Naruto: Konoha’s Trickster, Starting as the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki

"Kazuyama, your teacher isn't here. Does that mean the plan's off?"

"Yes…"

"No! I want to see a good show!"

"What am I supposed to do? I remember he made some kind of hallucinogenic drug. If I can get the Five-Tails Jinchūriki to take it, then use the Flying Thunder God to drop him in Iwagakure, it'll be hilarious—an absolutely great show."

"Then where's the medicine? Go find it!"

"Find it? How? You've seen all the insane precautions Orochimaru set up to keep me out, haven't you? I'm not about to get crippled before I even get through the door. And knowing him, if I try to force my way in, his entire lab will probably go into self-destruct mode."

Kazuyama fumed with frustration. The irony stung—he was the one who had pointed out Orochimaru's self-destruct mechanism in the first place.

Back then, he'd joked, "Sensei, this is top secret. If someone finds out, we might both end up on the execution block. You should prepare for a leak—if something happens, it'll be easier to make a quick getaway."

Orochimaru had nodded enthusiastically, calling him a good disciple who truly cared for his teacher.

Now, it seemed like Orochimaru really owed him one!

"Forget it. If there's no medicine, there's no medicine. Let's go hide in the Land of Grass and see if we can mess with the Iwa ninja."

"Staying in the village feels like we're just waiting to get chopped to pieces."

Now that the goal had been decided, Kazuyama didn't hesitate for a moment and flew straight to the Hokage building.

"Lord Hokage, Kazuyama Gekkō has something to ask."

"Enter."

Knocking on the Hokage's office door, Kazuyama walked in, a smile on his face.

"Why are you here, little brat? Or are you finally ready to start fulfilling your duties as an ANBU?"

Hiruzen put down the scroll he was reading and smiled.

"Now that you mention it, of course, I'll be carrying out missions as an ANBU."

"That's right. I've realized my responsibilities, and I plan to head to the Land of Grass to investigate Iwagakure's movements on behalf of Konoha!"

Seeing Kazuyama's serious expression as he requested the mission, Hiruzen couldn't hide his surprise.

In his mind, Kazuyama was the perfect person for the job. He had been racking his brain trying to figure out how to convince the lazy brat, but he never expected him to volunteer.

It seemed assigning Orochimaru as Kazuyama's Sensei had been an excellent decision. How long had it been since this brat's attitude shifted so dramatically?

For a moment, Hiruzen couldn't help but feel a wave of satisfaction.

"Lord Hokage, please say something."

"If you give the order, I'll head straight for Iwagakure right now. Isn't it just a Jinchūriki? It's not like I haven't seen one before. I'll even figure out the size of his shoes for you!"

Seeing Kazuyama's full resolve, Hiruzen was even more satisfied. He patted the table in approval.

"Good! Kazuyama, it's great that you've come to this realization."

"It seems you've completely inherited the Will of Fire."

"Then I'll leave this mission to you! Let me know if you need any supplies—I fully support you personally!"

In Hiruzen's eyes, Kazuyama was no longer the little brat who had reported him for peeping. This was his disciple's disciple! He was maturing and becoming more reliable. Not bad—definitely worth the effort to train!

"Great! I don't need much, just some money. I don't think I can complete this mission anytime soon."

"I'll need to eat in the Land of Grass, and as you know, I have a younger brother and a family to support."

Kazuyama's finances were complicated. All his money was with Ebisami, who handled things for him and took care of Hayate. However, due to an incident with a laxative, he couldn't risk returning home to ask for more. He was sure Pakura had already reported the situation to Ebisami, and based on how Ebisami treated Pakura and Kushina, he'd likely be beaten up the moment he walked in the door.

"Sure! How much do you need? Would 50,000 ryo be enough?"

"This money's on me—take it!"

In high spirits, Hiruzen pulled a stack of cash from his desk drawer.

Quick as lightning, Kazuyama grabbed the money and stuffed it into his pocket.

"Then I'll go now, Lord Hokage."

"Wait for me to return with good news!"

The next second, he activated the Flying Thunder God Technique and disappeared from the office.

As Kazuyama disappeared, Hiruzen chuckled heartily, his spirits soaring. Setting aside his endless paperwork, he reached for his crystal ball and activated the Telescope Technique.

"Hahaha! When I'm in a good mood, even my vision seems sharper!"

"Ssshhhh... so clear... so perfect!"

"Hahaa!"

It was just like the saying goes: 'Old age doesn't kill the mischief.'

What kind of mischief? A peeping tom's mischief!

…

The Land of Grass lies nestled between the Land of Wind, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Fire, with a geographical environment as harsh as that of Amegakure. Ame survives its precarious position between three great nations only due to the strength of its powerful ninjas, such as Hanzō of the Salamander in the past and Pain after him.

The Land of Grass, however, lacks such formidable warriors. Its survival hinges on selling information—an act seen as shameful by many. By trading intelligence with the three nations of Fire, Earth, and Wind, the Land of Grass secures a fragile existence. This dependency allowed Iwagakure to infiltrate and establish itself within the Land of Grass with little resistance. After all, how could the Land of Grass afford to let such a significant opportunity slip by?

Kazuyama had already crossed the borders of the Land of Fire into the Land of Grass. He carefully stashed away his Konoha forehead protector. With Iwagakure's spies scattered throughout the Land of Grass, vigilance was key.

"Chōmei, can you sense the presence of the Five-Tails?"

"No. Kokuō is the calmest among us Tailed Beasts, with barely any discernible presence. Her strength lies in her immense physical power," Chōmei responded.

"If it's a contest of raw strength, Kokuō outmatches even the Stinky Fox. Add her Boil Release to the mix—capable of evaporating chakra to amplify her strength—and you've got a terrifying opponent. Believe me, you don't want to take a hit from her. With your small frame, you'd fall apart in an instant."

Kazuyama's expression turned sour. Small frame? He couldn't help but think, To you Tailed Beasts, aren't all humans small?

Then he recalled exceptions like the Third and Fourth Raikage. They could stand toe-to-toe with the Eight-Tails and endure its attacks. Monsters like them aren't human!

"Guess we'll have to take our time searching. The Land of Grass isn't that big, so let's treat it like a vacation," Kazuyama said, brushing off the urgency of the mission.

This journey wasn't just about gathering intelligence—it was also a convenient escape from trouble brewing in the village. Kazuyama had no intention of pushing himself too hard. He treated the mission as a leisurely trip, thinking, I'll deal with the information when it comes. No need to stress.

Unbeknownst to him, while he entered the Land of Grass with a laid-back mindset, his sensei was embarking on a far more perilous endeavor. His target wasn't a minor foe but the mighty Eight-Tails of Kumogakure.