A/N: A lot later than I'd like! It was actually finished last week, but my beta reader and roommate both agreed that the ending of the chapter was really weak, so I added more onto it until I got to a better end-note.

It actually worked out to allow me to end this arc, and set up moving to the next one (…depending on how my brain goes, I will probably have to add 6-7 chapters to my total chapter count pls pray for me), although I feel like the chapter in general could have been better.

Transitional chapters are always hard, and everyone agreed that Natsu's POV should have just been told from Jiraiya's instead but I couldn't bring myself to rewrite it. I should have, honestly, but Jiraiya's voice is always hard for me to get down, so… it's not that Natsu's POV is bad, just that it adds nothing emotional to the events taking place, and in a fic where you're changing POVs all the time I think the general rule is to choose the most impactful perspective? Not just the most informative one, and both of those would probably have been Jiraiya…

Anyway! I'm happy that I've settled this arc (and yes I know there's a loose end, but I promise that one's on purpose), and hopefully the others will not make me add too many more chapters to my total count!

Hope you enjoy! Sorry for the delay!

Thanks for reading!

The brats, although blessedly silent, sit in various states of disgruntlement. Jiraiya doesn't count on their relatively good behavior lasting, but he'll take what he can get. So Jiraiya finds himself twisting the rope's edges between his fingers, wondering how pissed Kakashi would be if he just… tied them up.

Just for a little while!

Long enough to teach them a lesson maybe - though with kids as stubborn as this that might take all year…

He loops the rope around his arm and suppresses the urge.

He can always tie them up later, if it comes to that.

"So," he starts, and three heads snap to him in sync, "why don't you start explaining now, and I'll decide how much trouble you're in?"

He's not too surprised when it's Pinky who speaks up first. Natsu's a bit too old to be as easily intimidated as the others, and- quite frankly- utterly shameless.

"Well we couldn't find Sasuke even though Naruto had loads of clones looking for him, so I was just like, let's make Sasuke come to us! And then we blew up everything. We built some traps and stuff too, just in case those guys got there first, so we weren't stupid."

"Yeah! We just didn't realize we were already right on top of their base, 'ttebayo!" Naruto interjects, arms crossed as he stares evenly at Jiraiya.

"And once they attacked us, well, we kinda had to defend ourselves right? And we got all of these records too!" Natsu fans out a large stack of papers, eyes glinting in a way that just spells trouble.

Jiraiya really should have demanded that sensei send Kakashi with them.

Damn brats, he thinks, more fondly than he's willing to admit, as he grabs the papers. Natsu doesn't hold on to them, at least, letting them go easily before resting back on his arms, hissing in discomfort as his right arm takes his weight, and quickly sitting back up.

Because he tried to deflect a stab.

With his arm.

Jiraiya desperately wants to ask why anyone would have such backwards instincts, but at this point he knows just enough about their interloper's powers to know it would just give him even more questions. He turns his gaze to Sasuke.

"Alright then. Why weren't you where you were supposed to be?" He asks, and Fugaku's brat scowls at him and looks away.

Jiraiya groans. "I need answers here, kids. This was- do you have any idea how badly this could have gone?"

Naruto shifts uncomfortably as Natsu glances away. Sasuke tenses.

"But it… didn't?" Naruto offers tentatively. "It worked out really really well! We found Sasuke, we got loads of information, and we beat those guys up! It totally worked!"

"You got lucky." Jiraiya retorts. "You're lucky the smoke from your little explosion didn't finish killing the only live lead we have to this mess. You're lucky you got so close to the base without being detected and that you took those guys by surprise. You're lucky Natsu didn't get himself killed fighting two people alone while in that sort of condition! And I'm sure the Academy covered this for you - but it seems obvious to me that you forgot- or chose not to remember. When the only reason your plan works is because of luck, then it isn't a good plan. Luck is an integral part of shinobi life, but if your entire plan hinges on it, you've made a mistake. Understand?"

Pinky scowls. "It wasn't luck-! I had those guys handled, I just. I dunno, I expected him to dodge and then he didn't, so I froze up. That was stupid, but even if Sasuke hadn't shown up, I'd have been able to handle it. There wasn't anything lucky there."

Jiraiya gives him a disbelieving stare, just long enough to make Natsu look away with a grumble, then turns back to Sasuke.

"I know you didn't do what I told you to. I don't need excuses, kid. I just need an explanation. Why?" He leans forward, catching the Uchiha's gaze, and doesn't look away until he gets an answer.

"I- those papers were important. I thought I could pick up that shinobi's trail and get them back. When I saw the explosion I just… figured that Natsu and Naruto had found them instead. It was clearly Natsu's chakra, and he wouldn't just blow something up for no reason-" Sasuke cuts off with a scowl, clearly processing that his teammates actually did blow everything up for no reason.

Jiraiya's not quite capable of feeling amusement, not for something this serious, but he gives them a smug grin regardless.

"You kids. Were so. Lucky." he states with finality, and by some miracle he thinks they might actually listen this time, as they exchange glances with each other.

He carefully doesn't say just how unheard of that sort of luck is. He hardly wants to give them any ideas, but-

Well.

It's been years since he last saw a plan fall together so perfectly, and by complete and utter coincidence at that. It is pretty impressive, for all that he'll never tell them so.

He flips through the papers Natsu handed over, then glances over at Sasuke.

And sighs.

"Alright. Here's what we're going to do - Uchiha, I need you to draw me copies of everything you saw - including the papers that shinobi was carrying. Even small marks or crossouts - as close to identical as you can. There's no telling what's important and what isn't, so I'll need to check over all of it. Pinky, you and I are gonna wake up our merchant friend and get some more answers. Naruto, make some clones and keep watch. And don't for a second think any of you are in the clear. As soon as we get away from this village, you are all in trouble - got it?"

The brats all chorus agreement, and Jiraiya lets out a breath as they get moving. One problem down, only a dozen more to go.

The clone he sent to help with the fires dispelled nearly an hour ago, but the one he made before that, to pursue the arsonist, still hasn't.

Somehow, Jiraiya has a feeling that there's nothing good waiting when it finally does. He's not going to force it to, though, not if it feels like it still has a job to do.

As he crouches by their… not-quite-prisoner, Jiriaya wonders just how big this is. He knows pretty much all of Kiri's merchants, by name if not by face. Hell, half of them feed him intel without even knowing it, just by doing their jobs.

He can't say he's surprised one would try some shady dealing, considering the state of Kiri even the accepted merchants don't make quite as much off deals as they used to, before the civil war. But with some of the rumors he's heard from the Land of Waters, the idea that it could be something a lot bigger than an independent smuggler is… all too likely and also not what he'd like to hear.

Then Natsu's there, dropping down beside Jiraiya and the merchant, looking a bit worse for wear, his exhaustion clearly visible. His eyes are determined, though, and that's enough for Jiraiya.

He doesn't know much medical jutsu, just the basics really, but that's more than enough to pull a man back into consciousness - the interested glint he spies in green eyes make him wonder if Natsu has a hidden fondness for healing, or if it's the girl who wants to know.

And then the merchant wakes with a gasp, reminding Jiraiya that he's got more important questions to be asking.

"Sakura-chan had some pretty good ideas," Natsu starts, as Jiraiya unties the merchant and helps him drink some water.

"Oh? Let's hear it then - what did you come up with?" the old man prompts.

So Natsu explains, reiterating Sakura-chan's theories as best he can - about the Ton'ya, and the fire, all the stuff they overheard before it, and how the shinobi might want to frame Konoha. Jiraiya doesn't look at him, eyes carefully trained on the merchant, but if there's anything to be found in the guy's face he certainly doesn't react to it.

Doesn't react at all really, though the merchant starts looking progressively more nervous with every word Natsu speaks.

"What's your name, again?" Jiraiya asks, once Natsu's trailed off.

The merchant trembles and doesn't speak.

"He was… in that back room, right? We heard him through the south-facing windows. I think it was… Jun...ki? I think. It might be his given name though, he was pretty annoyed when that other guy called him that…"

"Sakura-chan says one of those guys called him Junki, I think she was paying more attention than I was too, so she's probably right…" Natsu offers, when the silence drags on. The merchant flinches.

"Ah, so it's you!" Jiraiya says with a grin. "Takara Junki, one of Kiri's independent traders, right? Here I thought you independents hated the Ton'ya as much as us shinobi. What were you doing rubbing shoulders with them, hm? And on top of smuggling weapons, at that?"

"I-I didn't realize!" the man stutters, looking rapidly between Jiraiya and Natsu. "I didn't realize we'd be involved in something like this, it was just easy money-!"

"Now, now, Takara-san. You know there's no such thing as easy money in shinobi territory. This will all go much easier for you if you're just honest." Jiraiya crouches by the merchant, looking so friendly, that the anger Natsu can clearly smell off him feels nearly unnatural.

"Ne, Natsu."

"Hm?" Natsu tilts his head, Takara's eyes snapping toward him to follow the movement, before skittishly returning to Jiraiya as the man flashes a smile.

"That woman, who was at the fire - did you see her at all, in the forest?"

Natsu squints. "Huh. Now that you mention it, there weren't any girls there! That's weird, right? Did we miss her?"

"I-is she talking to herself?" The merchant stutters, and Natsu scowls at him.

"'M talkin' to Sakura-chan. And Sakura-chan says the lady shinobi-" - "Kunoichi Natsu, don't even act like you don't know that-!" - "wasn't around at all when we were fightin' before. Do you think they had two camps?"

Jiraiya nods. "That would explain why my clone still hasn't dispelled… if he followed her to a different camp than the one we attacked. Don't suppose you'd know anything about that either, hmm?"

Takara coughs weakly, his entire posture slumping.

"I really don't know much," he starts at last, staring down at his hands, "and that's by design. It's how you shinobi operate, I don't know why you expect this to be any different, always so full of secrets…" he speaks sharply, even through the clear exhaustion, but Jiraiya doesn't react.

"It's not just us - and not just weapons. Food, medical supplies, tools - I don't really know how much of each. We'd lose the supplies in 'bandit' raids. That way there wouldn't be a record of the goods, as long as we got them past the border checks, and- and most of those aren't manned by shinobi, they're manned by the Daimyo's men, especially the ones the Ton'ya use-"

He hesitates a moment, and continues in a softer voice. "I suppose I should have expected this. The money was- too good. And the job, too easy. And shinobi were involved, multiple groups of them - even with those blank headbands, I've traded with enough of your ilk to be able to tell at least when people are from different villages. Should have known they'd betray us like this…"

"How many different villages?" Jiraiya asks, voice as friendly as ever, and even Natsu can see-smell-sense his anger spike.

"Is this- is someone trying to start a war?!" Sakura-chan asks, and Natsu can all but feel her fear.

Takara sighs. "Two, I think - maybe three, or maybe just one person from a third village. I only saw her once, she collected some of the medical supplies we'd brought in - about a month ago? She didn't seem to fit in with the others. A little young too. Maybe she was just a new recruit."

"Did anything about her appearance stand out to you?"

Takara scoffs. "Only in that she was so indescribably plain that even a fool would know she was in disguise. It was her body language, mostly, that made me think she was younger. I couldn't tell you more than that."

Jiraiya strokes his chin in obvious contemplation, and Takara curls deeper into himself, resignation pouring off him in waves.

"Well-" the old man says after a moment, putting his hands on his knees and leveraging himself up - Natsu's pretty sure Jiraiya's putting on a show, though he's not quite sure what the point is.

The Sannin stretches dramatically before suddenly hovering over the merchant, arms crossed, expression grim.

"You need medical attention, and if I drop you off at a doctor's here, you'll be dead by tomorrow. I might know someone who can help you out though, if we're quick about it. In return…" he trails off, staring expectantly down at Takara.

The man doesn't look up. "If you're going to heal me, only to execute me for treason, why would I bother?"

Jiraiya smirks. "Now who said anyone had to be informed of this?"

The merchant's head snaps up, and Jiraiya crosses his arms. "You'd just have to do me this teensy little favor, and then you can run along back to Kiri or wherever your heart desires. We'll even take care of these guys before they can come after you. What do you say?"

Natsu's not too surprised when the merchant agrees without even asking for terms, after that. Even he can see the implicit threat in Jiraiya's offer, can see that Takara has no other choice.

Jiraiya doesn't feel any less angry even as he grins and hustles Natsu and Takara back to the center of their camp.

Natsu won't admit he's still a little creeped out at just how good these guys are at acting.

Sasuke glances up at them as they sit, eyes glowing crimson, and then immediately turns back to the papers he's painstakingly writing on.

I take it back! That's even more creepy! How does anyone write that slowly?!

Natsu can't help but stare, as Sasuke writes lines with such careful precision it's like he's moving in slow-motion. It is, officially, the weirdest thing Natsu's seen in a long time.

How does anyone have the patience for that?!

Kakashi walks back into his makeshift camp, spots the toad staring intently at Pakkun while perched on his bedroll, and very nearly turns around and walks right back out.

"Ah, Kashi-kun!" The toad hails, raising a webbed foot in greeting. "Jiraiya-san said to tell you that he hates all of your brats and he hopes that you'll take them back as soon as possible. In the meantime, there's a couple things he'd like you to look into, since you're out this way." It reaches behind to pull a scroll off its back, holding it out.

Kakashi steps forward to pluck it up, scowling. "I already have three other jobs out here, so I hope this can wait-"

"It can't." The toad meets his eye, entirely serious. "This is an order from Jiraiya of the Sannin - please look into this information immediately, and send a response through your summons or in-person. Do not bring any additional shinobi into it without further orders. If you go through the provided information, it should all make sense."

A heavy weight drops into Kakashi's gut.

Something very serious, then.

"Understood. Please inform Jiraiya-sama that I'll report back as soon as I have what he needs."

The toad nods, then disappears in a puff of smoke.

"What've we got, Boss?" Pakkun asks, trodding forward.

Kakashi unfurls the scroll and quickly scans the contents. "...trouble." is all he can bring himself to say, as he looks at the information - and if this is only the pieces Jiraiya wants him to verify, what else did the man find to reach a conclusion like that-?

What sort of mess has he dragged my precious little students into?

"Pakkun, change of plans. We'll be cutting southwest - I'm going to need you, Urushi, and Bull to finish up the job here, then go back home. Make sure to rest, I'll likely be summoning you guys again soon."

Pakkun shifts his weight. "Not gonna be easy without the opposable thumbs. But I think we can manage. Don't push yourself too hard."

Kakashi nods sharply, an empty promise and they both know it, and turns to pack up camp.

Looks like another sleepless night…

Jiraiya's clone dispels just as they're leaving the forest, and he bites off a curse. He's had a lot of practice, processing memories while moving, but it's always worse when the clones are forcibly dispelled. The memories slam in, an echo of a stab into his abdomen, quickly followed by over a day of careful studying and information gathering- he knows the lay of the camp, the number of shinobi, knows that he tentatively pegged one of them as a Suna-nin, though whether they're a deserter or loyal requires more research than he has time for.

One option is infinitely preferable to the other, because it's one thing if Orochimaru united some minor villages against Konoha, but if he's sunk his claws into one of the greater hidden villages they're in a lot more trouble-!

Then the other memories settle - the overheard conversations, the sparingly used chameleon jutsu and a henge or two when he knew it wouldn't be noticed and-

They know Takara's alive. We've gotta pick up the pace.

The shinobi spent enough time chasing the clone that their trail should be dead now, but if they have even one sensor who caught wind of Natsu's unique chakra, that might not mean much. Naruto's, at least, is mostly muted by the seal unless he's using it.

"K'so." he snaps, steadying his grip on the merchant. "Oi, brats. Let's pick up the pace! We've come too far to have this guy croak on us just 'cause you wanted to sight-see!"

Jiraiya's attempt at encouragement works about as well as he expects - Naruto immediately protests being distracted as Sasuke grunts in recognition of the order.

And Natsu glances back, just once, head tilted like he's sniffing the air.

"Yeah, he's not smelling too good." he offers, and Jiraiya's only a little irritated that he can't tell if Natsu bought the excuse or if he's just pretending to. The kid doesn't really seem like he'd be all that good at subterfuge, but he's also sharp in an instinctual way that makes it hard to tell what he knows and what he's just guessing at.

Well.

As long as it keeps them ahead of the enemy, Jiriaya will take it either way.

It's a pity they're stuck with running as the best option here, because Jiraiya's clone was pretty sure it was a smaller group than the one the kids picked a fight with, and if he didn't have a dying civilian who he needed to keep alive, he could just deal with them as well.

Well, nothing for it. Just gonna have to hope that intel's still good, cause this guy's got one chance at a doctor if I want to get anything done here.

Kami-sama, this is ridiculous. That Team 7 "curse" nonsense was supposed to be a joke!

"So, why's that guy so important anyway?"

Naruto's tried to think it through - really, he has! But it just seems like they're running all over the place to help some guy that they already got all the information from? They already beat all those shinobi, and Jiraiya even got someone to pick them up and stuff, so if they just left him alone it's not like anyone would come after him!

"I think… Jiraiya wants to use him to make contact with some of the other merchants." Sasuke offers - Naruto tries (and fails) not to scowl at him.

"Yeah but why?"

"Because only a dobe would think that he didn't need to find more people to verify the information from."

"Wha- I knew that! I totally knew that! No need to show off-!" Naruto sputters. "Natsuuuu! Tell him I knew that!"

Natsu laughs softly, landing on the branch next to him, arm tucked to his chest. He looks a little better after some sleep, but he's still really tired.

Naruto really wants to ask if it's weird that the scar on Natsu's left arm doesn't match the new wounds he's got on his right, but he still remembers Sakura-chan's punches and Natsu hasn't punched him at all yet but he doesn't wanna take the chance!

Natsu leaps for the next branch. "Well I didn't really think of it like that either. Juni's dying, so unless he gets a doctor it doesn't even matter if there were still shinobi after him, yeah?"

Naruto nearly slips off the next branch. "What?! He's not dying! ...is he?"

Sasuke's eyes cut back to him, incredulous. "Dobe. He was in a burning building. With all that smoke-"

"But Natsu's fine! And he was in there too!"

Naruto points for emphasis, and nearly unbalances his next leap.

He's pretty sure Jiraiya groans behind them, and fights off a blush. I-it's not like he fell!

"I mean, the air was really bad in there." Natsu starts, and Naruto doesn't wobble that time! Hah! Natsu continues easily, "Sakura-chan was trying to figure out what chemicals might have been all mixed up in there, before she d'cided to leave. And that Juni-guy was really deep in the building. I just sorta ran in and out, but he was stuck and he probably breathed it for ages. Guess that would mess anyone's lungs up real bad, since it wasn't just smoke but it was all those chemicals too… It really stank."

Naruto goes to reply, cause maybe Natsu isn't okay, not if it was like that- whatifhe'sgonnadieohnoohno-!- when Natsu cuts him off.

"Huh. Yeah that makes sense." he shakes his head a little, and glances back at Naruto. "Sakura-chan says that maybe it was chemicals first, and then the fire. Cause way too many of those guys were dead, and something had to kill 'em since the fire couldn't'a done it so fast. And this Julie guy's from Kiri, and those guys are apparently big on poisons or something? So maybe he just resisted it. I dunno, sounds like a pretty good idea to me."

"You were poisoned!?" Naruto actually does fall out of the tree this time, trying to spin to face Natsu properly, arms flailing in panic, as he slips right off the branch.

Natsu and Sasuke both leap forward, grabbing his arms before he can fall far, Natsu's fingers spasming around his wrist and-

Shit-!

Naruto scrambles to find purchase, 'cause Natsu's arm is stil hurt he shouldn't be grabbing people like that crap crap crap-!

He gets his feet stuck to the trunk of the tree, then his hands, crabwalking up to the branch as Natsu and Sasuke watch.

Sasuke turns away with a huff, the jerk, but Natsu grins as he gets back on the branch so Naruto figures it evens out.

Jiraiya gives them a deadpan stare as he steps onto the branch.

"We gonna get moving anytime soon?" he asks, nonchalant, and Natsu gives him a weird look.

What's that all about? Naruto wonders, but he doesn't have time to ask, as Jiraiya hustles them onward.

"C'mon brats, we're almost there. Pinky can get himself checked out once we're sure Junki-san isn't going to croak on us."

"Ahahaha, so that's his name! I totally forgot!" Natsu laughs, then leaps away when Jiraiya aims a slow kick at him.

Naruto quickly scrambles after when those intense eyes land on him next.

He totally doesn't gulp.

It's not like Jiraiya's intimidating or anything, 'ttebayo!

Just… maybe a little… intense.

Which isn't the same thing at all!

Naruto quickly catches up to Natsu and Sasuke, and the jerk scoffs a quiet dobe under his breath but Naruto is absolutely the better person here, so he doesn't respond, instead siddling closer to Natsu.

If he really did get poisoned, then who knows when he'll pass out again! So Naruto'll just have to keep an eye on him!

Natsu gives him a weird look, but doesn't say anything, so Naruto figures that's agreement.

Hah! Take that, teme!

They skip lunch, running through with a litany of complaints that are thankfully silenced by a pointed reminder of their dying merchant, and Jiraiya sighs in quiet relief when they reach the town a few hours later.

Now, where did his contact say the lovely Mii-chan was staying again?