The scent of Konoha's pine replaced the mountain mist.
Yoichi walked toward the gates, a sword resting against his hip.
Heavenly Demon Qi coiled tightly within a peak-level physique, hidden beneath a calm exterior.
The three fourteen-year-olds waiting by the entrance broke into motion.
Tsunade lunged first, catching Yoichi in a crushing embrace that rattled his reinforced ribs. "You're finally back, you idiot!" she barked, her grip tight with relief.
Jiraiya laughed, slapping a heavy hand on a shoulder while dodging the girl's swinging elbows.
"Look at those eyes. The mountain air made you gloomier, didn't it?" He grinned, scanning his friend's taller frame. "I bet you didn't even miss us."
Orochimaru stepped from the shade, a rare, genuine smile catching the light. "The air around you has thickened, Yoichi. Your strength now is... Impressive." Golden eyes noted every refined callus and the steady pulse of power within the newcomer.
The tension in Yoichi's shoulders finally melted.
"I missed the noise," he muttered, the stony mask breaking into a small smile.
"Save the sap for later," Tsunade said, her face hardening as she gripped a scroll. "We've got a mess in the Land of Grass regarding the Daimyo's son. The Old Man wants us to move along with his subordinates for this one. He is waiting to brief us all at the office."
As they walked toward the village center, he noted the grounded presence of his companions, sensing that they had not been idle.
Tsunade cracked her knuckles, boasting that she had tempered her vitality until a single strike could shatter any defense.
Jiraiya puffed out his chest, claiming his endurance now allowed him to tank direct hits while preparing his Ninjutsu.
Orochimaru whispered that he had refined his speed to a point of silence, aiming for vitals before an opponent could even perceive his intent.
Yoichi nodded, feeling the competitive spark return to his chest.
It was clear they had all been diligently cultivating both Martial Arts and Ninjutsu during the two-year gap.
He tightened his grip on his sword hilt, acknowledging their collective growth.
The reunion was cut short by the weight of their duty, as Tsunade reminded them of the mess in the Land of Grass involving the Daimyo's son.
They turned toward the Hokage's office, knowing the Old Man was waiting to brief them alongside his other subordinates.
The heavy doors of the briefing hall swung open.
Inside, the air was thick with the scent of old parchment and the sharp, cold pressure of high-level shinobi. Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at the head of the long table, flanked by the Elder Council.
Several masked ANBU stood like statues in the corners, while Jōnin from the prominent clans watched the four teenagers enter.
Hiruzen tapped his pipe against an ashtray, his expression grim. "The situation in the Land of Grass has moved beyond a simple disappearance."
"The Daimyo's son, the only eligible successor to the throne, vanished while traveling near the border. If he is not found, the line of succession breaks, and the Land of Grass will fall into a civil war that we cannot afford."
Danzo Shimura narrowed his eyes, his gaze lingering on Yoichi. "The Land of Grass is a vital buffer zone between us and Iwagakure. It remains neutral by playing both sides, but a power vacuum there invites the Stone to march in under the guise of 'restoring order.' If Iwa secures a puppet Daimyo, our northern border becomes a front line overnight."
"The current Daimyo is desperate," Koharu added, her voice thin and sharp. "He has reached out to us specifically because he suspects internal treachery. He cannot trust his own guards, and he knows Konoha has a vested interest in keeping his bloodline on the throne to maintain the status quo."
Tsunade stepped forward, her brow furrowed. "So this isn't just a rescue. It's a political stabilization. If we find the son dead, what happens then?"
"Then we ensure the blame falls on the right people and secure a pro-Konoha replacement before the Stone can react," Hiruzen said, his voice dropping an octave. "But your priority is his life. His survival is the only thing keeping the buffer zone intact. You will be operating alongside my personal subordinates to ensure no mistakes are made."
The doors to the side chamber opened, and the specialized team stepped forward.
At the front was Sakumo Hatake, a seventeen-year-old with silver hair and a white saber strapped to his back.
Behind him stood a silent Hyūga, his pale eyes already scanning the room, followed by the tactical trio of the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans.
"Sakumo will serve as your primary scout," Hiruzen stated, nodding toward the youth. "He is joined by a Hyūga for long-range surveillance and the Ino-Shika-Cho team for tactical support. They will ensure the successor is tracked through both vision and strategy."
Danzo's fingers tightened on the table, his gaze cold. "This mission requires a firm hand to ensure the buffer zone is purged of Stone influence. I should lead this unit to handle the necessary shadows and secure our interests."
Hiruzen shook his head, his voice like iron. "This is a mission of stabilization, Danzo. We need a leader with a steady hand."
He turned toward a formidable, seasoned veteran.
"Torifu Akimichi will lead this mission. His experience is exactly what we need in the Grass."
Torifu stepped forward, his massive frame casting a long shadow. He looked over the young team, his eyes lingering on the fourteen-year-olds and the seventeen-year-old Wolf. "Understood, Lord Hokage. We move fast and keep our heads clear."
He adjusted his gear and signaled to the group.
"Gather your supplies. We depart in ten minutes."
Yoichi stepped out of the hall, his eyes drifting toward the Uchiha district. He thought of his mother, Naoko, and the warmth of the home she had rebuilt with Nobuyuki and Akira.
He had the standing to walk away, to prioritize his family over the village's politics, but he looked at Tsunade and the others.
This mission was bizarre, and the Land of Grass was a viper's nest. They would need him if things turned bloody.
There's still next time. I'll visit them after I finished this mission.
He tightened his sword belt and turned toward the gates without looking back, his pace steady as he joined the Wolf and the rest of the team.
...
In a dim hall deep within the Uchiha district, the clan's highest-ranking members gathered. The air was stifling, thick with the scent of old incense and the heavy pressure of elite chakra. At the center of the table sat the Elders, their eyes fixed on the report of Yoichi's return.
"He returned with a presence that rivals the legends," one Elder noted, his voice echoing in the silence. "His Ninjutsu is still mediocre, but that mysterious Taijutsu has reached a level that even our finest warriors struggle to track. He is undoubtedly the strongest of our youth."
"And yet, he treats his own kin like strangers," a member of the Hawks spat, slamming a hand on the table. "He has been back for hours and hasn't even stepped foot in this hall. He went straight to the Hokage like a common servant. He is becoming a dog of the village, turning his back on his own blood."
The Doves shifted uncomfortably, their voices hushed. "Perhaps he is just focused on the mission," one whispered. "But his detached attitude is a problem. If he continues to ignore the clan, our influence over the younger generation will crumble."
Kohaku, now showing the deep lines of age on his face, sat at the head of the table. He remained silent as the factions bickered, his gaze fixed on a flickering candle. The fire in his own eyes had grown colder and more serious. He leaned forward, and the room fell into a deathly silence.
"You speak of him like a tool to be claimed,"
Kohaku said, his voice a low, dangerous rasp. "Yoichi is no longer a child we can direct. He is a blade tempered in the mountain mists. If he is detached, it is because he has found a strength that does not rely on our petty politics." He gripped the armrest of his chair until the wood groaned.
"Enough whining. He is walking a path we did not pave. We must decide if we will walk with him or be left behind in his shadow."
The murmurs in the hall grew into a heated roar.
Every moment Yoichi spent outside these walls, the Elders felt his talent slipping through their fingers like sand. To them, a youth of his caliber was the ultimate leverage, and his absence was a void they couldn't ignore.
"We cannot sit here while our greatest asset becomes a stranger!" one Elder barked, his face flushed with frustration. "Every mission he takes for the Hokage is another cord cut from the clan."
"We must make a decisive move. This isn't something we can just scoff at and hope he returns to us on his own."
Another Elder leaned forward, his voice low and urgent. "If he continues to incline toward the village, the other clans will see us as weak. They will see that we cannot even control our own prodigy. We need to remind him where his loyalty belongs before he belongs to the village entirely."
Kohaku listened to the desperation in their voices, his fingers drumming a slow, rhythmic beat on the wood. He knew they were right about one thing: the distance was becoming a chasm. He finally closed his eyes, his expression becoming a mask of grim resolve.
"I will personally recall him for a private audience," Kohaku announced, cutting through the noise. "He needs more than a lecture. He needs to understand that a blade without a sheath is a danger to itself. I will have a chat with him, and we will settle his standing once and for all."
He looked toward the window, the sun setting over the village. "But it will have to wait for next time. He has already crossed the gates for the Land of Grass. Let him return from this mission first. If he survives the vipers in the Grass, he will be ready for the talk I have in mind."
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Thanks to Daemonic_Dragon for the Power Stones!