Yagami chose not to tell anyone what really happened last night.
After stepping out of the Hokage Building, he headed straight toward Kakashi's usual training grounds.
When he found him, Yagami simply said to gather Tekuno and meet him at Konoha's main gate in half an hour.
Before leaving, he also made sure to say goodbye to Mikoto.
After all—this trip to Rōran meant they would be apart for at least five days, and that thought alone lingered in the back of his mind.
By the time Yagami arrived at the village gate, Kakashi and Tekuno were already waiting.
The three of them regrouped and immediately set out toward their destination.
…
…
Two days later, after crossing the Land of Rivers, the scenery shifted drastically as they stepped into the territory of the Land of Wind.
The previously sparse terrain faded into dunes stretching endlessly beneath a scorching sky. What began as dry soil eventually became a full-blown desert.
"Is that… Rōran? It's beautiful!"
Tekuno's jaw practically hit the sand.
Even Kakashi's usually lifeless eyes widened at the sight.
Dozens—hundreds—of towering structures pierced the horizon, rising from the desert like a forgotten metropolis of a lost era. Their design was far beyond anything this world should have had.
It looked almost like something Yagami would have seen in his previous life—Ancient-European mixed with futuristic architecture.
"Let's go. Time to see this country for ourselves."
With a confident shout, Yagami moved ahead, and the other two followed quickly.
Their first task was to find the minister who issued Konoha's request and clarify the mission.
Once they reached the outskirts, the three slipped into stealth, weaving through shadowed alleys and narrow paths.
Before long, they arrived at the heart of the city—right beside the tallest tower.
"This place is unreal… and those puppets… there are way too many of them."
Tekuno whispered from the shade of a stone pillar, unable to look away from the mechanical constructs drifting through the air.
Even he, someone raised among ninja villages, had never heard of a nation controlling such numbers of puppets.
"That's not even the weirdest part."
Kakashi's voice was low, his gaze sharp.
"The puppets are acting on their own. No chakra threads. No puppeteers."
A strange, technological atmosphere hung heavily over the city, making even Kakashi uneasy.
"Let's move. I've already found our client."
While the other two were still trying to take in their surroundings, Yagami had already activated Kagura's Mind's Eye.
He located the man instantly—an elderly figure with gray hair, sporting rings on both his left index finger and little finger.
Exactly as described in the mission briefing.
"You… you actually found him already?"
Tekuno turned, stunned.
When Yagami said he would track the client by sensing chakra, Tekuno hadn't expected much. After all, during their previous mission, their captain lacked any perceptive ability and suffered an ambush because of it.
And yet, in just a matter of days, Yagami had learned a sensory technique and mastered it this well?
Tap—tap.
Yagami casually patted Tekuno's shoulder before silently scaling the wall, chakra flowing through his feet.
The three climbed more than ten stories upward…
And then slipped inside through a terrace window, dropping into a dimly lit corridor.
"This is it."
Yagami whispered as they approached a palace-like chamber. He knocked softly.
Footsteps approached.
Click.
The door opened to reveal the elderly minister.
"We're shinobi from Konoha," Yagami said immediately.
The old man's expression brightened with relief as he ushered them inside.
After exchanging greetings, he finally explained the situation.
Several ministers had recently discovered a strange conspiracy within Rōran. But every official who attempted to approach the Queen to report it… died under mysterious circumstances.
Fearing the threat would soon extend directly to Her Majesty, they had no choice but to seek outside help—Konoha's help.
"Is that the full mission brief?" Yagami asked calmly once the explanation ended.
In truth, Yagami wasn't too invested in the mission details.
What he was interested in…
was meeting a certain someone.
The protagonist of this world.
"Yes," the old man replied gravely. "Above all else, please ensure Her Majesty the Queen's safety."
"Leave it to us," Yagami said, hand over his chest in confident assurance.
Hearing this, the minister's eyes drifted over Yagami's companions—one was a chubby boy, the other looked barely awake.
Not exactly inspiring.
But he had no other options. His hopes rested entirely on them.
"Let's go."
Yagami motioned to Kakashi and Tekuno, and the three exited.
"Captain, should we go hunt down the culprit now?" Tekuno asked, excitement practically vibrating from him.
The minister's earlier look clearly shook him; even he wondered if he looked like a real ninja.
"Not yet."
Yagami smiled slightly and shook his head.
He knew the plot well enough. Acting prematurely would only disrupt things.
And if he went straight for the enemy…
he wouldn't get to meet Naruto.
And Yagami really wanted to meet him.
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