Chapter 123: Difficult

"Oh, you are finally here...took you long enough...hihihihi" - Jiraiya sat on a rock and greeted the Konoha force with a red face while giggling.

"THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MISSION AND YOU ARE READING ONE OF YOU ERO-BOOKS WITHOUT A CARE!!!" - Naruto pointed at Jiraiya while shouting.

"Hey...we have to wait anyway, so can't I read to kill time? Anyway, so...who is the leader of you?" - Jiraiya turned serious and looked at the Anbu.

"That would be me, Lord Jiraiya." - Yamato

"Hmm...alright...as you know, the date is tomorrow. Until then the most important thing is to not get spotted by either of the parties. In the meantime, I will gather as much information as I can. For now, only the Shiki Ryuu moved to the meeting place today, but didn't do anything and left as quickly as they came. The status of Orochimaru's force and Akatsuki is currently unknown..." - Jiraiya

"Hey, pervy sage! Can, you train me until tomorrow?" - Naruto

"Hmm...that would be impossible...we can't risk it since it might alert one of the parties and we have to stay alert the whole time...I know it's an important mission for you and that you feel uneasy, but I wouldn't be able to raise your strength with only 1 day of training anyway. So better make sure that you are in top-form for tomorrow instead." - Jiraiya

Naruto heard that and gritted his teeth.

"Naruto..." - Sakura looked at him with a worried look.

The next day, Hidan and Kakuzu who were hiding on top of a tree, watched from afar at the bridge.

"Damn...why do we have to hide? I hate this!" - Hidan complained

"Did your brain erode with your religious teachings? If we don't hide, they will just run away...just wait until they are together or fighting each other." - Kakuzu said grumpily.

"What did you say? In the first place, it's your fault that we were assigned this shitty mission!" - Hidan was reading his scythe and Kakuzu prepared himself too.

"Both of you cut that out..." - Zetsu suddenly appeared.

"Tsk...it's you. Hey, shouldn't it be around time that they arrive?" - Hidan

"My clone can see "The Lost Hokage", Uchiha Sasuke, and the other Shiki Ryuu member...they are almost here...remember, Uchiha Sasuke is the most important target!" - Zetsu

"What about Orochimaru?" - Kakuzu

"He and his force are still nowhere to be seen..." - Zetsu

"Are you fucking with me? He has the most bounty on him and I only voluntarily asked for the mission was because of him." - Kakuzu's voice turned even more grumpy.

"No...he will definitely come...besides there seems a Konoha force nearby..." - Zetsu

"What, a Konoha force? It's good that there are so many sacrifices for Jashin-sama....but this seems like it will be a lot of work..." - Hidan

"How many, and do they have any noteworthy individuals?" - Kakuzu

"One is one of the Sannin, Jiraiya...the other is the nine-tails Jinchuriki...the rest is a full Anbu squad..." - Zetsu

"The hell? The nice-tails Jinchuriki? That's lucky...wait, didn't you mention how we should capture the Jinchuriki in the order of their tails, because of the balance or something?" - Hidan

"Who cares about that you idiot...this tuned into a suicide mission with 2 Sannin here...hey Zetsu...I'm outta here. This is too difficult even for me..." - Kakuzu was ready to leave.

"...they are here..." - Zetsu looked at the bridge, where the trio consisting of Eiji, Ukon, and Sasuke stood at one end of the bridge.

"Tsk, can't leave now...let's continue to hide and see where this goes, Hidan." - Kakuzu

"Hmm...looks like the snake-bastard is late..." - Eiji picked his nose.

"This bastard...now when I'm so close to my revenge..." - Ukon pressed his fists.

Sasuke was silent and had his eyes closed, but after a few seconds, he opened them and looked towards the horizon.

A huge snake approached their location from a distance, destroying everything on its path.

Soon, the three could see two silhouettes on top of the giant snake's head - it was Orochimaru and Kabuto.

Eiji moved his hand instinctively towards his new sword.

The event was about to start!