They were a day away from the target village. They were waiting for sundown to enter the village. They couldn't be seen. Naruto had devised a simple plan of action for the time being.
While Naruto was a powerhouse in his previous life, in this life, he chose a different path to power. He used to rely on his large chakra reserve and large-scale jutsus to defeat his enemies.
His battles were upfront, and he was basically a berserker. He wasn't a master in any skill and had many weaknesses, so he would one-shot his enemies to ensure they wouldn't get to him.
But in this life, he learned to value skills. He knew how to use his brain and not brute force. He wouldn't jump into situations first and face the consequences later. He was a ninja.
A ninja must be able to operate from the shadows. When you had enough skills to remain in the shadows when facing enemies, they would never know what to expect, so you would immediately have the upper hand. A great ninja was an unknown one.
Underestimating your enemy was the fastest way to death. Plus, Naruto was a jinchuriki. The more unknown he was, the better for his future plans. He couldn't risk and bring unwanted attention to his status.
While Naruto despised Danzo, he would admit to his skills in training shinobi. Since the beginning of his training, he has learned how to master his skills and complete his missions without being seen.
His skills weren't limited to causing mass destruction, while he was taught how to do so. Danzo wanted him to be his heir, and thus he was introduced to sides of shinobi skills he never knew.
He was taught about politics and, blending in with any social situation, how to play political games and send subtle messages. He was taught about art, music, history, and literature. Now it was time for him to use these skills.
One secret that no one knew about Naruto was the extent of his henge. While typically, it was a simple genjutsu and was susceptible to the user's skills to hold an illusion around the user. Naruto was capable of solid henge.
It was a skill that came with being the jinchuriki of the nine tails. The same as the one-tailed host could control the sand, the two-tailed host could use the blue fire, and so on. All jinchuriki shared some abilities. They all healed fast and had vast amounts of chakra.
This skill, however, was unique to the nine tails. In his previous life, he subconsciously used it for his sexy jutsu, but in this life, he expanded his skill. When Danzo saw this skill, he believed it to be due to his heavy and large chakra reserves, which Naruto was grateful for.
He learned how to hold his henge for long periods and subconsciously. It began with him holding the henge during his training and continued until he could hold it in his sleep. Then he learned how to fight with a henge and many other activities.
While his body was solid, his strength, speed, and other physical attributes remained the same. The only limitation was his body. He couldn't improve his power by henging into a muscular body or run faster by henging into a taller one.
His plan for infiltrating the village was to henge into a traveling gypsy. If their intel was correct, he should be targeted and find his way into the mansion. He was going to play some music and perform to gather some attention.
In the meantime, Fu was going to alter some people's memory to plant memories of the disguised Torune as one of the villagers so that he could gather intel in the city with his Kikaichu. Fu was going to pose as a ronin and join the thugs to pick his own intel.
It was near the evening, and they were camping in a clearing while working on their disguises. There wasn't much Fu, and Torune could change without using chakra, so they changed as much as they could to blend in.
Fu dyed his hair black, which was now in a ponytail. He wore a worn grey battle Kimono and had an old Katana strapped to his waist. He also had a stash over his shoulder containing food, money, old clothing, and daily items not to look suspicious.
Torune was wearing brown pants and a shirt. Both items were worn and dirty to better blend in. He would pose as one of the many orphans around the village and live in an abounded shack outside the city.
Fu and Torune often used this method in undercover missions. They would mostly put glances of Torune in people's memories or some simple interactions. It wasn't a demanding job or something they'd never done before, so Naruto wasn't worried.
Naruto fully trusted them both. After reuniting, Torune and Shino Naruto found an opportunity to do the same for Fu. He monitored Inoichi's chakra constantly to find a good time and place. It took a lot of work to find a way to contact Inoichi.
Finally, one day, Inoichi was in the shop while Ino was in the academy, and his wife was out with her friends. Naruto went into the shop with the pretext of picking up an order. After some everyday interactions, he let his actions point to the fact that there was something he wanted to discuss.
Inoichi decided to go with it and asked him what he wanted to say. Naruto knew that he couldn't be out for long since it was a training day, so after getting permission, he left a clone with Inoichi.
The clone told him about Fu. Of course, he clarified that he couldn't discuss some information due to safety. Inoichi didn't believe him initially, but Naruto consented to a mind walk under the condition of only seeing the relevant information and not delving deep.
Inoichi knew Naruto was a good friend with many clan heirs and his deeds for the betterment of the village, so he accepted. After a quick mind walk, he agreed to meet Fu. Like with Torune, Naruto accompanied him to a secluded location where they could meet.
Suffice it to say both Fu and Torune were doing a lot better. In the base, they kept the same act of emotionlessness, but at times like now, they were lighter and free. Naruto also secretly worked with Fu and Inoichi to counter Danzo's seal on ROOT agents.
There were so many things he had to do but so little time. He decided to go to sleep for the night.
It was time for Naruto to enter the village. Fu and Torune were already set in the village, and Torune sent him a Kikaichu to give him the go. Naruto was henged into a young woman. Her appearance was about 16.
She had long raven hair which reached her lower back in loose messy curls. Her skin was pale rose color, and she had vibrant green eyes. Naruto tried to make the appearance as appealing as possible without exaggeration.
He wanted her to be mesmerizing and exotic. All her facial features had a wild look to them. She wasn't petite and dolce but a beauty that screamed wild and untamed. She was tall and curvy without any of it being too big and out of proportion.
Naruto unsealed an outfit from his scroll. He had a lot of costumes for this kind of situation. Based on the appearance, he was going for a look from Suna. There were a few civilian tribes that wandered the desert.
They usually moved with caravans in the desert. They usually lived in tents and traded in small villages. Buying things from one and selling them in the other. Usually, they were some who knew how to perform street art and performed in the villages for money. They were also referred to as gypsies.
Naruto unsealed an accordion. It wasn't a common gypsy instrument, but some solo players preferred it. He also unsealed an outfit. It was a long layered skirt and a long-sleeved shirt. He also had a few shawls on his shoulder.
It was a replica of a gypsy tribe living south of Suna. The outfit was light enough to let air pass through yet covering enough to protect from the harsh sun of the desert. The shawls could also be used as head and face covering.
Naruto also packed a travel bag and essentials while sealing his other stuff on his body. He walked toward the village at a leisurely pace. Soon he came upon the village gates. The city wasn't too crowded, but since it was a trading city, most of the traffic would be in the bazaar.
He went to the inn the gate guards recommended. The location was a bit hidden since the entrance was in the ally. It was in one of the allies of a street filled with bars and hotels. He was looking for a cheap place, so this was suitable.
The inn was small, and only a few locals were sitting at the booth tables having drinks. The front desk was also the bar, so Naruto approached slowly and sat at the bar. The bartender was a middle-aged man with grey hair. He had a thick mustache and broad shoulders.
Naruto suspected that he either worked in the mines or a field when he was younger since he had great muscle mass, yet there weren't many scars on his body. He wore a grey shirt, navy pants, and a kitchen apron. He had a stern and calculated gaze.
"What can I do for you, young lady?" He asked with a deep raspy voice.
"I will be in the city for a few days to gather supplies for my journey. The gate guards told me that I could find a room here." Naruto said in a soft and calm voice.
The man looked at him for a few seconds. "Single room is 350 ryo a night. The bathrooms are shared for the floor." He said.
"I'll take it," Naruto said. The man nodded before taking his notebook for the registry and room key. After signing the documents, he took the deposit and motioned for Naruto to follow him upstairs.
The room was at the end of a dark corridor. The man opened the door to the room. It was small and only had a small futon and desk. There was a small window with a view of the alley. Naruto walked towards the futon and put his stuff down.
"We usually serve food all day. Me or my wife usually handle the counter and customers. The bathroom is three doors to your left. If you need anything else, you know where to find me." The man said and handed the keys to Naruto and left the room.
There wasn't much to unpack, but Naruto needed to give a semblance of someone who would stay for a while, so he organized his stuff in the room. He wanted to go to the city but knew if he left the room soon, it would be suspicious for someone who had just reached the city after a long journey on foot.
So he decided to lie on the futon and meditate. He visited his mindscape. Ever since his visit to Uzushio, it was easier for him to navigate his mind and go through his memories. He went through all the deaths that happened in the war.
It was hard but necessary. The seal was only a temporary measure. He knew of its limitation, and if he wanted to go through his plans for the future, he needed to unlock the seal.
The only upside was that there were a lot of fond memories from his current life, especially the ones from Itachi and Shisui. It was still strange to him how he naturally became so close to both boys.
Naruto decided to go through some happy memories for a change.