Danzō stood, motionless in the gloom of his subterranean office, his hands clasped firmly behind his back while the cold, sterile air enveloped him, and the only sound was the distant dripping of water somewhere in the Root tunnels.
His plan, so meticulously orchestrated, had failed in the most spectacular and unexpected way.
He knew Gato had hired elite assassins and he had counted on it; in fact, he had been the one to ensure Gato knew exactly who he would be facing to force the escalation. The stage was perfectly set for Teams 7 and 8, led by an overwhelmed Kakashi and a Kurenai whom he considered to have no real field experience, to be annihilated in the Land of Waves.
He expected to receive reports of casualties, including the death of the Uchiha, who was a dangerous loose end. He also expected, with great interest, a detailed report of an uncontrolled Jinchūriki, which would be irrefutable proof that Hiruzen was incapable of handling Konoha's greatest weapon.
Instead, he received the impossible.
He received reports of total success, a crushing victory, along with reports from his spies in the hospital that were pure fantasy and defied all medical and shinobi logic.
Anomaly One: Yūhi Kurenai. It was confirmed she suffered a fatal wound from the Jinchūriki, but her current status is unharmed, without a scar, and with complete and inexplicable cellular regeneration.
Anomaly Two: Uchiha Sasuke. He suffered multiple penetrating wounds and was kept in stasis by an "anomalous healing energy" that no doctor could identify.
And then, just as he was about to act on these anomalies, to move his pieces to investigate the source of this absurd power, they disappeared.
The entire unit—Kakashi, Kurenai, and the five genin—had vanished from the village overnight. There was no mission record nor an official request, so they had simply left. For days, Danzō had been deprived of his control while his targets had moved off the board, and he, the puppet master of Konoha, hated not being in control.
A swirl of air distorted the darkest corner of the room and a Root operative materialized from nothing, kneeling on one knee, his white porcelain mask completely blank.
"Lord Danzō."
"Speak," Danzō's voice was a rough, dry whisper.
"They have returned."
Danzō remained motionless, but the chakra under his bandages stirred with contained irritation, because they were finally back.
"...They did not return alone, sir."
Danzō turned slowly, his single visible eye narrowing, as the operative never added superfluous information unless it was of vital importance.
"They brought Tsunade of the Sannin with them."
The cold air in the room seemed to grow tighter. If the failure of his plan in the Waves was an insult, this was a political catastrophe. Danzō's ambition for the Hokage seat depended on a power vacuum and Hiruzen's impending, obvious weakness, but Tsunade's return not only reinforced his old rival's position, it provided the village with a clear successor, a hero beloved by the people, and, worst of all, an ally of Hiruzen.
It was a monumental obstacle he had never foreseen.
"Tsunade..." he hissed, as his mind connected the dots with painful, swift clarity: the anomalous power that healed Kurenai, the impossible success in the Land of Waves, the "disappearance" on an unauthorized secret mission, and now, the return of the only person in the world who could understand, and perhaps replicate, that power.
They hadn't found her by chance; they had searched for her.
"The Jinchūriki," Danzō said. "Was he with them?"
"Team 7 and Team 8 returned as a cohesive unit, sir. The Jinchūriki was at the front. Reports from the hospital confirm the kunoichi Haruno and Hyūga also show abnormally high chakra levels and full physical recovery, inconsistent with a mission of that rank."
They were hiding something, something powerful, and they had used it to bring back the only person who could ruin decades of his planning.
"Watch them," Danzō ordered, his voice now a frigid whisper. "All of them: the Jinchūriki, the kunoichi Kurenai, Haruno, and the Hyūga. I want to know every step they take, the source of their success, what they are hiding, and why Hiruzen is allowing them this freedom. Now, go."
The agent disappeared in silence, leaving Danzō alone in the darkness, recalculating his ambitions in the face of a legendary obstacle he never expected.
*****
The next day, the sun shone brightly over Konoha. Team 8, accompanied by Naruto, was heading to the Hokage Tower. Kiba walked with his hands stuffed in his jacket pockets, his gait lazy, while Akamaru trotted at his feet, happy to be back on familiar ground and away from Tanzaku.
"I still don't get why we have to do this," Kiba grumbled, kicking a loose stone from the path. "The hospital must have already told them everything. Kakashi-sensei is with Sasuke, and Sakura is resting at home. Why can't we rest? I'm exhausted!"
"A verbal report is standard protocol after a mission of this magnitude, Kiba," Shino replied, his voice habitually monotonous, from his usual spot one step behind the group. "It confirms details a written report might omit."
"But it's so boring!" exclaimed Naruto, who was walking right beside Kurenai, looking surprisingly fresh. "The old man Hokage already knows we won! And that I brought Granny Tsunade back! He should be giving us a medal and free ramen for life! Right, Kurenai?"
Kiba stopped dead in his tracks, nearly tripping over his own feet, while Akamaru also stopped and barked, confused. Shino, for the first time on the entire mission, tilted his head in a clear sign of perplexity, and Kiba turned slowly, his canine eyes wide and his jaw nearly unhinged.
"Wait a... second?" he stammered, pointing a trembling finger between Naruto and his sensei. "Did you just... did you just call her 'Kurenai'!?"
Naruto blinked, confused by the exaggerated reaction. "Uh, yeah? That's her name, isn't it?"
"It's 'Kurenai-sensei'!" Kiba shrieked, scandalized. "She's an elite Jōnin! She's our commander! You can't just... call her by her name, you idiot! It's monumentally disrespectful! What the hell is wrong with you!?"
Akamaru barked again, this time in total agreement with his owner.
Naruto crossed his arms, a foxy grin on his face. "But she told me I could!"
"WHAT!?" Kiba's yell made several civilians on the street turn to look at them.
Kurenai glanced at Naruto out of the corner of her eye, a fun, almost imperceptible smile playing on her lips. She stopped and turned to her team.
"Naruto, Kiba is right. Technically," she said, her voice soft but with a hint of amusement, "hierarchy is important."
"But you said...!" Naruto protested, feeling betrayed.
"I said you could call me Kurenai 'when we weren't on a mission'," she clarified. "And delivering an official report to the Hokage... is definitely a mission."
Naruto stared at her, mouth open. "That's a trap! That's not fair! You should show some respect to your savior!"
Kurenai laughed, a light, genuine, and completely unexpected sound that made Kiba and Shino exchange a look of confusion. Their sensei, the elegant, serene, and sometimes terrifying genjutsu master, laughing openly at one of Naruto's stupid jokes?
"You're a lost cause, Naruto," she said, shaking her head. "But yes, you were... helpful. Now, behave. We're arriving. And maintain a respectful tone in front of Lord Hokage."
"Yeah, yeah, Kurenai-sensei!" Naruto said, giving an exaggerated military salute and winking at her.
Kiba just shook his head, muttering, "I don't get any of this. What the hell happened in that swamp? They're acting so... close."
"The interpersonal dynamic has been visibly altered," Shino observed, adjusting his glasses.
"Stop talking like that! It's weird!" Kiba snapped, resuming his pace.
Hinata watched them from a step behind, a small, shy smile on her face, because she understood, and she was happy to see Naruto so relaxed and... accepted. It felt warm.
They arrived at the Hokage's office. Hiruzen was waiting for them, sitting behind his desk, his pipe smoking peacefully. His face, though tired, visibly softened when he saw them enter.
"Kurenai. Genin. Welcome," Hiruzen said, his voice serene. "I apologize for the formality, but after your... 'successful extended training regimen,' the Council had questions."
He gestured toward a folder on his desk and continued:
"I see Kakashi and Sakura are missing."
"They are at the hospital, Lord Hokage," Kurenai explained. "Kakashi is overseeing security, and Sakura is... assisting Tsunade-sama with Sasuke's treatment."
"I see. A logical decision," Hiruzen nodded, and then his gaze fell on the rest of the team. "And now, you return. With a result that neither the Council nor I expected. I need the official report... on your 'training'."
"Lord Hokage," Kurenai stepped forward, giving a formal bow. "The tracking and intelligence training was a success. Following a trail of... unusual activity... in Tanzaku Town, we located Tsunade-sama."
"Ah, yes. The 'unusual activity'," Hiruzen murmured, amused, as he looked at the genin. "I've heard that Naruto was... 'instrumental' in convincing her."
"You bet I was, old man!" Naruto exclaimed, puffing out his chest. "It was a piece of cake! See, I found her at a ramen stand, and then we went to this 'social club' that was really a casino! And I won a bet against her!"
"A bet?" Hiruzen repeated, raising an eyebrow.
"Hey!" Kiba protested, stepping forward. "While we were searching every dirty alley, he was in a casino! And then we found out he ate all the breakfast at the most expensive hotel!"
"The result was successful," Shino intervened. "The method was... chaotic."
"A bet," Hiruzen said, suppressing a smile. He picked up a paper from his desk. "The 'Golden Moon Pavilion' restaurant has sent us a bill for damages that exceeds an entire month's weapons budget."
"But I got the bottle!" Naruto said proudly. "And she's here! That's what matters!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi observed the group. The story was... a disaster, but also a resounding success. They were disobedient, loud, and incredibly effective children; they were the antithesis of protocol, and yet, they had achieved what his ANBU had not been able to in years.
He decided, with the wisdom of a leader who has seen too much, to accept the victory they offered him.
"You all did an exceptional job. All of you," Hiruzen murmured, rubbing his chin. "You brought back a Sannin and the key to saving Sasuke, so Konoha is in your debt."
The entire team visibly relaxed at his words.
"Now go," the Hokage said, his tone growing warmer. "Rest. You've earned it."
As they left the office, Naruto couldn't help but give a small jump of victory in the hallway.
"We did it! Even the old man Hokage thinks we're awesome! Now, for real, time for ramen!"
"Not so fast, Naruto," Kurenai said, the amused smile returning to her lips. "You still have to help me file the mission expense report. The bottle of sake 'you stole' isn't going to pay for itself."
"WHAT!? That's paperwork! That's not fair! Kurenai, that's betrayal!"
As their argument faded down the hall, Hiruzen Sarutobi remained alone in his office, a satisfied smile on his face.
Whatever they're hiding, he thought, as he lit his pipe again, it's working. And for now, that's all I need to know.
*****
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