Chapter 85: Next mission

After few days the summons arrived in the middle of the afternoon. A runner from the Hokage’s office found Kael near the training grounds and delivered the message with the usual clipped efficiency. Team Seven was to report immediately. No further details. Kael wiped the sweat from his forehead, collected his gear, and started walking.

Sakura fell into step beside him a minute later, still tying her hair back. Sasuke appeared from the opposite direction without a word, hands in his pockets, the same closed expression he always wore when official business called. The three of them moved through the village streets in a loose triangle, the familiar rhythm of old teamwork settling over them even if the man wearing Naruto’s face no longer felt like the original loud idiot who had once filled every silence with noise.

Kael’s mind was already turning toward the office. Missions meant the system might stay quiet for a while. Missions also meant Tsunade.

He had watched the anime years ago with the same quiet fascination a lot of fans carried. Tsunade was older, technically, but the way she looked—golden hair, the body that refused to match her true age—had always stuck with him. Seeing her in person the first time had been weird because he still didn’t by that time if it was real or he was just imagining things. The real version of her was sharper, more solid, and somehow even more distracting. He kept that thought carefully locked away. The last thing he needed was another system quest appearing the moment he stepped into her line of sight.

They reached the broad steps of the Hokage mansion. Kakashi was already waiting outside the office door, leaning against the frame with one eye visible above his mask. He straightened when he saw them.

"Right on time. Come on."

He opened the door and stepped inside first. Kael followed with Sakura and Sasuke. The office smelled faintly of ink, old paper, and the sharp edge of sake that always seemed to cling to the room no matter the time of day.

Tsunade sat behind the wide desk, chin resting on one hand, the other holding a small porcelain cup. Her green jacket was open just enough to show the dark top beneath. Shizune stood slightly behind her right shoulder, clipboard in hand, eyes fixed very carefully on the floor the moment Kael entered. She had not looked at him directly since the night in the hospital months ago. Kael noted the avoidance and filed it away. Some things did not fade as easily as bruises.

Tsunade’s gaze landed on him and stayed there a beat longer than necessary. Kael met it without flinching.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing," she said, voice dry. "It’s just that you’re awfully quiet now. You used to talk loud enough to shake the windows and disturb everyone on the floor. What happened to that brat?"

"I grew up."

Tsunade’s eyes narrowed slightly, the same assessing look she used on wounded shinobi who claimed they were fine. "Well. It’s better this way. Less of a headache for the rest of us."

Kakashi cleared his throat behind his mask. "Wouldn’t you tell us about the mission, Tsunade-sama?"

She set the cup down and leaned back in her chair. "Patience. You three aren’t the only team for this one."

The door opened again. Shikamaru walked in first, looking like he would rather be anywhere else. Choji followed with a half-eaten bag of chips already in hand. Ino came last, giving Kael a quick private glance that carried the memory of the previous afternoon she saw Naruto standing next to Sakura but for now she let go of her thoughts and she smoothed her expression into something professional. The six chunin stood in a loose line in front of the desk.

Tsunade rose and rested both hands on the wood. The shift in posture alone was enough to pull every eye to her.

"Your two teams will work together. This is a chunin-level assignment only, so Kakashi stays behind. No jōnin supervision on site. That means the six of you are responsible for each other and for the outcome."

Shikamaru sighed through his nose. "Troublesome already."

"Deal with it," Tsunade said without heat. "The mission concerns the Sand Village. A few days ago their weather changed without warning. Clear desert sky turned to heavy rain that hasn’t stopped. At the same time, Sand shinobi reported unknown individuals moving near the outer districts. One confirmed sighting said the strangers wore Leaf forehead protectors."

Sakura frowned. "Leaf shinobi operating in the Sand without official notice?"

"That’s what you’re going to find out," Tsunade answered. "Gaara’s people are stretched thin dealing with the flooding and the damage to their outer wards. They requested discreet assistance rather than a full joint force. Your job is to identify those people, determine whether they mean harm, and handle the situation without starting a diplomatic incident. If they are Leaf deserters or impostors, you deal with them. If they are something else, you report back immediately."

Choji lowered the bag of chips. "Rain in the desert for days? That’s not normal."

"Nothing about this is normal," Tsunade said. "Which is why I’m sending two full cells instead of one. You will leave at first light tomorrow. Travel light, stay low, and do not announce yourselves as Leaf until you have eyes on the targets. Gaara already knows you’re coming. He’ll have a contact waiting at the northern outpost."

Ino crossed her arms. "And if these people really are from the Leaf?"

"Then you bring them home or put them down, depending on what they’ve done." Tsunade’s voice stayed level. "This mission will also serve as an evaluation. Perform well and the three of you from Team Seven, plus Shikamaru’s cell, will be considered for early jōnin recommendation. Perform poorly and you’ll be explaining yourselves to me in person. Clear?"

A quiet round of "Yes, Tsunade-sama" moved through the group.

Kakashi spoke up from the side. "Rules of engagement?"

"Non-lethal if possible. Lethal if necessary. I want answers more than bodies, but I will not lose any of you to hesitation." Tsunade looked at each of them in turn, lingering a moment longer on Kael. "Naruto. You’re quieter, but I still expect you to keep the others from doing anything spectacularly stupid. Don’t make me regret leaving Kakashi behind."

Kael gave a short nod. "Understood."

Shizune finally spoke, her voice carefully neutral. "I’ve prepared the mission scrolls and supply authorizations. You can collect them on the way out."

Tsunade waved a hand. "That’s all. Get your gear in order and rest. I want you sharp when you leave. Dismissed."

The group began to file out. Shikamaru muttered something about wanting a long nap before the desert. Choji offered to share the rest of his chips. Ino fell into step beside Sakura and started asking practical questions about water seals and ration weights. Sasuke left without a word, already calculating routes in his head.

Kael paused at the door just long enough to glance back. Tsunade had already returned to her seat and her cup. Shizune still avoided his eyes. The office looked the same as it always had, solid and unshakable, yet the mission she had just handed them carried the faint scent of something larger than weather and unknown shinobi.

He stepped out into the corridor and closed the door behind him. The system remained silent. For now that was enough. Tomorrow they would head for the Sand, and whatever waited in the rain would have to deal with six chunin who had already seen too much to scare easily.

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Give me power!!!