After eating ramen, in the afternoon, Matsuyama Ichiro set off with the caravan.
On the way, he chatted casually with Jiraiya.
The purpose of this trip remained the same—to conduct business with Gato. However, according to his investigations, Gato had been supporting several gangs in the Land of Waves and was known for his unscrupulous methods.
He was worried about being double-crossed.
Matsuyama Sachihiko had mentioned this earlier.
Jiraiya had taken on this mission not just for the money or the difficulty level of the super C-rank task, but also out of curiosity about the Land of Waves and Gato.
"Do you know much about Gato?"
"Not much. He rose to prominence suddenly in recent years and has been squeezing out many of our old clients."
Matsuyama Ichiro sighed.
He glanced at Jiraiya and couldn't help but ask, "Lord Jiraiya, they're all fighting for control of the Land of Waves. Haven't you considered sending people there?"
"The Land of Waves..."
Jiraiya actually didn't know much about the situation there.
Such matters were currently under Danzo's jurisdiction.
He pondered for a moment.
"Is the situation in the Land of Waves really that bad?"
"It's chaotic!"
Matsuyama Ichiro's expression turned serious as he described the current turmoil in the Land of Waves.
"On the surface, it seems like local gangs are fighting for territory, but in reality, many are backed by the Land of Water and the Land of Lightning. That's why it's such a mess."
"The Land of Water and the Land of Lightning..."
Jiraiya frowned.
The Land of Waves' location was indeed strategically important.
It was close to the Land of Fire but also situated between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water, making it a key maritime area for all three nations.
He opened his mouth slightly but ultimately remained silent, saying nothing.
Entering the Land of Waves...
Given the geographical proximity between the Land of Fire and the Land of Waves, it would be advantageous for the Land of Fire and Konoha. As the "Hokage," he could also benefit from it.
However.
Theoretically, he was only seven years old and shouldn't know much about the Land of Waves.
He'd go to the Land of Waves first.
After exploring the area, he'd naturally have some "insights."
Geniuses, after all.
Once the persona was established, anything could be justified!
His previous efforts hadn't been in vain.
Kyohiko sighed inwardly.
After a moment of silence, Jiraiya sighed. "Let's wait and see. Some things are beyond my control."
Matsuyama Ichiro sensed Jiraiya's reluctance to discuss further and politely excused himself to discuss business matters with the caravan.
Jiraiya glanced at Kakashi.
"Since you're free, why not play with a ball?"
He tossed a balloon to Kyohiko. "Do me a favor and fill this with water. Don't make it too full."
"Alright."
Kyohiko didn't form hand seals and easily filled the balloon with water.
"Here."
To be able to refine water chakra so quickly without hand seals...
After just a few days of reading?
He's improved again?!
Jiraiya was stunned for a moment but quickly handed the water-filled balloon to Kakashi.
"Use only chakra to try and burst it."
"Got it."
Kakashi took it.
As he walked, he pondered for a while, then gathered chakra.
The chakra in his control was like a sharp sword, slashing around, but no matter how he manipulated it, he couldn't get the chakra or the water to burst the balloon.
It seemed...
Not as simple as he thought.
He frowned.
Jiraiya chuckled and glanced over. "Kyohiko, do you want to give it a try?"
"Can I?"
"Of course."
Jiraiya nodded.
Kyohiko took the water-filled balloon.
Soon, the water inside began to spin and collide chaotically, until—
Pop!
Water splashed everywhere.
It burst.
Kakashi blinked.
Yuhi Kurenai also blinked.
Then, she subtly glanced at her teammate—
Thankfully.
He had a mask, so his expression wasn't visible, but Kyohiko was really impressive, managing to burst the balloon on his first try.
Jiraiya was inwardly astonished, but as a seasoned team leader who had spent years wandering the streets, his face remained unreadable.
"Once you grasp the trick, it doesn't seem too hard."
Kyohiko clapped his hands, brushing off the water and balloon fragments.
Jiraiya calmly handed over another balloon. "Well done. You don't need to try again. Make one for Kakashi."
Yuhi Kurenai stifled a laugh.
Unfortunately.
"Pfft—"
She failed.
Noticing Jiraiya and Kakashi's gazes, her face turned slightly red, and she quickly explained, "I wasn't laughing on purpose. I just remembered something funny."
Kyohiko struggled to hold back his laughter.
Clearly.
Her explanation didn't convince Jiraiya or Kakashi.
Kakashi, thin-skinned but masked, showed no change in expression, though his eyes darkened, looking less than cheerful—
Kyohiko had done it so easily, while he had failed, which was a significant blow to his pride.
Jiraiya, battle-hardened, wasn't fazed by others' gazes.
He remained composed.
"Then you'll practice the second stage. You work on this, and Kakashi can practice with the balloon."
Kyohiko filled the balloon with water and handed it to Kakashi, then took the rubber ball Jiraiya handed him.
"As for Kurenai, hehehe..."
Jiraiya let out a strange laugh.
Yuhi Kurenai was initially nervous but soon resigned herself—
She'd already laughed; there was no taking it back.
Whatever came next, she'd deal with it!
She thought she'd have to practice too, but Jiraiya tossed her a large bag.
"Carry this. Consider it weight training."
Yuhi Kurenai quickly shouldered the bag.
Kakashi stared at the balloon, his gaze sharp.
In the past, he had always been the genius everyone talked about, someone who could learn anything quickly without much effort—
Though only he knew how much effort he'd actually put in.
But!
Ever since being assigned to this team and being looked down upon by those chunin, he felt like he was living in someone else's shadow, as if he'd become one of those people who used to watch him.
Kakashi clenched his fist.
It's fine!
I'll get it soon!
...
After a while.
"Pop!"
Kakashi calmly brushed off the fragments from his hands and looked at Jiraiya and Kyohiko. But realizing they had already completed the balloon test, he didn't feel particularly proud.
He felt defeated and lowered his head.
"Teacher, I've done it."
"Good. Now you can start practicing with the rubber ball. This one requires you to use chakra to burst it. It's a hundred times harder than the balloon. You'll be at it for a while."
Jiraiya tossed him the rubber ball.
Kakashi caught it and immediately tried. The ball deformed quickly but didn't burst. After much effort...
"Pfft!"
A strange sound.
The ball developed a small hole, and the air slowly leaked out, deflating the ball.
He had failed.
Kakashi was unwilling to accept it but knew the rubber ball was indeed difficult.
He thought of a few methods.
For example—
Shadow Clone.
But.
His chakra wasn't enough to support such an attempt, and that incomplete method didn't meet his needs.
Jiraiya tossed him another ball.
Kakashi didn't start immediately but instead pondered. Just then, a loud noise came from beside him.
Pop!
The rubber ball in Kyohiko's hand burst.
Kakashi's hand, holding the ball, froze as he stared at the shattered ball in Kyohiko's hand.
Even with his mask, his expression was unmistakable.
He was stunned.
How did this happen?
Jiraiya finally couldn't hold back.
This kid...
Was he doing this on purpose?
He had just finished speaking, and Kyohiko had already burst the ball. Couldn't he have waited a bit?
Looking down.
The ball in Kyohiko's hand had exploded, shattering completely, not just developing a hole or two.
This guy had really done it!
Jiraiya was inwardly shocked.
How did he do it?
"How did you do it?"
Compared to Jiraiya, Kakashi was more straightforward.
Since he didn't understand...
He asked!
Otherwise, he felt he wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.
They had just started, so why could Kyohiko master it so quickly?