"Lord Danzo, Usagi Xin is incredibly powerful. That technique he used-its power was immense. Even the small white snake that's always with him is no joke," Anbu operative reported.
"With just a flick of its tail, it deflected Hanzo's sickle, keeping him at bay and making Hanzō hesitate to approach Usagi Xin."
Danzo was still bedridden, his body wrapped in bandages and an eyepatch covering one eye. But as a high-ranking figure in Konoha, he enjoyed certain privileges.
Unlike other wounded soldiers, Danzo had the luxury of recuperating in the command center's private quarters-a treatment few could hope to receive.
Lying there, Danzo remained silent for a while, pondering to himself. "A jutsu formed with lightning-nature chakra, huh?"
"A white snale that resembles a Sage Snake," he muttered, his mind whirring. The ANBU ninja knelt silently, awaiting further instructions without interrupting his leader's thoughts.
"Bring him to me. Tell him I have something to discuss," Danzo finally ordered.
"Yes, Lord Danzo." Anbu agent quickly left to fetch Xin.
Back at the camp, Xin found himself, as usual, with nothing to do. He wanted to leave, but unfortunately, he had new orders. He was to stay for a few more days and escort a group of wounded shinobi back to Konoha, guarding them against any potential attacks from Sunagakure ninja.
Speaking of Sunagakure, Xin had no idea why they were still hanging around in the Land of Rain. The war between Konoha and Amegakure had already ended.
There was nothing left for Sunagakure to gain by sticking around. Yet Chiyo still hadn't led her forces out of the country, leaving Xin wondering if she was plotting something.
Maybe another sneak attack.
"You seriously said something that made Tsunade hit you?" Xin asked, stifling a laugh as he stared at Nara Shikaku, who was sporting a nasty black eye.
He had managed to hold back his laughter on the journey back to the camp, but now that they were alone, he couldn't resist bringing it up.
"I swear I don't know what happened, okay? You believe me, right?" Shikaku groaned, clearly exasperated.
What the hell was I thinking, running my mouth like that? he berated himself. If I had just acted like I didn't see anything, he wouldn't be walking around with a panda eye right now. It's none of my business what Tsunade-sama and Xin do!
"You don't know?" Xin looked at him with raised eyebrows, his skeptical gaze making Shikaku even more uncomfortable.
With a wry smile, Shikaku added, "I really don't. I just said I didn't see anything."