New information arrived in two successive parcels.
First, Team 6 had destroyed a major Kumo ambush and captured a Kumo Elite Jonin known to be a trusted direct subordinate to the Third Raikage.
Second, a message from Kumogakure arrived shortly after, claiming that they wished to enter negotiations but only if both Ay Junior and Dodai were alive and captured.
In other words, proof of life was required before negotiations could start in earnest.
On one hand, it proved the advisors and the Hokage's trust of Team 6's ability to handle their safety but on the other, it meant they had forced a team of young Genin and their Elite Jonin Teacher to deal with a Kumo ambush all by themselves.
"As predicted, they managed to handle the situation and even capture another prisoner, further increasing our advantage." Danzo wasted no time in asserting how correct he had been earlier.
"They managed it, because when the first prisoner was transported back, I arranged for part of the transport team to remain with them as reinforcements against possible retaliation." Mito calmly countered.
"Reinforcements?" The Hokage inquired.
"I made a commission to the Uchiha and Hyuga clans to let me borrow one clan member each, just in case." The Uzumaki matriarch explained.
Uchiha Fukutsu and Hyuga Hiroshi, the heads and representatives of their respective clans in the war council, kept their expressions calm and natural, as if nothing out of the ordinary was going on.
In fact, such direct commissions were not entirely unusual.
When a party was not affiliated with Konoha, there were several restrictions in place but, as a respected elder of the village, Mito was in her right, so long as her commission was made and accepted by the recipient clans, there were no official issues.
That said, the Uzumaki matriarch's cooperation with the Uchiha clan and their cooperation with the Hyuga clan who they always butted heads with, did not bode well for the Hokage faction in the slightest.
Danzo's head was already filled with possible plots and conspiracies with even Hiruzen the calmest and least prejudiced of the four being quite alarmed.
But there was a silver lining for the Hokage and his advisors.
With outside help being involved, it was much easier to justify withholding the rewards from Team 6 and, since the reinforcements were not sent under official village business, they technically had no right to extra rewards.
Now, while usually, the village would reward them anyway so as to promote self initiative in regards to serving Konoha, there was no official obligation to do so.
Still, with Kumo now approaching them for negotiations, the obstacle stopping the progression of the council meetings was now gone and matters were settled relatively quickly.
While certain details were discussed more extensively, the general strategy of using this matter to drain Kumo's resources ahead of the war, as decided privately by the Hokage and his advisors, was implemented without objection.
As for the espionage efforts to destabilize Kumo that would follow the deal, these were not discussed as they were considered a matter of utmost secrecy and to be handled entirely by the Root detachment of the Anbu, under Danzo's personal command and direction.
*
As Shiki read about all that went on in his absence from the village, he was actually very calm and unsurprised.
If anything, the checks imposed by the village leadership on his team were lighter than expected, not to mention that they didn't even dare to mess with Mito.
Then again, he should have expected this.
Hiruzen and his ilk were not yet fully entrenched into the seal of power, not like they were in the original timeline.
In fact, if the original timeline was considered, then Hiruzen's first tenure as Hokage was not even at its halfway point.
It was the Second Great War that completely solidified his position.
With the major clans weakened, the Senju gone, Uzushio gone and soon after, Mito gone, while Hiruzen's own personal might was at his physical peak, it was only natural that his authority in the village became nearly absolute.
At the current point in his tenure though, the Hokage could not yet afford to be as heavy handed and, if Shiki can do anything about it, such a point will never come in this new timeline.
'And since the Hokage doesn't have much pull and is punishing me instead of rewarding me for my achievements, getting a few people into the village, Beni-chan and her attendants, should be easy enough.' The boy determined.
But moving on, Shiki figured he should give a heads up to his team about the various dealing occurring back at the village.
He did not want them walking in unprepared and screwing things up somehow.
The offer to take in Benihime, Tomoe and Ema had also not yet been made as the boy had been postponing the matter due to the possible opposition by the village leadership.
Now that he was almost sure that the immigration would go without a hitch, Shiki was far more comfortable in making the offer.
"Right then. Time to go and talk to the people." He mused out loud.
The boy truly preferred his studies and training in comparison to talking and socializing. Perhaps that was one of the reasons he appreciated the quiet but supportive Beni as much as he did.
*
"So that's how things have been going back in the village." Shiki explained what he read to the rest of Team 6.
'Bet I'll get called in for a "talk" . . . I already knew it was going to happen but with so much going on in Konoha, it's a sure deal.' Inori thought to herself, already tired of the imminent drama.
"Wait, so after defeating an Elite Jonin of Kumo and capturing the Raikage's son, all by ourselves, all we'll get is a promotion to Chunin and Elite Chunin, without the customary accompanying bonuses at that!?" Mei was quite outraged to say the least.
It was not like she needed the rewards, neither did Shiki, it was the principle of the matter.
The fact that her first big achievement as a duo with her Shiki was being devalued big time, might also have a little something to do with it.
Shinka on the other hand, while bothered by the higher ups' attitude towards their high achieving team, was not too troubled by the lack of rewards.
She had gotten attached to Team 6 and if getting a promotion pulled away since the rest of the team was being targeted, then it was not worth it, not to mention she didn't do as much as Mei and Shiki during the battles., at least in her very humble opinion.
As for the withheld jutsu rewards, as an Aburame, the girl truly did not care anything for them, her clan members were the ones she needed to impress as they were the ones that held the Aburame secrets that could make her stronger.
Being an Elite Jonin and thus, far more familiar with the reward and punishment system in the village, Inori had a far greater understanding of what was going on.
Even without Shiki mentioning the politicking behind the decisions, the Violet Rose could tell the village was punishing them despite being forced to promote them for the sake of appearances.
'Unlike these kids, I could use the rewards from such an achievement, both monetary and jutsu based ones.' The Yamanaka thought to herself.
She already had access to all her clan jutsu, if she wanted to improve herseçf, others from the village's library were necessary, not to mention the, after she began undertaking more unsavory missions for the village, her clan distanced itself.
She was not receiving money or support from them so the monetary bonuses would be a great help for her as well.
'Oh well, even if the higher ups are shameless, the mission rank can only be raised to S with the involvement of such high profile enemies like the Raikage's own family, the pay ought to be enough to relieve my "poor" heart.' Inori internally lamented.
+++++
Hey, Author here!
To promote the novel I will be releasing BONUS CHAPTERS on SUNDAYS based on the previous week's power stone count.
100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
500 Power Stones = 2 Bonus Chapters
1000 Power Stones = 3 Bonus Chapters
Every earned BONUS CHAPTER on Webnovel will also be posted on Scribble.
Just a reminder that you can read up to a FULL MONTH ahead of this site on pa-treon.
I'm trying to become a full time Author now and I'm not going to be starting any new novels just so I can make sure this one is properly completed.
Find those sweet advanced chapters on pa-treon.com/lusoba without the -