Because they were unfamiliar with the Grass Village, Kakashi first led the team to scout various places in the main town area, making it easier to plan routes for future actions.
Kakashi didn't have the same idea as Mokgetsu. Firstly, finding the Anbu Department Base was quite difficult, and secondly, Kakashi thought there was an easier way to find evidence.
For further concealment, Kakashi had Obito and the others use Transformation Jutsu to disguise themselves. Now, they all looked like the adult males of the Land of Grass who were commonly seen on the streets.
"Kakashi, are you sure about this? Why does it feel like we've wasted so much time with no gains?" Obito questioned.
He felt like he was not on an infiltration mission but just wandering aimlessly.
"Talk less, do more. I'm the team leader," Kakashi replied coolly, offering no explanation.
To make Obito understand, Kakashi would have to explain the various details of the causal relationship. Normally Kakashi might have the leisure, but during a mission, he was too lazy to waste time that way.
Obito expressed his displeasure with an angry look, but indeed, he didn't continue to speak.
Because Obito figured if they really argued, he, as a team member, would certainly be in the wrong, and by that time, if Nohara Rin sided with Kakashi, he'd be heartbroken.
Kakashi led the team into a seemingly bustling tavern. He acted like he was choosing a place while scanning the entire tavern, in reality checking if there were any Grass Village ninjas inside.
After finding a group of Grass Ninja drinking, Kakashi led Obito and the others to sit at a table next to them.
At this point, the Grass Ninja were already flushed from drinking and had a hint of drunkenness.
Like an ordinary customer, Kakashi ordered three bottles of sake and a few side dishes.
"Hey, Kakashi, are we really going to drink? You know that's prohibited," Obito couldn't help but whisper.
Although they've graduated to become ninjas and could take on missions involving killing beyond the Genin protection period, Konoha strictly forbids minors from drinking alcohol, and selling alcohol to minors is illegal.
So for Obito, drinking was thrilling, almost like skirting the edges of Konoha's laws.
Kakashi rolled his eyes at Obito; not ordering a drink at a tavern would be too suspicious.
"Just pretend, don't really drink," Kakashi replied softly.
Even though they were on a mission, they couldn't engage in illegal activities.
Besides, as ninjas, pretending to drink alcohol to fool ordinary people and already tipsy ninjas wasn't difficult.
Obito nodded somewhat ruefully; he had an impulse to try.
Since many adult ninjas loved drinking, Obito thought maybe alcohol was a tasty beverage, just that some of its components were harmful to minors, hence why they weren't allowed to drink it.
Kakashi pretended by having everyone pour the sake into their cups, furthering their disguise.
"What a strange smell, can it really taste good?" Obito curiously sniffed above the cup, finding it not matching his expectations.
In Obito's impression, good-tasting drinks wouldn't smell bad, and correspondingly, drinks that didn't smell good usually didn't taste good either.
Bam!
"Damn those Konoha and Hidden Rock, they have to wage war on our land instead of their own countries."
One of the Grass Ninja downed his sake in a gulp, cheeks flushing further, and slammed the cup on the table, venting his grievance at the two Great Ninja Villages battling on the Land of Grass's territory.
"Aren't these big countries always like this?" a nearby Grass Ninja replied with a sneer.
"Relying on their strong military might, they've never cared about small countries like ours."
Since the Grass Ninja often bore the brunt of the open and covert battles between the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire, most of them had little love for the two Great Ninja Villages.
It's just the power disparity was too large, otherwise, the Grass Ninja would have certainly clashed with one of them.
"Wars are everywhere now; it's actually the same anywhere. And war isn't without its perks; quite a few new high-quality teas have appeared lately," a Grass Ninja with stubble chuckled.
The other Grass Ninja glanced disdainfully at the stubbled ninja; while everyone else was concerned about national affairs, how could he slack off in such a manner?
"New tea from which place, have you tried it?" the slightly intoxicated Grass Ninja whispered.
Despite the disdain, good tea always warranted a taste.
"Just had some yesterday after finishing a mission. I've heard every place has quite a bit of new tea; after all, given the current environment, it's tough everywhere, and there haven't been a small number of refugees lately." The stubbled Grass Ninja shared his information.
"You've got quite the energy, still in the mood with such high mission intensity lately."
"That's why when tired, one needs to enjoy some tea, right?"
Kakashi frowned; this wasn't the information he wanted.
"But it seems the Grass Ninja holds quite a grudge against Hidden Rock, so could it be they haven't collaborated?" Kakashi extracted a slightly useful piece of information from the slew of irrelevant chatter.
Kakashi shook his head slightly; this bit of information wasn't enough to make an accurate judgment.
Ninja Villages wouldn't sever ties over a bit of discontent; usually, cooperation ensues if there's profit to be made.
Seeing no useful information could be obtained, Kakashi gave the team a look, leading them out of the tavern.
"So we really wasted time just now, right? Those guys kept discussing tea leaves and didn't say anything useful." Once reaching a less crowded place, Obito complained.