Land of Fields, Yakugakure – Village Hidden in Medicine. Inside the Ta-kage's Office.
"You're planning to leave the village for a while?" Pakura asked, sitting behind her desk and looking at Kagutsuchi with surprise.
"Mm," Kagutsuchi nodded. "Based on our extensive investigations through Ansei Hall during this period, it truly seems the Akatsuki organization is planning to lie low for some time after our last battle. We need to use this lull to take care of some necessary business."
It had been over half a year since the clash that repelled the Akatsuki. Tatsuya had utilized the full resources of Ansei Hall to conduct widespread reconnaissance, yet found no signs of significant Akatsuki activity. It was clear the powerful organization had once again withdrawn into the shadows.
"Some necessary business? Is this his intention?" Pakura inquired, her expression turning thoughtful after a pause of over ten seconds.
"Yes," Kagutsuchi confirmed.
"Alright then," Pakura conceded after a moment's thought. "Since you have a mission, go handle what you need to. Yakugakure should be relatively safe for the time being." With the Akatsuki deterred and Sunagakure's elder Chiyo having personally come to express reconciliation, Yakugakure indeed faced no immediate external threats. As long as they weren't facing a large-scale invasion from Akatsuki or one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Pakura felt confident in her ability to protect the village. Now that her identity as a former Suna kunoichi was public knowledge, she no longer needed to hold back. Wielding her Scorch Release Kekkei Genkai openly, Pakura was undeniably a Kage-level powerhouse.
"Good," Kagutsuchi acknowledged Pakura's assent with a nod and promptly stood up to leave.
Pakura watched his retreating figure, her eyes flickering thoughtfully. After a moment, she formed a sequence of hand seals and summoned her ninja beast.
Meow~ "Master," the familiar orange cat, Cha-maru, greeted her, stretching out a paw.
"I need you to deliver some information to Tatsuya," Pakura instructed directly.
A few minutes later, ninja beast disappeared from the Ta-kage's office, carrying an information scroll. Pakura didn't understand the true nature of the connection between Tatsuya and his clones like Jizo, Kagutsuchi, and Suijin. Suijin's earlier departure followed now by Kagutsuchi's leaving struck her as unusual, prompting her to alert Tatsuya.
(Upon receiving the message later, Tatsuya merely smiled calmly and sent back a simple two-word reply: "Rest assured.")
After leaving the Ta-kage's office, Kagutsuchi was walking down the second-floor corridor when he encountered someone.
"Lord Kagutsuchi." A tall figure dressed in a light blue ninja uniform bowed respectfully. It was Guren.
"Ah, Guren," Kagutsuchi smiled, seeing her blocking his path slightly. "Is there something you need?"
Having awakened her Crystal Release Kekkei Genkai, Guren's strength had improved rapidly over the past few years under Pakura's tutelage, further enhanced by the Fujinhoin seal. With assistance from both Jizo and Pakura, she had developed numerous powerful Crystal Release ninjutsu. Although she hadn't participated in the recent battle against Akatsuki – where Tatsuya's Divine Court clones served as the main fighting force – both Tatsuya and Pakura estimated her current abilities were at least at the level of a Tokubetsu Jonin.
"Lord Kagutsuchi," Guren began, her gaze steady and determined, "I have a request I would like you to relay to Brother Tatsuya."
Kagutsuchi raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What request?" This was the first time in all the years he'd known her that Guren had actively asked Tatsuya for something.
"I want to join the Divine Court organization," Guren stated firmly.
"Join Divine Court?" Kagutsuchi looked surprised. "Why the sudden thought?" He found it odd. In Yakugakure, Guren was the respected senior disciple, the role model all the younger ninja students aspired to emulate.
"I want to help Brother Tatsuya!" Guren said, choosing her words carefully, her eyes resolute. "Although I don't know exactly what you all are doing, Lord Kagutsuchi... just being able to contribute, to lend my strength for Brother Tatsuya, would make me very happy."
"You want to help him? Heh heh," Kagutsuchi chuckled softly. He reached out and gently ruffled Guren's hair. "Guren, you're still young. Your strength isn't quite there yet." With that, he turned and walked away.
Guren froze on the spot, Kagutsuchi's gesture sparking a strange sense of familiarity within her. "Lord Kagutsuchi...?" she murmured thoughtfully, watching his retreating back.
Kagutsuchi left the Ta-kage building and immediately leaped away, heading out of Yakugakure. He stopped in a dense forest several kilometers from the village. Biting his thumb, he formed the necessary hand seals and slammed his palm onto the ground.
Poof!
Amidst a cloud of white smoke, a figure appeared before him. It was Suijin.
"How are things on the main body's side?" Kagutsuchi asked immediately.
"Everything went smoothly. The Dragon Vein has been sealed within him," Suijin replied calmly.
"Oh?" Kagutsuchi's eyes instantly lit up. "So the original hypothesis was proven correct?"
Suijin shook his head slightly. "We haven't had time to test it yet, but based on the feedback from the bio-chip, it should be successful."
"Excellent!" An irrepressible smile spread across Kagutsuchi's face. "With this ability, we'll finally possess the strength to confront Nagato head-on!" Suijin allowed himself a small smile as well.
After a few moments, Suijin looked at Kagutsuchi. "How are the arrangements for the mission and the village proceeding?"
"Rest assured," Kagutsuchi responded confidently. "We've gathered more than enough intelligence for this operation. And Pakura is holding down the fort back in the village; there shouldn't be any problems."
"Good. In that case, let's go," Suijin nodded. He turned as if to depart immediately.
Kagutsuchi quickly stopped him. "Just the two of us? Isn't our strength a bit thin for this? Those two are notoriously tricky opponents. If they manage to escape, catching them again won't be so easy. Besides, this is the organization's first public operation. If we fail, it would be rather embarrassing for the Divine Court name."
Suijin turned back, offering a faint smile. "Relax. The main body made arrangements for this beforehand. We just need to get there as quickly as possible."
With that settled, the two clone bodies vanished into the trees, heading towards their objective.
Outside Konoha Village, within the forest.
Swish~
A lone figure moved rapidly through the dense trees. It was Tatsuya, having just returned to the vicinity of Konoha.
Half a month had passed since he successfully sealed the Dragon Vein; it had been over nine months since he originally left the village.
After departing the Land of Wind, Tatsuya had personally escorted Sara and the Roran remnants to Flowing Cloud Port, ensuring they safely boarded a ship before finally setting course back towards Konoha. He had chosen the Land of Demons as the resettlement location for the Roran people. With the Yomi Cult no longer causing chaos, the Land of Demons was poised to experience a rare period of peace, making it the most suitable place for Sara and her people to start anew. Tatsuya knew they would find a new beginning there. Sara had accepted his proposal immediately when he first suggested it.
Deep in the woods, Tatsuya abruptly halted his rapid movement.
Swish~
A figure flickered through the trees, landing silently before him – an ANBU.
"Lord Akimichi Tatsuya," the ANBU said respectfully, bowing low, "Lord Hokage requests your presence."
Tatsuya showed no surprise at the summons. "Let's go," he stated calmly.
In the next instant, both figures vanished from the forest.