Cloud corpses turn to ash… Root vanishes into shadow… and Adrian Voss is called to the top of Konoha's power.
Adrian Voss, Shizune, and Yuanhai led the way.
Before long, the group arrived at the site where Adrian's main body had fought the Cloud ninja.
Destroying evidence after battle was, as it turned out, a very good habit.
The forest had been burned to gray ruin. Even Root's scouts—specialists in tracking and reconstruction—couldn't piece together what had happened. All that remained were nine charred husks scattered among the ash.
"Where are they?" Danzō's single eye fixed on Adrian.
"I don't know," Adrian's shadow clone answered without hesitation.
As long as the main body and Tsume weren't here, Shizune and Yuanhai were safe.
The clone's reply was almost shamelessly straightforward.
Danzō looked like he wanted to strangle him.
But killing a clone was pointless.
A Root operative knelt before Danzō after examining the remains.
"Report, Danzō-sama. All nine corpses are Kumogakure shinobi. The bodies are too badly damaged. Cause of death is unclear."
Danzō's expression stayed cold.
"Move. Yusui Town."
If he couldn't extract useful details here, he wouldn't waste time.
Based on what Adrian's clone had said, Kumo's advance force had already reached the Land of Fire border. Since silencing Adrian quietly wasn't an option, Danzō shifted priorities.
He snapped the order—and in a blur—
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Danzō and all Root operatives vanished with Body Flicker, heading straight for Yusui Town.
The Kumo squad left behind in town was about to have a very bad day.
The instant their presence was gone, Shizune and Yuanhai finally released their breath.
Their bodies had been tense the entire time. It felt like their muscles had been locked into place.
Adrian's clone looked at them.
"I told you," it said, voice flat. "Until the mission is complete and safety is confirmed, you don't relax."
Shizune and Yuanhai jolted like they thought Root was still nearby.
The clone sighed. "They're gone. I'm just reminding you."
Both of them shot him a resentful glare.
Then Yuanhai swallowed and asked, "Boss… if the enemies are dead, where are you and Tsume-sensei?"
"I don't know," the clone replied. "But we'll leave this area first. We'll talk once we're sure it's safe."
…
Not far away, Adrian's main body was still recovering from the… complications of treating Tsume.
While Adrian stood trying to force his breathing back to normal, Tsume emerged from behind the rock, limping slightly.
Adrian immediately stepped forward.
"Tsume-sensei—call out when you're done changing. Your injury isn't something you can just ignore."
"I'm fine," Tsume said, smiling as if she hadn't nearly bled out an hour ago.
Then, after a beat, she looked at Adrian with genuine seriousness.
"Thank you."
Adrian's face instantly soured.
"Sensei. I'm your student." His voice turned sharp with displeasure. "You're making it sound like I'm some outsider. Don't say it like that."
Tsume blinked, then laughed and waved it off quickly. "Alright, alright—my mistake."
But the truth was, Tsume couldn't look at him like an ordinary student anymore.
Not after watching him cut down a jōnin.
Not after six genin died like they were paper.
Not after everything that had happened—
Including the awkwardness she was trying very hard not to think about.
She'd apologized, and Adrian still frowned. Tsume's patience snapped.
"I already apologized. What more do you want?"
Adrian lifted a hand, quickly explaining, "I'm not mad at you. My clone just sent back something… complicated."
He told her what had happened with Danzō.
The moment Tsume heard the name and understood the implications, whatever lingering embarrassment remained was erased.
This wasn't about awkwardness.
This was about Konoha's darkness… and her students' lives.
Fortunately, it ended without bloodshed.
Using the clone's memories as a guide, Adrian and Tsume soon found Shizune and Yuanhai.
Tsume was injured, and Adrian wanted her to recover properly.
So they changed plans.
They detoured to a nearby town, hired a wagon, and took the slower—but safer—route home.
A week later, the massive gates of Konoha finally came into view again.
Everyone exhaled at once.
"We're back…" Adrian murmured, surprised by how much relief he felt.
He'd never imagined he'd miss Konoha this much.
Beside him, Shizune, Yuanhai, Tsume, and Blackmaru all wore visible smiles. After a week of slow travel and rest, Tsume's injury had recovered.
And thanks to Adrian's precise treatment…
Not even a scar remained.
…
Konoha. Hokage Tower.
Tsume sent the three children home first, then went alone to submit the mission report.
Normally, a simple C-rank escort would be filed at the mission hall without ever reaching the Hokage's desk.
But this time involved far too many "extras."
Kumo shinobi.
A nine-man squad.
And Danzō.
This couldn't be buried.
"Hokage-sama," Tsume said, kneeling to present the scroll. "This is the mission report."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked mildly puzzled at first.
He knew they'd left the village.
But it was just a C-rank escort.
Why—
Then he opened the scroll.
And his expression changed.
By the time he reached the parts about the Cloud squad and Danzō's appearance, his face had become grave.
When he finished, he looked up sharply.
"You're saying the child from Tsunade's residence—Adrian Voss—used two A-rank techniques, severely injured two chūnin, and eliminated a jōnin along with six genin… alone?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Tsume answered without hesitation.
It was a lie.
Or rather—an edited truth.
Adrian didn't want to reveal the Flower-Flower Fruit's ability. So he and Tsume had agreed on a cover story:
Raikiri and Rasengan.
A pair of A-rank techniques as a "shield" for what he truly did.
Tsume had seen what really happened—six genin killed instantly, two chūnin rendered helpless, and the jōnin erased in a single strike under the Immovable Wisdom King.
Even without fully understanding Adrian's "Flower Release," she could tell the moment it became public, it would bring him danger.
Unwanted attention.
Unwanted missions.
Unwanted knives in the dark.
So she helped him bury it—for now.
Hiruzen didn't dwell long on the Cloud aggression. Tensions on the border were already escalating.
But Danzō…
That was different.
They hadn't written accusations outright. They didn't need to.
Hiruzen could read between the lines.
And he understood: in a twisted way, Adrian's team had been "hit" by fallout from Danzō's actions.
After questioning Tsume in more detail, Hiruzen finally let out a quiet chuckle—heavy with exhaustion.
"Go. Rest for two days," he said. "You've done well. And you've suffered enough."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Tsume left.
Alone in the office, Hiruzen lit his pipe and stared into the smoke.
A nine-year-old who could defeat a jōnin-led squad.
A child who had "created" two A-rank jutsu.
Even if Tsunade's guidance was involved…
That still surpassed the famous genius Hatake Kakashi—who graduated at five and became chūnin at six.
Talent aside, what unsettled Hiruzen most was Adrian's temperament.
So low-key.
So controlled.
School performance only average—almost deliberately.
That wasn't incompetence.
That was concealment.
A calm far beyond his age.
Yet one thing stood out, oddly.
Adrian's "Will of Fire" grades were barely passing.
If he hadn't been brought back by Tsunade herself, Hiruzen might've suspected him of being an infiltrator.
Such talent.
Such composure.
Such strength.
He exhaled a long stream of smoke, then drew in another breath and made his decision.
"Go," Hiruzen said into the empty air. "Bring Adrian Voss to me."
A hidden ANBU voice answered from somewhere unseen.
"Yes."
…
Hot Springs District, Tsunade's residence.
Adrian had just stepped through the door and slipped off his shoes.
He hadn't even had time to drink water.
Whoosh!
A masked ANBU appeared abruptly in the courtyard.
Adrian, standing near the window, saw him instantly.
Before the ANBU could speak, Adrian called upstairs, voice calm.
"Shizune, I'm going out for a bit. I'll be back soon."
Shizune's voice drifted down from above. "Eh? Adrian, you're heading out?"
"Yeah."
He answered her, then looked at the ANBU.
"Let's go."
The ANBU studied him for a long moment—then turned and leapt away toward the Hokage Tower.
Adrian followed, still wearing slippers, hopping up after him.
He muttered under his breath as he jumped rooftops like it was a casual stroll.
"Seriously… can shinobi not follow even the most basic courtesy? People live under these roofs."
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