C6

"It's so delicious, mister!" Yahiko exclaimed with his mouth full of buttered bread and ham. He was struggling to speak clearly with the food spilling out, which made Kain frown and take a step back, visibly uncomfortable. Noticing this, the blue-haired Konan quickly intervened.

"Yahiko, swallow before you speak! I'm sorry, Uncle Kain. We've just been so hungry for days, and your bread is amazing," Konan apologized with a polite bow.

Kain sighed and corrected her, "Don't call me 'uncle.' I'm not that old, and we're not that close. Just call me Mister Kain." He then shifted the conversation. "So, where are you three headed? And which shinobi are you planning to learn ninjutsu from?"

Yahiko, who had barely swallowed his food, replied with renewed energy, "We're not sure exactly where, but we saw Konoha shinobi fighting Hanzo last time, and they survived! We want to find them and learn ninjutsu to change the Land of Rain!"

Kain shook his head slightly, causing Yahiko to narrow his eyes in annoyance. "What, Mister Kain, you don't believe us?" Yahiko asked, clearly feeling challenged.

"No, it's not that. Your dream is admirable—keep at it." Kain wasn't interested in arguing with the boy. He found it pointless to debate with idealistic children, especially when they lacked the wisdom to see beyond their immediate desires. What he was really after had nothing to do with their childish dreams.

Yahiko, undeterred, continued, "We saw the Konoha shinobi didn't leave any of their dead behind after fighting Hanzo. If we keep heading toward the Land of Fire, we'll catch up with them eventually."

"That's helpful," Kain mused to himself. He knew Yahiko was most likely leading him toward the legendary Sannin—Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya. Ideally, he would prefer to bind his world trading contract with someone like Tsunade or Orochimaru. They were bound to stay in Konoha before the Third Shinobi War erupted, and they wielded enough influence to be valuable trading partners. Jiraiya, on the other hand, might stick around to mentor Yahiko and his friends. Either way, establishing a relationship with Konoha shinobi was a strategic move. If things went south, Kain could always retreat back to his home world without hesitation.

Konan, who had been observing Kain's thoughtful expression, gently asked, "Mister Kain, what are you thinking about?"

Kain smirked slightly. "I was just considering a deal. How about this: I'll follow you three and help you find the Konoha shinobi. In return, you help me find them quickly. As payment for your services, here's some milk and chocolate," he said, pulling out three boxes of milk and some candy from his backpack.

Yahiko's eyes lit up at the sight of the treats. Milk and chocolate were luxuries even before the war, and now they were nearly impossible to find. Still, he couldn't help but be cautious. "What do you want with the Konoha shinobi, Mister Kain?" Yahiko asked, his wariness showing through.

Kain chuckled and waved a hand dismissively. "I'm a businessman, kid, not someone looking to become a ninja like you. I'm just here for a potential trade, nothing more. Do I look like someone who's going to train to become a shinobi at my age? Be mature."

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Yahiko nodded. "Alright, Mister Kain, we agree. Thank you," he said, immediately dividing the milk and chocolate among Konan and Nagato. They all pocketed the chocolate, knowing it was too precious to eat right away.

With the deal set, Kain stood up and dusted himself off. "Good. Now let's move. I don't have much time left," he urged. He was down to just over a day to secure a trading partner. If Tsunade or Orochimaru were unwilling to work with him, he'd have no choice but to bind the trade to one of Yahiko's companions, Nagato or Konan.

The group set out toward the Land of Fire, where they hoped to find the Konoha shinobi. Though Yahiko's idealism made him seem naive, Kain had to admit the boy had good instincts. Yahiko had correctly deduced the direction the Sannin would take after their battle with Hanzo, which was impressive for a kid who hadn't received formal training yet.

The trio's lack of physical stamina, however, was a problem. They were often exhausted and had to stop frequently to rest. Kain, always impatient, used chocolate and other small treats to motivate them to keep going. His tactic worked. Fueled by the promise of more food, Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato pushed themselves harder than ever before. After hours of walking through the rain, the sun began to set, and they finally spotted movement ahead.

"There they are, up ahead!" Yahiko whispered excitedly, but his eagerness was tempered with a sense of responsibility. "Mister Kain, should we—"

"Just walk straight up to them. You're looking for their help, right? The only advantage you have is your youth and sincerity. I'm a businessman, not some spy. Moving suspiciously will only make them more wary, and that could ruin any chance of negotiating with them. Besides, they've probably already noticed us," Kain advised, brushing past Yahiko.

Yahiko frowned but ultimately agreed with Kain's logic. "Alright, Konan, Nagato, stay back for now. If something goes wrong, you two run," he instructed before hurrying after Kain.

As they approached, they heard voices coming from what looked like a makeshift shelter in the ruins of a building. Kain caught snippets of a conversation between two people.

"The war's finally winding down," a woman's voice said. "Once Sand Shinobi retreats, we can return to the village for some much-needed rest."

"Let's hope the other villages calm down too. We can't handle another long battle, Tsunade," replied a man's voice, though it was cut off as they noticed Kain and Yahiko approaching.

Kain decided to speak up before things got tense. "Shinobi of Konoha, we mean no harm! We're not from Amegakure. I'm just here to discuss a business proposal."

The man they had heard speaking earlier, Jiraiya, appeared in the rain with his hands ready for combat, but the woman, Tsunade, looked at them suspiciously. She didn't sense the chakra of a ninja from either of them.

After a moment of assessing the situation, Tsunade called out from the shelter, "Come inside and talk."

As Kain and Yahiko made their way into the ruins, they noticed a figure stepping out from the shadows—Orochimaru. The trio had now officially encountered the legendary Sannin.