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Teuchi handed Inoiki the bill with a small smile. "Here you go—her bill, just as you asked."
Inoiki glanced at the slip of paper and let out a quiet chuckle. Of course, he had no real intention of making Iwagakure's envoys pay such a trivial amount. He had only done it to tease Kurotsuchi.
Why, exactly? Even he wasn't sure. But something about seeing her flustered and annoyed was oddly satisfying. The way her face twisted in irritation, the way she scoffed before storming off—it was amusing. He smirked, dismissing the thought, and went back to enjoying the moment with his friends.
Meanwhile, Beyond Konoha...
While Inoiki was busy treating his friends and joking around, the world outside continued to move.
As she had previously mentioned to Inoiki, Tsunade had sent Jiraiya on a mission—an additional layer of security for the remaining Konoha ninjas stationed at the Konoha base. His presence alone was enough to ensure their safety in uncertain times.
At the same time, in Iwagakure, a retrieval mission had already been set in motion.
Kitsuchi, leading a team of three elite Iwa ninjas along with a high-ranking minister from the Earth Country, had departed for Konoha to secure Kurotsuchi's return. The journey had been long, but after nearly a week of travel, they finally arrived at the gates of the Hidden Leaf.
They were promptly received by Shizune, who greeted them with her usual professionalism. Without wasting time, she escorted them through the village and into Konoha's main meeting hall—where important diplomatic discussions were typically held.
Shizune gestured toward the arranged seats. "Please, have a seat. The Hokage and the Konoha Elders will be arriving shortly. In the meantime, feel free to have some refreshments."
Kitsuchi nodded but wasted no time in getting to the point. "Where is my daughter?"
Shizune met his gaze calmly. "I've already sent someone to summon Kurotsuchi. She will be arriving here very soon, and you can rest assured that she has been well cared for. As a precaution, her chakra was sealed, but aside from that, she was treated with proper hospitality as a guest. There was no mistreatment whatsoever."
Kitsuchi studied her for a moment before giving a curt nod. "I hope so."
Though he maintained a calm exterior, his words carried a heavy undertone—a subtle yet unmistakable warning that any injustice directed at Kurotsuchi would not be tolerated.
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Throughout the week, Inoiki had been training diligently, pushing himself every day. His mental strength had improved, albeit slightly, but even that small progress had allowed him to perform a new technique.
At home, he was honing his psychokinetic abilities by controlling kunai to sculpt a piece of stone—a precise and delicate exercise that required immense focus. The kunai hovered in midair, guided by his will, chipping away at the stone bit by bit.
Just as he was about to make another precise cut, a masked Anbu ninja suddenly appeared before him, his silent arrival disrupting the air. The kunai wavered for a fraction of a second. The Anbu's gaze flickered to Inoiki's practice, and though his face was concealed, his brief pause betrayed his surprise.
He's controlling multiple kunai like that?
However, the Anbu quickly remembered his mission and spoke in his usual formal tone. "Inoiki, Lady Hokage has summoned you. The envoys from Iwagakure have arrived, and she wants you present for the meeting."
Inoiki exhaled and released his control, letting the kunai clatter to the ground. He turned to face the Anbu and nodded. "Understood. I'll leave right away."
Then, as if reading the Anbu's next move, he added, "If you're about to inform my father, Uncle Shikaku, and Uncle Chōza, you don't need to. I'll let them know myself."
The Anbu, though appreciative of the offer, shook his head. "Thank you, but I have my orders. I must inform them individually."
Inoiki simply shrugged. "Suit yourself."
With that, he brushed off his hands, pausing to give a final look at the partially completed stone sculpture before rising to his feet. The summons had arrived, and duty awaited.
Inoiki took a deep breath and closed his eyes, centering himself. He activated Observation Haki, expanding his mental perception outward like ripples in a pond. Every presence in the vicinity became clear to him—each heartbeat, each movement, each trace of chakra.
Focusing, he searched for his father. The moment he sensed his presence, he reached out telepathically, speaking directly into his mind from where he stood in the courtyard.
"Father, the envoys from Iwagakure have arrived. The Hokage has summoned us. Meet me outside the Hokage building."
Without pause, he shifted his awareness, searching for Shikaku. The moment he locked onto him, he relayed the same message.
"Uncle Shikaku, the envoys from Iwagakure have arrived. The Hokage has called for us. Meet me outside the Hokage building."
Finally, he located Chōza and delivered the same words.
"Uncle Chōza, the envoys from Iwagakure have arrived. We need to go. Meet me outside the Hokage building."
At that moment, all three of them—each occupied in different places and engaged in different tasks—suddenly heard a voice in their minds. Startled, they instinctively paused, their senses sharpening.
It took only a moment for them to recognize the voice. Inoiki?
Surprise flickered across their faces. When had he learned the Mind Body Transmission Technique? It was an advanced skill, not something one mastered casually. And yet, he had just communicated with all of them effortlessly.
A knowing smirk crossed Shikaku's face as he put his work aside. "That kid… he's growing fast."
Chōza let out a chuckle, shaking his head. "Looks like we'll have to keep an eye on him."
Inoichi, already moving toward the Hokage building, simply smiled. He really is my son.
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