Back in Konoha Village, Team 7's mission had come to an end.
Kakashi Hatake and Sakura Haruno were admitted to Konoha Hospital, and the team was temporarily suspended from taking on new assignments. When they weren't visiting Kakashi, Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki spent their days at the training grounds.
As for the mission report, Jiraiya had offered to deliver it to the Third Hokage on their behalf. However, after Jiraiya went to the Hokage's office, Naruto never saw him again.
Kakashi was staying in Room 207 of Konoha Hospital, a room with the best ventilation and sunlight. As his students, Sasuke and Naruto would occasionally come to keep him company.
Late one night, the wind grew chilly.
Kakashi lay in his hospital bed, watching the curtains flutter in the breeze from the wide-open window. He muttered with a helpless expression, "Those two… all they think about is ventilation. Don't they know an open window will make the patient catch a cold?"
"They are still young, after all."
An old voice echoed in the room. Hiruzen Sarutobi, wearing his Hokage hat and robes, walked in. He reached out to close the window and said in a low voice, "After this mission, the little ones seem to have grown up a lot."
"Lord Third..." Kakashi watched him, replying softly, "After experiencing a few life-and-death battles, if they were still the same as they were in the academy, I'd be failing as their jonin instructor."
"You did very well," Hiruzen said. He habitually reached for his pipe, but then, noticing his surroundings, he carefully put it away. "It seems assigning you to Team 7 was the right decision."
"Lord Hokage, do you have orders for me?" Kakashi struggled to sit up.
Given Hiruzen's status, a visit in the middle of the night was surely not just to check in or offer praise. It had to be about an order, most likely related to the ambush they'd faced.
However, Hiruzen didn't bring up what Kakashi expected. Instead, he spoke with a kind expression. "The joint Chunin Exams are about to begin. Do you plan to have the three members of Team 7 participate?"
"If Naruto and the others don't participate, it would be unfair to them," Kakashi said softly. "For now, at least, we don't need to worry about their performance in combat."
"Good, that's fine." The Third Hokage turned, hesitating for a moment before nodding. "This Chunin Exam is especially important. Many daimyo, feudal lords, and village leaders will be watching the finals. In times of peace, it's our form of an arms race, and it affects the village's future mission volume.
"During this time, no one can be allowed to disrupt the stability of the village. We can't afford any major incidents. Everything must wait until after the exams are over. Regarding the attack on your team, that information absolutely cannot be leaked. It would cause a panic among the villagers. As for Danzo, I will restrain him in the future."
"..."
Kakashi pushed himself up, his head lowered. "Just… restrain him," he sighed.
If any other ninja had done what Danzo did, he thought, they would have been declared a rogue and hunted down, or just executed, right?
"Danzo's situation is more complicated..." Hiruzen's face showed a hint of conflict. He had only wanted Danzo to use Sasuke to lure out Itachi, but the man couldn't even handle a simple task like that… and he dared to act on his own.
Hiruzen's true goal had always been to get Shisui's Kotoamatsukami from Itachi, using Sasuke as the key.
Now, after Danzo returned, no matter how he argued, he'd be facing ten years of confinement. Hiruzen wondered if the old man would even live that long.
"I understand," Kakashi said, pulling at his blanket. "Lord Hokage, what if we hadn't made it back to Konoha? If it had been any other team, they never would have survived an ambush from Lord Danzo's men, would they?"
"..."
Hiruzen had no answer.
Kakashi looked up at the hospital ceiling and sighed. "I'll make sure Naruto and the others keep their mouths shut about this."
-----
Naruto and Sasuke were unaware of what was happening at the hospital. After practicing ninjutsu all afternoon, the two of them, who should have gone their separate ways, instead met up at a warehouse on the outskirts of the village. They both knew their enemy was from within Konoha, so they had decided to act together.
Naruto looked at the wildcats prowling outside the warehouse and frowned. "This... is where the Uchiha clan bought its ninja tools?"
"That's right. Granny Cat's ninja tool shop," Sasuke nodded, watching the cats. "Granny Cat has a close relationship with our clan. I remember my father mentioning that some of our clan's developed ninjutsu scrolls were stored here."
He continued, "I want to see if she has any of Brother Shisui's training notes. Back then, his Body Flicker Technique was the fastest. That's why he was called 'Shisui of the Body Flicker.' I will inherit his will and kill Itachi Uchiha!"
As he spoke the last part, Sasuke's voice filled with killing intent. Ever since returning from the Land of Hot Water, his path had become clear: he would learn Lightning Release and the Hatake sword style from Kakashi, while also seeking out his family's inherited ninjutsu, taijutsu, and dōjutsu.
Shisui's Body Flicker Technique was perfect for him to practice now and would be a great help in improving his strength.
Sasuke glanced at Naruto. He gritted his teeth, secretly vowing to never again be helpless while his teammate was injured. And he refused to fall behind him in strength.
After they entered the warehouse, a group of small cats gathered around them, completely unafraid. They blocked Sasuke's path. Sasuke set down a few cans of food as payment. The small cats licked their paws and obediently made way for him.
"I used to come here to play when I was a kid," Sasuke explained casually. "Granny Cat rarely lets them outside, so I was the only one who could bring them treats..." He patted a calico cat at his feet. "Take us to see Granny Cat. I have something to ask her."
"Meow~"
The calico cat meowed and led them deeper into the warehouse. There, an old woman sat smoking a pipe while counting a stack of money. Hearing their footsteps, she looked up. "Sasuke, what a coincidence. Are you here to buy ninja tools, too?"
"Hmm?"
"Itachi came by yesterday and bought a batch of shuriken," the old woman said, taking a puff from her pipe. She sighed lightly. "Well, I'm relieved to see that child is still alive."
Because of a contract signed between the Uchiha clan and the ninja cats generations ago, even though Itachi had slaughtered his clan and betrayed Konoha, he could still purchase ninja tools here according to their agreement.
"Itachi Uchiha!"
At the mention of that name, Sasuke's eyes flashed red. He clenched his fists. "Granny Cat, do you know where he went?"
The old woman was well aware of the hatred between the brothers, but she just shook her head. "It's been almost a day. He should have left Konoha long ago, right?"