After a full night's rest, Lock was summoned to Tsunade's command tent early the next morning.
The atmosphere inside was tense. Alongside him stood the trio of Ino–Shika–Chō and Hyūga Hiashi.
Tsunade's sharp gaze swept across the group. "You came here under Jiraiya's command. But from this moment on, you answer to me. No exceptions, no conditions. Can you accept that?"
Her tone carried no room for negotiation.
Of course, no one objected. Tsunade was one of the Legendary Sannin and Konoha's supreme commander for this front. Even those from noble clans had to obey her authority.
"Good," she said with a curt nod.
Though she commanded thousands, Tsunade had her frustrations. Many under her were clan shinobi — skilled, but prideful. The Hyūga and Uchiha were especially difficult.
The Hyūga, at least, respected rank and followed orders from their own leadership. The Uchiha, however… were another matter.
They obeyed only strength. And Tsunade, being of the Senju, was not someone they accepted easily. In quieter moments, she admitted that if not for the war's urgency, she would rather not have Uchiha troops at all.
Still, she couldn't deny their effectiveness.
The Uchiha had sent a full hundred ninja — an astonishing number for a single clan. Their Sharingan gave them a decisive edge in combat, and their performance in the earlier battles had been extraordinary. Together with the Hyūga, they were Konoha's sharpest blades.
But large numbers from the clans also meant divided loyalties and a chain of command that often buckled under pride. Which was why Tsunade began the meeting as she did — drawing a clear line of authority.
Satisfied with the lack of protest, she continued:
"I need an elite reconnaissance and intelligence squad," she said. "So far, none of our teams have been able to locate the Yansha coalition's main camp. I've sent multiple squads — none have returned with usable information. Some… haven't returned at all. So I'll be forming a new team — the best we can field."
"Understood, Lady Tsunade," they answered together.
Tsunade listed her choices one by one. "Hyūga Hiashi. Yamanaka Inoichi. Fujiwara Lock. You three are appointed to the new reconnaissance and intelligence team. Any objections?"
"None," Lock replied instantly. He'd already guessed he would be chosen. Scouting and infiltration were his specialty.
Inoichi nodded as well. But before Hiashi could respond, another Hyūga stepped forward.
"Commander Tsunade," the man said respectfully, "the clan head must not take unnecessary risks. Reconnaissance missions are far too dangerous. Please reconsider."
Tsunade frowned. The man wasn't wrong — reconnaissance teams were expected to move deep behind enemy lines, and losing the Hyūga patriarch would be disastrous. Yet she needed the Byakugan. Without it, no scouting team could reach its full potential.
Seeing her hesitation, the Hyūga added, "Fortunately, our clan has another who can take his place — Hyūga Hizashi. His talents rival the clan head's, and he's already on the battlefield."
Tsunade was about to speak, but Hiashi looked displeased. "Wait, I—"
The subordinate interrupted quickly. "Patriarch, you can't risk yourself. Please, entrust this to Hizashi."
Tsunade raised a hand, cutting off further argument. "Fine. Hyūga Hizashi will take Hiashi's place."
She glanced at her notes and continued, "The team will consist of five members — Hyūga Hizashi, Yamanaka Inoichi, Fujiwara Lock, Akimichi Chōza, and Takeuchi Ryōko."
With that, the elite reconnaissance unit was officially formed.
Lock knew most of the names — the Ino–Shika–Chō trio were familiar allies. Only one was new to him: Takeuchi Ryōko.
When he met her shortly after, he saw she was a kunoichi in her mid-twenties — calm, sharp-eyed, and carrying the symbol of Konoha's medical corps.
It was clear Tsunade had planned the team carefully:
Hyūga Hizashi, with the Byakugan for long-range vision and close-range mastery in taijutsu.
Yamanaka Inoichi, an expert in sensory and communication techniques, can relay intel across distances.
Akimichi Chōza, powerhouse of the Akimichi clan, capable of overwhelming physical attacks and serving as a frontline protector.
Takeuchi Ryōko, a medical-nin and skilled long-range support, balances the team's endurance.
Fujiwara Lock, infiltration specialist — silent, fast, and deadly, the team's hidden blade.
Together, they were built for stealth, survival, and precision.
Tsunade dismissed them with a final nod. "Your objective is simple: find the Yansha coalition's main camp and report its position. Move carefully — and don't die before telling me what you see."
Within the hour, the five had gathered their gear and set out at once, vanishing into the forest at high speed, heading toward enemy territory.
The hunt for the Yansha army had begun.
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