After bidding farewell to the Sister Director and leaving the orphanage, Saiki didn't head home to pack his supplies. Instead, he made a beeline for the Hokage Building.
"That is essentially the situation, Lord Hokage."
Saiki used relatively tactful language to brief Hiruzen Sarutobi on Danzo's attempt to use Nono'u to coerce him into joining Root.
Listening to the report, Hiruzen's brow tightened. He was annoyed that Danzo had overstepped again, but it wasn't the first time; Danzo had previously tried to sink his claws into Kakashi as well. Hiruzen had grown almost accustomed to his old friend's schemes.
What truly irritated Hiruzen was Nono'u. Because of her, Tsunade had already confronted him once, and now Saiki was doing the same.
The real source of his displeasure was Nono'u's inability to remember her place. As a ninja, she had effectively betrayed Danzo by leaking the plan to Saiki. Furthermore, the orphanage was meant to be fuel for the village's growth, and Saiki's "tactful" request was essentially a demand for Hiruzen to keep his hands off the facility.
How could Nono'u be considered an "unqualified" ninja?
She simply possessed a conscience. If Saiki hadn't forced the issue, and if she hadn't believed in Hiruzen's supposed "benevolence," she never would have spoken.
"Unqualified"? There was a reason she was called the "Wandering Miko."
Hiruzen and Danzo's anger stemmed solely from her lack of blind loyalty to them. But Nono'u's loyalty had always belonged to the Hidden Leaf itself. The moment the leaders began acting out of petty self-interest, they lost the right to her devotion.
Despite his internal frustration, Hiruzen managed to force a smile.
Given the talent Saiki had displayed, he was a potential second coming of Minato Namikaze. A prodigy of that caliber was far too valuable to lose over a few orphans.
Hiruzen chuckled warmly. "I understand the situation. I will handle Danzo. You're deploying this afternoon, aren't you? Go and prepare."
Saiki's sensory skills were already elite, but after his breakthrough, his perception had evolved into something akin to Kurama's ability to sense malice. He saw right through Hiruzen's mask.
However, recognizing his own lack of political power, Saiki simply offered a respectful smile. "Then I'll leave it in your capable hands, Lord Hokage. I'll head home to get ready."
Once Saiki was gone, Hiruzen's eyes went cold. He was annoyed with Nono'u, but he agreed it was time to put Danzo in his place. Lately, under the cover of the impending war, Root had been expanding with reckless, unchecked aggression.
2:30 PM, Konoha Main Gates.
A massive ninja force of a thousand men had assembled, looking like a sprawling colony of ants from a distance.
"Boss, why did Shizune have to leave?" Genhai asked, looking dejected.
"Lady Tsunade left the village, so Shizune went with her," Saiki replied.
With a deployment looming and a new teammate joining their ranks, Genhai was naturally feeling a bit uneasy.
"Do you think they'll ever come back?"
"If we're lucky, we might even run into them on the front lines," Saiki answered.
He had inscribed the curse mark on Tsunade's lower abdomen. As time passed, the mark would slowly activate. Saiki was confident that once the overwhelming lust and the vivid, erotic hallucinations took hold, Tsunade would find herself compelled to seek him out.
Hearing Saiki's reassurance, the spiky-haired youth perked up instantly.
"What about our new teammate? Do you know who it is, Boss?"
Scanning the sea of faces, Saiki shook his head. "No idea. Sensei Tsume is bringing them over now. We'll find out soon."
Saiki turned his attention to Genhai, inspecting his gear. "Do you have everything? Kunai, shuriken, explosive tags, soldier pills, and your medical kit? Don't forget anything."
"Relax! I've got it all. My mom made me double-check my pouch three times," Genhai said with a confident pat to his gear.
"Good. Why didn't Auntie Reimi come to see you off?"
"Oh, she realized she forgot something and ran back home to get it. She should be here any second."
"There they are."
Standing half a head taller than Genhai, Saiki spotted Nono'u and Kushina in the crowd. Genhai followed his gaze.
The identity of the new teammate surprised Saiki, though in hindsight, it was perfectly logical.
"Saiki!"
Seeing Saiki, Kurenai Yuhi waved her small hand excitedly. Saiki offered her a bright smile and a nod.
"Sensei Kushina, Sensei Tsume!" Saiki and Genhai greeted them as they approached.
Although Saiki's group had been "promoted" to Chunin, it was a field promotion. They lacked the combat record and leadership experience typically required for the rank.
Saiki's raw power was undeniable, but with only a few dozen D-ranks and a single C-rank under his belt, he wasn't qualified to lead. Consequently, Tsume Inuzuka remained their acting commander.
"Alright, introductions aren't necessary since you all know each other. With Shizune gone and Kurenai operating as a solo, she'll be filling Shizune's slot. She's officially part of the squad now," Tsume announced.
"Saiki, Genhai... I'm looking forward to working with you!" Kurenai chirped.
"We're happy to have you, Kurenai," Saiki and Genhai replied with smiles.
The overall commander for this reinforcement unit was Konoha's premier strategist, Shikaku Nara, with Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi acting as his lieutenants. This highlighted just how desperate the situation on the Cloud front had become.
While the leadership was composed entirely of the Hokage's loyalists, the rank-and-file included a significant number of Uchiha and Hyuga clansmen. A single glance at the clan leaders' dark expressions confirmed their displeasure.
The Uchiha and Hyuga had deployed two hundred men each, making up nearly half of the entire unit. Yet, not a single one of them had been granted a leadership or deputy position. Hiruzen's political maneuvering was ruthless. It made sense why the Third War was so devastating in the original story; the Great Clans were clearly holding back their full strength in protest.
In the future, the death of Obito Uchiha would shake the village precisely because he was the rare hero the Uchiha produced in a war they largely ignored.
The atmosphere in the Uchiha and Hyuga ranks was suffocatingly tense. The Hyuga were stoic, but the arrogant Uchiha looked as though they were brewing a storm cloud of resentment.
Just before the departure order, Auntie Reimi finally arrived, panting as she handed a small bundle to Genhai.
"Mom? What's this?" Genhai asked, confused.
"Take it. Eat it if you get hungry on the road." Reimi stroked Genhai's head with a look of deep sorrow. Having lost her husband to war, seeing her young son heading toward the same fate brought tears to her eyes.
This scene was being played out all across the gates. Every young ninja was surrounded by red-eyed parents.
Kurenai's father, Shinku Yuhi, was also deploying. Having lost her mother at a young age, Kurenai had never known a mother's love, and watching Reimi made her heart ache with envy.
Saiki watched the scene in somber silence. How many families would be shattered by this war? How many parents would bury their children, and how many children would never see their parents again? The world was truly a piece of shit.
To ordinary people, life was about survival and hard work. But they were forced to sacrifice everything for the ambition of a few powerful men. A single general's fame is built upon the bleached bones of ten thousand soldiers.
Seeing Reimi's distress, Kushina patted Saiki's shoulder. "Protect them. And make sure you protect yourself, too."
"Don't worry, Sensei!" Saiki replied with a smile, though the atmosphere had left him feeling unusually heavy.
Kushina, assuming Saiki was just putting on a brave face, stepped forward and pulled him into a fierce hug. Once again, Saiki found his head crushed between those two soft, firm mounds. Caught in the maidenly fragrance of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Saiki was momentarily at a loss.
After the final goodbyes, Shikaku Nara checked the time.
"Is the count complete?" Shikaku asked the administrative ninja.
"One thousand men accounted for, Sir!"
"Very well. Move out!"
At Shikaku's command, the massive unit began to move in perfect, disciplined order.