"Souma, don't we need to hurry back?"
"No need."
Yagyū Souma yawned lazily. "I've already sent all the intel back to Konoha. If, with complete information, they still can't defeat the enemy—then Konoha deserves to be destroyed."
TenTen and Kazusa stared at him, mouths hanging open, completely speechless.
Yamato thought for a moment, then asked, "Then… what are we doing now?"
"Let's treat it like a vacation."
Souma glanced around. "The environment here is nice. There's a river and a lake nearby. Captain Yamato—why don't we rest here tonight? We've been on the move nonstop."
Moonlight shimmered across the lake, rippling beautifully.
Yamato sighed softly.
But thinking it through—Souma had already delivered such detailed intelligence. If Konoha still lost under those conditions, then the higher-ups and jonin might as well commit mass seppuku.
With that thought, Yamato instantly felt much less anxious.
Still…
He turned his head and found all three of them staring at him.
Another silent sigh.
Yamato formed seals.
Wood Release: Four-Pillar House!
Wood surged from the ground, and in the blink of an eye, a beautifully structured two-story wooden house appeared.
TenTen went inside first.
Then—
She unsealed a storage scroll.
Furniture came flying out: pots, bowls, utensils—everything.
Judging by the setup, they looked less like an A-rank mission squad and more like a group on holiday.
"Kazusa, help me out! If we're camping, we're eating properly!"
TenTen was brimming with enthusiasm.
Yamato smiled helplessly, then turned toward Souma, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
This time…
It was more of a test, wasn't it?
Souma met his gaze. The two nodded silently and stepped outside.
Yamato lowered his voice.
"Souma… are you planning to leave Konoha?"
"You noticed?"
Souma smiled faintly. "Konoha is already very strong. And Naruto isn't in the village right now—nothing serious will happen in the short term."
"But what about ANBU—"
"ANBU has Senior Uzuki Yugao and Hayate."
Souma shook his head. "Besides, I'm just a training squad leader. How much difference do I really make there?"
He paused, then continued calmly,
"If I'm useful anywhere, it's the Research Division—but it can't rely on me forever. People need to think for themselves."
"…That's true."
Yamato couldn't refute it.
Konoha's Research Division had become far too dependent on Souma.
"Where do you plan to go?"
"I'll stay near the Daimyō's capital for a while. If I get the chance, I want to look into the other villages."
"Absolutely do not steal jutsu."
Yamato's expression changed instantly.
Stealing techniques on the battlefield was one thing—but doing it covertly could damage Souma's reputation and Konoha's standing.
Worse—it could start a war.
With Akatsuki watching from the shadows, provocation was reckless.
Souma shook his head.
"Of course not. Most of their jutsu, Kakashi-sensei already knows. Why would I bother stealing?"
"..."
Annoyingly logical.
Yamato twitched at the corner of his mouth.
"I just want to walk around, see more of the world, broaden my perspective."
Souma spoke honestly.
"And the Daimyō's side really does need my help."
More importantly—
Only by stepping away could he freely arrange the shinobi world.
Staying in Konoha restricted too many moves.
At this point, Konoha had hit a bottleneck. Progress was difficult, and population limits constrained his plans.
Compared to that…
Even the Daimyō's side offered more opportunity.
Yamato understood.
"This trip—when we return to Konoha, will you tell Lady Tsunade yourself, or should I pass the message?"
"I'll speak to her directly."
Souma wasn't impulsive.
Once he made a decision, it was after deep consideration—and once spoken, it wasn't up for debate.
So persuasion was pointless.
The only thing Yamato could offer was intelligence.
He shared various bits of ANBU information he'd gathered over the years.
Not especially useful—
But Souma listened patiently, smiling all the same.
Soon, voices called from inside, and the two ended their conversation.
A lavish meal was laid out on the table, steaming and fragrant.
"Let's eat!"
"I'm digging in!"
After the customary phrases, everyone ate heartily.
After a long day of travel, they were exhausted.
With real food available, no one even considered soldier pills.
Once finished, they leaned back contentedly.
Kazusa leaned against the wall, grinning.
"I wonder what Asuma-senpai and the others are doing."
"Probably guarding the Daimyō?"
TenTen guessed.
Given that the Daimyō had just been influenced by genjutsu, Asuma likely wanted round-the-clock protection—while also worrying about Konoha.
Truthfully, they were worried too.
"I wonder how Konoha's doing now…"
TenTen sighed.
"No need to worry."
Souma shrugged.
"At worst, it's just a question of capture versus execution. Otherwise, all my work with Jiraiya-sama would've been for nothing."
He was exceptionally calm.
Hema's strength…
His strange jutsu were impressive, sure—but his actual combat ability was mediocre, and his arrogance fatal.
He couldn't even beat Asuma before.
Now, with Kakashi stationed in Konoha?
Dead or captured—nothing else.
As for Sora…
Souma narrowed his eyes.
The amount of Nine-Tails chakra inside Sora was substantial.
If it wasn't extracted, he'd eventually become a miniature Nine-Tails—completely consumed.
A powerful weapon.
But cruel beyond measure to the boy himself.
Whatever.
Since he was heading back to the village anyway, he'd handle it then.
Souma stood up and began collecting the dishes.
"No, I'll—"
"Captain Yamato built the house. You cooked and prepped. Let me handle the dishes."
"Then we'll leave it to you."
Later, everyone took a short walk before turning in.
On the way back, TenTen quietly pulled Souma aside—asking the same question Yamato had.
Girls were perceptive.
Especially when it came to someone they cared about.
Souma answered the same way.
But her next question nearly made him stumble.
"You're not leaving because of that noble lady, are you?"
"…?"
Souma froze.
Sakuraiwa Sadataki?
"We're just business partners. Why would you think that?"
"Really?"
"Of course."
Then he added honestly,
"She does want me to teach her some ninjutsu—any kind, as long as she can protect herself."
TenTen's heart leapt with joy. She fiddled with her clothes shyly.
"Teaching someone would take time… wouldn't that slow you down?"
"…."
The female mind was terrifying.
Souma sighed internally.
After thinking for a moment, he said,
"I don't plan to teach her seriously. I'm considering whether there's a shortcut—something that lets her quickly gain ninja-like abilities."
TenTen's eyes widened.
"Souma… you're not thinking about researching something like Orochimaru's curse mark, are you?"
"I am."
Souma nodded.
"But not the same kind. I want to combine curse marks, tailed-beast chakra, and the Yin Seal—creating an activatable enhancement."
TenTen was stunned.
If that worked…
Wouldn't ninjas become mass-producible?
Even without talent, people could still wield ninja power.
But then reality set in.
Curse marks, Jinchūriki, and the Yin Seal were all extremely dangerous.
Balancing all three was absurdly difficult.
At best—
A conceptual ninjutsu.
Still…
Souma had a habit of creating miracles.
She hesitated.
"If you really succeed… could my parents also—? I'll trade chakra metal."
Chakra metal was rare.
But recently, her parents had gained access to Fire Country trade routes.
If they offered weapon-forging expertise—
Deals became possible.
Souma nearly laughed, but nodded instead.
"If it works, I'll try. But your parents are older—their bodies may not handle it."
He paused.
"We'll see."
"Mm! That's what I thought too!"
TenTen grinned.
Souma teased,
"So when I get back, there might be a brand-new chakra blade waiting for me?"
"Definitely not like White Fox."
She planned a defensive short blade to complement dual-wield combat.
They chatted all the way back.
The next morning, they prepared to depart.
Souma received a scroll delivered via Flying Thunder God.
Konoha was safe.
Five enemies—three captured. Two in ANBU custody, one in the Forest of Death.
Everyone exhaled in relief—and shuddered.
Hema really had been insane.
Creating a pseudo-Jinchūriki using Nine-Tails chakra…
If it hadn't been discovered in time—
They didn't dare finish the thought.
Thank goodness for Souma.
Without his memory extraction, Konoha might not have fallen—but the losses would've been horrific.
"Let's go."
Only three or four hours remained.
By noon, they reached the Forest of Death.
There—
Souma met Sora.
A boy raised in the Fire Temple, living in lies.
"You're Sora?"
"Who are you?! How do you know my name?!"
Sora looked toward them.
Four people—but the one speaking wasn't the jonin.
It was a young shinobi wearing a flak jacket—about his age.
"Yagyū Souma. I know a bit about you. Interested?"
"…What?"
"Do you know your background?"
Souma's voice was calm.
"Hema probably told you that you're the son of an old friend—and that your parents were killed by Asuma and Konoha. That's why you were told to destroy Konoha, right?"
"How do you know that?!"
Shock filled Sora's face.
Even Konoha didn't know everything—
Yet this person knew it all.
"Do you know who your father really is?"
"I…"
"You don't. Because Hema never told you."
Souma met his gaze.
"He is your father. He lied to you. Used you."
"…What?"
Sora froze.
His father…
Was Hema?
Impossible.
Then the Nine-Tails chakra—
"He sealed it into you himself."
Souma looked at Sora's arm.
"Do you want to be free of it? I can help you."
"I… I do!"
Sora answered instinctively.
He had dreamed of it.
Being treated like a monster every day—he was sick of it.
Then realization hit.
The one who sealed it into him…
Was his own father.
Pain twisted his heart.
But deep down—
He believed Souma.
"…This arc is finally complete. Next comes Souma's departure from Konoha."
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