Mission Complete

A/N: Triple Release (3/3) Our next target is to reach 500 powerstones by Sunday for a Double Release. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! Goal: 500 Powerstones! Let's increase our power ranking, right now we aren't doing too well!

Goro approached the doors of the Raikage's mansion, his mind focused solely on the mission that Danzo had given him and the things he could gain from the free request he'd been granted by the Raikage. At the doors stood another two jounin guards, waiting for him, wordlessly motioning for him to follow. Without a word, they escorted him through the hallways of the mansion, leading him straight to the Raikage's office.

When they arrived at the doors, the jounin took their positions outside. Goro paused for a moment, gathering himself before knocking firmly on the door. The Raikage's booming voice came from within: "Enter."

As Goro stepped inside, he was immediately met with the overwhelming presence of the Raikage seated behind a massive wooden desk. Beside him stood Dodai, his advisor. The room was spacious but dominated by the Raikage's towering form and overbearing energy. On the desk, a neatly folded Chunin uniform lay in wait.

Goro stood still, his mind calculating his every action. He could feel the Raikage's gaze inspecting him thoroughly.

'His energy is suffocating.'

Realizing he had forgotten his manners in the pressure of the moment, Goro bowed respectfully.

The Raikage gave a slow, approving nod before speaking. "You did a great job," the Raikage began, his voice like thunder. "I wonder where you learned those skills."

Goro stood straight again, keeping his expression neutral. He didn't flinch under the Raikage's praise, but his mind was already working.

'He's giving me a lot of compliments. Maybe he's pleased with my performance—this might be the best chance to ask for the Lightning Chakra Mode jutsu.'

The Raikage continued, "You remind me of my younger days. I noticed that you're stronger than your peers, but what impressed me more was the restraint you showed in battle."

Goro scratched the back of his head, bowing again. "Thanks, Lord Raikage," Goro replied.

Pleased with Goro's manners, the Raikage leaned back in his seat, resting his arms on the armrests, and asked, "Before you take your uniform, as Dodai has already informed you, I am granting you a reasonable request of your choice. What would you like?"

'I've got to play mind games. I need to make the Raikage feel that I'm looking down on what he's capable of giving me.'

"Well... If I'm being honest, Lord Raikage, with all due respect, what I want may not be something you can just give me so easily," Goro began.

The Raikage's brow lifted in slight surprise. "And what would that be?" he asked.

Goro's voice remained steady. "The Lightning Chakra Mode technique," he continued.

For a moment, the room went silent. Dodai, standing beside the Raikage, looked at Goro with raised eyebrows. The Raikage, however, seemed more intrigued than shocked. He leaned forward slightly, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "You aim high," the Raikage finally said, a hint of amusement in his tone. "But your Overdrive... you fight similarly to how I did. I see why you'd want to learn the technique."

The Raikage turned to Dodai, who still looked mildly surprised. "What do you think?" the Raikage asked.

Dodai was quiet for a moment before speaking. "It's a bold request, but... he does show the potential to master it."

The Raikage grunted in agreement, then turned his gaze back to Goro. "I'll have the scroll prepared for you. But know this, it won't be easy to learn."

Goro met his gaze with quiet determination. "I'm prepared to do whatever it takes," Goro affirmed.

The Raikage broke out into thunderous laughter, clearly pleased with the response. "Your determination is commendable," he said, wiping a tear of joy from his eye. "Take this." He gestured toward the Chunin uniform on the desk.

Goro stepped forward and accepted the uniform, thanking the Raikage as he did.

"The scroll will be ready for you in a few days," the Raikage added. "Make sure you're ready when the time comes."

'It worked?!'

"Thank you, Lord Raikage," Goro said, hiding his excitement.

Goro bowed deeply to the Raikage, his face calm but his mind already racing. He straightened up, gave a final nod to Dodai, and turned toward the door. As he stepped outside the office, the two jounin who had escorted him in were waiting. They moved to flank him on either side, ready to guide him out of the mansion, but Goro had no intention of leaving just yet.

'I need to act now. The opportunity is right in front of me; if I wait too long, I might lose it.'

He remained outwardly calm as they passed door after door, his eyes scanning the hallway for any small excuse to slip away. In a small hallway that branched off from the main one, he spotted what he needed: a bathroom.

"Give me a moment, I need the bathroom," Goro said, his tone hurried.

The jounin hesitated but nodded. "Make it quick," one of them replied, clearly not expecting any trouble.

Goro entered the bathroom, the door closing quietly behind him. Inside, he took a moment to scan his surroundings. It was small, with no windows—just a simple, tiled room with a sink and a toilet. He moved swiftly, knowing he didn't have much time. The jounin were likely waiting just outside the door, and any delay could raise suspicion.

'I'll have to be fast about this. If they get suspicious, the whole plan falls apart.'

Goro stepped into one of the stalls, created a single clone, and gave it a quick, silent nod. The clone understood immediately, hiding in the stalls, waiting for Goro to exit.

'I'll leave first and the clone will handle the rest. When I'm out and there's no one left guarding the halls, I'll have my clone enter the wall where the door to the office is. This is the last step; things need to go perfectly.'

Goro's plan was unfolding smoothly; it had been just as he imagined in his mind.

Stepping out of the stall, Goro made sure everything looked normal. With a steadying breath, he walked out of the bathroom, his face remaining stoic, not giving off any suspicion. The jounin stood outside, still waiting, their expressions unchanged. They had no reason to suspect anything.

"I'm done," Goro said, his tone casual.

The jounin nodded, falling into step beside him as they made their way to the exit.

'The clone should be in position by now. It was already heading back toward the Raikage's office, where it should've merged seamlessly with the walls.'

The doors to the mansion opened, and Goro walked out into the open air, the jounin guards accompanying him until they were well outside the building. As he exited the second set of doors, Goro felt a sense of satisfaction.

'Everything's going according to plan.'

For the next week, Goro kept a low profile, waiting patiently for the scroll to be ready. He spent his time interacting with his friends as usual, maintaining his cover, but he made sure to stay away from Miki's house. Yugito's growing suspicion of him was enough reason to avoid any unnecessary encounters.

One evening, as the sun was setting, Goro was approached by an ANBU cloud ninja in the market region of the village. Without any explanation, the masked figure informed him that he was being summoned to the Raikage's office. Goro followed without question.

'The scrolls are probably ready.'

When he arrived, only Dodai stood in the room, no Raikage in sight.

"The Raikage is out at the moment," Dodai explained, his tone steady, "but he left something for you." He pulled out a scroll, handing it over to Goro.

Goro took it, nodding in gratitude at Dodai. "Thank you," Goro said, exiting the room.

After allowing the clone to gather information for another two weeks, Goro decided it was time to leave. In the thick of the night, Goro got his stuff packed, put the sword he bought in the same storage scroll where he stored the mask, along with the cloud uniform, and got ready to leave.

'It's time for me to go home. Danzo will be expecting me.'

Reminder: Our next target is to reach 500 powerstones by Sunday for a Double Release. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! Goal: 500 Powerstones!