Team Choza reached back to Konoha safely without any encounters from bounty hunters or Kumo shinobi.
When they finally passed through the village gates, an Anbu operative was already waiting for them. The masked shinobi informed them that they were required at the Hokage's office at once and led the way without further explanation.
As Team Choza entered the office Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shikaku Nara were present along with the two village elders Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.
The four adults had been deep in discussion yet they stopped speaking the moment the door opened and turned to face the returning team.
Hiruzen wore a smile while Shikaku's expression showed clear relief that the group had returned in one piece.
The Hokage spoke first in a warm voice. "Ah Team Choza it is good to see you back safe in Konoha."
Choza and his three students bowed respectfully and answered together. "Hokage sama. Respected elders."
Hiruzen gestured for them to stand at ease and continued. "We were just discussing your squad and the reports that have been arriving from the Kumo front."
He turned his attention more directly toward Choza. "We have been getting some very pleasant news from there. Your complete victory against the force that tried to take the supply route has helped push the Kumo army back in several places. Orochimaru and the three platoons under his command have already grouped with Jiraiya's main force and together they have mostly driven Kumo out of the Land of Fire."
The words carried real satisfaction. The tide of the war in that region had turned faster than many had expected.
Choza answered with a pleased yet honest smile. "It was mostly Shunsui and his clever use of abilities that managed to give us the victory. I would not take the credit for it."
He placed a large hand on his student's shoulder as he spoke so that there would be no misunderstanding about where the decisive contribution had come from.
Hiruzen and the two elders shifted their focus to the young chunin. The Hokage's eyes held both pride and a trace of amusement. "Ah yes his contribution is pretty evident by the bounty that has been issued by Kumo. Boy, even I did not have such a bounty on myself at your age."
"The only person I can think of who carried a bounty that large after the formation of the shinobi villages was the First Hokage. Everyone was so terrified of Lord Hashirama that they wanted constant attackers going after him in the hope that at least someone would manage to take him down for good."
Hiruzen continued the story with the easy manner of a man who had lived through those earlier years. "Of course no one ever succeeded but Lord First was very angry and bothered by the constant attempts. He had a three hundred million ryo bounty on his head after all so no one cared that he was called the God of Shinobi."
"Everyone still tried to claim the money especially the independent shinobi who were not yet part of any great village." The number was large enough to make even the elders nod at the memory of how disruptive that bounty had been.
Shunsui thought,'If I am not wrong, Kakazu was one of the people who tried to assassinate the first Hokage. Was he also blinded by greed too? Well that money would blind anyone. And that explains how he survived too. Hashirama was so used to assassins and attempts on his life that he got bored and let some of them alive after they realise the gap between them.'
Hiruzen then added a second example that brought a small smile to his face. "And the other person I know who had a bounty of one hundred million or hugher at a young age was my student Tsunade. Mostly because she was the First Hokage's granddaughter and everyone was scared she might develop Wood Release like him. Well that and the fact that some of the gambling houses all over the world joined hands to put a price on her head after she refused to pay her losses and her mounting debts."
Shunsui could not stop the thought that formed in his mind. 'Huh who would have thought that you could get such a high bounty just for unpaid gambling debt. And who let's a twelve year old gamble?'
Hiruzen brought the conversation back to the present and spoke directly to the boy again. "Anyways Shunsui you are getting recognised throughout the shinobi world right now. Your exceptional performance in the Chunin Exams, your participation in keeping Han, the Iwa jinchuriki at bay and now your efforts against Kumo have even given you a title."
The mention of a title caused Choza to slam a congratulatory hand against Shunsui's back hard enough to make the boy take a half step forward. "A title now that is pretty good Shunsui. Every shinobi worth the name yearns for a proper title of their own."
Shunsui recovered his balance and looked at the Hokage with open curiosity. "And what title did I get?"
He was not sure whether he wanted the answer yet he needed to hear it. Hiruzen's smile widened slightly as he delivered the words. "They are calling you Shunsui Kyōraku, the Demon of the Battlefield."
Shunsui felt an immediate and visible cringe pass across his face.
-------Author Notes--------
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