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(A/N: I sincerely apologize for my absence; I've been unwell with a fever over the past few days.)
Tsunade nodded, her tone firm yet approving. "You did the right thing."
Then, her gaze shifted to Kurotsuchi, her expression unreadable. "You will be our guest until the envoy from your village arrives to negotiate terms with us."
Kurotsuchi remained silent, her face set in an expression of quiet fury. She refused to speak, her pride wounded far more than her body.
Breaking the silence, Inoiki stepped forward. "Lady Hokage, I should return to the Konoha base as soon as possible. Our forces still need an extra layer of protection. We can't place full trust in Iwagakure—they might attempt something reckless, like another attack."
Tsunade, however, shook her head. "There's no need. You've done more than enough. Get some rest."
She leaned back in her chair, her expression darkening slightly. "But you're right about one thing— Iwagakure may not take this situation lightly. To prevent any rash moves on their part, I'll send Jiraiya there instead."
Inoiki nodded without argument. If she was sending Jiraiya, then the base would be more than secure.
Tsunade then added, "Besides, I need you here when Iwagakure's envoy arrives."
Inoiki understood the unspoken reason—he was the one responsible for capturing Kurotsuchi and negotiating with the Iwa forces. His presence would be crucial when the formal talks began.
"I understand," he said simply.
Tsunade leaned back in her chair, a smirk playing on her lips. "By the way, you really scared the Iwa ninjas with that line—" she imitated his serious tone, "'Even if I have to become a Missing-nin, I will hunt down Iwa ninjas and make it my life's goal.' I have to say, I liked that."
A rare glimmer of amusement flickered in her eyes.
Inoiki, however, remained unfazed. "I wasn't trying to scare them." His voice was calm, unwavering. "I meant every word."
His gaze sharpened, his conviction clear as day. "If they try anything underhanded and it harms the Konoha ninjas at that base, I will do exactly as I said. I made a promise to myself—to bring Kakashi-senpai and the others back alive. To complete my mission without failure. And I don't break my promises."
Tsunade studied him for a moment, her smirk fading.
She could see it in his eyes—this wasn't a mere threat. It was a promise.
With a slow nod, she acknowledged his words. "I believe you."
Then, her expression softened slightly. "Alright, you're dismissed. Go get some rest."
Inoiki gave a small, respectful bow before turning and exiting the office.
Whatever happened to Kurotsuchi now… was no longer his concern.
Once the door shut behind him, Tsunade's demeanor shifted back to business. She turned to the shadows. "Bring her in."
A female Anbu ninja materialized from the darkness, her mask concealing any emotion.
Tsunade's voice was firm. "Take Kurotsuchi to one of the guest houses. She is to be monitored at all times. Under no circumstances is she to escape. Understood?"
The Anbu nodded without hesitation. "Understood, Lady Hokage."
Without another word, she turned and escorted Kurotsuchi out of the office, disappearing into the corridors of the Hokage building.
The next move… would belong to Iwagakure.
----
As Inoiki stepped into his home, his mother turned to see him—and her eyes widened in surprise.
"Inoiki? You're back already?" she asked, concern lacing her voice. "Aren't S-Rank missions supposed to be long and difficult? It's only been three days! Is everything alright?"
Inoiki offered her a reassuring smile, gently placing his hands over hers. "Don't worry, Mom. Everything's fine. Due to certain circumstances, I had to return early. The mission isn't over yet—it's still ongoing—but there are no problems." He squeezed her hands lightly. "Trust me."
His mother studied him for a moment, searching his face for any sign of distress. Finally, she sighed and nodded. "Okay… I believe you."
Then, as if switching gears, she clapped her hands together. "You must be exhausted! I'll go prepare a hot bath for you."
Inoiki exhaled in relief. "Thanks, Mom. And please make something quick and warm to eat—I'm starving. I haven't eaten since yesterday afternoon, and I didn't sleep at all last night. I was traveling nonstop."
His mother's eyes softened with concern. "Oh, you poor thing. Alright, go sit in the hall and rest. I'll take care of everything."
Without another word, she hurried off.
Soon, a steaming hot bath was ready, and Inoiki wasted no time sinking into the warm water, letting the tension of battle, travel, and exhaustion melt away.
Meanwhile, his mother worked swiftly in the kitchen, preparing a simple yet hearty bowl of noodles. By the time he finished bathing, his meal was waiting for him on the table.
Inoiki ate in comfortable silence, savoring the warmth of home after hours of battle and bloodshed.
The moment he finished, he didn't waste another second—he went straight to bed.
As soon as his head hit the pillow, sleep claimed him instantly.
----
Tsuchikage's Office – Iwagakure
The air in the Tsuchikage's office was thick with tension.
Onoki's hands trembled slightly as he read through the letter sent by the surviving Jonin—a report detailing everything that had transpired at the Konoha outpost.
The moment he finished, his expression darkened. With a sharp motion, he crushed the paper in his fist, then slammed his hand onto the desk.
"How dare he—!"
A sharp jolt of pain shot through his lower back, cutting his fury short. Onoki winced, gritting his teeth as he instinctively reached for his waist. Damn his old body.
Standing nearby, Kitsuchi—Kurotsuchi's father—was just as livid. His fists were clenched, his jaw tight with rage.
"I'm going to Konoha myself," he declared, his voice firm. "I'll bring Kurotsuchi back."
Onoki took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. With a sigh, he sank back into his chair, his gaze lingering on the crumpled letter.
"That brat… Inoiki." His voice was quieter now, but no less dangerous. "He dares to say something like this because he knows the truth. There are very few in Iwagakure who can restrain him—or rather, no one but me has the ability to completely stop him, let alone kill him."
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