Motomu, sitting cross-legged on his beige bed, realized something as he refined his chakra.
His spiritual energy had grown once again.
His previously excessive vitality was once more balanced by spiritual energy.
Three days later.
Early morning.
At some point, the number of Pidgey in the clan grounds had increased again.
Motomu slowly opened his eyes to the chirping of the Pidgey.
[SYSTEM: CHAKRA +10]
After three days of consolidation.
Motomu's chakra reserves had officially stepped into the Jonin level.
Now, even without using his Big Eyeballs, he could trade blows with a Root Jonin.
At the same time, Orochimaru's mission to the Land of Water was issued.
Motomu's teammates for this trip, besides Kakashi and Obito, included an unwitting Jonin arranged by Orochimaru.
They had met yesterday; the man was a ninja from the Akimichi clan. Akimichi members always gave off a straightforward, jovial vibe.
Motomu's Jonin captain, Akimichi Genya, was exactly that kind of guy.
At the Konoha gate.
Not long after the four gathered.
A middle-aged man with a familiar name approached, wearing a straw hat and thick cotton clothes, with a pack on his back.
"Tazuna, over here."
"Yo, Captain Genya. I'll be in your care this time."
Captain Akimichi slapped Obito on the back.
"And these kids—they're the escort ninjas for this mission as well."
The bridge builder, Tazuna, furrowed his brows.
'Can these brats really do it?'
Doubt flickered across his face, but he didn't want to cause a scene while still in Konoha.
"It's fine, it's fine. With Captain Genya here, bringing a few kids along is no problem."
"Hey! You old geezer! Who are you looking down on!"
"I'm from the famous Uchiha clan!"
"Obito, show some respect to the client."
Obito, who now had a Konoha headband in addition to his goggles, was about to shout more when Kakashi covered his mouth.
Motomu glanced at the middle-aged Tazuna, then looked at Obito and Kakashi.
The current situation was far too similar to the start of the original story.
It was the same C-rank mission and the same bridge builder, Tazuna.
The only difference was that the escort ninjas were Obito and Kakashi—two guys whose personalities were the exact opposite of Naruto and Sasuke.
He wondered what Kakashi would think in the future when he met Naruto and Sasuke and went on a similar mission.
After signing his name at the village gate, Motomu set off with the team.
Regarding the Land of Water and the Hidden Mist Village.
Motomu didn't remember much of the plot.
At this point in time, the Third Mizukage should still be in power.
The main combat forces were Karatachi Yagura and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, who were just starting to form under the Third Mizukage's promotion.
Plus some unruly Bloodline Limit clans.
The backbone of the Mist, like their Elite Jonin, was strong, but they lacked top-tier powerhouses that could really hold their own.
The Third Mizukage was even more obscure.
Compared to the Second Mizukage's Steaming Danger Tyranny Boy, these two weren't even on the same level.
If this were a company in his past life, this guy would be a typical case of climbing the ranks through sheer seniority.
He outlived the founder, outlived the talented newcomers, and finally reached the position of Mizukage in his middle age.
However, considering Yagura became the Mizukage during the Third War.
This guy probably wouldn't live much longer.
Stepping through the early spring snow after the New Year, the five of them boarded a merchant ship bound for the Land of Water.
The cabin swayed in the waves, and the ocean slapped against the wooden hull, making it creak.
A few days later.
Under heavy dark clouds.
Motomu, whose constitution was powerful after multiple vitality stacks, stood on the deck in the cold wind.
Looking at the outline of the continent appearing on the horizon.
In Motomu's mind, characteristics of the Tailed Beasts emerged.
The Six-Tails Saiken, the giant slug; at this point, it was still sealed within Utakata's master.
As for the target, the Three-Tails giant turtle, it might still be playing in the sea with its little buddy, Samehada.
He wondered if the current Big Eyeballs could beat it.
Amidst the boatman's shouts, ropes were thrown toward the dock.
With the joint efforts of the crew and the workers on shore, the large wooden ship slowly came to a halt.
The gangway opened, connecting the deck to the pier.
Motomu and the other four walked off the ship amidst the crowd.
"Finally, we're on land!"
"I need to get some good rest."
The solid feeling of the ground beneath his feet made Obito, who had been away from land for a while, couldn't help but exclaim.
Kakashi crossed his arms and looked up at the gloomy sky with his dead-fish eyes.
"Don't get excited too early. Our destination is the capital of the Land of Water."
"Even though relations between the Mist and Konoha have eased, that's no reason to let our guard down."
"Tsk, so naggy."
Kakashi shook his head and spread his hands helplessly.
"I'm just giving you a friendly reminder."
Captain Akimichi spread his arms and grabbed both of them.
"Alright, alright, let's go get some barbecue."
"Eating fish these past few days has made me lose some weight."
"Little Kakashi, don't be so tense. When you encounter danger, you only have the strength to fight if you've eaten your fill!"
Amidst their bickering, Motomu strapped his longsword's scabbard to his waist.
Although Obito and Kakashi were still noisy and disliked each other as much as ever.
After that last conflict.
Beyond the surface-level friction, a deeper bond had formed between them.
Motomu could see the change in Kakashi; he gave Obito more recognition than before.
Pushing open the doors of a barbecue shop, Captain Akimichi Genya and the drunken old man Tazuna walked out side by side.
Motomu, Kakashi, and Obito followed behind.
This barbecue meal was already the fourth one Motomu had freeloaded.
Captain Akimichi was wealthy and never stingy when it came to food.
"Captain Genya, you and I really hit it off!"
"Tazuna, come to Konoha more often in the future."
Tazuna let out a wine-filled hiccup, his face flushed as he gave a thumbs up.
"Konoha Village will definitely, definitely be the first village I consider for hiring in the future."
"I just don't know how long this cross-sea bridge in the Land of Water will take. If it goes quickly, it'll still be five or six years before I can see you in Konoha again."
Captain Akimichi smiled and said with emotion.
"That's not necessarily true. Konoha can take missions in the Land of Water too..."
'Once the war starts, it won't just be five or six years.'
'I'm afraid things will have changed by then.'
Tazuna wouldn't die in the plot, but Captain Genya might not be so lucky.
Motomu sighed softly in his heart.
Fortunately, he had his cheat. As long as he kept leveling up.
Sooner or later, he would be able to transcend life and death.
"Hey, guys, I'm going to the bathroom."
"You guys go to the inn first."
Motomu looked at Obito, who had sweat on his forehead and looked like he had an upset stomach, then thought for a moment.
"Be careful. We're very close to the Hidden Mist Village. If anything happens, run back and notify the captain immediately."
Obito grunted an affirmation and ran toward the nearest public toilet without looking back, clutching his stomach.
Back in the inn room.
Opening the wooden window, Motomu looked outside.
The setting sun was completely obscured by dark clouds.
In the streets of the Land of Water's capital, pedestrians hurried along.
A faint white mist began to rise.
The air pressure was heavy and stifling, making it feel difficult to breathe.
Kakashi, who was packing his change of clothes, glanced at Motomu.
"It's about to pour."
"What's taking that guy Obito so long?"