"Or you guys can rest here for a bit. I'll head into the village first and scout the situation before we make any plans," Okamoto Dousuke suggested to Kakashi.
Kakashi nodded in agreement. Gathering intelligence was the top priority now. Knowing both themselves and their potential adversaries would be crucial for any future action.
Even though we're not here to fight, it would still be best to gather as much information as possible.
Just as Okamoto Dousuke was about to move.
Whoosh.
A kunai shot out from the darkness.
Ding.
With a sharp metallic sound, Okamoto Dousuke swiftly drew his own kunai and deflected the incoming projectile.
Swish. Kakashi beside him vanished instantly.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
A volley of shurikens rained down from directly in front of them.
Seeing the incoming shurikens, Okamoto Dousuke leaped in front of Obito and Rin, rapidly forming hand seals. "Water Release: Water Array Wall Jutsu!"
Water erupted from Okamoto Dousuke's mouth, and under his precise chakra control, it quickly swirled around the group, forming a seamless water wall that blocked every single shuriken.
"What?!"
"Someone's attacking!" "This way..." "Go and inform the villagers!"
Ding, ding, ding.
Sounds of brief skirmishes echoed from all around. The water wall dissipated, and an eerie silence descended.
Thump, thump.
Kakashi casually tossed several ninjas wearing Hidden Waterfall Village forehead protectors in front of the group.
"Wow, Kakashi, you're not going to kill them, are you?" Obito asked, looking at the unconscious figures sprawled before them and the scattered shurikens on the ground.
"No, I just knocked them out," Kakashi replied, shaking his head and sheathing his dagger.
"Alright, well, that saves us the trouble of gathering intelligence. These Hidden Waterfall ninjas don't look old enough to be on patrol duty, do they?" Okamoto Dousuke said, crouching down to check on the unconscious Hidden Waterfall ninjas. Fortunately, their injuries were only superficial.
Standing up, Okamoto Dousuke looked at Kakashi. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," Kakashi said, stretching his body slightly to demonstrate his well-being. "Just wait here. The rest of the Hidden Waterfall ninjas should be arriving soon."
Kakashi had deliberately allowed a few individuals from the initial attacking group to escape.
Since our presence has been revealed, and we're not on an invasion mission against a hostile nation, there's no need to remain hidden.
After a short while, the distinct sounds of "swish, swish, swish" echoed from all directions.
A dozen ninjas wearing Hidden Waterfall Village forehead protectors appeared before Dousuke and the others.
"Who are you, and why have you invaded our village?" a middle-aged man wearing a bamboo hat adorned with the character for "Hidden Waterfall" asked loudly from within the assembled ninjas.
"Greetings, we are from The Hidden Leaf, and we have no hostile intentions in coming here this time," Kakashi explained to the Hidden Waterfall ninja leader standing at the forefront, holding his forehead protector up in the firelight for them to see.
"You claim no hostile intentions, yet you invade our village?" "Look, some of the ninjas in the village have been struck down!" "We should capture them first!"
Before the Hidden Waterfall ninja wearing the bamboo hat could respond, various voices of suspicion and anger erupted from the surrounding village ninjas.
To them, Okamoto Dousuke and the others were enemy ninjas who had illegally entered their village and failed in their attack.
"Silence!" The leading Hidden Waterfall ninja commanded, stopping the others from their accusatory outbursts.
"What is your purpose here, ninjas of Konohagakure? And why did you attack the ninjas of our village?"
"They're just unconscious, not dead," Okamoto Dousuke interjected. With that, he clapped his hands together on the ground, and a gentle stream of water flowed out from beneath them, carefully carrying the unconscious Hidden Waterfall ninjas to a safe distance nearby.
Several hooded ninjas leaped forward from the crowd of Hidden Waterfall ninjas and knelt beside the unconscious individuals. After a quick examination, one of them announced, "They're not dead, just unconscious."
Having confirmed their condition, the hooded ninjas carefully carried the unconscious patrol members on their backs and quickly headed towards the village.
"I will explain the purpose of our mission clearly, but I need to speak directly with the leader of your village," Kakashi stated firmly. When the matter concerned a nation's military asset like the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, it was essential to communicate directly with the highest authority.
The leading ninja hesitated for a moment and then said, "Ninjas from Konohagakure, I am the Takikage of Hidden Waterfall Village. Tell me what you wish to say."
"Takikage?" Kakashi and Okamoto Dousuke exchanged a quick glance.
"Do you recognize this?" Okamoto Dousuke took out a pendant from within his clothes and tossed it to the ninja who had identified himself as the Takikage.
"This is..." The ninja, now known to be the Takikage, caught the pendant, examined it closely, and a surprised expression spread across his face.
He looked up and observed Kakashi and the others. When his eyes landed on the child nestled in Okamoto Dousuke's chest, he appeared slightly lost in thought for a moment.
"I understand your intentions. Please follow me."
"I already have a grasp of the situation. Let's disperse," the ninja who called himself Takikage instructed a man wearing a breathing mask beside him.
"Yes, Lord Takikage." With that, the man wearing a breathing mask gestured to the ninjas behind him.
The only one remaining beside the Takikage was the ninja with the breathing mask; the other ninjas vanished in an instant.
"Come with me," the Takikage said, turning to lead the way.
Okamoto Dousuke and Kakashi exchanged another look and then nodded to Obito and Nohara Rin.
The group silently followed behind the Takikage.
While walking, Kakashi subtly brushed past Okamoto Dousuke.
At that moment, Okamoto Dousuke discreetly felt something being placed in his hand. He subtly touched it and realized it felt like a scroll.
Just as he had done on the podium at the Ninja Academy, Kakashi gave Okamoto Dousuke a significant look.
Okamoto Dousuke immediately understood. This was the summoning scroll that Namikaze Minato had given to Kakashi before departing.
They were now rashly following a man who claimed to be the Takikage. If they found themselves in danger, Fu and the scroll hidden in Okamoto Dousuke's clothes would be their potential lifeline.
When the Jinchuriki of a Tailed Beast dies, the Tailed Beast also perishes, but it will eventually be resurrected after a few years. If absolutely necessary, Fu's life or death could determine their own survival.
Kakashi giving the scroll to Okamoto Dousuke indicated that in case of unforeseen danger, Kakashi would use his own life to buy them time. A man who could claim the title of Kage exuded an immense pressure.
The Takikage in front of them observed their subtle movements with a slight smile on his face, though he couldn't discern what the scroll was.
However, the fact that four young ninjas, likely no older than ten, had not only swiftly defeated their village's patrolling ninjas but also handled the subsequent confrontation with numerous other Hidden Waterfall ninjas with remarkable composure and foresight, making plans for their next steps, was not something to be underestimated. The strength of a Great Ninja Village was not solely reflected in its top-tier combat prowess.
"Don't be so nervous around me. Ever since I saw the pendant and the child, I understood why you have come. Rest assured, as the Kage of this village, I will not allow the Tailed Beasts to simply vanish," the Takikage said calmly as he continued to walk ahead.
"And as a father, I couldn't bear to see my daughter die before my very eyes."
Upon hearing these words, Okamoto Dousuke, Kakashi, Obito, and Rin were all taken by surprise.
No wonder that Chunin asked for Rin to bring Fu to Hidden Waterfall Village. It turns out it wasn't solely because Fu is the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki.
With that revelation, the Takikage continued walking forward.
When they reached a secluded house, he paused. "You can all rest here tonight. I'll take the jade pendant first, Fu." The Takikage paused momentarily.
"Fu, I will stay here with you. Shuiyou, make the necessary arrangements," the Takikage instructed the ninja wearing the breathing mask beside him, and then slowly walked towards the center of Hidden Waterfall Village.
"Yes, Lord Takikage," Shuiyou replied. He then led Okamoto Dousuke and the others towards the private residence.
"You can all rest here for today."
With those words, Shuiyou vanished in an instant.