Emerging from behind the trees, Uchiha Shisui stared at the scattered corpses with wide eyes. It was his first time witnessing the destructive power of a grenade.
Hoshita Shūichi, however, was thoroughly pleased with the weapon's debut. He grinned. "Just a little invention. You'll learn more about it later, Shisui."
Understanding flashed in Uchiha Shisui's eyes, and he nodded without pressing further.
Stepping forward, Hoshita Shūichi exhaled a massive Fireball Jutsu, engulfing the bodies in flames. While his chakra wasn't enough to melt the shrapnel, the fire effectively erased all traces of the battle, ensuring no one could reverse-engineer the grenade's design.
With the cleanup complete, Hoshita Shūichi and Uchiha Shisui turned to catch up with Kurama Sanyō.
Ten minutes later, the two groups reunited and retraced their path back to the Land of Fire, where an Anbu squad awaited them. Unlike Sarutobi Shinnosuke, these operatives wore animal masks, making their identities indistinguishable to outsiders.
The masked shinobi didn't engage in conversation, instead fanning out to form a protective perimeter around Hoshita Shūichi's team.
While Uchiha Shisui and Kurama Sanyō seized the chance to rest, Hoshita Shūichi swallowed another soldier pill and resumed treating Haneda Kōichi's injuries. His Mystical Palm Technique was still rudimentary, requiring extended time and chakra to heal the deeper wounds.
As for Namikaze Minato and Sarutobi Shinnosuke—though Hoshita Shūichi wasn't sure about the latter's capabilities—he trusted Minato's prowess and the Flying Thunder God Technique implicitly.
Time crawled by.
An hour later, the Anbu operatives suddenly stirred, with two peeling off to the west. Hoshita Shūichi and Uchiha Shisui exchanged glances, their faces lighting up with anticipation.
Sure enough, Namikaze Minato soon appeared in their line of sight.
"Minato-sensei!"
The trio rushed forward to greet him.
Namikaze Minato smiled warmly. "You all performed exceptionally well on this mission."
Meanwhile, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, after briefing the Anbu squad, approached Hoshita Shūichi. "Shūichi, sorry—I couldn't retrieve your kunai."
Hoshita Shūichi waved it off with practiced diplomacy. "Tools are expendable. Comrades aren't."
The remark drew appreciative looks from everyone. While Namikaze Minato and the others pondered the sentiment, Kurama Sanyō blurted out, "Damn right, Shūichi!"
Sarutobi Shinnosuke nodded approvingly, privately reaffirming his father's judgment of the boy.
Namikaze Minato clapped Hoshita Shūichi's shoulder. "You've all done well. Rest now—we head back to Konoha soon."
The trio agreed, exhaustion weighing on them.
The Anbu squad, having taken custody of Haneda Kōichi, departed first.
As they rested in the forest, Kurama Sanyō couldn't resist asking, "Minato-sensei, were those really Suna-nin?"
Namikaze Minato glanced at Sarutobi Shinnosuke before confirming, "Yes. This ties to our last mission. Suna and Hanzo are showing signs of collaboration, and it's about the Land of Rivers."
Uchiha Shisui frowned. "Why would Suna ally with Ame to contest the Land of Rivers? Even if they succeed, they'd have to split the gains."
Namikaze Minato nodded. "Your logic is sound, Shisui. But Suna holds the upper hand against Ame, while they're at a disadvantage against Konoha. Moreover, the Land of Rivers hasn't fully aligned with us."
What?
Uchiha Shisui and Kurama Sanyō were stunned. After the evidence from their last mission, how could the Land of Rivers' daimyo ignore Suna's atrocities?
Hoshita Shūichi, however, mused aloud, "Minato-sensei, this isn't just about mission quotas, is it?"
Sarutobi Shinnosuke raised an eyebrow, but Namikaze Minato chuckled. "Sharp as ever, Shūichi."
Turning to the others, Hoshita Shūichi explained, "To the daimyo, that village was expendable. For a nation wedged between great powers, playing both sides for maximum benefit is wiser than full allegiance—unless one side holds absolute dominance."
That said, Hoshita Shūichi privately suspected Danzō's involvement. Not out of bias, but because the man was a known hardliner.
Sarutobi Hiruzen delegated Konoha's dirty work to Danzō, inadvertently fueling his ambition. Would Danzō have politely presented evidence to the daimyo and negotiated? Unlikely. Hoshita Shūichi bet Danzō had strong-armed the Land of Rivers—or worse, deliberately stoked conflict.
Uchiha Shisui fell into deep thought at Hoshita Shūichi's words, while Kurama Sanyō looked lost. Politics wasn't his forte.
Hoshita Shūichi wasn't an expert either, but he understood enough.
After two hours of rest, the five set off for Konoha, arriving after nightfall. At the Hokage Building, Namikaze Minato submitted their mission report and announced a three-day break.
Once dismissed, Hoshita Shūichi treated himself to a long bath and a hearty meal.
Leaving the restaurant, he spotted Ten'un in an elegant kimono, her graceful figure a sight to behold. He called out, "Ten'un-nee!"
She turned, delighted. "Shūichi! Weren't you supposed to be gone for two weeks?"
Hoshita Shūichi grinned. "Mission wrapped up early."
His eyes swept over her curves, and he teased, "Dressed so nicely—going on a date?"
Ten'un blushed but huffed. "As if I need to!" Then she added, "I'm accompanying my sister. She's getting engaged soon."
Sister? Engaged?
This was news to Hoshita Shūichi. He quickly offered congratulations.
Ten'un slung an arm around his shoulders. "You have to come as our honored guest—if you're in the village."
Hoshita Shūichi agreed without hesitation. He was more than happy to grow closer to Ten'un's family.
Back home, Hoshita Shūichi dumped his shopping bags and flopped onto the couch. "Shopping with women is exhausting, no matter the world."
An hour with Ten'un had drained him more than the mission. Still, she'd gifted him clothes, shoes, a magatama pendant, and more.
After organizing the haul, he collapsed into bed, determined to rest.
Early night. Tomorrow starts three days of intensive training.
Vacation? Not for me.
Meanwhile, the Hokage Building remained brightly lit.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzō, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura had gathered.
"Danzō, you shouldn't have strong-armed the Land of Rivers. They are a sovereign nation," Mitokado Homura grumbled.
Danzō remained impassive. "Yet our previous soft approach failed. The Third Kazekage helped them discover iron deposits. Their tilt toward Suna is inevitable—unless we make it clear that without Konoha, they'll never mine in peace."
He continued coldly, "Rain's mercenary groups are plentiful. If Suna and Ame can hire them against us, why can't those same groups 'coincidentally' disrupt the Land of Rivers?"
Utatane Koharu interjected, "Danzō has a point. Blame isn't productive now." She turned to Sarutobi Hiruzen. "What's your decision?"
The Third Hokage exhaled smoke. "We cannot lose the Land of Rivers' missions. More critically, we must prevent a Hanzo-Suna alliance."
"Danzō, Root will handle this."
Though privately disappointed, Danzō accepted the order.
Sarutobi Hiruzen added, "As for the Land of Rivers-Suna collaboration, I'll have Sakumo investigate."
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