Chapter 2
Nagato entered his apartment and shut the door behind him.
His two teammates sitting on the sofa together looked up and they both smiled. “Welcome back.” Said Yahiko.
Konan looked at her friend with narrow eyes. “What happened?”
Nagato sat down in the armchair across from them. “We have a mission. Two missions really.”
Yahiko leaned back. “What are they?”
“The first is to determine if the Konoha elder Danzo Shimura was behind the shinobi that we tried to capture last month. And we are to determine if he was behind the attack that destroyed Uzushio.”
“Kiri and Iwa were the ones that attacked us.” Said Konan.
“True, but the Uzukage seems to believe that Shimura was the mastermind behind it. She didn’t tell me but I’m guessing that there’s some information from survivors that she has collected over the years and now she’s finally able to patch it all together.”
Konan raised an eyebrow in question. One that she didn’t need to ask.
“If he is, the Uzukage wants him killed.”
“What’s the second mission?” ask Yahiko.
“To see how the jinchuuriki of Konoha is being treated. Because he is also Kaho-sama’s nephew.”
Yahiko gave a low whistle at that. “Waterspouts…” he breathed.
Konan nodded thoughtfully. “Konoha and the other villages don’t know that Uzushio is still alive and doing well. At least as far as we can tell. With the mystery shinobi coming here at Shimura’s orders, we may not be able to remain hidden any longer.”
“No, we may have to reveal ourselves. So, we must go to Konoha and see what Danzo may know and what he may have done to us in the past.”
Yahiko jumped to his feet and went over to the bookcase and rummaged through the scrolls situated there until he found the one he wanted. Sitting back down, he unrolled a map of the Elemental Countries. “So, which way should we go?”
“Keep it simple.” Said Konan. “Let’s go through Hot Springs Country. Then onto Fire Country.”
Nagato looked at her. “Why not just enter Fire directly?”
“We need a cover.” She replied. “We can go in as traders. From here.” She pointed to a village on the map.
Nagato leaned back in the chair. He could see where she was going with her plan. “So, small trading family but ambitious. Our elders are sending us to explore potential markets. So, we start with Yugakure.”
“Yes, and since it is popular, we should be able to hire a genin team to escort us to Konoha. You two are going to have to change your appearance.”
“Henge?”
Yahiko shook his head. “Konoha has the Hyuuga Clan. If we go in there as simple traders and a Hyuuga notices we are using henges, there will be questions.”
Nagato sighed. He hated dyeing his hair but there weren’t many people with red hair in the Elemental Countries. Especially with his shade. And Yahiko’s daylily orange was just as bad. “Okay.” He grumbled.
Konan grinned at his reaction. “I have a few ideas of what we should have for trade.”
Nagato and Yahiko grinned at each other. Konan always had ideas. And she might truly create new trading opportunities for Uzushio as well as their real reason for going to Konoha.