18. Meeting the Cast

The next morning Akira gave them new clothes to wear. They were the same as they normally wore but in place of the Samue-styled Kimono, he gave them gakuran jacket with the symbol of the demon slayer corps. He had personally drawn the symbol from his memories as an experiment.

[Item: Demon Slayer cosplay

Owner: Ajisai

Properties: Teamwork boost, Increase damage Against Evil ]

All the three had same attributes. Seeing that the anime-related stuff had different attributes he tried to find one for himself but since didn't have much time he could find only one which was from manga not written here. He upgraded them and the result was satisfying so he sealed them in a scroll and kept it as a backup. He wore the same clothes as his previous mission.

"Sensei, we don't need new clothes. It is a waste of money." Ajisai told. While Ajisai and Suiren were rejecting Fuyo had already accepted her and went into another room to change.

As Akira watched Fuyo excitedly change into the new demon slayer cosplay, he smiled warmly and replied to Ajisai, "I understand your concerns, Ajisai. But you should know having a distinct look and popularity, decreases opponent morale. Besides, doesn't it look cool!!."

Ajisai still seemed hesitant but eventually gave in with a small smile, realizing that Akira had put a lot of thought and effort into this gesture. Suiren, on the other hand, remained indifferent but didn't protest further.

Once everyone was ready, Akira gathered them around to discuss the mission ahead. They were going to investigate the Hidden sound of the village in the land of rice. Hearing that they have to find a Sannin they were taken aback.

"Don't worry we only have to confirm his presence. Not getting into contact with him" Akira said. They were a little relieved by this but still a little afraid of what was to come. The reputation of Sannin was louder in Amegakure than in any other place. This was because of their legendary battle against Hanzo in the land of rain.

As they made their way through the land of fire, Akira could observe the coordination between the three of them was getting better and better. Sometimes during running even their footsteps would start getting in sync.

After travelling for a day and night they reached their destination. Due to Akira leading them, they avoided the border patrols. Although Konoha found signs of intrusions they still couldn't catch Akira due to his instincts letting him perceive dangers on their path.

Looking through a binocular at Jiraya, Naruto and Sakura eating food with a female sound ninja, Akira decided to follow them to the sound village.

"Sensei three jonins are approaching the Konoha's group" Suiren senses the new chakra and tells him.

"Well wait for them to fight. We will just keep following Team Jiraya, they must be here for Orochimaru" Akira tells them.

Seeing Team Jiraya using substitution jutsu to fool sound ninjas of being poisoned. Akira sense it will be over soon.

Swish!!

Suiren throws shuriken to the front.

Clink!

With the sounds of collision, the four of them got ready for the fight. A white-haired uncle came out from between the trees.

"What are Rain ninjas doing in this country?" Jiraya asked.

"Oh! If isn't Jiraya The Sannin, we were just searching for a sound village base. Seeing you we guess you were here for the same thing. So we decided to follow you. Since we have the same goal why don't we cooperate?" Akira said.

Akira wasn't afraid of fighting Jiraya he was fully capable of surviving the fight. But it was impossible for him to fight to win.

"It's good you recognise my greatness. I will allow you to follow us but if you cause problems I would have no choice to eliminate you!" Jiraya accepted the proposal while having confidence in himself.

"Well then it's decided, Let's help your students their condition doesn't seem so good." Akira could see Naruto and Sakura getting beaten up by the sound team.

Jiraya and Akira jump into the fight and easily defeat the two of three opponents. Kagerō sees the situation becoming bad and uses the Antlion Ninja Arts: Ephemeral. 

Kagerō transforms from a hunchbacked bucktooth male to a slim female with chakra wings.

"You were a a woman?"X2 Jiraya and Naruto are astonished.

" A beautiful one too." Akira points it out.

"The clan will be once again in place lit by sunlight lord Orochimaru promised it.I will use this once-in-a-lifetime art if it's for the sake of that" Kagerō says.

She floats up using her wings and fires a devastating energy blast from them.

"Get behind me," Akira said. His three students got behind him. He weaves hand signs.

Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall

BLAST!

The blast destroyed the wall into pieces but Akira was unharmed. Meanwhile, Jiraya used the Toad mouth technique to protect himself and Naruto.

"Wow that was dangerous" Akira dusted his clothes off.

"Our clan...Will...revive...." Kagerō steels her resolve. Her body turned into chakra and she went into the ground taking her companions with her.

"Sensei, she is 2 km in that direction." Suiren sensed Kagerō's chakra.

"Keep tracking her," Akira said.

"Sensei why don't we chase her now? Their chakra is low we can easily capture them." Ajisai said.

"Well, she bet her life for her companion's safety. I would feel bad if we caught them now" Akira said. 

"Damn! That Orochimaru playing with their hopes. I will beat him up!" Naruto felt angry.

Far from them Kamikiri and Jigumo carry exhausted Kagerō toward their headquarters in the hope that Orochimaru will heal her.

At Orochimaru's hideout,

Kamikiri: "Please Orochimaru-sama heal our comrade. She doesn't have long to live"

Orochimaru: "Put your hand on your chest and think what you failed to accomplish?"

Jigumo: "Please Orochimaru-sama recognise our efforts!"

Orochimaru: "You'll have to atone for your failures with your bodies."

Kamikiri and Jigumo understand the subtext and attack Orochimaru to protect themselves but Kabuto disable them in one hit.

With the creepy laugh of Orochimaru the fate of three was uncertain.

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