"Yamada Ichirou, 50 years old. He joined Konoha's registry twenty years ago. He's made a living chopping wood, has no parents or children, and lives alone."
Jiraiya unrolled the scroll and read out the target's information.
The three of them were currently hiding in a tree, observing the run-down mud house where the target lived.
At this hour, the target still hadn't returned home.
Before this, they had already searched the target's house thoroughly.
Unfortunately, they didn't find anything useful.
"Why not just have someone from the Hyuga Clan come take a look? They could confirm it in an instant," Kushina said, lying on a tree branch and staring suspiciously at the target's house.
The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan could see chakra flow inside the human body.
As long as they saw the chakra, they could determine if the person was a spy, right?
Why go through all this trouble with reconnaissance?
Such a hassle.
Kushina, future Hokage, wanted real fists-to-the-face action, dattebane!!
"The target could just claim he used to be a wandering ninja. Then what?" Uchiha Gin rebutted her.
Konoha Village allowed wandering ninja to join. They didn't even require a separate registry.
Back when Hashirama Senju was alive, anyone was welcome to join Konoha, no questions asked.
Later, the Second Hokage improved the admission process.
First, a sponsor was required for entry. Then, the newcomer had to pay an annual fee to Konoha. Their background would be monitored closely for three years, watched with caution for another three, and left alone for the final three years.
Only after nine years—and paying every cent on time—could someone be considered a normal villager, and even then, they had no access to anything related to ninjas.
Their children, if born in the village, might have a chance to attend the Ninja Academy.
This pretty much cut off most spies.
After all, no village would willingly invest in a plan that took nine years unless they were desperate—like losing their entire village—or they were one of the other four great shinobi nations.
Of course, infiltration wasn't limited to this method. But it was the least suspicious one.
As for how Yamada Ichirou got exposed, Uchiha Gin had no idea.
Kushina couldn't argue back against Gin's logic, so she just scoffed and turned away.
Hmph, acting like you know everything.
"So Gin, got any good ideas?" Jiraiya asked. This mission was tough, but it was a test for them as well.
Gin rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Simple. Grab him, beat him until he confesses. Whether he is or isn't a spy, he'll admit it eventually."
He was all for forced confessions. Gin wasn't about to waste time here.
Jiraiya: "..."
Minato Namikaze: "..."
Kushina roared, "Be a decent person, will you?!"
What good would a confession obtained through beating be?!
Gin shot her a side glance. "We're ninja, not court officials. Who needs evidence?"
If they were looking for evidence all the time, they might as well have broken brains.
Kushina was furious but couldn't find a solid counterargument. She felt so flustered she kicked at Gin in anger.
"Go die already!"
Gin nimbly dodged.
"Alright, enough!" Jiraiya quickly intervened.
This little scene could easily get them exposed.
Soon enough, everyone quieted down.
The target was approaching.
An elderly man with gray hair, carrying firewood on his back, came into view.
That was their target: Yamada Ichirou.
Watching him approach, Jiraiya began assigning tasks.
"Minato, Kushina, gather intel from the nearby area. Gin, you're with me to keep watch on him."
"Yes!" Minato and Kushina disappeared instantly.
Gin and Jiraiya stayed hidden in the tree.
Yamada Ichirou opened his door and went inside.
Gin and Jiraiya leapt down from the tree, landing softly on the roof.
Jiraiya nodded at Gin.
Gin raised a finger and pointed at the roof.
Finger Gun.
Whoosh.
A small, hidden hole appeared.
Gin peered through it.
The target was cooking a meal. After eating, he tossed his dishes aside and lay down to rest.
Nothing seemed unusual.
They stayed there until deep into the night.
Finally, Minato and Kushina returned.
They regrouped in a hidden spot not far from the house.
"Everyone around here speaks highly of Yamada Ichirou," Minato reported. "He's seen as a kind old man, often helping others. Even got swindled out of a lot of money recently."
Though he had a good reputation, he didn't seem to have any real friends.
Which was suspicious in itself.
"Maybe this is all a misunderstanding? He doesn't seem like a spy at all. Just a lonely old man," Kushina said, feeling a bit of sympathy.
Poor guy. First scammed, now accused of espionage.
Hearing this, Jiraiya's expression hardened.
"Kushina, have you forgotten one of the ninja rules? A ninja must never act on emotions."
Kushina bowed her head silently.
"Enough, lay off her," Gin unexpectedly spoke up for her.
"Our written exams always had us battling for last place. How could she know any better?" Gin said, picking at his ear, looking utterly indifferent.
Unfortunately, last place had always been Gin's to claim—he never even bothered to write anything.
"I'm gonna kill you!!" Enraged, Kushina's fiery red hair floated around as she lunged at him.
Gin, ever curious, thought, Is that really not a jutsu ability?
"Alright, Kushina!" Minato quickly held her back, sparing Gin from another beating.
Kushina fumed but looked slightly heartbroken too.
Gin made a tch sound, looking at the two like they were putting on a gross public display of affection.
"But that old man's definitely a spy," Gin declared.
Jiraiya perked up. "How do you figure?"
Minato and Kushina also leaned in—they hadn't noticed anything suspicious.
Gin grabbed the mission scroll from Jiraiya's belt and pointed at the description.
"With a profile like that, it screams spy."
In his past life, tons of spy movies featured characters just like this—this was practically a textbook example.
"Don't make such a reckless conclusion!" Jiraiya angrily whacked Gin on the head.
The next moment—
The two locked eyes.
"AAAGGHH!!" Jiraiya clutched his hand and rolled on the ground in pain.
Gin calmly plucked a tiny needle from his head.
"I knew you'd pull that move again."
Last time Jiraiya pulled the same stunt, but Gin wasn't about to fall for it twice.
Jiraiya stood up, looking at the blood on his fist, almost in tears.
He actually trapped his own sensei...
Gin grinned smugly.
Such a petty little brat!
THUMP!
Gin suddenly crouched down, hugging his head.
"Ouch!"
"Hmph!" Jiraiya snorted coldly. "Serves you right!"
Gin glared at Jiraiya defiantly.
"Next time, I'm poisoning it."
"HISS!!" ×3
Uchiha Gin really was terrifying.
"Shh!" Jiraiya suddenly signaled for silence. They all turned to look at Yamada Ichirou's house—where a black figure darted out, sprinting away at high speed.
Given that kind of movement, there was no doubt he was a ninja—and definitely a spy.
"He's making a run for it already?"
Everyone was surprised he made such an obvious move.
"I'll leave this to you guys," Jiraiya said. "I'll notify the others."
Yeah right, Gin thought. You just want an excuse to slack off.
Even Minato gave a helpless smile.
But Kushina believed him wholeheartedly.
"Leave it to us!"
"If we don't hurry, he'll get away!" Gin warned.
The three of them vanished instantly, using Shave (剃) to give chase.
As they chased after Yamada Ichirou, Jiraiya's body "poofed" into smoke—just a shadow clone.
Although Shave was usually for short bursts, it made long chases faster than normal movement too.
They kept a good distance, tailing him through the forest.
Trees flashed past on either side.
Soon, Yamada Ichirou came to a stop.
The three immediately scattered and hid atop different trees.
Yamada Ichirou stood still, seemingly searching for something.
Suddenly, his head twisted backwards unnaturally until it lay flat on his back.
A creepy grin spread across his face.
"I see you!"
BOOM!BOOM!BOOM!
Explosions rang out from three different directions.
But Gin, Minato, and Kushina appeared around him in a triangular formation, surrounding him.
"When did he spot us?" Kushina whispered to Minato.
At this distance, even a whisper could be heard.
Yamada Ichirou's forehead throbbed, his mouth twitching in anger.
"Could you idiots show a little more respect while tailing me? With all that noise, even a normal person would notice!"
He had spotted them well before reaching his house but pretended not to notice.
And these idiots kept bickering loudly at night!
Are all Konoha ninja this sloppy?!
Kushina's face turned slightly guilty. Maybe they had been a little too loud...
But wait—he was the enemy! Why feel guilty?!
"Prepare yourself!" she shouted, gripping her kunai, face deadly serious.
If they just killed him, no one would know she messed up!
Yeah! All spies deserve death!
"Your thoughts are written all over your face!!" Yamada Ichirou roared in disbelief.
Kushina instinctively touched her face. No way...
"Kushina! Minato!" Gin suddenly called out.
"Huh?" They both looked at him.
Gin made a hidden hand sign. They immediately understood and readied themselves.
"RUN!" Gin shouted.
The three of them vanished again.
Yamada Ichirou sneered.
"Too late now!"
From the ground, dozens of shadowy figures emerged—rushing at them faster than before.
It was a trap from the start!
And their real target... was Kushina!!
(End of Chapter)