600 Ryo

Shirohi sat in his regular spot in the 'Snake Grass Pub' dressed in a black hooded cloak and a silver mask as he waited for a job opportunity to approach him, during his time in Kurokami Village he had made a name for himself as a mercenary. Some merchants actually preferred him over Shinobi due to the price difference and the skill level being fairly similar, for the price of a single Chuunin they could hire Ginkamen twice.

While this had caused some problems with Shinobi of the Hidden Grass, Ginkamen had worked out a deal with them to avoid high paying missions. This actually worked in Ginkamen's favor as usually high paying missions lasted over several days, something he didn't have the spare time to do, his training had already been slacking and his skills had started to stagnate. While he was upset about it there was nothing he could do with the limited time he had, he had managed to get past the beginner section of the fūinjutsu book Kushina had gifted him but the intermediate section was proving to be too difficult for him to manage with his current allowance of time, he didn't even know the last time he had opened the jutsu scroll Jirayia had gifted him.

Ordering a water and a cheap meal from the waitress that occasionally came by to check how he was doing, he watched a new face enter the pub… while this wouldn't be enough to catch his attention Shirohi noticed that this new face held himself like a Shinobi, from the way he was walking Shirohi assumed he was a speed based Shinobi most likely proficient in assassination missions…

As that thought crossed his mind he stood up from his table, debating whether he should check on Tsunade and Shizune but that thought left his mind as a seal he had placed in the house activated. With a sigh of relief Shirohi sat back down, the seal's purpose was to let him know they had visitors not to be mistaken as the seal that would inform him of an attack.

As Shirohi sat back down, intent on finishing his meal he lifted his mask enough to reveal his mouth as he slowly ate. While he was eating he heard steps approaching him, they were too light to be a civilian so with one hand snaking towards his back and the other fixing his mask he looked up "You have business with me?"

The Shinobi stared at him for a moment before sitting across from Shirohi, "I assume your Ginkamen?" Shirohi's hand tightened around the kunai as he said "Who's asking?" His pale blue eyes radiating a sense of danger as he stared at the Shinobi across from him.

"The toad sennin wishes to meet you, I was told to let you know that the slug princess has been called upon…" Shirohi leaped over the table, his kunai pressed firmly against the Shinobi's neck as he used 'Shunshin' to move to a nearby alley, Shirohi growled "Who sent you…"

The Shinobi slowly pulled down his shirt revealing a Hidden Lead Hitai-ate "Jiraiya-Sensei sent me to fetch you, you know you are actually really hard to find," Shirohi relaxed slightly but didn't remove the kunai from his neck "Your name?"

"Minato Namikaze," with no hesitation the Shinobi revealed this identity, Shirohi recognized the name from Kushina so he removed the Kunai "Apparently I'm not that hard to find…"

Minato gave an awkward chuckle "I don't know… we were chasing dead ends for nearly 2 months, we only got lucky with this one," after checking the surroundings Shirohi softly spoke "Circle around the village, in ten minutes head towards the southwest edge of the village there will be a single dilapidated house knock twice then pause then knock once more… don't be late. Make sure you aren't followed." As he finished Shirohi disappeared leaving a handful of grass trimmings behind, something he picked up from the Hidden Grass Shinobi… Minato let out a sigh "No wonder he was so hard to find…"

=========================================

Back at the house, Jirayia was enjoying some tea with Shizune as he explained why he came all this way to find them, "The Hokage was poisoned, the Medi-Nin are doing all they can but they can only slow the the poisons progress, he needs Tsunade's help…"

Shizune let out a long sigh, "She has been going through a rough patch as of lately, I don't know how much help she can be in her current state." Jirayia's expression turned confused, "Where is she," Shizune replied "Currently asleep she had a rough night last night and will probably sleep longer than usual, your welcome to stay until she wakes up but I can't promise that she will help…"

A figure came flying in through the slightly cracked window, Shizune exclaimed "Shirohi how many times do I have to tell you! USE THE DOOR!" Shirohi ignored Shizune's antics as he approached Jirayia, "How'd you find us?"

Jirayia rubbed the back of his head as he let out an awkward laugh, "Well you see we got lucky…" Shizune questioned "We?" but Jirayia continued "Your pretty Sly, using your alias to spread pointless rumors, buying random rooms at Inns under Tsunade's name all to throw off anyone that may be following, I have to say your gifted at counter intelligence…"

Shirohi pressed "That doesn't answer how you found us, how you found out about me being Ginkamen…" Jirayia just chuckled "Well every village within a 500km area had been used except this one, we just took a shot in the dark… as for knowing you were Ginkamen, well Minato had a hunch…"

Putting away his cloak and mask, Shirohi asked Shizune for a cup of tea, but groaned as he remembered he forgot to finish and pay for his meal, glaring at Jirayia he said "You owe me 600 Ryo" Jirayia deadpanned "For what?!"

"Your little disciple ruined my meal," Jirayia frowned, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out 600 Ryo and tossed it towards Shirohi who happily took it, "Talking about him, where is he?"

Shirohi took a sip of his tea, "He'll be here soon, what's this about anyways?" Shizune chimed in "Shirohi, we're nearly out of clean water, I'll fetch some from down by the stream" Shirohi nodded "Alright, just let me know when your finished and I'll get the water purified…"