This battle was decisive.
Tatsuya had come out of it victorious—undeniably, gloriously, and overwhelmingly.
His personal stats now reflected the gains:
[Name: Tatsuya Hoshino]
[Age: 21]
[Rank: Kage-level]
[Chakra: Lv4 (40,500 / 100,000)]
[Sage Energy: Lv3 (1,400 / 5,000)]
[Ninjutsu]: Great Fireball Technique Lv5, Dragon Flame Jutsu Lv4, Phoenix Fire Technique Lv5, Wind Cut Technique Lv4, Vacuum Sphere Lv4…
[Taijutsu]: Konoha Fluid Technique Lv5, Leaf Hurricane Lv5…
[Genjutsu]: Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Lv3…
[Bloodline Limit]: None
[Special Skills]: Clone Technique Lv4, Body Flicker Technique Lv5
Five maxed-out skills. Kage-level power. Over forty thousand Chakra points. And Level 3 Sage Energy.
Tatsuya could take on the Fourth Raikage solo. And if he activated Sage Mode, he'd almost certainly win.
Complete domination.
—
Before long, the rest of his Anbu unit regrouped around him.
"Captain Tatsuya!"
"You're not hurt, are you?"
"Captain! Should we pursue the enemy?"
Tatsuya raised a hand calmly. "No need to chase the desperate. We rest here. Everyone, report any serious injuries."
"None, Captain!"
"We're fine! With you here, it was like a walk in the park!"
"Captain, you're incredible!"
Though nearly everyone bore cuts and bruises, none of them complained.
Because Tatsuya had done the impossible. He carried the hardest part of the battle, took on the Raikage himself, and made it look effortless.
"Good."
He gave a rare smile and patted Uzuki Yugao on the shoulder. "All for the village. Long live Konoha."
"Long live Konoha!!"
The shout echoed, bursting from the chests of every Anbu.
Uzuki Yugao froze. That one pat on the shoulder—it was like she had been marked by the Will of Fire itself. Her chest burned with pride.
Duty. Sacrifice. Resolve.
Tatsuya wasn't just their leader. He was the embodiment of what it meant to be a shinobi of Konoha.
Luckily, his face was hidden behind the Anbu mask, because he had a wry smile underneath. He was just trying to wrap things up nicely, but everyone seemed to be taking it way too seriously.
—
Not far away, Jiraiya approached.
"Tatsuya-kun… I'm honestly in awe."
He looked at the young man with quiet admiration. Such strength. Such devotion to the village. So rare.
He couldn't help but think of Orochimaru—his former friend who, in recent years, had grown distant and secretive. A troubling shift.
"All in a day's work," Tatsuya said with practiced humility. "I just regret not capturing the Raikage. That would've given Konoha a major edge at the negotiation table."
"No one can stop the coming of peace," Jiraiya replied solemnly. "And if a man like the Raikage truly wants to flee, there's no stopping him."
"True," Tatsuya agreed with a sigh. "Next time, I just hope he drops more Lightning Chakra Mode experience."
Jiraiya chuckled. "You're an interesting one."
—
Soon after, several Anbu began collecting the remains of the fallen Kirigakure shinobi, sealing the bodies into scrolls for intel purposes.
The instant-kill of two powerful Mist Jōnin had stunned everyone.
Even Sarutobi Shinnosuke—the captain of Anbu Team One—couldn't match them solo. But Tatsuya had eliminated them in the blink of an eye.
After that, there was no doubt: Tatsuya now stood above all other Anbu, even if unofficially.
"Tatsuya, Shinnosuke," Jiraiya said. "I've got another mission to handle. I'll leave the retreat to you two."
"Yes, sir."
Both nodded. Sarutobi Shinnosuke in particular looked relieved.
This mission had been dangerously close to a disaster. Without Jiraiya—and more importantly, without Tatsuya—the result could've been fatal.
Yet here they were. No deaths. No serious injuries. A miracle.
After clearing the battlefield and resting for two hours, a message arrived via ninja pigeon.
The Cloud Shinobi had reached the border of the Land of Fire, withdrawing toward the Land of Hot Water.
It was a full retreat.
The threat had passed.
Everyone exhaled deeply.
Time to go home.
—
On the way back, Tatsuya walked silently near the front. And though he said little, the rest of the Anbu unit unconsciously followed his lead.
Power commands respect.
"I'm going to become a Jōnin as fast as possible!" Uzuki Yugao said, eyes glowing.
"With your talent, you'll get there," Yūhi Kurenai smiled.
"Not just a Jōnin."
Uzuki Yugao shook her head, clenching her fists. "I want to become as strong as Captain Tatsuya!"
Kurenai fell quiet.
"To be that strong… you'd have to be willing to risk everything," she said softly.
Uzuki Yugao's gaze didn't waver. "I am."
She would follow the Will of Fire. She would stand beside her captain—not as a subordinate, but as his equal.
Kurenai sighed, lips curling into a small smile.
"To be as strong as Tatsuya… better go to sleep early."
"In your dreams, you might stand a chance."
—