The search around the Fire Temple yielded nothing. Not a single useful clue or trace could be found.
After the fruitless search continued for some time, Shuji was the first to stop. He was not a tracking specialist. Neither was Asuma. With no options left, continuing to waste energy on this was pointless.
"That is enough."
"Senior Asuma, please depart immediately and return to the village to report the matter of the Nine-Tails chakra."
Facing Shuji's arrangement, Asuma's face showed resistance. "I have already set aside my identity as a Konoha shinobi and left the village. For me to report..."
Shuji only stared at him. Asuma closed his mouth.
"You and Master Chiriku were at the Fire Temple scene. Master Chiriku has no direct connection with the village, and the Fire Temple's affairs also require his presence. He cannot leave."
"The reporting task naturally falls to you alone."
"Senior Asuma, if I remember correctly, you have not formally left the Konoha shinobi registry."
"Leaving the village only involved telling the Third. In the administration office records, you are in 'long-term leave' status."
"I already have far too many things to do, and my leave was just forcibly canceled."
"Show at least some sense of responsibility as a senior, Asuma."
Shuji's resentment ran deep. From setting out overnight to leave the daimyo's residence, to being intercepted, to rushing back for support, he had not slept a minute, fought battle after battle, and traveled every step of the way.
It was even harder than the mission to Sunagakure. At least back then he could take turns.
Facing his somber gaze and the blood-stained clothes he had not yet changed, Asuma, who had also gone all night without sleep and run nonstop while smoking through the night, was momentarily at a loss for words and could not come up with any rebuttal.
In the end, he only accepted it.
"I understand."
He turned. His figure carried a trace of haste as it quickly vanished in the direction of Konoha.
Shuji watched him leave, then set out to return to the Fire Capital.
At this moment, the Fire Capital had restored order on the surface. Though news of last night's turmoil had already spread, the daimyo's timely appearance, combined with Kitane leading the guard patrols frequently, effectively suppressed the panic's spread.
Though people's hearts still stirred, no major chaos appeared.
The daimyo held an emergency consultation meeting with his senior retainers and loyal ministers. After initially stabilizing the core, he met with Shuji again.
"Jōnin Shuji, is there any further trouble at the Fire Temple?" The daimyo invited Shuji to sit and asked about the Fire Temple.
"The disturbance has been quelled. Please be at ease," Shuji said. The Nine-Tails chakra matter was too involved. With Sora's whereabouts currently unknown, telling the daimyo served no purpose and might only cause unnecessary worry.
The daimyo did not intend to investigate deeply. If Shuji said there was, there was. If not, then not.
"This turmoil has let me see many things clearly."
"Regarding the Guardian Shinobi, I believe the daimyo's residence does not need so many. Excessive scale and uneven quality will instead breed disaster."
"The Fire Temple has suffered upheaval. Master Chiriku should prioritize rebuilding the temple and comforting the monks. The burden of protection should not trouble him further. I will send someone to convey my regards later and ask him to focus on temple affairs."
"Only Asuma..." The daimyo showed difficulty. "Previously, because of some friction between him and the Third, I temporarily kept him at the daimyo's residence. Now..."
Shuji said, "I have already asked Senior Asuma to return to the village to report what happened here."
The daimyo immediately smiled. "That could not be better. I trouble Jōnin Shuji to convey my thanks to Asuma in the future and thank him for his hard work during this time."
Then he invited warmly, "There is nothing pressing now. Jōnin Shuji must be tired as well. Why not join me for a simple meal and rest briefly?"
The banquet was not extravagant, but the food was quite good. During the meal, the daimyo did not discuss any topics further. He only chatted about some personal and idle matters.
After filling his stomach, the daimyo arranged a quiet room. Outside the village, sleep was always light, but after resting for a while, Shuji's spirits recovered considerably.
At dusk, the squad Konoha dispatched arrived on time. From the jōnin leading the group, Shuji learned Asuma had been kept in the village and had not returned with this team.
Before leaving, the daimyo handed Shuji a sealed letter as a reply to the scroll Shuji had brought last time.
By the time he reached the village, it was deep night again, but he could not go straight home to sleep. He still had to make a trip to the Hokage Tower.
When he stepped into the office, a wave of fatigue swept over him. Shuji felt he absolutely had to enter retirement procedures before thirty. This damned overtime, counting his past life, had been going on since he was eleven. Four years already.
Being a shinobi was high risk and high pay. By thirty, he would definitely have saved enough money. Things should be resolved by then too.
"Lord Hokage, Lady Tsunade."
The office held not only the Third Hokage. Tsunade also sat to the side, frowning slightly as she reviewed documents.
"Shuji, it is good you are back. You have worked hard again this time," the Third said, setting down his pipe. "Asuma already gave a preliminary report. We still need you to explain the details."
Shuji nodded and gave a clear, concise account of the mission's course, what he saw and heard, and the subsequent handling.
The Third listened quietly. He was not surprised the daimyo had chosen to keep only two Guardian Shinobi in the end.
Konoha's shinobi might not care much about the daimyo's personal trivial matters, but they would never pose a real threat to his position or life.
Regarding the Nine-Tails chakra, Shuji only repeated the information he had heard from Asuma and Chiriku without adding personal speculation.
The Third Hokage sighed. "Kazuma was a well-known shinobi in the Land of Fire. Though he never joined Konoha, he showed great friendliness toward the village in the past. That is why he was allowed to enter and exchange ideas. I never imagined it would end like this."
At that moment, Tsunade set down her pen hard and stretched with force. Her bones gave a faint crack.
"All right, old man, hearing up to here is enough for business." She stood. "You know what you need to know. The rest of the trivial details can wait until tomorrow."
With that, she walked straight to Shuji's side, grabbed his collar from behind, and dragged him toward the office door without a word.
"Let's go, brat. Why are you still standing there? Waiting for the old man to give you overtime pay?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen opened his mouth as if to say something, but seeing the mountain of documents still left on his desk, he finally just shook his head helplessly and silently picked up his pipe, refilling it with tobacco.
What could this old man do when the young slipped off? Keep working.
Shuji was getting used to it. Even with the strong friction from his heels, his face showed no change. "Lady Tsunade, can you reimburse me for shinobi sandals?"
"Hmm?" Tsunade pretended to be surprised and let go. "I thought I was holding something."
"Come on. Drink with me."
"Your memory seems to be getting worse too. Is it more..."
She folded her arms and leaned closer with a half-smile. "Is it what?"
"Is it too much overtime? Please take care of your health."
In the end, Tsunade took Shuji to an ordinary small shop. She ordered grilled chicken skewers and sake with ease. Shuji ordered stir-fried cabbage with pork, plus stewed radish and rice.
The village's food actually was not better than outside, but after being a shinobi for a while, especially with some fame, he increasingly felt that at least inside the village he could use his chopsticks without worry.
Outside, he always had to be a bit more careful.
She bit down on the fragrant chicken, then downed half a cup of clear sake. Tsunade let out a long, satisfied breath.
"Ahh, I feel alive again. Every day it is endless documents to read, endless applications to approve. I really miss the carefree days." She swirled her cup and sighed.
Shuji quietly ate his rice. The warm, homestyle taste suited this moment perfectly. Simple, honest food was the most relaxing.
Even more comfortable than eating at the daimyo's residence.
Fatigue decreasing...
"Where is Miss Shizune?" he asked offhand.
"Working overtime tonight. I let her go home first." Tsunade propped her cheek with one hand and toyed with the cup in the other. "One less person to drink with. It is a bit dull."
"Please do not entertain thoughts of corrupting children. Thank you."
"Stop nagging. Eat your food."
"According to relevant regulations, adult inducers are usually considered primarily responsible, Lady Tsunade."
"Shut up. Try arresting me."
After a few cups, Tsunade's cheeks flushed slightly. She talked more. "The old man kept saying you were capable. This time I finally got to see it firsthand."
"Asuma at that age throws tantrums even the old man cannot handle. I never expected him to obediently return to the village and report so quickly."
"He has already put his forehead protector back on."
"The old man has him rotating at a border outpost for a while. He says it will let him calm down. Whatever thoughts he has, he can talk about them after the mission ends and he comes back."
He silently ate his stewed radish and did not respond.
Watching the boy who had suddenly gone quiet before her, the blonde Senju princess suddenly spoke, tone rarely gentle. "You worked hard this time."
Shuji looked up at her. "Are you ill?"
Tsunade's fingers tightened. She crushed the sake cup in her hand. Her face darkened instantly. "I think you are about to die."
She must have drunk a bit too much to actually show concern for this creature.
The shop employee heard the noise and said carefully, "Um, Lady Tsunade..."
"He is paying," Tsunade said irritably, pointing at Shuji.
"Now for business. After this mission ends, you can rest a few days." After collecting herself, Tsunade said, "Then arrange a time. I need to meet Uchiha Fugaku."
"For the location, the old estate in the western outskirts will do."
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild