Koharu and Homura stood up to take their leave, preparing to organize the ninja mobilization and compile the damage report for the Daimyō.
They had been handling such affairs since the era of the Third Hokage, and Sakumo felt perfectly at ease entrusting them with the work.
Once the two of them left, only Sakumo, Minato, Jiraiya, and Hiruzen remained in the room.
"Next, let's talk about that mysterious puppet master..."
Sensing the subtle shift in atmosphere, Hiruzen pulled out his pipe and lit it with practiced ease.
When Hiruzen brought up the puppet master, everyone turned their attention to Sakumo.
Recalling the earlier battle, a serious expression flashed across Sakumo's face.
"I didn't see the puppet master's face clearly, but their control over the puppets was incredibly advanced—comparable only to Chiyo, in my memory."
After a moment's pause, Sakumo added,
"The puppet he was controlling wasn't ordinary either. Not only did it resemble the Third Kazekage in appearance, but it could even use his signature Magnet Release."
Because of the Magnet Release, Sakumo hadn't managed to kill Sasori in time—he'd only severed Hiruko's thick tail.
"It could even use Magnet Release? That's practically like a living person..."
Hiruzen paused, pipe in hand. This was the first he'd ever heard of such a technique.
"Let's send a formal inquiry to Sunagakure regarding this. See if they know anything. After all, we're still allies on paper."
Minato gave his suggestion and glanced up at the wall clock.
It was nearly time for Kushina's dinner.
"Mm, thank you, Minato. I'll leave this matter to you. Once you're finished, you can head straight to the Konoha Hospital."
Sakumo noticed Minato's small gesture and smiled, signaling that he could go.
"Thank you very much, Sakumo-sama. Excuse me."
Without delay, Minato vanished from the room using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
"Fatherhood really changes a man. Minato, who's usually calm and composed, is now so eager and restless."
Jiraiya tried to joke, but was immediately rebuked by Hiruzen:
"And you have the nerve to talk? Your student already has a child, and you're still drifting around like a rootless wanderer!"
Jiraiya was left speechless, avoiding Hiruzen's sharp gaze as he rolled his eyes where the old man couldn't see.
After sharing the intelligence he had on Hidan, Jiraiya decided to stay silent.
"An immortal body, and the ability to use wicked curse marks… yet another troublesome enemy."
Seeing that Jiraiya wasn't going to argue, Hiruzen let it go and tapped his pipe against the table before tucking it away.
"So many people bear hatred for Konoha... That's the fate of a ninja."
Sakumo understood this deeply. War only brought death, pain, and hatred to shinobi.
Especially hatred—it became a chain binding the destinies of ninja together, passed down from generation to generation.
"Thankfully, Konoha's next generation is growing strong."
Sakumo suddenly recalled something Hiruzen often said.
Wherever the leaves dance, the fire will continue to burn.
"Takeshi, huh... I never imagined that child would be able to enter a Tailed Beast Transformation on his own. To achieve that means he has become..."
Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction, feeling no guilt over accidentally hitting Isobu with a big stick.
"A perfect Jinchūriki."
Having once fought against Jinchūriki, Jiraiya couldn't help but speak up:
"In all of ninja history, those who could truly control a Tailed Beast were only the First Hokage... and Uchiha Madara."
As soon as Jiraiya said Madara's name, the room's atmosphere instantly froze.
"Could it be..."
A thought crossed Hiruzen's mind, but he immediately shook his head to dismiss it.
How could that be? A man from the same era as the First Hokage, even if he didn't die at the Valley of the End, should have perished of old age by now.
And yet, the first person he thought of was Madara—that name that symbolized power.
...
"So, in summary, I'll be the captain of this mission."
Looking at the three ninja of varying ages before him, Takeshi concluded his introduction.
"I never imagined I'd get to go on a mission with the genius Jonin Takeshi! Once we return to the village, please allow me to treat you to a meal!"
Tokikan's eyes sparkled. With his monkey-like appearance, one might suspect he had Sarutobi blood. He showed no disdain for Takeshi despite the latter being younger.
Of course, he himself was still a Genin with no room to look down on anyone.
"Ahem, let's skip the meal. You can pay me cash instead."
Takeshi waved his hand jokingly.
"Huh?"
Tokikan looked confused and instinctively reached for his coin pouch.
Hyūga Tokuma, standing quietly to the side, didn't speak. He was two cohorts younger than Takeshi and had only graduated from the Ninja Academy a few years ago. After his team's Jonin was killed by Setsuna, he was recommended for this border patrol mission.
As for the last member...
"Hello, Kosuke-san. Thank you for your hard work on this mission."
Takeshi greeted him with a smile. He had already heard from Hiruzen about this "eternal Genin," and including him helped bolster the team's mid-tier strength.
"Hahaha, it's nothing."
The true scapegoat Jinchūriki and professional fall guy Maruboshi Kosuke looked kind and cheerful. Aside from the massive iron pot strapped to his back, there was nothing else particularly noticeable about him.
From afar, he looked like an average passerby.
"Alright, let's move out!"
With a sweep of his arm, Takeshi led the three Genin toward the northeastern border of the Land of Fire.
...
On the fifth day.
Tracking... trail patterns... camouflage...
Damn it, why couldn't he remember anything?
Fortunately, Maruboshi Kosuke noticed Takeshi's struggle and casually offered an explanation:
"These should be the tracks left by the border patrol. The patterns match Konoha-standard gear."
"I see..."
Wait, how did you figure that out?!
As Kosuke continued checking the trail and Tokikan busied himself with inspecting defensive traps, Takeshi quietly lifted his foot to compare the patterns.
As night fell, Kosuke gathered ingredients while checking the tracks and tossed them into his iron pot. Under his lead, the group reached a hidden location and began preparing dinner over a fire.
"No matter how many times I eat it, it still tastes amazing."
Tokikan devoured his food with gusto. Ever since the first time he tasted Kosuke's cooking, he had abandoned all previous contempt for the man.
Even in the wilderness, Hyūga Tokuma maintained the good manners of the Hyūga clan, sitting properly and eating without the crudeness Tokikan displayed.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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