Chapter 18

He composed himself momentarily, realizing that all was not lost. Internally scoffing at the perceived incompetence of the Kumo elites, Danzo focused on recalculating his countermeasures. He knew the importance of keeping his involvement discreet and ensuring no evidence traced back to him.

However, what baffled him the most was the unexpected counterattack from the Uchiha clan. His plan to use the root to cause chaos within the village and question Hiruzen's competence had backfired. He directed his frustration at a kneeling Root ninja, demanding an explanation for the oversight in monitoring the Uchiha.

Danzo's anger reverberated in his question, "Had I not asked you to monitor all the clans? How were the Uchiha able to deploy such a force without our knowledge?"

The root ninja, feeling the weight of Danzo's wrath, gulped before attempting to explain. "Danzo Sama, it was the Sannin Tsunade who led the Uchiha to intercept our offensive. As for how the Uchiha escaped our monitoring, we are still investigating, and the Root operatives are barred from entering the Uchiha compound."

Danzo seethed at the thought of rebellion within the village. His mind raced with suspicions about Tsunade's knowledge of the plan. The root ninja, though unable to provide answers, reassured Danzo that no leak had occurred from their end and that they had systematically removed anyone even remotely connected to the failed incident. Danzo, though infuriated by the current state of affairs, found solace in the fact that his tracks were well covered.

Inside the Nara compound, the atmosphere was thick with worry as Yoshino anxiously awaited news about Shikaku and the perilous mission to rescue Asuma. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on her, but she tried to maintain a facade of composure for both her sake and that of little Shikamaru and Kazuki.

Kazuki, though deeply concerned, demonstrated a calm exterior. When he first received word of the ambush and Shikaku's subsequent decision to lead a rescue effort, an impulse to rush out and aid his uncle surged within him. However, he quickly suppressed this emotional reaction, adopting the rational mindset characteristic of the Nara clan. Realising that venturing out alone would only exacerbate stress within the Nara family, Kazuki chose to trust in Shikaku's intelligence and capability.

Throughout the village, an air of anticipation lingered, with the fate of the young Sarutobi hanging in the balance. The night passed in tense silence, with the villagers collectively holding their breath. However, with the early dawn of the next day, a glimmer of hope emerged.

Four figures, clad in the recognisable attire of Konoha Jonin, made their way stealthily towards the leaf's main entrance. Despite their battered and bruised appearance, each displaying wounds more severe than the last, the group maintained a steady and vigilant pace. Shikaku's team had already spotted the ANBU agents returning to report to the Hokage, ensuring that their journey continued without interruption.

Shikaku, leading the party, was visibly injured. A bandage covered his right eye, a testament to the severity of his wounds. Jin Nara, one of Shikaku's trusted comrades, had suffered a devastating loss; his arm was now missing. The severity of their injuries was evident, and yet, their steps remained resolute as they approached the village entrance.

The news of their arrival spread quickly, and the village held its breath, waiting for the report that would bring relief or despair. Shikaku, understanding the emotional turmoil the Hokage must be experiencing, directed the team to hasten their pace towards the Hokage's office. Taiki, carrying his young master Asuma on his back, pressed forward, navigating through the village with determination. The severity of their injuries spoke volumes about the challenges they had faced, creating an atmosphere of both concern and anticipation among the onlookers.

An ANBU ninja materialised next to the Hokage, adopting a respectful kneeling posture.

"Hokage-sama, the Jonin commander, and his team are back. They are currently escorting Chunin Asuma safely to the Hokage's office."

Hiruzen Sarutobi, eagerly anticipating news about his son, couldn't help but sigh in relief. The entire Hokage office, including the ANBU guards and Tsunade, let out a collective exhale.

"Knock, knock."

"Come in," Hiruzen responded, regaining his composure upon hearing that Asuma was safe. He straightened his posture, ready to welcome the Jonin rescue team.

Unnoticed by many, Danzo, who had been occupying a corner in the office, had an unpleasant expression when the ANBU announced Asuma's safety.

Danzo and the other elders excused themselves upon confirming Asuma's safety, leaving to face the impending turmoil. After ensuring Asuma was unharmed, Tsunade quickly examined him and relayed that he was only resting due to mental fatigue. The Hokage's office now was only occupied by the four Jonin, Tsunade, and the Hokage, with Asuma peacefully sleeping.

Only after confirming his son's safety did Hiruzen turn his attention to the four Jonin. Tsunade had already begun administering treatment after assessing the severity of their injuries.

"Shikaku, your eye," the Hokage inquired, a hint of concern evident as he observed the bandaged right side of the Jonin commander's face.

"There's nothing to worry about, Hokage-sama. Luckily, I didn't lose my eye—just a few scars. I got a bit ambitious, thinking I could take down a cat. It's a mere scratch; my nephew should be able to patch me back up. However, Jin and Izuna's wounds are much more serious."

Of the four Jonin, Jin and Izuna had lost an arm each, potentially ending their shinobi careers. Shikaku had recovered Jin's arm and sealed it, ensuring that Kazuki, their nephew, might have a solution, as he had directed Shikaku to do so under similar circumstances.

Tsunade, attending to the Inazukas' wounds, was surprised to see that the severed stump had completely healed. Such high-level healing could only be achieved through advanced Iryo Ninjutsu. Knowing that none of the four Jonin were proficient in such techniques, she couldn't help but question.

"How did you guys heal yourselves? Did you meet up with the reinforcements we sent?"

"No, Tsunade-sama. With Asuma's life being targeted, we made sure to avoid any and all teams. We couldn't be sure if we could trust all our ninjas, so I had to take a cautious approach. I'm afraid we have a few traitors in our midst. Otherwise, how can one explain the Kumo ninja infiltrating so deep into the Fire Country?"

Shikaku had a grave tone when expressing his concerns to the Hokage and Tsunade.

"As for the healing, it was thanks to this." Shikaku pulled out two healing scrolls, passing one each to Hiruzen and Tsunade while also explaining how to activate them.

Both Tsunade and Hiruzen marvelled at the ingenuity of the healing scroll. It represented a fusion of Fuinjutsu and Iryo Ninjutsu, a portable medical ninja encapsulated in a simple scroll. Tsunade, as Kazuki's master, couldn't help but appreciate the practicality and complexity of the scroll. Even Hiruzen, known for his vast knowledge, found himself gaping at its intricacies, pondering what he could offer the Nara clan in exchange for a steady supply of these remarkable medical scrolls.

After the moment of admiration passed, Shikaku proceeded to give a detailed report of the mission from its inception. Hiruzen and Tsunade were intrigued by the motivation behind Kumo's sudden attack. Considering their losses during the Third Shinobi War, the death of the Third Raikage, and now the Fourth Raikage's attempt to assert authority, they speculated that Kumo sought war merits to strengthen their position. Hiruzen shared his personal encounter with Kumo during the attack on him, recounting how he repelled the Eight-Tails clone.

"In that case, with both their Jinchuriki incapacitated, I guess they won't be able to launch a large-scale offensive, at least for half a year or more," Shikaku calculated, assessing the strategic implications of the information.

It dawned on Hiruzen and Tsunade that when Shikaku mentioned a "cat," he wasn't making a joke; they had confronted and survived an encounter with the Two-Tails Jinchuriki. They had even managed to save Asuma from this formidable opponent.

"What do you mean by their two tails being incapacitated? If your information is authentic, we can push Kumo back and gain momentum," Hiruzen proposed, realizing the strategic advantage they could exploit in the absence of two powerful Jinchuriki.

"Honestly, Sandaime-sama, if I had been a bit more careful, we might have been able to terminate the Two-Tails carrier. Unfortunately, we overextended and could only retreat after partially sealing the Two-Tails," Shikaku admitted, expressing a tinge of regret for not achieving a more decisive outcome.

"Hokage-sama, it wasn't the family head's fault. I got a bit too greedy for glory and broke formation, allowing the Two-Tails to escape. However, I still took a good chunk out of that cat in exchange for my arm. I am sure, as Shikaku-sama said, the Two-Tails should be out of commission for at least a year after our partial sealing," Jin Nara chimed in, taking responsibility for the missed opportunity. They had killed all the Kumo shinobi, but the Two-Tails Jinchuriki had managed to retreat safely.

The Hokage considered the information carefully, weighing the strategic advantages and contemplating the potential ramifications of Kumo's weakened position.

The more they heard about the Nara members' claims, the more dumbfounded Hiruzen became. He unconsciously turned towards the Sarutobi Jonin, who had been part of the mission, seeking confirmation. Taiki simply acknowledged that whatever they were saying was true, and, if anything, they were downplaying their prowess and contribution. Taiki reflected on the arsenal of techniques and tools employed during the mission—special sealing tags, summons, puppets, medical scrolls, special medicines, and the remarkable large-scale fuinjutsu executed by the two shadow puppets in tandem to seal the Two-Tails. It struck him that the Nara clan had become remarkably powerful.

While Hiruzen was surprised, he chose not to delve further at the moment. Instead, he decided to have a detailed discussion with the Nara clan head later, after obtaining a comprehensive rundown from his own clan, Jonin.

"As the Hokage, I am delighted to say that the mission was executed exceptionally well. However, as a father, I would like to sincerely thank each of you for saving my son. I promise that I will not rest until everyone involved in this attack is punished. Moreover, I intend to personally visit each of your clans to express my gratitude for saving Asuma. I understand the sacrifices you made, and you have my heartfelt gratitude once again."

Even though Hiruzen acknowledged the inherent risks of a shinobi's life, his concern for his child's well-being was evident in his words. Asuma was carefully taken back to the Sarutobi compound, where he could receive the care he needed. Meanwhile, the Jonin, accompanied by Tsunade, proceeded to the Konoha hospital for a thorough checkup to ensure there were no hidden injuries.

"It seems like I should give that kid a good whack; he has kept so many things, even from his master. It seems like I need to have another good talk with your nephew, Shikaku," remarked Tsunade, who was accompanying the Jonin. While still examining the medical scroll in her hand, she couldn't fathom how the young Kazuki had dared to keep such a novel invention a secret from her.

Now, with the medical scroll being deployed on the field, many of the village clans would undoubtedly want to get their hands on these life-saving treasures. With Tsunade backing the young prodigy, Shikaku couldn't help but smile at the ingenuity of Kazuki's idea and why he had chosen to delay the release of the scrolls. Tsunade, too, understood the importance of having strong backing. If the Nara clan had introduced such novel items without sufficient support, the village higher-ups would likely try to take advantage in the name of the village's well-being. The other clans, seeking their own benefits, would gladly back up the council to ensure they got a piece of the pie.

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, Hiruzen was becoming increasingly intrigued by the little Nara prodigy. He was well aware that Danzo had his sights set on the child and that he was creating trouble for the Nara clan. After learning from Shikaku that all these inventions were from a five-year-old Nara, Hiruzen's curiosity peaked. He picked up a crystal ball and placed it on the table.