The Land of Rice Paddies Investigation Pt.1

Blue skies with perfectly shaped fluffy white clouds, bluejays mimicking each other in the trees, and the soft hum of life filling the air–these are the ingredients that makeup Jiraiya's perfect day. That and spending time with his newfound daughter, Katsume. And the sight before him right now may have just sealed the deal that this is indeed the most perfect day. His daughter, sleeping peacefully against her summoned animal. The horse is laying down legs tucked beneath him as Katsume lies perpendicular with her back against his shoulder, guarding her as she sleeps in the open under a willow tree. The sun's warm rays through the long hanging branches create artistic splotches of light along her lightly tanned skin. One of her arms is draped lazily over her eyes, while the other is resting over her heart as her chest rises and falls evenly with her relaxed breathing. Jiraiya wishes he could take a picture of the idyllically innocent scene, but also wonders if she is uncomfortable sleeping in her apartment. She did spend most of her life traveling with Dakuhosu. He has never seen such an unnecessarily close bond with a summoned animal before and that realization gave him a sense of security that she has had him to lean on through all these years. He smiles as he looks down at the two. Dakuhosu notices Jiraiya's presence and lifts his head.

He glances between Jiraiya and Katsume noticing their similarities and puts the pieces together quickly.

"She's quite comfortable here. I have never seen her fall asleep in the open as quickly as she has today."

Jiraiya smiles as he looks down at her, his eyes soft in adoration, "I'm glad. Thank you."

Dakuhosu nods, understanding his deeper gratitude, "She's a handful. I've nearly killed her myself on multiple occasions, but she has an immense spirit. I wouldn't want to serve anyone else." He turns his head and nudges Katsumes shoulder lightly with his muzzle. "You have a visitor. Lazy ass."

Jiraiya chuckles at the contrast between his speech to him and Katsume. She stirs in her sleep and flutters her eyes open.

"Oh, Jiraiya. Hey, what's going on?" Katsume rubs the sleep from her eyes and finally registers Daku's comment, " Also, who's the ass here?"

Jiraiya laughs loudly when Dakuhosu kicks Katsume off of him and she mumbles out profanities towards the dark horse. She pops up as if she hadn't just awakened from a deep sleep and turns to her father expectantly.

"I would like you to accompany me on an investigation mission to the Land of Rice Paddies," Jiraiya states getting straight to the point, "I think your expertise and knowledge of the area will come in handy."

"Oh, sure! When do we leave?" Katsume pats her cargo pants off from any dirt or leaves from the ground then smooths out her hair haphazardly since there's no taming that unruly mess.

"We can leave tomorrow… What are you doing?" He cocks his head to the side as she seems to be looking around, concern contorting her features.

"Hold on," she replies shortly, her eyebrows drawing in concentration and she pivots ninety degrees to the north.

Jiraiya watches her intense state and begins to grow concerned as well. "What is it, Katsume," he orders this time, his tone serious.

"There is a disturbance at the northern end of the barrier," she states surely, the tension in her eyebrows remaining. Was someone about to attack the village? Why hasn't the barrier team noticed yet? She didn't like the feel of this. "Daku. Let's go," she orders lowly. Katsume climbs over the still-lying horse, getting a strong grip on his black mane. She holds out her hand, "Jiraiya, get on."

Jiraiya glances rapidly between her and the horse. The northern border is too far for either of them to use a transportation jutsu, so he guesses he doesn't have a choice. Damn. Dakuhosu is surely large enough to hold both of them and then some, but riding isn't his cup of tea. The village could be in danger, he reminds himself, thankful for Katsume's extremely keen senses–which honestly amazed him, not even he could have sensed that from this distance.

He grabs her hand and swings his leg over Dakuhosu settling behind her. With a mighty jolt, the horse is quickly and easily on his feet. He spins and takes off with a burst of speed in the direction Katsume mentioned. Jiraiya holds on to Katsume's inconveniently unzipped falk jacket as he redirects his chakra to his ass to maintain his balance on the massive horse. This was not his idea of fun. He was not enjoying this. But then his eyes trail to the rapidly passing scenery of Kohona, then to his daughter who was simply tying her hair back, determination in her eyes on the path ahead. As if she wasn't on the back of this grand animal galloping at an unimaginable speed–like this situation was just another day for her. He felt a surge of varying emotions; awe, adoration, pride, and sorrow. He still didn't have a clue of what she's been through throughout her life, but at this moment he realizes she had gone through enough. Be it hardship, loneliness, anguish, grief, or adventure. It was enough to morph and mold the woman before him. A highly accomplished, highly experienced woman for her age. It brought with it warmth like the sun, and a cold more frigid than the mountains of Yukigakure.

Before he knew it they had come to a fierce stop and Katsume was already flying off of Dakuhosu stomping towards a pair of familiar faces. Oh. He had never seen his daughter this angry. It was a terrifying sight. She looked just like Tsunade the day she nearly killed him when she caught him peeping on her while she was bathing.

"What in the hell are you guys doing?! What are you doing way out here? Are you leaving ?!" Katsume questioned incredulously at her two genin, Naruto and Sakura–who were quickly backing up as she stormed towards them. Never having seen their sensei in a state less than sunny.

"Katsume-sensei?? Pervy Sage?" Naruto exclaims in utter shock at the scene he just witnessed, not even processing the fact they were just caught trying to leave the village. He had just watched his mentor and his sensei arrive at blazing speed on a massive black horse and gaped as she leaped from the horse while still in motion. A terrifying sight.

Sakura's eyes were wide with an emotion she couldn't pin down–shock, terror, admiration, or all three, she had no idea. "W-what are you doing here?"

Katsume gapes, she did not just ask her that! "What am I doing here? What are you doing here? Do you understand the consequences of leaving the village without proper authorization as a ninja?"

Naruto and Sakura glance at each other and then back to their fuming sensei.

Jiraiya, having finally climbed down off of Dakuhosu had joined the panicked group. He places a gentle hand on Katsume's shoulder. "Now, Katsume, I'm sure your students have a perfectly reasonable explanation, let's settle down and talk about this," he offers with a warm smile.

Katsume takes a breath. She was still riding off the adrenaline that the village may have been under attack, and she understands she may have taken it out on the kids more harshly than intended. Jiraiya was acting like he was worried she was going to kill them or manhandle a couple of kids. It was a bit comical and unnerving that he may have thought such a thing from her. No, it was warranted. She needs to get herself in check. She takes another breath. Relax. Everything is fine. What worries her now is the problem of Sakura and Naruto trying to leave the village and possibly being labeled missing-nin along with Sasuke. She remembers what Kakashi warned her about recently on her first day as co-sensei.

"I'm worried they'll do something reckless."

He was right to worry. And they did. But she was also right when she told him he had an extra pair of eyes to watch over them. You're welcome, Kakashi.

"You guys are going after Sasuke aren't you," she finally asks the two genin, who turn their guilty expressions away from her. "I figured as much." She places her hands on the top of their heads getting their attention again, "Look, I understand your rush to bring Sasuke back, but you have to put your faith in your fellow shinobi that we are doing everything in our power to bring him home. I may not have known Sasuke but I do know that he is extremely important to the ones close to him. And that is enough for me to do everything in my power to help you guys get him back. Just like I promised."

Jiraiya cuts in with a pat on Katsume's shoulder, smiling cheekily, "Lucky for you two, we were headed out on a mission to gather information regarding Orochimaru right now."

She cranes her neck to look at the tall man, "We were?" She asks him as his eyes remind her of the mission he invited her on earlier, "Oh, yes! We were." Katsume nods in agreement.

Jiraiya laughs, "It was a chance for father-daughter bonding, but you guys should tag along since you don't have the authorization to leave the village. No harm no foul, and you can help us and gain some experience!"

"Fa–..." Naruto stares at Jiraiya eyes wide then turns slowly to Katsume, "Daughter?!"

Sakura hammer-fists him on the head, "Naruto! Don't be rude! Gosh, you're so oblivious!"

Kakashi is going to kill me. Katsume thought.

"Let's head out then, the sooner we get back the better," Katsume grumbles as she hops back on Dakuhosu.

Jiraiya laughs loudly throwing his head back as he, Naruto, and Sakura follow alongside her and the great black horse.

"So, where are we going?" Sakura asks no one in particular.

There's a long silence as Jiraiya glances at Katsume. Naruto and Sakura seem to sense a light tension as their gazes turn to Katsume as well.

Katsume takes a deep breath and stares at the road ahead, "The Land of Rice Paddies; Otogakure– "

"My old village."

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Katsume, Jiraiya, Naruto, and Sakura arrive at the outskirts of yet another backwater town, all previous towns, unfortunately, had not provided any helpful information about the whereabouts of Orochimaru's base within the Land of Rice Paddies. But here they are in a dingy border town that has definitely seen better days. The three--Oh, and Dakuhosu, who somehow got roped into the entire journey, although Katsume has legs of her own-- look over the small, nearly abandoned town with unanimous expressions of dread.

Jiraiya turns to Naruto and Sakura. "Wait at the temple. Katsume and I will head in to gather whatever intel we can and meet you back here in one hour." He holds up his single index finger for emphasis.

The two genin groan and Naruto plops down on his butt in the grass. "Ugh, I'm going to pummel that Sasuke for making us go through all this crap."

Sakura rolls her eyes and crosses her arms over her chest, "Naruto, you haven't even done anything yet. Katsume-sensei and Master Jiraiya have been doing all the work so far. Quit complaining!"

Katsume snorts as Sakura whacks him upside the head, she'll never get tired of that. "Don't get into trouble or I'll kick both your asses," she threatens light-heartedly as she waves them off walking alongside Dakuhosu and Jiraiya.

Some time passes, and Naruto and Sakura had done as they were told and waited by the temple on the outskirts of the backwater town. Naruto, for lack of anything better to do, decides to throw kunai into the green grass from his post on top of a small boulder while Sakura sits on another boulder beside him, her thoughts keeping her plenty busy. She feels guilty having dragged Naruto, Master Jiraiya, and Katsume-sensei into her desperate attempt to leave the village to save Sasuke. And so far, it's starting to feel like it was all for nothing, it doesn't seem like Sasuke is even in this land anymore. Dead end after dead end. Not a speck of information on Sasuke, Orochimaru, or his base; Otogakure. Maybe they should just forget about it and go back to the village.

Suddenly, Sakura hears the ruffle of leaves in the bushes behind them. There's someone there!

"Naruto! Get down!" Sakura yells.

She grabs his collar and yanks him down behind the boulder as a swarm of kunai flies in their direction.

"What the crap!?"

The sharp metal knives clang rapidly against the large rocks.

Naruto peeks out from behind the boulder when the flurry stops. He watches as the assailant jumps out from behind the bushes and prepares for their next attack. It's just a kid! Sakura peeks out as well and jumps into a nearby tree, directing her chakra into the bottom of her feet to run along the side of a branch, and throws her own kunai at the assailant. The kid jumps out of the way of her attack almost too late, then staggers back and collapses to the ground. Naruto runs at the assailant on the ground at a full sprint. Sakura notices something off about the kid.

"Wait Naruto! I think he's hurt!"

"What?!" Naruto skids to a halt before he reaches the kid, "But he just attacked us!"

The kid tries to move to escape but winces and grabs his shoulder stumbling and falling to the ground again. Sakura hops down from the tree and approaches him. She places a delicate hand on his unharmed shoulder, "You're hurt, aren't you? I have medicine…let me help you." Sakura gives the kid a soft smile.

The kid–masked, with nothing but his pained eyes and a bit of his hair showing– pauses cautiously before reluctantly nodding and taking the hand held out to him.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Katsume and Jiraiya saunter the dirt roads in silence. It was an uncomfortable silence, Jiraiya noticed. He could feel more and more tension rise in Katsume's presence the further they got into the town. It was concerning to see such a diverse side of his daughter since they started the mission this morning. She was so tense–even in her cheesy smile and boisterous laughter throughout the journey–as though she was forcing herself to act normal for the sake of her students.

Once through the border of the town, Katsume finally breaks the silence, and Jiraiya notices her eyebrows furrowed in a serious scowling expression, "This town isn't as deserted as it seems," she says lowly, her eyes flickering rapidly to different buildings and homes before landing on one in particular in the direction of the center of town, "I detect twelve separate chakras lingering around a building in the town square over there. Bandits most likely. The air surrounding it feels hostile."

Jiraiya looks down at Katsume, noticing Dakuhosu walking closer and scarcely preceding her, almost protectively, but at the moment, Jiraiya is unable to decipher whether it was to protect her…or to intervene.

Her chakra sensory abilities are on an entirely different level, he thought. He had no doubt she could feel the chakra of every living being in the village if she so chooses. He watches as her mood turns heavy akin to flipping a switch, her expression contorting along with it– a deadly one. She was almost unrecognizable, and he was starting to understand why she waited to say anything until they were out of sight from her students. It is the side of her she keeps locked away until the circumstance requires it–the one that comes with years of tracking, fighting,...and killing. He didn't want to bring it up before during their talk on her second day in the village, and he's not sure if he ever will, but when she told him of her accomplishments and the title she earned with it, he realized he had heard the story years prior. He's held onto the knowledge that he and his daughter had inadvertently crossed paths before, possibly multiple times. As she told her tale, he found he already knew of The Huntress and her perfect completion record, along with the details she withheld from him–her ruthlessness, brutality, and belligerence. He knew. And now he's getting a firsthand glimpse of it. The fire behind the amber eyes-- burning, set, and eager for the potential of a fight. But she's not a freelance, villageless, bounty hunter anymore. She's a shinobi of Konohagakure. And she needs to remember what she represents.

He places a gentle calloused hand on her shoulder--an action he's noticed has a great effect on her. She turns to him expectantly, her expression softening only a tinge. "Take it easy. We'll check it out. Let's prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Okay?" Jiraiya smiles down at her, noticing that side of her begin to retreat into the darker depths of her mind. She returns his smile tight-lipped as if she's dispirited from his order. He wants to avoid seeing that side of his daughter if he can help it.

The three of them continue into the empty heart of the town–the town square. The town was empty and dull despite the hues cast by the evening sun. It was located in the valley of multiple hills the team had to hike through to cross the border of the small country. There is a large dried-up cement fountain at the center of the square, surrounded by visibly abandoned shops. But for Katsume, it was much too open. Although the air felt so hostile it was nearly palpable in this area, there was no one to be seen. Jiraiya warned her not to be hasty but her gut is rarely wrong–this could be a trap. She felt the figures of chakra scrambling, dispersing to every angle of the square. She was sure now. It's an ambush.

"Jiraiya," she warns.

He doesn't acknowledge her. He doesn't need to. Her voice was lower than he's ever heard it, laced with a potent venom. It's back. That side of her strikes at him, and it forces him to realize this is her first mission since becoming a shinobi–an extremely experienced novice shinobi. But he guesses that is just one of the things that makes her so unique. That's it, he thought, that is the perfect word for her– unique.

They're closing in, she thought as she reached for a kunai in her utility belt. She whirls it around her index finger, catching it facing away from her and bringing it at mouth level. Behind her hand she hides the sadistic grin creeping, tugging eagerly at the corners of her blush lips. Another one–they'll be fine.

Jiraiya senses it now, the chakras surrounding them. But that's not all he senses. He feels her familiar warmth– expanding, radiating, intensifying,... igniting.

It's awake.