Departure

"Open the gates!"

Seeing that everyone had assembled and that Neji Hyuga and Tenten had come over to guard the gate as well, Tsunade gave the order.

Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki immediately stepped forward and formed hand seals. After completing a complex sealing barrier technique, the gates of the Hidden Leaf Village swung open, revealing the fresh air outside.

"Lady Tsunade, you're the Hokage now. Should we prepare a palanquin for you?" Hikari suggested.

She's the Hokage, after all. If we get a palanquin and have the four of them carry it, I can hitch a ride too.

Hikari had it all planned out nicely, but unfortunately, Tsunade could hear his thoughts. Besides, they were heading to the Daimyo's Mansion in a hurry this time. There was no way she would let people carry her there at such a sluggish pace.

"Enough nonsense. Neji, Tenten, guard the gate properly until we return!" After saying that, Tsunade took the lead and headed out of the village.

The group hurried after her, while Hikari alone reached out and patted Tenten's little head.

"Be careful. If there's danger, just let Neji handle it. He's a boy—getting hurt or crippled isn't a big deal. But if a pretty girl like you gets hurt, I'd be heartbroken."

"Mm-hmm, Senior Hikari. I'll definitely protect myself properly." Tenten looked at Hikari with a face full of happiness.

She had not felt such concern in a long time.

Her parents at home did not know how to express themselves. Only Senior Hikari had always taken such good care of her ever since she began training under Might Guy last year, and Tenten was deeply moved by it.

Neji Hyuga silently rolled his eyes beside them.

He felt that he was still not strong enough. Once Hikari returned from the Daimyo's Mansion, he would definitely make him pay.

"Hikari, we're leaving!" Tsunade turned back, glared at Hikari, and snapped coldly.

Kotetsu Hagane also looked at him with a pleading expression.

Dear little brother, can we stir up a little less trouble? The person in front of us is our direct superior, Lady Tsunade. Aren't you scared at all?!

Hikari: Scared? Impossible. Someone got drunk, threw a drunken tantrum at me, and even took the cash from my wallet. Can someone like that really be a good Fifth Hokage?

Though he grumbled inwardly, Hikari still obediently ran over when he saw Tsunade's urging gaze.

With his hands behind his back, he launched into a ninja run.

Hokage Building.

Shizune arrived early. Looking at the huge stack of documents on the desk, she dutifully sat down and began working.

After a while, Kakashi Hatake arrived. Seeing Shizune at work, he had no intention of disturbing her. He gave her a glance, then sat down in Hikari's throne-like seat.

Comfortable.

Shizune was not blind. She had noticed Kakashi the moment he entered. In any case, Kakashi was the fighter Tsunade had assigned to her. He was a true-blue Hidden Leaf Village ninja and definitely not a spy.

Shizune was quite reassured on that point.

A little later, the laid-back middle-aged man Nara Shikahisa walked in.

"Shikahisa!"

"Kakashi!"

The two men exchanged brief pleasantries. Then Nara Shikahisa gave Shizune a report.

"Lady Tsunade has already left the village. Following Lady Tsunade's instructions, Shizune, you'll be responsible for approving the documents. Kakashi and I will be responsible for the village's defenses and public security. If anything comes up, you can use the Anbu to contact us."

"Kakashi, come with me."

Kakashi Hatake adjusted his forehead protector with one hand and looked at Shizune, who was diligently approving documents. Seeing that she had no objection, he followed Nara Shikahisa out.

The two arrived atop Hokage Rock and looked down over the village below.

"Kakashi, the Intelligence Department just reported that Root ninja have abnormal deployment records."

Hearing this, Kakashi narrowed his eyes, then smiled.

"Perhaps Lord Danzo has other arrangements. Root's people may be strong, but the people Lady Tsunade took with her are no pushovers either."

Might Guy's taijutsu was overwhelming, Kurenai Yuhi excelled in genjutsu, and with Tsunade included, the three of them could easily crush an ordinary team. As for the gatekeeper duo, Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki, they had passed Tsunade's selection and become Special Jonin. Working together, they could give even him a hard time.

That was on the premise that Kakashi did not use Kamui.

Aoba Yamashiro and Genma Shiranui were also used to working together. Unless another ninja village launched a large-scale assault, there was absolutely no way anything would happen to Tsunade. Besides those six in the open, two Anbu squads were secretly protecting them. Under such circumstances, it would be extremely difficult for Tsunade to run into trouble.

Kakashi was not worried about their safety at all.

Nara Shikahisa was a smart man. He never spoke without reason.

"A while ago, the Daimyo sent a letter of reprimand, saying that he wanted to reduce military subsidies. If that really happens, it will be a severe blow to Lady Tsunade."

Kakashi looked down at the village, which had already begun operating, at all those enthusiastic, smiling faces, and felt a trace of warmth in his heart.

"Don't worry, Shikahisa. I'll protect this village properly."

"Besides, since Lady Tsunade dared to go, that proves she has already made the necessary preparations."

"Compared to their side, our duty of guarding the home seems even more important. The Intelligence Department and the Anbu must coordinate closely. We absolutely cannot let spies from other villages figure out the true state of our village."

Nara Shikahisa nodded. "Don't worry. I've already handled those basic defensive measures." After saying that, Nara Shikahisa's expression became somewhat complicated, as though he had something else to say.

Kakashi Hatake noticed this but did not take the initiative to speak.

He knew that if Nara Shikahisa wanted to say it, he would eventually say it.

If he did not want to, forcing him would be useless.

After a long while, Nara Shikahisa finally spoke.

"Kakashi, Asuma requested leave. He said he was going to accept a trial from his summoning beast, Enma."

A flash of light passed through Kakashi's eyes before they returned to calm.

"Then let him go."

"Enma is a pretty good summoning beast. Compared with my Eight Ninja Dogs, he's far better."

Seeing Kakashi's nonchalant attitude, Nara Shikahisa could not help shaking his head.

"It's just the two of us here. Stop pretending."

"Enma is indeed formidable, but Asuma's timing is far too convenient."

"Although there were Sarutobi Clan ninja covering for him, I still discovered that Asuma left the village without authorization. Under these circumstances, what do you think he went out to do?"

If it were a ninja without an official post, it would be understandable for them not to follow the village's rules.

But Asuma was different. His students were the current Ino-Shika-Cho.

Now, with the Hidden Leaf Village in such troubled times, Asuma had left the village without a word. If not for the fact that his father was the Third Hokage, Nara Shikahisa would have wanted to send him off under the charge of being a Rogue Ninja.

Shikahisa knew Kakashi was clever. He also knew that he did not need to spell these things out for Kakashi to understand.

Kakashi's silence now could only mean that he had his own thoughts on the matter.

"Shikahisa, let's wait and see."

"If you don't want people to know, don't do it in the first place."

"Asuma's actions can be reported to Lady Tsunade once she returns. Do you really think that just by going out once, Asuma can gain the power to defeat Lady Tsunade?"