165: Chapter 165 Special SquadThe next day, at Konoha Port.
Ten young genin were already waiting at the dock, men and women gathered together, unusually lively, chattering incessantly.
"I heard the Land of Waves is incredibly beautiful now!"
"My uncle went there and said it's even more lively at night than during the day, with food stalls everywhere on the streets!"
"Are the dormitories at Apocalypse Academy better than those in Konoha?"
"Of course!The Chamber of Commerce is so rich!"
The boys chatted and laughed, and a few of the bolder ones even stood on tiptoe to look out at the sea, eager to set off soon.
Kakashi leaned against a wooden post on the dock, one hand in his pocket, the other clutching his ever-present copy of "Icha Icha Paradise".
But his attention wasn't on the book right now; he was half-closing his eyes, secretly observing the other three Jonin who were arriving one after another.
Kai was the first to arrive.
This guy was carrying a huge pack; he didn't look like he was going to a ceremony, but rather like he was going on a long-distance raid.
"Kakashi!"
Kai's voice boomed, "Youth is about embracing new challenges!I'm ready!"
".Ah, Kai, we shouldn't need to fight this time.You've got too much luggage."
Kakashi gave a perfunctory sarcastic comment.
Asma arrived quickly as well.
He had an unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth and looked quite haggard.
He nodded to Kakashi as a greeting, then walked alone to the edge of the pier and stared at the sea in a daze.
He found a corner, lit a cigarette, and quickly disappeared into a cloud of smoke.
I'm so depressed.
Kurenai Yuhi arrived last, dressed simply today.
She wore a light gray tracksuit, her long hair was tied in a low ponytail at the back of her head, she wasn't wearing makeup, and there were faint dark circles under her eyes.
She kept her head down and walked quickly.
As she approached, everyone on the dock couldn't help but focus their attention on her.
Kai immediately straightened his back, his eyes filled with something indescribable.
Asma turned around, almost dropping the cigarette from his mouth.He stared at the red for a few seconds, then quickly looked away, pretending to look at the sea.
Hong could sense those gazes.
It felt like countless tiny ants crawling on her skin, making her feel goosebumps rising all over her body.
She quickened her pace and rushed to Kakashi's side.
"Is everyone here?Let's get going."
Kakashi closed the book and nodded: "The ship is ready."
A medium-sized passenger ship was docked at the pier.It looked ordinary, but it had been modified and was much faster than a normal passenger ship.
The group boarded the ship one after another.
The genin readily gave up the foredeck to the four jonin, and everyone else squeezed into the aft deck and cabins.
The boatman untied the mooring lines and slowly sailed away from the dock, heading towards the Land of Waves.
The sea was calm and shimmering.
Kakashi found a clean spot at the stern of the boat and sat down, reopening "Icha Icha Paradise," while glancing at the other three out of the corner of his eye from time to time.
Kay, Asma, and Red sat in a triangle on the foredeck, maintaining a safe distance from each other.
No one spoke.
The only sounds were the sea breeze and the low murmurs of the boys in the back of the cabin.
Hong sat on the deck, hugging her knees, her eyes fixed on her shoes.
She hoped the boat could go faster.
Faster.
Ideally, she should arrive in the Land of Waves immediately so she can slip into her room and continue hiding.
Asma leaned against the ship's side and lit another cigarette.
The smoke dispersed quickly in the wind, and his face became somewhat blurred behind it.
Kai would steal glances at Hong from time to time, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something, but each time he swallowed the words back.
Time passed second by second.
The eerie silence was like a net that tightened more and more, making everyone feel like they couldn't breathe properly.
I can't really focus on the illustrations in the Kakashi book.
He finally couldn't hold back anymore.
"cough."
Kakashi coughed lightly."Um.Kurenai, have you been having something on your mind lately?"
I regretted it as soon as the words left my mouth; wasn't I just walking into the line of fire?
Hong buried her head even deeper, and a muffled voice came from her arms: "No."
Asuma exhaled a puff of smoke and replied with a puzzled look, "Really not?You haven't been acting quite right lately."
"I said I didn't!" The voice suddenly rose.
The deck fell silent instantly.Hong realized she had lost her composure and buried her face even lower.
After a while, Kai tentatively struck up a conversation, "Hong, is there anything else bothering you?"
"Shut up!"
Hong suddenly raised her head and glared fiercely at Kai.
Her beautiful gemstone eyes were filled with irritability and embarrassment, and her cheeks had an unnatural flush from the emotional turmoil.
Kai was stunned by the roar and didn't say anything more.
Hong regretted it as soon as she roared.
She glanced at Asma furtively and found him looking at her, his expression even more distressed.
Hong felt a surge of irritation, as if a fire was burning within her, making her restless and unable to sit still.
She needs to do something.
Anything is fine.
As long as she can break free from this suffocating atmosphere.
Then her gaze fell on the book "Make-Out Paradise" in Kakashi's hand.
This is it!
Kurenai suddenly stood up, rushed to Kakashi, and before he could react, snatched the book from him and swung her arm.
Whoosh!
The "Intimate Paradise - Latest Limited Edition" drew a delicate parabola in the air, then plunged into the sea with a splash before being quickly swallowed by the waves and disappearing from sight.
The movements were fluid and seamless, executed in one go.
Kakashi maintained the outstretched hand gesture.
His listless eyes gradually widened, and his mouth under the mask opened into an "O" shape.
That book.that book.
He just bought the latest version!He queued for three hours to get his hands on it!
He.he's only read less than a third of it!
"Red.you."
Kakashi's expression turned sorrowful, and his tone was filled with surprise, doubt, and incomprehension.
"Reading such vulgar comic books in front of girls""
Red stood with her hands on her hips, trying to appear self-righteous."Isn't that inappropriate, Kakashi?"
Kakashi slowly lowered his hand and covered his chest.
"Why are you guys throwing my books around?" Kakashi looked up, his face filled with despair, and he looked like he was about to cry.
"What book?"
Hong interrupted him, "We're on a mission!Be serious!"
Kakashi looked at her imposing figure, then at the two stunned men beside her, and finally resigned himself to his fate and closed his eyes.
What a terrible thing to do.
He rubbed his face hard, suppressing the urge to jump into the sea to retrieve the book.
Task.
Yes, the task.
He had to get these three people safely to the Land of Waves, and he also had to try his best to prevent them from fighting on the way.
After a process of self-brainwashing and hypnosis, Kakashi reopened his eyes, trying his best to make his expression look gentle.
"Ah, that."
"We should arrive in the Land of Waves tonight.The ceremony is in eight days.What are everyone's plans during this time?"
Although these words were dry, they did ease the atmosphere a little.
Kai immediately raised his hand: "I want to visit the Apocalypse Academy's training grounds!I heard they have a lot of amazing fitness equipment!"
Asuma flicked his cigarette ash: "I.I'll just wander around."
Hong sat down again, hugged her knees, and whispered, "I'll follow your instructions."
The conversation stalled again.
Kakashi sighed inwardly and decided to give up on communicating.
Forget it, let's just leave it at that.
If everyone can sit quietly until the destination, that is a victory.
Time slowly approached noon.
The sun at sea had become quite scorching, and the boys had already retreated to the cabin to rest.
On the foredeck, the four Jonin maintained their original formation.
The red belly made a soft gurgling sound.
She blushed and continued to bury her head in the sand.
Kai immediately took action.
He took a carefully wrapped lunchbox from the huge pack, walked over to Hong, and handed it to her.
"Hong, here, try the nutritious meal I specially prepared this morning!"
Kai opened the lunchbox, revealing a beautifully presented bento box with rice, an omelet, grilled fish, blanched vegetables, and a balanced mix of meat and vegetables.
It's clear that a lot of thought and effort was put into it.
Hong stared at the heart-shaped rice ball, her eyes twitching.
Before she could speak, Asuma's voice came from beside her.
"Hey Kai, when did you become so thoughtful?"
Asuma also came over with a simple wooden lunchbox in her hand."I don't remember you bringing food for others before?"
Although his tone was calm, anyone could hear the barb in his words.
"Hong seems a bit off lately; this is just concern between comrades!"
Asma smiled, though it sounded somewhat forced.
He handed his lunchbox to Hong: "Here, your favorite roast chicken lunchbox, bought from our usual shop."
Two lunch boxes were placed side by side in front of Hong.
Hong looked at the two bento boxes and was speechless again.
She bit her lip, her mind a jumbled mess.
In the end, I pushed both lunch boxes away.
"I'm not hungry."
After saying that, she stood up and walked towards the cabin without looking back."I'm going to rest for a bit."
Kai and Asuma were left standing on the deck, each holding a lunchbox, looking at each other in bewilderment.
At the same time, far away in Wuyin Village.
In the private suite behind the Mizukage's office, Mei Terumi sat at her desk, holding a delicate quill pen in her hand.
She had a sheet of paper spread out in front of her, and it was already more than half a page written.
She would write a few sentences, then stop, rest her chin on her hand, and stare blankly, a beautiful smile curving her lips.
After a while, as if she had thought of something embarrassing, her cheeks flushed, her knees came together, and she gently twisted her body in the chair.
"Naruto."
She murmured softly, her tone gentle and seductive.
The pen tip fell again.
I missed you again last night.When I woke up, it was still dark, my pillow was empty, and my heart was empty too.
"I've been so busy with work lately, it's so annoying.I wish you were here with me, then I would be happy doing anything."
"I have an idea.After we return from the Land of Waves, I'll pass the position of Mizukage to Chojuro.That kid is still young, but with Ao assisting him, there shouldn't be any problems.That way, I can."
At this point, Mei Terumi stopped writing, her cheeks turning even redder.
She chuckled to herself for a while before continuing to write.
After writing another half page, I finally finished this passionate letter, filled with longing in every word.
Mei Terumi checked everything from beginning to end and nodded in satisfaction.
Then she stuck out her tongue and gently licked the seal of the envelope.
After sealing the envelope, she wrote on the front of it in her neat handwriting.
[Opened by Naruto Uzumaki]
After doing all this, she stood up, walked to the window, and opened it.
"Someone come here."
A member of the Hidden Mist Village quickly arrived and knelt on one knee, saying, "Lord Mizukage."
"Send this letter to the Chamber of Commerce."
"yes!"
The secret agent took the letter, and in a flash, disappeared outside the window.
Mei Terumi stood by the window, feeling exceptionally happy.
She has already begun planning every minute after arriving in the Land of Waves.
"No.we need to finish the important business first."
She took a deep breath and walked back to her desk.
She had been sitting for less than five minutes when she stood up again and paced back and forth in the room.
"never mind."
Mei Terumi gave up resisting and called out to the door, "Someone, please ask Chojuro to come here."
A few minutes later, Chojuro pushed open the door and entered.
This young member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist has fully recovered from his injuries, and his complexion is much rosier than before.
"Lord Mizukage."
"Chojuro," Mei Terumi looked at him with a friendly smile, "Sit down, please sit down."
Chojuro sat down, somewhat flattered.
"I'm going to the Land of Waves to attend the opening ceremony of the Apocalypse Academy these next few days," Mei Terumi said bluntly."I'll probably be gone for about ten days."
"Yes, I understand.The affairs of Kirigakure.""Your subordinates and Lord Qing will handle this properly."
"No," Mei Terumi shook her head, "What I mean is that for the next ten days, you will temporarily assume the position of Mizukage and handle all the political affairs of Kirigakure."
Chojuro was stunned."Lord Mizukage?This.this won't do!I am still inexperienced and incapable, I'm afraid."
"If I say you can do it, then you can do it."
Mei Terumi interrupted him, her voice stern with encouragement, "Ao will assist you from the sidelines, but the final decision is in your hands."
Her tone softened, "Chōjūrō, you'll have to stand on your own sooner or later.My absence this time is the best opportunity."
Chojuro looked at Mei Terumi's expectant yet encouraging eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "Yes!Your subordinate.Your subordinate will do his utmost to live up to the expectations of the Mizukage!"
"very good."
Mei Terumi nodded in satisfaction and began to explain in detail the things that needed to be paid attention to during this period.
She spoke in great detail, and Chojuro listened even more attentively, taking notes rapidly in his small notebook.
After explaining for a full hour, Terumi Mei finally stopped.
That's about it.
She picked up her teacup and took a sip."If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me anytime before I leave."
"Yes!I understand!"
Chojuro closed the notebook, a hint of eager excitement in his eyes.
To be temporarily appointed as the Mizukage—what a great trust this is!
He must do a good job!
"Then I shall take my leave, Lord Mizukage."
The office returned to silence.
Mei Terumi leaned back in her chair, her fingers twirling a strand of her hair, her eyes becoming increasingly alluring.
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