For this joint Chūnin Exam with Cloud Village, Konoha dispatched twenty-seven people total. Both Uzuki Yūgao and Gekkō Hayate were personnel Tsunade added, requiring squad reorganization.
This actually posed no problem. Squads maintaining original members since graduation proved rare, especially given recent years' frequent inter-village conflicts.
Tsunade only added two people precisely because after adding them, nine squads could be formed. As for specific combinations, Shuji pondered. Coincidentally having familiar-looking individuals, he directly regrouped Umino Iruka, Gekkō Hayate, and Uzuki Yūgao into one team.
Conveniently, all three were similar ages, basically the same cohort. Getting along should not prove too difficult. Coordination also proved relatively easy.
After confirming basic grouping plans, remaining specific communication work could be left to Gekkō Hayate and Uzuki Yūgao to personally find Iruka explaining circumstances.
These matters naturally did not require his personal intervention.
Leading squads to Cloud Village also indirectly satisfied one of Shuji's needs. He precisely planned borrowing mission execution opportunities to seek tree species possessing research value or special characteristics along routes.
This trip was expected staying in Lightning Country and surroundings nearly two months. Ample schedules conveniently allowed him conducting inspections and sample collection work along the way.
When Shuji returned to the old estate organizing belongings, Itachi visited.
"Senpai."
Shuji temporarily set aside current matters.
"Regarding Uchiha Enblade's matter," Itachi explained his purpose. "Today, he again submitted applications to me, hoping temporarily transferring from the squad to independently investigate subsequent leads on Fuha and others' Sharingan disappearance incident."
"So much time has already passed. Investigation itself proves impossible."
Itachi nodded, indicating understanding. Even the Uchiha clan proud of Sharingan understood how difficult obtaining results from such long-unsolved cold cases proved. This belonged to basic logical judgment.
"Besides submitting applications, has he had relatively abnormal contact with anyone recently?" Shuji considered another possibility.
Itachi answered, "Due to previous inadequate guarding leading to companion remains' Sharingan disappearance, since being transferred into my squad, Uchiha Enblade's speaking at clan gatherings and various occasions greatly decreased."
"Daily contact and communication with clansmen also decreased considerably compared to before."
Mainly, Shuji's suspicion of him spread into Uchiha clan interiors. Even if most clansmen did not necessarily believe, just slight rumors proved no small blow to people like Enblade who viewed Uchiha clan honor as highest creed.
Whether insufficient capability causing dereliction or being suspected of ulterior motives sufficed making him lose original weight and speaking authority in some clansmen's hearts.
Therefore, planning to recover damaged reputation and status through external mission lead-seeking methods...
A village's decades-long financial accounts requiring one person independently completing verification while occasionally responding to Hokage office inquiries regarding certain funds.
Shimura Danzo actually did not know Tsunade possessed such tormenting methods. Not directly indicating house arrest, merely continuously using these seemingly reasonable yet extremely tedious paperwork to fill his time.
Relying on material confidentiality, logically keeping him constantly under ANBU surveillance.
This was a method even Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado could not fault. As a village senior advisor and participant or insider regarding many past decisions and fund flows, having him review these old accounts proved procedurally acceptable.
The only possibly criticized point, probably only not permitting him seeking assistants, appeared somewhat harsh yet could be deflected with "confidentiality needs."
If Danzo initially remained unclear what Tsunade wanted doing, afterward naturally he understood.
She began formally moving against Root.
After initial anger, Danzo felt not too anxious. After all, he had corresponding preparations long ago.
When he finally completed another batch of account verifications, submitting organized files, Danzo thought this meant Tsunade should also lack basis continuing using this reason restraining his movements.
Calculating thus, the second day he again welcomed several ANBU plus several large boxes they moved over.
"What is this again?" Danzo strove suppressing chest fury, voice low asking. "Fifth, does the old man still have other 'problems' requiring clarification?"
The lead ANBU captain responded calmly. "Lady Tsunade instructed these are village past twenty years' partial intelligence sources proving vague, incomplete records, or questionable conclusions—compiled case files."
"Given your familiarity with past intelligence affairs, specifically requesting you reorganize and review these materials. After clarifying contexts, form written reports submitting to the Hokage's office."
Naturally, because these intelligence all involved village secrets, ANBU delivering files again stood guard beside Danzo.
Shimura Danzo snapped his pen, expression ashen. First ledgers, then intelligence. After handling these, what remained?
Konoha's Chūnin Exam participating squads, including Shuji totaling twenty-eight people, quietly departed one early morning.
According to predetermined itineraries, participating squads' first day was camping within Fire Country territory. The second day, Shuji selected stopping at Yugakure.
The last visit to Yugakure was last year when departing seeking Tsunade, pulling her back to the village as Hokage.
Revisiting this year, Yugakure compared to last year appeared considerably more prosperous and lively.
Konoha and Cloud Village formally ceasing hostilities was already the second year. Starting last year when Cloud Village dispatched people participating in Chūnin Exams, both villages' border outposts and personnel had completely withdrawn within respective national boundaries.
Yugakure, located near both nations' transportation routes, counted as one of this peaceful road's greatest beneficiaries.
For this, Yugakure already actively transforming toward tourism and recuperation towns this year further accelerated steps, contracting and relocating all shinobi training and mission-related core facilities and areas entirely to the village's innermost core zone.
Outside majority areas, after planning and construction, opened as sightseeing and leisure zones for ordinary tourists and merchants.
Therefore, even when Konoha had one jōnin bringing over twenty genin entering Yugakure, this merely proved slightly eye-catching without receiving questioning.
Unlike participating in Chūnin Exams within their own village, participating in such cross-village joint exams was itself viewed as carrying official mission nature. Therefore, the village reimbursed partial travel expenses—this portion usually referred to genin basic lodging expenses.
As squad leader, Shuji naturally could be fully reimbursed.
Equal treatment also included Gekkō Hayate, Uzuki Yūgao, plus their attachment Umino Iruka.
When settling at the hot spring inn, Shuji felt somewhat grateful to Cloud Village.
Official business trips, beautiful environments, fully covered expenses... This was simply blissful mission execution experience!
Was this truly that harsh shinobi world where teenage youths either clashed blades on battlefields or worked overtime handling documents in offices?
After arranging everyone's lodging, Shuji planned experiencing the inn's famous open-air hot springs yet encountered Gekkō Hayate and Umino Iruka in the corridor also carrying wooden basins.
Thus all three proceeded together.
Shuji casually asked, "Speaking of which, Hayate, you seem possessing a bloodline limit?"
"Transparent Escape, right?"
Umino Iruka looked at Gekkō Hayate incredulously.
The dark-circled youth coughed. "Cough cough cough, Captain... cough, Yūgao, she can sense it."
"Please don't... people will die."
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild