Kakashi's POV (Nearby Team Seven's Training Ground - Hidden Leaf Village)
"You've given up. It angers you that he hasn't." Kakashi replied simply. While he understood Neji's frustration, he had the wisdom to see past it.
"Tch, call it what you wish. Accepting one's fate is not surrendering; it is merely the reality we have been dealt with. I will show Naruto and Ino this next week. I believe this deep down to my very core. Surely a man with an eye that is not his own may understand that the world is cruel and unforgiving towards those who live ignorant of the rules." Neji's words echoed with a defiance that was as clear as day. It was surprisingly he knew about that, a different kind of shinobi from the other two.
"No doubt about that. But in life, I've met those who challenge these rules. Who can overcome overwhelming odds with nothing less than guts or will." Kakashi countered. "In my experience it is them who become truly great shinobi. Those would defy fate…"
Neji scoffed again before freeing his hands and releasing himself from the ropes. He landed on the ground below gracefully. He cocked a look at the Cyclops. "Perhaps you're right. I suppose Naruto will have a chance to prove your point. But I've yet to see anyone defy fate. And Naruto Uzumaki is destined to fail as much as I am destined to serve." At this, the Hyuga surprised Kakashi by vanishing in a poof of his own.
"So he knows the body flicker, huh? Sensei, I have faith, but I'm not sure this team can overcome this. Hopefully, Naruto can find a path to either get through to him or beat him into submission." Kakashi's voice was quiet, but his faith in Naruto was unwavering, a testament to his role as a mentor. He felt as if the father in question was gazing at him at that very moment. Kakashi would offer a little help to be sure the right one of the two won. From what he remembered, it had taken Obito proving himself without a doubt to forge a bond for their team; he suspected much of the same would be needed here.
Jiraiya's POV (Red Light District - Hidden River Village)
Jiraiya trekked through a dimly red-lit city with a lazy, drunken grin and a woman of the night on his arm. To be fair, he meant to do so openly; as a man of status, a disguise was paramount. So his hair had been pulled into a giant bun and dyed brown. His usual attire was replaced with that of a particular well-off merchant. Any untrained and perhaps even trained eye would see a man of trade drinking and walking off into the night, prepared with an open prostitute to celebrate his night in style. Though, for once, they'd be wrong.
He was undercover in a small village outside the Land of Rice, a small country near the border of the Land of Fire. This particular village was a merchant one, though a minor one at that. The entire place survived off it's shockingly lively red-light district. Such was where Jiraiya was now, but his goal was vastly different from most.
Unseen to anyone but him and his hired help, the two were trailing another odd group. A man in a white lab coat also stumbled through the city, his head wrapped in a cloth to hide his identity. Even more wealthy than Jiraiya's cover, the man had a duo of giggling women and even a man following him. The man chuckled and groped them as they walked along.
Normally, Jiraiya would consider such a man to be a good company. The type to buy him drinks and enjoy the finer things in life. But he was no minor man nor an innocent one. The man was one Jiramo Ubuta, a notable scientist and free agent. He was known for selling his inventions to any bidder, and while he usually would be off his radar, Jiraiya suspected his most recent deal was of great interest to him, Hiruzen, and the Leaf.
Jiraiya had spent years building a spy network, something the lull of tense peace had only allowed him to further it along. The Sannin now had countless eyes and ears within the Elemental Nations, one of which had claimed to see Jiramo traveling with one Orochimaru, his former teammate and current traitor to the Leaf.
Jiraiya had been tracking and doing their best to stop his former friend for years. But Orochimaru was nothing less than a genius, so monitoring him was nearly impossible. But now that Jiramo had apparently met with the man, Jiraiya had a tangible lead.
The lady on his arm tapped his shoulder. While Jiraiya was no stranger to her normal career experience, she was merely camouflage today. Smart enough to be useful and paid well enough to be loyal, she was signaling Jiramo was settling into a building. Jiraiya smiled as he saw it was a love hotel. As Jiramo and his trio of sex workers laughed as they checked in, Jiraiya did the same.
The receptionist of the Love Hotel smiled as he saw him. The owner of this place was a fan of his; Jiramo had unknowingly set himself up perfectly. Jiraiya and his lady of the night slipped the man some Ryo to get the room next to him. And to have their workers seduce the man to get caught up on his plan. The two acted out as a frisky couple, openly feeling each other up as they travelled. Subtly they followed the man, and both groups entered their respective rooms simultaneously. As soon as they entered, the woman stopped her act and led him dutifully to a section of the wall separating the two rooms. A knock on the wall suddenly revealed a hidden line in it, it broke apart and swung open to reveal a secret door. Jiraiya and his charge chuckled as they marched into the room.
While Jiramo was no fighter, Jiraiya would typically have taken care to trap him properly. However since he had fallen into a trap Jiraiya unknowingly set there was no need. The two entered the room to see the two ladies relaxing around a tied-up and panicking Jiramo left solely in his undergarment. As the sole man winked at him as he ensured his bindings were tight.
"Hey, what is this! I swear I'm not who you think I am! Do you have any clue how illegal this is?!"
One of the women cuffed the man gruffly as the other two stared at Jiraiya bluntly. The man went silent with a fearful whine, recognizing in an instant just how much trouble he could be in. With a roll of his eyes, Jiraiya tossed the woman another sack of ryo. One of them counted them as the rest of them left the room.
"I thought I warned you not to return Jiraiya after that org-"
Jiraiya didn't bother rolling his eyes this time; instead, he tossed another sack of Ryo. She instantly smiled and stashed it away. The woman ran this love hotel, which, in fact, served as a front to a group of kunoichi who loved to rob their targets blind. Jiraiya, being the savant he was, had aligned himself with them years ago. "Sorry, Sweety, you know I didn't mean it. Besides, this guy is a big catch. Do you mind if I?"
"Just keep it clean," Sweety replied with a sigh. The woman's long, bouncy silver hair shone even in the dim light. The curvy woman had run this place for years, apparently once having been a part of a minor shinobi village. She was also incredibly hot; Jiraiya loved it when they were both. But he cracked his neck as he locked eyes with the person most needing his intention.
Jiramo laughed with a forced, relaxed tone. Clearly, the man was terrified; he was more than intelligent enough to realize this could be anything more than reasonable. And if Jiraiya's source was right, he likely knew why Jiraiya was here. "I don't know what you've heard, but I haven't done anything that would require the attention of a Sannin."
Jiraiya smiled warmly as he crept closer to the tied-down man. He loomed over him menacingly as he closed in. With his massive frame and how helpless Jiramo was right now, he was certain the man was scared stupid; his shaky gaze and tensed muscles proved it. "Now, I wouldn't say that, Jiramo. From what I hear, you're quite the accomplished chemist and inventor. I'm sure all types of people come around to ask for your help."
"Sure, but I keep such meetings confidential; I'm sure you understand a man of your own stature!" Jiramo pleaded, attempting flattery at a time like this. A mark of a true amatuer.
"Hmm, luckily, I only need to know if you met with a single person. Could you think of anyone you might have met that I'd like to know about?" Jiraiya always started gently, especially with civilians. It was always nice if he could avoid more grim methods.
Jiraiya watched Jiramo's face with rapt attention. His experience allowed him to see as myriad complex thoughts and emotions flew by. Fear of what Jiraiya would do to him, the knowledge that he may be doomed regardless before, and, interestingly, a hesitant determination took over.
"Even if I had." Jiramo tried slowly. "You know just how risky it is to run your mouth in this business; if I'm marked as untrustworthy, it'll ruin me."
It was not surprising truly. This wasn't the first time Jiraiya had managed to find a lead, someone who had the potential to lead him to the snake. Most were carefully kept unaware or silenced or driven to silence through intimidation or bribery. Jiraiya would be in for a long night if this was a shinobi. Luckily, it was a man of science and not action. Orochimaru may have intimidated him into silence, but Jiraiya could scare him into talking.
"Sweety, if you would?" Jiraiya asked politely; he reached within his robe and pulled out a kunai. As Sweety sashayed over, she gracefully took the knife out of his hand and walked over to Jiramo, who began to demand she stop as she drew close. However, he stopped as she calmly reached into his trousers and grabbed something vital from the man. She raised the kunai to it threateningly and nodded to Jiraiya as if waiting for permission. "Sweety here, and I go way back; you're not the first poor sap strapped to that bed here. See, if you keep that mouth closed, she's gonna remove that second head of yours that got you into this trouble."
"Okay, I met with the Sand, the Stone! What are you looking for, huh?!" Jiramo pleaded, but Jiraiya was certain the man was playing dumb. Attempting to offer false but attractive bait to distract him. Jiraiya gave her a look and Sweety nodded, increasing the pressure the blade pushed against the man's sensitive bit. Jiramo cried out in pain.
Jiraiya grimly prepared for what came next, "Do it-"
"PLEASE NO! I met with Orochimaru! Orochimaru!" Jiramo raved as he struggled against his bindings.
Jiraiya smiled as he snapped and pulled a chair beside the man. "Well, keep singing, my little songbird." He joked. It was good to have it confirmed but it led to plenty of possibilities.
"I met with Orochimaru a month ago! He was interested in a prototype chakra injection I had created and was certain he could build upon it. We discussed its pricing, he threatened me to give over my notes for free, and we set up a meeting date for him to review the rest of my work!"
"What does this injection do? Where did you meet the man precisely? And where are you meeting in the future?" Jiraiya listed off simply. "Refuse to answer, and Sweety will have ya singing a different more gruesome tune."
"The injection is one of my best inventions! A chemical compound capable of generating more of the body's chakra and amplifying it! In short, the user becomes stronger, faster, and even more durable!" Jiramo explained. "We had met in this village, and I was supposed to move over my lab to one of his bases soon!"
"How interested in this work of yours is he?" Jiraiya asked as his mind began to formulate a plan.
"Very!"
"Well, that little meeting of yours will work out for us nicely. You're gonna be my little mole now…" Jiraiya explained smugly. When Orochimaru had the man either killed or kidnapped he would have to take his notes and supplies with him. Meaning if Jiriaya tracked them when it happened it could very well lead to him finally finding Orochimaru's home base.
Jiramo nodded sadly, and Jiraiya and Sweety smiled as they left the man behind. One of her women would free him soon, but for now, they would let him stew. Installing some more fear into him would ensure loyalty when the time came. As the two entered the room they had come from, Jiraiya gently palmed Sweety's rear.
"Any chance this can be business and pleasure?" Jiraiya asked with a lustful smile.
"Shocked it took you this long," Sweety replied with a smirk as she grabbed his hand and led him to her bed to perform the second and his favorite part of her job.