Outside Tanzaku Quarters.
Jiraiya was in high spirits, his eyes gleaming.
Behind him, the three of them were gasping for breath.
"Huff, huff—"
Tired!
So tired!
Kyohiko had thought about how exhausting it might be to wear weighted leg straps, but he hadn't anticipated it would be this bad.
Jiraiya chuckled.
Little brats!
Think you can handle me?
He looked around and asked, "So, can you still walk?"
"Yes!"
The three answered in unison.
Jiraiya nodded. "Then let's go. We need to find the client quickly, or the debtor might run off, and we'll fail the mission."
"Let's move!"
Kakashi gritted his teeth and followed Jiraiya.
He took missions very seriously.
Failing a mission was worse than death to him!
Kyohiko trailed behind, silently marveling—
Jiraiya was truly a great teacher!
The weighted leg straps seemed ordinary, but they were carefully calculated to push their stamina to the limit, matching Kurenai's endurance.
This way, they could rest and run in sync without delaying the mission.
Killing multiple birds with one stone.
It just meant he and Kakashi had to suffer.
Kyohiko panted heavily, his legs feeling like lead. He estimated—
Physically, he might still be slightly behind Kakashi. The only reason he could keep up was thanks to his Master-level Body Flicker Technique.
This made sense.
Kakashi had been training since childhood, while Kyohiko's previous self had only started serious training after he transmigrated.
Physical training was the hardest to shortcut.
Unless he did something like Kabuto and transplanted cells to alter his genes and physique.
Kyohiko steeled his resolve and quickened his pace to keep up with Jiraiya.
Tanzaku Quarters was bustling.
It was a famous den of indulgence in the area.
Many wealthy merchants from the Land of Rivers and even the Land of Wind came here to gamble and seek pleasure. Occasionally, ninja would visit too.
For example—
Jiraiya knew the place like the back of his hand. He led them through the main streets and into the alleys, twisting and turning as if he were returning home.
Soon, the sign for "Aoiya Inn" came into view.
They had arrived!
"Teacher, you're amazing. I'm completely lost, but you remember everything."
Kurenai couldn't help but admire.
Kyohiko chimed in, "Clearly a regular."
Kakashi nodded in agreement.
"What are you talking about!"
Jiraiya turned around and glared at Kyohiko.
"Places like Tanzaku Quarters have a lot of missions. After a few visits, you naturally remember the way."
"Of course, of course."
Kyohiko nodded repeatedly.
Kakashi and Kurenai couldn't help but chuckle, clearly not buying Jiraiya's explanation.
Jiraiya sighed.
This kid.
Always ruining his reputation!
But.
Hehehe, later...
Jiraiya secretly grinned, then quickly coughed and explained, "I took this mission not for the reasons you're thinking, but for something much more important!"
With that, he lifted the bamboo curtain with the character for "gambling" on it.
A samurai at the entrance immediately approached.
"Sir... are you from Konoha?"
"Yes, we've taken your employer's mission to protect your debt collection team."
Jiraiya nodded.
The samurai was overjoyed. "Please, follow me!"
He pointed to the side and then hurried inside. Soon, a young man rushed out.
"Everyone, I'm Matsuyama Koji, the owner of Aoiya Inn."
The young man quickly introduced himself.
Jiraiya's expression turned serious.
"I'm Jiraiya, a jonin from Konoha. These are my subordinates, here to assist with the protection mission. Can you tell us the details?"
"Please, come inside. We can discuss over tea."
Matsuyama Koji's eyes lit up at Jiraiya's name, and his demeanor became even more respectful.
Jiraiya nodded.
They followed him to the back room, where Matsuyama Koji ordered a maid to serve tea.
"I didn't expect Lord Jiraiya to personally lead the team. This is such good fortune. The mission is as good as done."
Matsuyama Koji flattered.
Then, he explained the mission details.
It turned out.
They had been trying to collect a debt from a group of merchants from the Land of Rivers, but the merchants had hired a bunch of rogue samurai. Their own men were no match, and they weren't sure if the merchants had also hired rogue ninja...
So, they decided to request a mission from Konoha at a B-rank price.
"So, our job is to protect you while you collect the debt from the Land of Rivers merchants?"
Jiraiya asked.
Matsuyama Koji nodded. "Exactly."
...
Outside a teahouse in Tanzaku Quarters.
After some commotion, a group of rogue samurai and ninja rushed out of the building. Behind them, a man angrily shouted, "When I get back to the Land of Rivers, I'll definitely send the rest of the money. Do you really have to ruin my business?"
"Hirakawa Ken, you said the same thing last time. I won't let you run away again."
Matsuyama Koji coldly snorted.
Most gamblers said the same thing, especially businessmen like this one.
But in reality.
People like him kept making excuses and had no intention of paying.
Not only that, he owed not just gambling debts but also a large sum of business money.
Now that he was back in Tanzaku Quarters, Matsuyama Koji wasn't about to let him slip away again.
"Sir."
Matsuyama Koji stepped back to Jiraiya's side, his attitude respectful.
The man's face changed.
"Ninja? Get them!"
The surrounding samurai hesitated.
"Get them! Don't you want your money?"
"Yes!"
Dozens of them charged forward.
Matsuyama Koji quickly retreated.
Jiraiya smiled but didn't immediately act. Instead, he took a step back.
"Want to team up?"
Kyohiko looked at Kakashi.
"Whatever."
Kakashi said indifferently.
When it came to killing, he was confident he was better than Kyohiko, who was still a rookie. He wouldn't fall behind this time.
With that, he drew his blade, ready to strike.
Kyohiko formed hand seals, gathering and channeling chakra.
After over a year of training, his hand seals were fast. In the blink of an eye, the jutsu was complete.
Then—
Whoosh!
A torrent of water gushed from Kyohiko's mouth.
Water Release: Water Gun.
The surging water swept forward like a flood, knocking over the charging samurai and clearing a path.
Kakashi was stunned.
Had Kyohiko really only been training in Water Release for half a month?
How was he this strong!
And this was after running all the way here, with his physical and mental energy not at their peak.
If he were at full strength, the jutsu would probably be even more powerful.
This guy...
His Water Release talent was insane!
Kakashi couldn't help but feel envious.
At this point, he had mostly trained in taijutsu, swordsmanship, and Lightning Release, so he wasn't very familiar with Water Release.
But.
Jiraiya was different.
He knew that Kyohiko hadn't just mastered the essence of Water Gun—he was also trying to compress and focus the water's power.
Otherwise—
A normal Water Gun wouldn't have been able to create such a massive impact.
This kind of thinking...
With further refinement, it could become the Second Hokage's Water Release: Water Severing Wave.
For a moment, Jiraiya almost thought Kyohiko was the Second Hokage reincarnated.
They were so similar!
But.
Now wasn't the time to daydream.
"Kakashi, stop spacing out."
"Huh? Right!"
The rogue samurai were persistent, struggling to get back up and charge again.
Kakashi formed hand seals.
Lightning Release: Earth-Style Rampart!
The water flow stopped.
At the same time, Kakashi placed his hands on the water, and electricity surged through it, instantly electrocuting all the samurai who had gotten back up.
Hirakawa Ken had already run off.
But where could an ordinary man like him go?
Kyohiko used the Body Flicker Technique, chasing him across the rooftops. In just a few flashes, he had caught up.
A kunai pressed against Hirakawa Ken's neck, forcing him to stop.
"I'll pay, I'll pay."
"Unfortunately, your credit with me is already in the negatives. Write a letter to your father, Hirakawa Hiroshi, and have him send the money. Until then, you're not leaving my gambling house."