Side: The Hunt 2

As they finished cleaning up the remnants of their battle near the hidden base, Suigetsu and Jugo made their way back towards the surface. The trek upwards was grueling.

"Why does the base have to be located so far below?" Suigetsu grumbled with annoyance.

"It's such a waste of chakra having to climb up every time we need to leave."

Jugo merely chuckled, his gaze fixed on the path ahead.

"Consider it a form of training," he remarked casually, his tone betraying no hint of strain.

"Building endurance and strength."

Suigetsu rolled his eyes. With a resigned sigh, he followed his companion as they made their way to the surface.

Finally, after what felt like hours of climbing, they emerged onto the surface, greeted by the warm rays of the sun and the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze.

"Ah, the surface," Suigetsu remarked dryly, his tone tinged with a hint of sarcasm.

"What a lovely view."

Jugo smiled, unfazed by his companion's complaints.

"At least it's familiar territory," he pointed out, his eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of danger.

As they made their way through the treetops, Jugo broached the subject of their next mission.

"So, what's our next move?" He asked, his tone expectant.

"Collecting intel on this group named Akatsuki, or—"

But before Jugo could finish, Suigetsu cut him off with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"Akatsuki? Never heard of them," he said casually, his attention already drifting elsewhere.

"They're probably just small fry anyway. But Guren... she's Orochimaru's little dog, and I intend to make her pay."

As he mentioned Orochimaru's name, a shadow passed over Suigetsu's features, a flicker of anger and resentment that he couldn't quite conceal.

Jugo noted the change, his gaze softening with sympathy. He knew all too well the pain and anger that burned within Suigetsu's heart, the desire for vengeance that consumed him.

"Alright, Guren it is," he said, his tone light and casual.

"We'll track her down and settle the score."

As they leaped from tree to tree, Jugo continued.

"We only have about two months to find her," he explained, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

"After that, we'll need to return to the base. The finals of the Chunin Exam are being held in Konoha, and we should be prepared for any action that comes our way."

But Suigetsu merely shrugged, waving off Jugo's concerns with a dismissive gesture.

"Relax, Jugo," he insisted, a cocky grin spreading across his face.

"We've got plenty of time. The Chunin Exam hasn't even started yet."

And so, they pressed on, their journey taking them deeper into the heart of the wilderness. The days blurred together. They traveled by day and rested by night, their campfires burning bright against the starry sky.

But as they neared a small village nestled at the foot of the mountains, Suigetsu's keen eyes caught sight of something that gave him pause. Children, no older than four or five, were playing ninja in the dusty streets outside the village, their laughter ringing out like bells on the wind.

He came to a sudden stop, his eyes lingering on the scene before him with a bitter smile.

"They have no idea," he muttered under his breath.

"No idea how dark the shinobi life can be."

Jugo's reaction was immediate, his brow furrowing in confusion as he turned to regard his companion.

"What do you mean?" he asked, his expression filled with worry.

"You don't think they should be playing?"

Suigetsu shook his head, his gaze distant as he considered his words.

"It's not that," he replied slowly, his tone thoughtful.

"To them, being a shinobi is just a game. But for us... It's a way of life."

"They may not know," Jugo said softly.

"Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe it's up to us to make sure they never have to. But for now, let them enjoy their innocence."

Suigetsu scoffed, his expression hardening.

"Innocence won't protect them," he retorted with a bitter tone.

"They need to be prepared."

Jugo reached out a hand, placing it gently on Suigetsu's shoulder.

"Maybe," he conceded.

"But that doesn't mean we have to rob them of their childhood. Let them play, Suigetsu. Let them be kids for as long as they can."

Suigetsu nodded, his gaze lingering on the children for a moment longer before he turned away.

"We should gather more information here," Jugo suggested, his voice low as they approached the outskirts of the village.

"But we should be cautious. We don't want to draw attention to ourselves."

Suigetsu nodded in agreement. With a quick hand gesture, he activated the transformation jutsu, his features morphing and shifting until he bore little resemblance to his true self.

His hair turned a deep shade of chestnut brown, and lines etched themselves into his face, giving him the appearance of a weathered traveler.

Jugo, too, underwent his own transformation, his towering form shrinking until he stood hunched and frail. He wore tattered robes and leaned heavily on a gnarled staff, his eyes clouded with age.

Suigetsu couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of his companion's new appearance.

"Why did you choose to look like an old man?" he asked with a grin.

"Do you think they'll trust you more because you look weak?"

Jugo shrugged, his expression impassive.

"It's better this way," he replied simply, his voice gruff with age.

"Besides, I can always say you're my grandson."

Suigetsu bristled at the suggestion, his pride wounded by the implication.

"Who are you calling a grandson?" he huffed.

But before Jugo could respond, their attention was drawn to a commotion up ahead.

They quickened their pace, eager to discover the source of the disturbance. As they neared the tavern at the edge of the small village, the sound of raised voices and crashing furniture filled the air.

Curious, they exchanged a glance before slipping inside, their senses on high alert.

What greeted them was a scene straight out of a tavern brawl. At one table sat a stunning blonde woman, her laughter ringing out like music as she swayed unsteadily in her seat. 

But scattered across the floor like discarded toys were several men, their forms sprawled in various states of disarray. Groans and grumbles added to the chaotic atmosphere of the tavern, blending with the clatter of overturned chairs and the occasional shatter of glass.

Beside her stood another woman with dark hair, her expression a mix of exasperation and embarrassment as she struggled to contain the blonde's antics. In her arms, she cradled a small pig, its tiny snout buried in her shoulder.

But before they could fully take in the scene, chaos erupted.

With a mighty roar, the blonde woman slammed her fist down onto the table, shattering it into splinters with a single blow. The other patrons recoiled in shock, their eyes wide with fear as they scrambled to avoid the flying debris. 

The black-haired woman winced, a pained expression crossing her face as she hastily apologized to the bewildered tavern owner.

"I'm sorry for her behavior," she expressed with genuine regret.

"Please, allow me to pay for the damage."

With a sigh, she reached into her purse to pay for the damages, her gaze never leaving from the blonde woman who had caused the commotion.

Once the payment was settled, she guided her drunken companion toward the door, casting an apologetic glance at Suigetsu and Jugo as they made their way past.

"Drunk already, and it's not even noon," he remarked with a shake of his head, his gaze following the pair as they made their way towards the door.

Beside him, Jugo looked equally bewildered, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Did you not see her destroy the table?" he asked suspicious.

Suigetsu shrugged, his attention already drifting back to the room before them.

"Maybe she's just a lightweight," he mused.

"Or maybe she's just got a mean right hook."

After shaking his head at Suigetsu's answer, Jugo turned his attention back to the tavern, only to find some of the men on the ground slowly picking themselves up, while others needed assistance from their companions.