Chapter Eighteen

Two months had passed since Indra's shenanigans with the Land of Rice Daimyo. After venting his anger and frustration on the Daimyo, he spent the better part of two months wiping out every bandit, and slaver group he could find. At the end of his time in the land of Rice, Indra had killed over a thousand people, and now the country was free of the rampant criminals that made it home.

'Whatever happens to this country after I'm gone is none of my business. Hopefully, I'd never have to come back here again,' Indra thought as he crossed into the Land of Fire.

Indra spent the next week getting to one of the many Anbu hidden entrances located around Konoha as he took his sweet time in doing so, stopping at almost every town on his way.

Staring at the huge wall of Konoha, he walked to an obscure corner before creating a specific seal combination that stops the barrier from going off. With a slight huff, he moved a metal grate revealing the sewer entrance that leads into Konoha.

*Tap* *Tap* *Tap*

His sandals echo in the empty sewer as he slowly walks towards the Anbu headquarter. Once he got out of the sewer, he took a good look around the Anbu headquarter and it looks deserted, save for the odd Anbu operative going about their business. During his journey back from the Land of Rice, he overhead countless rumours regarding the war, and having seen how empty the Anbu headquarter was, it was obvious Konoha is stretched thin defending against four of the five great shinobi villages.

Placing his finger on the floor, he tried to single out the chakra signature of Tobirama. 'I see, the Hokage isn't in the village.'

'I guess I'd go and rest. I'd give my report when he returns to the village,' He thought as he walked to the exit of the Anbu headquarter.

......

Indra let out a yawn as he got up from his bed. Going to the bathroom, he spent the next hour cleaning himself up.

Letting out a sigh, "Maybe I should go out and train," He said, having spent the entire week since he returned back to the village indoors.

*Knock* *Knock*

Hearing a knock from his door, a casual attire appeared on his body before he walked to the door to open it.

"Oh, it's you!" he exclaimed, but his face did not show the surprise his tone tried to convey. "I wasn't expecting you to come over the moment you returned," he added.

"Can I come in?" The man at the door asks, completely ignoring his faux tone.

"You didn't have to come here, I could have just given you the mission report in your office," Indra said as he stepped aside for the man to enter.

"I'm not complaining," the man replied. "Besides, I'm not here for your mission report," he added.

"Why are you here then?" Indra asked. "I didn't think the Hokage would be going to every shinobi's house after a mission," he added, before pointing to an empty chair in his living room and motioning Tobirama to take a seat, while he took one opposite him.

"I'm guessing you didn't find your mother?" Tobirama asked.

"I did, but she was already dead." Indra sadly replied.

Letting out a tired sigh, "Is that why you came here?" Indra asked.

"You should come over for dinner tonight, I'd invite Mito and Tsunade. I'm sure they would like to know you're back in the village." Tobirama said.

"No," Indra replied, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Ok, Your mission report then," replied Tobirama.

Indra passed over a scroll to Tobirama, he then poured himself a glass of pineapple juice as he waited for Tobirama to finish reading the mission report.

Ten minutes later, Tobirama passed the scroll back to Indra. "Although you were exposed, it is still impressive you fought the man stated to be the next Raikage and retreated without any injury."

"There'd be no record of your mission, so destroy the scroll when I leave," Tobirama said as he got up to leave. "If you need someone to talk to, I'm sure Mito would be willing to listen to you," he added.

"Mito?! Why not you?!" Indra exclaimed before chuckling slightly.

"What's my next mission?" He asked Tobirama.

Tobirama turned to face Indra, his face morphing into a frown. "There's no next mission, there's a war going on and you're staying out of it."

"What do you mean I'm staying out of it?!" Indra retorted.

"Your mission to the land of Rice turned into something I did not anticipate. I did not expect the situation in the country to be as bad as it was, and I apologise for that. But you're not going to join the war, Konoha is the safest place for you."

"I'm as strong, if not stronger than most of the shinobi you have outside the village," Indra exclaimed, trying to make his case. "I'm not going to stay inside the village, I can't do that." He added, his voice breaking towards the end.

"Indra," Tobirama whispered, his eyes turning soft as he pulled the sobbing Indra into a hug. "I don't know the entirety of what you experienced out there. But I know how it feels to lose a family member, you don't have to deal with it alone."

"I ripped him apart," Indra said, still sobbing. "The Daimyō, he told me that my mother was dead, and I lost it." He added, but then he stopped, not saying anymore. He was ashamed to tell Tobirama the torture, and horrors he inflicted on the Daimyo.

"I know how you feel Indra. When my brothers died at the hands of the Uchiha, I wanted them to suffer just like you must have felt. Letting out your rage is fine, as long as you don't cross the line you can't get back from," Tobirama said.

"While I don't think joining the war is the best option for you, I'm not going to stop you from doing so anymore."

Ruffling Indra's head slightly, Tobirama turned to leave Indra's house.

*****************

[A/N:- Short Dialogue chapter, Tried to show Indra's human side, not sure if I conveyed that.

From now on would be Indra joining the war, and then the end of the war.]