Naruto x Digimon
Alive - Team Minato's Digidestined
Chapter 030
Originally Written: Sunday, March 19, 2023 812AM to 849AM
. . . . .
"This is kind of working…" Rin propped her head up on the kitchen table. Every once in a while they were all in the village at once, and promptly met up at Kakashi's house. This time, they were discussing important business that Kabuto, Urushi and Itachi couldn't afford to hear. They'd be by later. They needed to finish by then.
Working how? Kakashi couldn't believe that so many of the anbu he worked on a team treated Matadormon like he was another summon, despite seeing his partner digivolve from Sangloupmon right before their eyes. It was only sheer luck that many of anbu just happened to treat each other like they were on one big team and what happens in anbu stays in anbu. Otherwise he'd be dead.
Kakashi kept his mouth shut, and took a large gulp of his spiked tea. He got used to the taste ages ago, but was currently wishing for something stronger. Obito grew into the habit of attempting to outright attack him when he spoke in a manner Obito felt insulted Rin. It was annoying, and he didn't feel like dealing with it today. He'd fix anything that went wrong from Obito blindly following her later.
"But we need more information." Rin continued. "Specifically, we need to learn sealing."
Kakashi wasn't anywhere near sure how Obito would take to learning that Rin went to Orochimaru to help him out. He wasn't sure how she managed to survive the encounter. Word around Anbu was that Orochimaru was just as silent, but erratic and angry since losing the position of Hokage to Minato. As he came to learn as they shared their stories, erratic was simply code for murderous. The Third turned his gaze away from important things far more than what Kakashi was comfortable with.
The next step of their plan required seals. Kakashi knew what Rin was going for, but he couldn't imagine how it would be accomplished with seals of all things. Kakashi and Obito shared a look. Neither of them knew much of anything about seals. Gai sat next to Obito, enjoying a cup of his own tea. Sangloupmon kept watch outside, keeping a look out for the little ones and any predators, while pretending to take a nap.
"Kushina knows seals better than anyone." Obito gestured to Lunamon and Coronamon "She already knows about these two, and gives no shits."
'For now.' Kakashi nearly said, but he switched his answer at the last minute. "That's why we can't ask her to teach us." Kakashi replied. "She's got too many eyes on her, and is a really obvious choice."
"Normally so, but we could get away with it if we used our also obvious connection to her boyfriend." Obito said it with such confidence Kakashi wondered where it came from. Then he remembered that Obito now personally worked alongside Fugaku Uchiha. You couldn't have an off day sitting next to the head of the Uchiha.
"Last resort. Even with the connection, she's an obvious choice." Rin tapped her fingers against her lips.
"Someone else then?" Obito wracked his brain. "He knows seals too, but we're not touching Orochimaru with a ten foot pole."
"I do not think Hanku Akimichi knows the kind of seals you're looking for." Gai spoke up.
The trio agreed.
"Why don't you ask Lord Jiraiya?" Grandma Masumi asked while her head was hidden by the fridge's interior. She stood up, holding a bushel of green vegetables. "I believe he is currently in the village. He may be a buffoon, but he knows a good deal about seals, and frequently speaks to Kushina about them."
Coronamon whispered to her, and she realized she picked the wrong vegetables. She put those back and disappeared into the fridge again.
"Jiraiya pays the smallest amount of attention to us, grandma." Obito frowned, watching her put yet another bundle of vegetables back.
"I think he's a bit upset we took Minato-sensei from him." Rin frowned as well. "I don't think he'd help us."
"Oh hogwash." She replied. "Jiraiya likes you three just fine."
Coronamon climbed up the side of the fridge door and pointed.
"Ah! Those!" She picked up the vegetables like they were a rare treasure. "There you are!"
The quartet looked at each other. She'd been doing that more lately, and no one could figure out why. Rin looked her over, and couldn't find anything wrong. Yet something clearly was. Some things she'd remember just fine, yet she'd struggle with others.
"It doesn't hurt to ask, and if Jiraiya says no, he won't go around asking why you are asking." She shuffled towards the stove.
An awkward silence filled the room behind her. Most of the group was too focused on looking at her, making sure she reached the stove alright. She wouldn't even let them help cook. Said she and the digimon would handle it, as they needed some time to rest. 'It's rare that you three get a good home cooked meal these days.' She'd say. 'This gives me something to do.'
"He might listen to you." Gai eventually spoke up, remembering to use an indoor voice. "If you show him that book you're always reading Kakashi, he may give you a chance. He is the one who wrote it."
"What?" Kakashi frowned in clear disgust. How could someone as perverted and undisciplined as him have written this amazing work of art? Kakashi took out 'The Tale of the Gutsy Ninja' and examined it. He looked at Gai in confusion.
"The author's name is a pseudonym, but that is him." Gai nodded, reassuring him that yes, Jiraiya wrote Kakashi's current favorite book.
Kakashi's disgust and confusion increased. Obito cracked up laughing, joking about whether or not he was going to throw the book out now.
Rin smiled an understanding smile. "Lord Jiraiya is a good option for now. Thanks for the idea, Grandma."
