Chapter Seventeen
"Sorry for your loss."
Kenshin broke the tense silence.
"It is a loss for the village more than mine. Lord Third was a guiding light for us all," Shikaku replied, his voice low and heavy.
"But it seems, for now, additional work has piled up—one being you."
Shikaku pointed a steady finger at Kenshin.
"Me?!" Kenshin asked with theatrical exaggeration.
"I'm just an innocent boy."
"You've been ignoring my summons for months. If it were any other person, they would have been dragged here."
"Hehe, I knew you would be lenient. And I didn't want to meet an angry you."
"I'm still angry."
"More grieving than angry, so I'll take that."
"It's almost like you don't care that the Hokage is dead."
Kenshin merely shrugged, his expression unreadable.
"Why did you give up in the prelims? It's almost like you knew the third round would be redundant."
"I did suspect it might be, but that's not why I gave up. It was always my plan to forfeit—I only participated to beat up the geniuses."
"What gave it away?"
"When Team Seven was attacked. Or when the examiner was fraternizing with a dangerous individual in disguise. Or when two jinchūriki were participating. Or, most probably, when a Jōnin-level ninja was posing as a genin who had failed the Chunin Exams three times."
Kenshin leaned back slightly, a faint smirk touching his lips.
"I am intelligent, after all."
"You knew all this and did not inform me?"
"I figured you already knew—especially after Team Seven was attacked. I assumed countermeasures were in place. It was confirmed when the civilians were evacuated beforehand. I just didn't expect that level of destruction."
Kenshin's smile didn't reach his eyes.
He was a good actor—the System had made sure of that.
Even Shikaku had nothing on him.
"Your reasoning is sound, but your expertise could have been useful during the pursuit of the Sand siblings."
"I had civilians to protect. Rich investors were in the stands. Naruto and his group were handling it."
A heavy silence settled between them.
"What's your plan going forward?" Shikaku asked finally.
"That's abrupt. Why ask something like that… Do you wish to make me a chunin?"
"You are clearly an intelligent child."
"Heh."
Kenshin rubbed his nose, grinning.
"Yes, it would be folly to keep you as a genin, considering your strength, leadership qualities, and intellect."
"Stop it, I'm blushing."
"But first, we are short on manpower. I'll be assigning you some missions. You need to increase your portfolio. And as you've guessed, we'll have a new Hokage in the coming days. Ninjas of your caliber are needed in Konoha."
Kenshin stood up with sudden zest, falling into a crisp military stance, hand snapping to his forehead.
"Yes, sir!"
"You're dismissed."
Kenshin turned and walked toward the door.
"And… you're still stuck with your teammates."
"No problem."
He smiled without looking back as he exited the office.
---
Ah, I missed the fight between Kakashi and Itachi. Not that I could've done anything anyway—I'm just a weak genin.
He smirked, the afternoon sun warming his shoulders as he stepped into the bustling street.
He'll face Naruto and Sasuke too, and Jiraiya will save them. Now I just have to run missions and wait for Tsunade to be made Hokage.
---
Hah. Sasuke has defected from Konoha.
Leave that part to the rookies. It's where boys become men.
As for me… mission grinding continues.
Curse you, Shikaku.
Still, it was time to start the plan.
Kenshin smirked, his grip tightening on the collar of the bandit he held aloft. The man's face was bruised, eyes wide with terror.
Kenshin had sensed it all through the subtle tremor in the earth and the distant spike of corrupted chakra—the Sound Four activating Sasuke's cursed seal.
He'd felt it, clear as a shout on the wind.
---
"I'm back."
Kenshin walked into the village with his team after another long mission, the familiar gates of Konoha rising like worn sentinels against the twilight sky.
Two months had passed since Tsunade's inauguration, and Shikaku still had him running assignments.
Now, he was on his way to deliver his report—and finally meet Tsunade.
Maybe even get that promotion.
"Boss, you're the only one turning in the report, right? I'm dead tired."
Taro yawned, arms folded behind his head as he trudged along.
"That's right, Captain," Hana agreed, her steps slow with fatigue.
"Lazy bastards. Shoo."
Kenshin waved them off, turning toward the Hokage Tower, his eyes tracing the rebuilt roofs and busy streets.
The village was healing, slowly.
The rookie team had returned from the failed retrieval mission. Now they had three years to train—while Sasuke stayed with Orochimaru.
As for Kenshin… well, his plans would unfold slowly.
---
"Ah, you're back."
Shikaku offered a thin smile as Kenshin entered the quiet office.
"Here—take the report. I'm done."
Kenshin tossed a file onto the desk.
"I'm going on a solo mission. I have a lead. So grant me the special jōnin title—I've earned it."
"Huh? Come again?"
Shikaku's pen clattered onto the wood.
"The Akatsuki. I'm joining them—though it'll take time. I'm weak, of little importance to the Leaf. Special jōnin status, plus about two years of 'pursuit,' should get me in. A nice rumor of a grand scheme would help. Maybe touching the Hokage's… boobs."
Kenshin nodded sagely at the last part.
"First off, how do you know of the Akatsuki? And what did you just say?"
Shikaku stared, bewildered by what Kenshin considered a crime severe enough to warrant exile.
"Eh, a man's got to dream."
Kenshin shrugged.
"As for the Akatsuki—I was aware of the red clouds in Konoha. Sasuke's brother. I did some digging on the other surviving Uchiha. Made connections. Bounty hunter Kakuzu—famous in the black-market world—he's in the Akatsuki. It wasn't hard to guess their recruitment criteria. Itachi is a missing-nin. Kisame followed him."
"You always baffle me with your intelligence."
Shikaku's gaze turned sharp, probing.
"Tell me—what guarantee do you have that this solo mission will yield results?"
"Because I'm fruitful."
Kenshin met his stare, unblinking.
"Very well. Stand by. I'll discuss it with the Hokage. We'll contact you."
Shikaku's voice was steady, final.
"You're dismissed."
Kenshin snapped into another military stance.
"YES, SIR!"
He turned and strode out, the door clicking shut behind him.
I'm leaving today anyway. This is just a formality—a way back into Konoha after the war. Sasuke has Naruto. I need my own leverage.
A slow, determined smile spread across his face.
Heh.
---