"… Hayashi."
"What is it, Minato?"
"… How much longer can we stay here?"
"The mission duration is fifteen days, so we can stay another five."
"… Oh."
"What's wrong? Want to go back?"
"… No. I was just wondering if we could convince the Hokage to extend our mission time a bit."
"Extend it how?"
"… Half a year."
"..."
Hayashi and Minato were currently discussing the possibility of extending their mission. Thick cumulonimbus clouds drifted lazily overhead, adding a faint chill to the air, though the warmth rising from the hot spring quickly dissolved it.
"Today's perfect for a hot spring soak," Hayashi murmured, letting out a slow breath as he slid farther into the steaming water.
"Yeah," Minato replied, eyes closed as he enjoyed the luxury of the Daimyo's mansion.
No wonder Jiraiya-sensei hated returning to the village so quickly. Minato finally understood him a little.
This kind of temptation was… painful.
On the far right side of the pool, Nawaki leaned back against the stone edge, half-asleep in the steaming water. He shifted, splashing loudly.
"… Number one… technician… one more massage… full body…"
Nawaki mumbled in his sleep.
Suddenly, a burst of bubbles rose beneath him. Nawaki snapped awake instantly.
Seeing the bubbles, he shouted, "The water's boiling! Get out!"
"..."
"Wind Style, Great Breakthrough."
Hayashi sighed helplessly and used ninjutsu to clear the foul air.
"You're still laughing?" Hayashi yanked Nawaki's hair. "Trying to suffocate Minato and me so you can inherit our stuff?"
"… I couldn't help it. I ate too many radishes at lunch." Nawaki covered his own nose, unable to stand the odor himself.
After that disaster, the three couldn't continue their soak. No one could endure that biological attack every few minutes.
It had been three days since Hayashi's team completed their mission, and the four had been resting in the Daimyo's mansion.
Of the Guardian Twelve, only one remained. Seven were killed by Hayashi, while four more died from the aftermath of the S-rank clash that followed.
However, Hayashi never found Ryoma's body. It was likely the man fled far away the moment he sensed danger.
As for Karura and Pakura, they escaped while Hayashi fought the Guardian Ninja.
The Daimyo's mansion had suffered significant damage from the quake caused during the battle. Rumor said the Daimyo even broke his leg while helping his subordinates.
News soon spread that the Third Raikage attempted to assassinate the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. With the Guardian Twelve wiped out, the Daimyo panicked and immediately sent a request to Konoha.
He specifically asked Sarutobi Hiruzen to dispatch the famed hero who had shined in the war to personally guard him and investigate the disappearance of his protectors.
But this reasonable request was unreasonably rejected by the Hokage.
For a while, currents of tension spread quietly throughout the ninja world.
Meanwhile, Team One shamelessly enjoyed the luxurious life in the Daimyo's estate under the pretext of "searching for Ryoma."
Eventually, after several urgent messages from Orochimaru ordering them back, the team reluctantly prepared to return to Konoha.
Two days later, they reached the village.
Konoha remained blanketed under early morning mist.
Because of the war, the commercial district had long fallen silent, tension gripping the entire village for nearly two years.
But everything changed the moment news arrived from the front:
The Land of Rain surrendered.
Hanzo sought peace.
The war was won.
The news spread quickly. While civilians celebrated, most were simply relieved. They wanted peace more than glory.
With the troops returning, activity slowly returned to the streets. After all, the shinobi were the village's strongest consumers.
Tsunade walked along the road, greeting merchants she knew and those she didn't. She had grown accustomed to being regarded as a hero of Konoha.
And, honestly, it felt good. Even Orochimaru, usually gloomy, had been smiling nonstop.
After a long walk, she reached the front gate.
"Tsunade-san? Why are you here?"
From the shadows, a red-haired girl stepped out. Kushina had been coming here every morning since the troops returned.
"I'm here to take you on a mission," Tsunade said with a smile.
"Mission? What mission?" Kushina blinked. She hadn't been allowed outside the village in ages, so the word caught her off guard.
"You've been begging to leave, haven't you? I talked it over with the Third, and I'm taking you."
"… Say yes. Say yes!" Kurama shouted inside the seal, gripping the cage bars. "I've been trapped in this village for decades! Let me out! Wuwuwu."
Kushina ignored him completely.
She hesitated. "Tsunade-neechan… can we wait a few days?"
"Huh? Didn't you smash the Hokage's desk demanding to go to the battlefield? Why hesitate now?" Tsunade narrowed her eyes. "Oh… I see. You're waiting for that brat."
"No! No—!" Kushina's face flushed bright red.
Tsunade laughed softly. "Relax, I'm teasing. Orochimaru said they'd return today, so I came to remind you. I didn't expect the famous Red Hot-Blooded Habanero to turn so shy."
Kushina's face reddened even more. "No way…"
Her voice trailed off awkwardly.
Just then, footsteps echoed from beyond the gate.
Four silhouettes emerged through the thinning morning mist.
_____
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