Chapter 446 — You Want to Have Some Fun?
It took the four of them two full days to reach the agreed-upon town.
They weren't in any hurry. For a shinobi, being away from the village for over a week during a mission was perfectly normal. Even though Kei, Kenta, and Kakashi all held important positions, a short absence like this wouldn't cause any real issues.
Especially since Konoha was still in negotiations with Kumogakure, and the entire shinobi world seemed to be shifting because of it, creating all sorts of ripple effects.
But none of that required their direct attention. With Minato as Hokage and Shikaku managing administration, things were under control. As long as they didn't stay away too long, nothing would go wrong.
They all understood this, which was why they moved at such a relaxed pace.
And this trip wasn't just about the mission—each of them had their own reasons for coming, even Kakashi.
After meeting "Uchiha Rin," Kakashi was surprised to find how well they got along. Even when their views differed, their coordination felt almost instinctive.
It gave him a strange sense of familiarity.
As if…
he were walking beside Obito again.
Of course, Kei now held an equal—if not greater—place in Kakashi's heart, but that feeling was different. It was respect.
Kei was like a guide, someone who had pulled him out of darkness and set him back on the right path. Someone he admired deeply.
But that also meant Kakashi could never quite see them as equals.
With "Rin," though, it was different.
There was no distance. No weight of admiration.
Just an easy, natural connection.
"Looks like this is the place," Kei said, breaking Kakashi's thoughts.
After entering the town and taking a quick look around, he immediately recognized it as their destination.
The place was… chaotic.
There were a lot of shinobi here, but not just the usual registered ones. While some could be identified by their headbands, many others couldn't.
Wandering samurai. Rogue ninja.
People with no clear affiliation.
Shinobi tied to villages were probably here on missions, but those drifters were a different story.
For them, earning money wasn't easy.
The only jobs available were usually the most dangerous—bounty work.
They might call themselves lone wolves, too proud to join a village.
But in reality?
Most were either missing-nin, traitors, or simply not strong enough to be valued.
Of course, there were exceptions—powerful rogues whose names were recorded in bingo books across the nations.
But regardless of category, one thing was the same.
They lived on the edge.
True desperados.
"A perfect place for Orochimaru," Kenta muttered. "Chaotic, crowded, full of all kinds of people. Easy to hide, and just as easy to gather information."
"Yeah…" Kei slowed his steps and glanced at a rather unusual building nearby, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Come to think of it… I'm almost seventeen."
"…Wait, don't tell me," Kenta stared at him in disbelief. "You're thinking about going in there for some fun?"
"What, is soaking in a hot spring a crime?" Kei shot back. "Who said anything about going to a pleasure house? Can't I just enjoy a bath?"
"You really expect me to believe that?" Kenta rolled his eyes. "Sure, maybe Ayaka would."
"She's not even here," Kei replied lazily. "Besides, the first time I went to a hot spring was with you."
Kenta snorted. That had been a proper hot spring in Konoha.
This place?
This was a brothel.
Sure, it had baths. And decent rooms.
But that didn't change what it was.
And now Kei was talking about going in?
Kenta didn't buy it for a second… though the thought crossed his mind—without Ayaka around, maybe Kei was letting his guard down a bit.
Then again, considering Ayaka's personality…
Kenta rubbed his chin.
Maybe she was just too strict.
Anyone would feel a little suffocated in that situation.
Suddenly, his expression changed. He patted Kei's shoulder with exaggerated sympathy.
"I get it," he said solemnly. "I really do. Don't worry—I'll keep your secret. As long as you treat me."
"…Get lost." Kei slapped his hand away. "I don't know what you're imagining, but I'll buy you food. Anything else, you're paying yourself."
With that, he walked off without looking back.
A moment later, he frowned slightly.
Since when had he said he wanted to go in?
He'd only been joking.
Now it sounded like he actually meant it.
"That idiot…"
Shaking his head, Kei let it go.
A joke was just a joke.
His gaze shifted forward, landing on a dimly lit tavern. His expression turned serious.
That was their meeting point.
Walking inside, Kei frowned.
The place was dark—even in broad daylight, it relied on artificial lighting.
It was also crowded.
Every seat was taken, and the atmosphere was tense. The patrons eyed newcomers with suspicion.
None of them wore identifying symbols.
No headbands.
No clear allegiance.
Kei swept his gaze across the room before heading further inside.
They had already removed their Konoha identifiers. Even Obito had taken off his flak jacket.
Although three of them could still be recognized if someone looked closely, it didn't really matter.
They weren't trying to hide.
They simply didn't care.
As long as they stayed cautious—especially about poison—none of the people here posed a real threat.
And removing their symbols served another purpose.
It sent a message.
They weren't here to arrest anyone.
They weren't here to kill.
They walked toward the back of the tavern, where Orochimaru had reserved a private room.
The soundproofing was poor.
Even from outside, faint noises could be heard leaking through the thin walls.
As they passed one of the private rooms, bursts of unrestrained laughter spilled out, mixed with the soft, breathy moans of women.
"This kind of place is… interesting," Kenta chuckled. "People living so recklessly—aren't they afraid an enemy might track them down and kill them right here?"
"People like that probably don't think that far ahead," Obito replied casually. "And anyone truly strong wouldn't behave like this. The ones indulging like that are usually nothing special."
"That's not entirely true," Kakashi said, nodding slightly. "Konoha has its share of eccentric but incredibly powerful ninja."
"People can't be judged the same way," Kei cut in smoothly. "Just look at the First Hokage—unbelievably powerful. And then look at the current inheritors of the Senju clan… what kind of state are they in?"
"…What's that supposed to mean?" Kenta shot him an annoyed look.
"Nothing in particular," Kei said lightly. "Just making a comparison. I didn't name anyone, did I?"
He didn't bother waiting for Kenta's reaction. Instead, he stopped in front of a small private room and knocked lightly on the door. Without waiting for a response, he pushed it open.
The room wasn't large, but it could comfortably fit five or six people.
And someone was already inside.
Kakashi and Obito's pupils contracted the moment they saw him.
There was no disguise.
No attempt to hide.
It was Orochimaru.
So that was who Kei had come to meet.
Konoha's most wanted criminal.
Why would Kei be meeting him?
Kakashi felt as if something clicked into place, though he still couldn't be entirely certain. He chose to stay silent, watching carefully. There had to be a reason Minato had sent him along.
"You're being rather bold, Orochimaru-sama," Kei said as he took a seat, letting out a faint sigh. "You do realize we're supposed to be on opposite sides. This makes things awkward for me."
"Are we really just cat and mouse, Minister Kei?" Orochimaru's gaze swept across the group before he let out a low, raspy laugh. "Three department heads… and one mysterious addition. At this point, I'm hardly a mouse anymore, am I? More like a blade in your hands."
Kei smiled faintly and took a slow sip of tea.
Even after all this time, Orochimaru's perception hadn't dulled in the slightest—if anything, it had grown sharper.
Just by looking at the people present and considering their positions, he had already grasped Minato's intentions.
And yet, he neither agreed nor refused.
Being used as a blade didn't bother him.
What mattered was the price.
What could Konoha offer him?
That was the only thing that interested him.
Orochimaru was a practical man. Empty promises meant nothing to him. But if Konoha could provide what he wanted, he would gladly become their weapon.
Sitting to the side, Kakashi listened quietly, finally understanding why his teacher had sent him.
Just as he had suspected.
And now, he also understood what would be expected of him in the future.
Thinking back, when Kei had raided Orochimaru's base, hadn't Orochimaru deliberately left behind certain things? That had allowed Minato to reclaim significant authority.
And after Orochimaru was declared a missing-nin, it seemed that only Jiraiya had actively pursued him.
That alone said enough.
Obito, meanwhile, tilted his head slightly, appearing detached—as if none of this concerned him. But in reality, he was already thinking about something else entirely.
"How you interpret this is up to you, Orochimaru-sama," Kei said calmly. He pulled a folded note from his pouch and handed it over. "I'm just trying to avoid exposing anything that shouldn't be exposed. I believe you understand that as well."
"Of course," Orochimaru licked his lips lightly as he took the note. "No one saw me enter… except certain individuals."
He unfolded the paper and read it carefully, his eyes narrowing with interest.
"Hmm… it seems your ambitions are quite substantial this time, Minister Kei."
"Simply put," Kei replied evenly, "there's something I need, something Konoha needs, and something the Hokage needs. In addition to protection, we can provide you with resources. Whether those resources align with Konoha's interests… depends on your judgment."
"Now that's interesting."
Orochimaru studied the note for a long moment before folding it away.
"I'll prepare a list of what I want and give it to you tonight. But before that…" his voice dropped slightly, "I need you to take care of a small problem."
"A problem?"
Kei frowned slightly.
And just then—
the door to their room was pushed open.