Team G escorted Swiss company through the forest until they found a beaten path.
They followed this beaten path until at the end of it they were out of the forest and bore witness to a tall wall made from bricks of stone
"Damn. That would be one tough wall to penetrate." Grit said in wonderment.
"Trololol. What about you, Grit. Are you tough to penetrate?"
"Swissan, that was kinda suss…" Jinzo added.
"What do you know about suss?! I taught you that word like a month ago!"
"…"
Musashi Raito did a form of sign language to the guards at the gate, who nodded and motioned them to walk on by.
Through that gate, what Swiss saw was a Japanese village situated in a spectacular sea cove.
"Oooooh! Now, this is nice!" Swiss admired.
Bakato smirked, "Heh heh. Welcome to Namigakure, the village hidden in the waves."
Pandora punched the back of Bakato's head, "You idiot, don't say it like you're the one who personally built it."
Bakato rubbed his head, "Ow! I'm not! Witch…"
"What did you just call me?!"
Pandora chased the scared Bakato with a vengeance. Jinzo giggled as he watched the engagement.
"Oh, no you don't!" Swiss barked at Jinzo.
"Oh no I don't, what?" Jinzo asked.
"I'm the one who is going to call it!"
"Ah…" Jinzo knew what was coming next.
Swiss stroked his imaginary beard, watching Pandora and Bakato, "Yes, I ship them."
"… They are children." Grit coldly remarked.
"Shipping isn't about anything sexual, you sick fuck." Swiss said, giving Grit a playful grin, "Or perhaps I should ship you with a mad dog?"
"…"
The gang walked through Namigakure.
Swiss enjoyed the ambiance.
He never got the chance to visit Japan. He figured this would suffice, though granted not in a modern sense.
Especially because you would see the odd person dressed in ninja regalia walking the township.
"So, what are we, where are we, E-T-C?" Swiss mused to Musashi Raito.
Musashi Raito chuckled before replying, "You see that tall imperial-looking building? That's the Yokage mansion. We'll report to HQ and clear you with the elders."
"Ah, right. Perfect." Swiss then said, whistling casually.
Namigakure was a bustling village. Swiss appreciated how many of the residents were going about their daily hustle. Small businesses were plentiful here.
One such small business caught his eye. A small market booth ran by an old lady. She was selling shoes.
"What are those?" Swiss pointed to an item on the counter.
"These are footwear worn by Ninja. Although the pair you pointed to are not very popular.." Saika said.
Saika's sudden usage of his voice startled Swiss. "Jesus fuck, I forgot about you!" he joked, then he picked up the shoes he wanted, "These aren't popular, huh?"
What he had in his hands were what resembled to Swiss as a pair of Slide Sandals.
"Nope. Most ninjas wear sandals that cover the ankle. To be honest, I don't even know the point of those.."
"The point?" Swiss piped back at Saika, "Does fashion ever have a point?!"
[Gxeror: gucxi gang111]
[Zxeror: ew no]
[Zxeror: cri gang11111!]
Swiss flicked off his pair of wooden jandals and slipped on the ninja slides. They were very comfortable on his feet. Swiss let out an 'ahh!' in satisfaction, then turned to the old lady.
"I'll take them."
Inside a swanky office high in the Yokage mansion, the young members of Team G stood firm with respectful pretense.
Their sensei, Musashi Raito, had finished reciting his report.
"I apologize, Lord Third, I understand these are troubling times." Musashi Raito finished with these words.
"Hmmmm…"
Sat at the office chair was a bald man easily in his 70s, he stood and gazed out his office window to a magnificent view of Namigakure and the sea cove.
He finally spoke, his voice full of wisdom, "It is wise to be wary of strangers given that the dangerous organization 'Anaki' is running amok."
"That is correct!" A village elder croaked, "You should be taking matters such as these more seriously given your position, Raito!"
Bakato groaned.
Saika paid no mind.
Pandora was too fixated on Saika to care about the present conversation.
Musashi Raito nodded upon hearing the words of the Third Yokage.
"That being said," The Third then added, "I think I can trust my instincts, as well as the genius ninja of the waves; Musashi Raito. Besides…"
The Third Yokage then glanced at Bakato. Musashi Raito understood what that gaze meant.
It was the same way that Raito would look at Bakato. In his three years of being the leader of Team G, he was always taken away by Bakato's natural charm with people.
If Bakato trusted Swiss, it was probably for good reason.
"I understand. Thank you." Musashi Raito bowed respectfully.
"YES! Told you it would be okay!" Bakato rejoiced.
Swiss sighed in relief, "Phew. That could have been awkward."
Grit just laughed internally and scoffed, the tension releasing from his brow.
Jinzo smiled gently and took his hand off the hilt of his sword.
…
Outside, Swiss stretched and reflected on what just happened, "Pfft. That went well."
"Indeed. It appears we have made some good friends." Jinzo said, looking at Team G.
"What are you guys gonna do now that you have been cleared?" asked the energetic Bakato.
Swiss answered immediately, "We gon get turnt up, amirite gentlemen? Trolololol."
Grit nodded, "I got to agree. Those days spent on the calm belt have me craving some fun."
"It's settled!" Bakato placed his hands on his hips authoritatively, "I'll show you around! I know a kick-ass noodle place."
"You had me at noodle." Jinzo elatedly said.
"Trololol. I bet he did…" Swiss cheekily remarked.
"Great!" Bakato declared, then facing his comrades, "You guys coming?"
"I'll pass." Was all Saika said before he left.
"What about you, Pandora? It's your birthday. It will be fun." Bakato ignored the expected response of Saika.
"Ummm, I really should get back home and spend time with the family. I'm sure they have something special planned." The young kunoichi replied.
"Boooo! That's totally lame!" Swiss groaned, throwing the thumbs down at Pandora.
"You see?" Bakato proudly said, "You're being stupid."
"Stupid! Stupid!" Swiss and Jinzo both said, giving the thumbs down and sticking out their tongues.
"I'M NOT STUPID YOU IDIOTS!" it was like steam was going to blow out of her ears, "FINE! I'LL COME! THERE!"
"Hooray! Smart! Smart!" Swiss and Jinzo were arm and arm doing the Can-can dance in celebration.
"Good. With that business in order…" Bakato then sheepishly faced his sensei, Musashi Raito.
"What about you, sensei? You coming?"
Musashi Raito inspected the hopeful gleam in the eyes of Bakato and the rowdy antics of Swiss company.
He took a deep breath, smelling the angelic aroma of flowers in the air.
He thought back to a time when there was no conflict. Back when there was no Anaki to worry about. Back when the balance between the ninja villages was maintained.
He swallowed down the bitterness that welt in his throat. Those times were over.
Thus, there was no way he was going to miss out on a chance for a fun time.
"Of course, I'm coming." Musashi Raito aptly stated.
"YOSH!" Swiss shouted, "LET'S DO THIS SHIT! LEAD THE WAY, BAKATO!"
Grit rolled his eyes and muttered to himself, "Ah shit.."
Jinzo happily requested, "Please, no accents tonight, Swissan.."
"Hey, I was only doing them that time because I was bored! Time at sea will do that to a man." Swiss then put on a British accent, "Or maybe it's a plot twist and this is my normal voice. Ello' poppet! Fancy a cup of tea?"
Bakato interrupted before Swiss could pain Jinzo any further, "One second please guys. I just need to drop by home and get changed."
Bakato lead them through the village to where the beach was. Along the beach were townhouse apartments. The perfect location, Swiss thought, to move into with your girlfriend.
Swiss company followed along, expecting at any moment for Bakato to climb up one of those flights of steps and enter a townhouse. But no, he kept walking.
He kept walking until they were at the end of that small beach.
Then Bakato whistled, calling "Wallop! I'm home!"
That's when from out of the sand stood up a giant turtle that was sleeping.
"Nani..?" Swiss watched on with a confused expression.
The giant turtle stretched its neck and acknowledged Bakato.
"Hey, Wallop! You're looking good this afternoon!" Bakato climbed onto the giant turtle's shell. On it was a door.
"Dafuq?" Swiss uttered. He could not believe his eyes.
"…Now that is odd," Jinzo added.
"The sea sure is a weird place.." Grit said in disbelief.
Bakato went through the door into the giant turtle shell. After about 5 minutes he came back out with a more casual set of clothes.
"Thanks for waiting."
"Bruh, you live in a fucking turtle?" Swiss got straight to the point.
"Who, Wallop? Yeah, Wallop and I have been friends for as long as I can remember." Bakato told them.
"Trololol. Imagine if his neighbor lived in a giant snail shell."
Jinzo giggled, "Hehe, or a giant crab shell."
"Trololol. A society of ninjas living in the shells of giant animals. How bizarre would that be?"
With Bakato satisfied with his change of clothes, the gang marched merrily to the noodle establishment.
"You guys are going to love this place! I come here at least five times a week."
"Sheesh. You should speak to a nutritionist." Swiss teased.
The noodle shop was a humble building, a small rectangular thing.
Outside of the encapsulating smells wafting from its kitchen, it would not strike you as special.
Swiss peered at the artistic sign that hung over the restaurant entrance.
['HITORI NOODLE']