chapter 29: I need some rest.

-------Streets of Konoha-----------

"Oh, did you hear? They're saying Lady Tsunade summoned that giant slug of hers to the front line of Iwa—again!" a vendor near me exclaimed, stacking a pile of clothes. "It's a wonder she's still standing. Last week, I heard she summoned the slug in Kumo line. Though, I wonder how she reaches a new place across the continent considering that she holds the line at Suna's front. Must've healed a hundred men each day, maybe more."

"Puff, hundred? It's probably double that," an old shinobi in front of him retorted. "She's practically protecting the lives of Konoha shinobi on her own, especially after she won the Suna front on her own! I tell you, no one else has the guts or chakra for it. Just like Hashirama-sama and Tobirama-sama back in the day."

I pretended to inspect a scroll, listening in with faint interest. Suna was already on its knees. Rumors of the peace talks had been circling for days now, and Tsunade's dedication to her summons was just more confirmation that the Leaf was shifting its resources to other fronts. Of course, it also hides the fact that she is useless right now. As for as most people know, she is left back in the suna to hold the fort in case war re-ignites. People didn't forget the sudden call to war from Suna, which started this mess.

Further down the street, a shinobi with a bandage wrapped around his arm stood by a smith's booth, swapping stories with a friend. "Tch, things are finally cooling down in Suna, and now Kusa's gone off the rails."

"Yeah, I heard about that," his friend muttered. "Their leader's death left a vacuum, didn't it? They're scrambling to put someone in charge, but it's been nothing but a power struggle since. Everyone's taking advantage. Can you blame them, though? Kusa's always been caught between the bigger nations like some unlucky ant."

"True. But it's a shame. We don't need more chaos. Between that and Kumo's rampages, we're stretched thin."

At the mention of Kumo, the shopkeeper chuckled darkly. "You hear what they're calling it? Orochimaru's 'midnight stroll.' He waltzed in, did his damage, and vanished before they could even rally their forces."

"Midnight stroll, huh?" the other man chuckled, shaking his head. "Orochimaru. Creepy bastard, but you have to admit he's a genius. Who else could pull off something like that and return without so much as a scratch?"

Further along, a group of younger shinobi were talking with almost reverent awe. "I heard Jiraiya was out there in Iwa, standing like a wall,' one of them said. "Not a single Iwa shinobi's made it past him since he joined the front. Meanwhile, his trio of giant toads keeps killings hundreds of shinobi every day."

Another shinobi nodded, sounding more respectful. "Yeah. They're calling him 'the Toad sage' now. That man's a walking legend, especially his books that can unite even the men around the world."

SMACK

"More like he is a lustful toad."

"Crazy woman."

That was a Nara and his wife. I need no other confirmation.

Everywhere I turned, someone had a story to share, and I picked up pieces as I went, building a mental map of how the other nations were reacting. Well, the rumours are strangely accurate, but they should consider that Konoha has been gaining victory after victory right now.

Kiri was the only mystery, its actions in the war as murky as the waters surrounding its islands. Even the most talkative locals had only whispers about the occasional skirmish at the borders.

"Apparently, the Hyuuga and Uchiha clans are keeping them in check," a gray-haired merchant muttered to his wife, stirring a pot of stew. "Kiri's got skilled swordsmen, sure, but they don't hold a candle to the dojutsu. Heard that from a retired shinobi—he knows his stuff."

"And Uchiha would rather fight Kiri than keep stay put in the village police?" his wife asked with a raised brow.

"Ah, you know the Uchiha—" he scoffed, ladling stew into a bowl. "Fighting's in their blood, and the Hyuuga are too proud to be outdone. Bet it's a competition now."

The Anbu closed in quickly, their silent figures materializing from the shadows of Konoha's streets like wraiths. I raised my hands, palms open, a simple gesture of non-hostility. No need to make things harder than they had to be, especially with this crowd. The lead Anbu—a tall figure with a hawk mask—stepped forward, his stance rigid.

"You're supposed to be in the Suna camp, healing," he stated, voice cold and unyielding. His gaze narrowed behind the mask, calculating.

"I'm fully healed," I replied smoothly. "Just here for a visit to Konoha."

"Why?" He didn't miss a beat, his tone almost harsh, as if I'd committed some crime by showing up.

"Because I wanted to rest." I rolled my eyes for emphasis, making a show of my exasperation. "And I'm on official leave until noon, if you want to double-check."

My casual tone clearly didn't help. The group didn't relax. If anything, they seemed more tense. I sighed, deciding to give them something to chew on.

"Fine. I also have important intel," I said, watching their eyes narrow even further.

The lead Anbu stiffened, his mask giving away nothing. "State it."

I shrugged, smirking. "Sorry, it's way above your paygrade."

His killing intent rose, and I felt it press against me, cold and heavy. He clearly wasn't thrilled with my response. I kept my expression steady, though inwardly I was amused.

"This intel in the wrong hands could re-ignite the war with Suna," I added, keeping my tone even.

There was a brief pause, then a silent exchange of chakra pulses between the lead Anbu and the Hokage's office. Even in my peripheral senses, I felt the chakra of the Hokage, a powerful and concentrated presence, react from afar.

Within moments, the Anbu captain straightened and nodded. "You'll be escorted to the Hokage."

"Wow," I muttered under my breath as we began to move, "personal attention from the Hokage himself. Didn't even need to make an appointment." I chuckled softly.

A few sensor ninja stationed nearby must've caught onto the chakra pulses flying back and forth. I saw one of them, a younger guy, go pale as he realized the Hokage himself was involved. Poor kid.

Honestly, chakra pulses as a form of silent communication were terrible for anything subtle. They were like a loud signal flare—either they'd scare everyone within sensing range, or they'd make people stop taking chakra changes seriously at all. Bad idea all around, but great if you wanted to make a scene.

And maybe, just maybe, that was exactly what I'd needed.

As the Hokage's tower came into view, I couldn't help but prepare myself.

As much as teasing Sekai's brother (the Anbu captain) has been, the Hokage is a different matter.

Normally, I would have jumped inside the window on the roof with the rest of them, but considering my borderline insubordination, I patiently waited for the command to enter.

"Enter."

Taking a deep breath, I entered the Hokage's office.

The moment I stepped into the room, I found the Hokage leaning over his desk, looking through his crystal ball at the village below. His expression was calm, contemplative, as he observed the people of Konoha going about their day.

It was rare to catch the Hokage like this—fully relaxed, pipe in hand, as if the weight of the world's power structure with Konoha at the top wasn't his to bear.

"Looks like you almost gave a few budding sensors out there a heart attack," I said, half-joking. "For all your lectures about not using chakra as sign language out of pure laziness, you sure didn't hold back."

He looked up at me, the corners of his eyes crinkling in amusement as he took a deep puff of his pipe. The smoke swirled up around him in lazy spirals, making his gaze seem even more intense.

"Perks of being Hokage," he replied with a faint smirk. "Besides, you can also earn these privileges if you lead the village through two shinobi wars." His tone was light, but there was a glint in his eye that hinted at the fact that he was in a mischievous mood.

Good, he believes me enough to look past my sudden appearance back in Konoha. I guess that being a good kid and serving in war put some plus points in his mind.

I raised my brows. "Think I'll pass on the two wars part."

The Hokage let out a soft chuckle, leaning back in his chair. "One war's enough, is it?"

"Or better yet, none." I shrugged, crossing my arms. "But that doesn't seem to be the case these days."

He nodded, the humor in his eyes giving way to a serious, measured gaze. "Then I assume you didn't return from Suna to discuss village perks."

"No," I replied, my tone shifting as I kept my voice low. "I came back because I have intel—sensitive information. The kind that could put the entire peace process with Suna at risk if it's mishandled. Especially if it is heard by the wrong people."

I didn't even need to stress the name anymore, and the Hokage knows I am talking about his friend, Danzo.

In a way, I am the go between Root and Hokage. A fact that Danzo must have an idea about.

He took another pull from his pipe, exhaling slowly, clearly irritated by the constant barrages of Danzo's cruel missions. The Hokage's calm was legendary, but even he couldn't mask the slight crease forming between his brows.

"Let's hear it, then," he said, gesturing for me to sit.

I threw him the scroll containing the pictures and took a seat across from him, trying to find the best way to present this without making things sound worse than they already were. "Well, there's a new wrinkle with Suna. Some of their high-ranking officials—notably the ones leading their forces in certain border skirmishes—have been speaking openly about Sasori. They're pushing a narrative around his talents, making it sound like they've gained some kind of genius that would reach Kage-level power. They're calling him 'Sasori of the Red Sand.'"

The Hokage's eyes sharpened, his pipe pausing mid-puff. "Sasori? From the Puppet Brigade?"

I nodded. "The same. They're giving him a lot of fame, especially after the Third Kazekage went missing. Though it is ironic that they are hailing his killer as their new morale pillar."

The Hokage's face darkened. The death of a Kage, especially by one of his own, was a serious matter that can ignite the war with Suna again. If Danzo finds this, things would definitely escalate to that level."

POOF

At that moment, he started going through the photos with a frenzied craze. It took a few minutes before he said, "You are right in getting this information to me first. If anyone else heard this, we would have the war with Suna re-ignite."

Actually, it is logical to use this chance to hit the Suna down. Either through war or peace. But war is not an option. Considering how relieved Hokage is from my decision to bring the info directly to him, I can guess he is aware of Tsunade's current status. Entering war with a crippled S-rank is crazy. The only reason the mass healings are going on is because lady Katsuya is doing them on Tsunade's behalf. That and Tsunade's responsibility to the village is helping her go through her chakra reserves every day to maintain the Slug's summoning.

POOF

"Ryu!"

WHOOSH

I watched as the Hokage sealed away the evidence I'd brought him, carefully securing the proof of Sasori's operations in Suna's hidden laboratories. With a single hand sign, he summoned an ANBU squad, efficiently setting the search-and-capture mission in motion. There was an undeniable advantage to being part of a hidden village—the power to deploy highly skilled shinobi, backed by experts in every craft. With a squad of ANBU alongside experienced fūinjutsu users, dismantling Sasori's hidden lab would be swift, precise, and thorough. I had no doubt Konoha would leverage every detail they found to squeeze Suna harder in the upcoming negotiations, especially with this edge.

The Hokage's commands wrapped up quickly. He turned to me, studying me closely. "So, little Kyudo," he said, a spark of curiosity in his eyes, "do you want to accompany them on the mission? Another opportunity to show off your skills."

This is an S-rank mission. Considering the intel I gave, it will be the second S-rank credit to my records. But, I just can't anymore.

SIGH

I gave a weary shake of my head. "I need some rest from the war, Hokage-sama. I was actually hoping to return to the academy for some peace and quiet."

To drive the point home, I reached into my pack and pulled out my worn Anbu mask, setting it on his desk. The mask bore many scratches—each one a reminder of missions that could have ended very differently. The smell of iron still clung to it, layered with the faint scent of dried blood. The Hokage's gaze lingered on the mask for a long moment, as if seeing through the surface and into the years I'd spent behind it. His shoulders slumped just slightly as he glanced back up at my face.

"I can give you until the academy graduation this year," he said, voice heavy with understanding. There was a weight there that only someone who'd led Konoha through the wars could carry, a mixture of regret and acceptance.

I nodded, feeling a strange lightness as I took my leave from Anbu, from ROOT, from that life I'd led in the shadows for too long. It felt… necessary. ROOT had served its purpose for me. I had shown my loyalty, grown my strength, and absorbed all the knowledge I could in silence. My chakra reserves had expanded, though not without a cost; I felt the drain of Tsunade's dangerous muscle regeneration method on my lifespan with every pulse of power that flowed through me.

But now, I had enough. I had the skills, the chakra, and the knowledge. I just needed time. Time to step away from the blood and the masks, time to focus on refining what I'd gained.

Walking through the familiar streets, I thought about the academy. How strange it would be, returning to a place where laughter and innocence were still common sounds. Though, to be honest, I dreaded what my reputation must be by now. Anbu rookies often trained by taking on small infiltration missions, and maintaining a civilian cover (me] at the academy was practically a rite of passage. Given how many batches had rotated through while I was in ROOT, I could only imagine the rumors they'd left behind for me.

I sighed, hoping that the upcoming months would bring the peace I needed to reclaim myself from being the unstable shinobi I have been. The darkness as root may have given me many benefits. It also hid the many cracks that formed in my psyche from me.

I just need some time to gather myself.

The shock of Tailed beast strength, my disregard for Kusa's turmoil, Dan's death and my emotions growing numb had made me feel it was enough.

------------Orphanage--------------

Instead of heading straight to my newly purchased house, I decided to stop by the orphanage first. Just stepping into the courtyard, seeing the kids running around in their well-kept clothes, hearing their laughter—it felt like something good in this world, a piece of peace I could actually hold onto.

When they noticed me, their eyes lit up, and a few of the older ones called out, "Hey Kyudo-nee! You're back from the academy!" A crowd of them started running toward me, some grabbing onto my legs, others reaching up for a hug. Among the shouts and laughter, a few asked, "Where's Duy-san? And Guy-san? Are they still fighting the bad guys?"

I smiled, kneeling down to ruffle a few heads. "They're away helping the village, doing their part to keep everyone safe. But they'll be back soon, stronger than ever, okay?"

Their innocent curiosity, their carefree joy, was something I'd forgotten could exist. It made me feel lighter, like some burden I'd been carrying had finally let up. Without a second thought, I unsealed a storage scroll I'd been holding onto from my travels. Inside was a stash of chocolates, gathered from all over the Elemental Nations, especially from the Land of Stone.

"Look what I brought for you all!" I said, holding up the treats.

The kids' eyes widened. "Chocolate!" one of them shrieked, and soon they were grabbing eagerly at the sweets. Their laughter grew louder as they unwrapped the chocolates and tasted them, a cheerful chorus of "Thank you!" and "It's so good!"

Seeing that even in my absence, the rookies had kept my bond with the kids alive, I felt a surge of gratitude for them. It was reassuring that, in spite of the darkness I'd waded through, these rookies could still experience some of the peace that I felt now. I really did I had such peace to blunt the shadows but Sekai and Danzo were mad bitches.

Among the crowd, two kids caught my attention—a redhead and a silver-haired boy. Yarin, the redhead, was the first to hug me, pressing herself close like she was trying to comfort me in some unspoken way. She had always been sensitive, but today she held on a little longer.

"You okay?" she asked quietly, looking up at me with wide, knowing eyes.

I squeezed her shoulders gently. "Yeah, I'm good, Yarin. Thanks for asking," I replied, feeling the calm settle over me. Maybe she'd seen enough sadness around here to recognize it.

Turning to Kabuto, the silver-haired boy, I asked, "And you, Kabuto? How's the studying coming along?"

His eyes sparkled. "I learned the physiology of the lungs! Want me to tell you about it?"

I chuckled, nodding. "Go on, let's hear it."

He took a deep breath, then started reciting, "The lungs are vital organs in the respiratory system, where oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange occurs…" His excitement was contagious, and I could see already the sharpness in him that marked a future medic.

As they talked, I spotted Yarin's parents in the background, giving me a thankful nod. I returned the gesture, appreciating that they were able to live quietly here, away from the chaos and danger that lurked beyond the village walls. Without my intervention, they might never have escaped Danzo's clutches. But with my recommendation to Nono Yakushi, the orphanage's caretaker and a prominent figure in Root due to legendary record and her ex-agent status, they had found a safe haven.

It was then that I felt a prickling on my neck, like someone was watching me, and sure enough, Nono appeared behind me with her arms crossed, her fingers brushing the back of my neck.

"Nono," I greeted, nodding casually. "How's everything going here?"

She raised an eyebrow, looking me up and down before giving a small smirk. "You tell me. Seems like you're the one bringing half the chocolate in the world to this place." Her voice dropped as she glanced down at the kunai I had subtly shifted to her side, both of us maintaining our guard, even now, out of the kids' view.

I kept my tone light as I replied, "Just a little something to keep their spirits up."

For the first time since I met her, she smiled at me, really smile, rather than the fake smirk, "Now, come inside. My generous donor, we will have some little chat over tea, like always."

Though her wink told me she was covering for me. I really should get familiar with my identity's habits. The Anbu rookies are called rookies for a reason. I just hope I don't have some weird new hobbies to maintain.

 But, her smile was surprising considering that she always kept her guard up considering my root status.

Though, it seems she found I left root. Maybe her experience helped her in that regard. Whatever may be the case, I need her, who had already gone through the things I have gone to lighten up.

That she is an elite jonin helps in my constant hunger for power.