Ninja War Tactical Level Investigation (I)

Previously, when Kushina and Hagoromo stole the ninjutsu from the Sealing Scroll, the Hokage had naturally "asked" him exactly how much he had seen and learned. But Hagoromo had craftily left no written record, merely committing part of the ninjutsu to memory. Otherwise, no matter what punishment Kushina received, he certainly would not have gotten off with mere confinement.

So, with no evidence, Hagoromo's answer to the Hokage's questioning was that he had remembered nothing and learned nothing.

The Hokage naturally could not fully believe him, but neither could he deploy the Interrogation Unit over this matter. In truth, he did not think Hagoromo could have genuinely learned much ninjutsu. If he had picked up one or two techniques, then it could be considered a little benefit for Kushina's disciple.

The Hokage's guess had been quite accurate. The Sealing Scroll recorded difficult forbidden techniques, and even someone like Hagoromo could not learn many of them in a mere ten-odd minutes. However, the Hokage had not anticipated Hagoromo's extraordinary memory. Even if he did not understand certain ninjutsu for the moment, he could still memorize every word without error.

While he had been confined in Konoha, he had not dared reveal those techniques. He could only review them over and over in his mind each day. But after leaving Konoha, he began recording those ninjutsu onto a scroll.

No one could possibly be watching him here anymore. He recorded them to keep himself from forgetting the techniques over time—forgetting an entire ninjutsu would be fine, but if enough time passed and Hagoromo misremembered certain parts, then practiced the technique normally... If something went wrong during training, who would take responsibility?

Of course, he was still highly cautious. The scroll bore a Sealing Technique formula that recognized only his own chakra. If anyone else tried to force it open, it would be destroyed.

And of course, the strength of this Sealing Technique was relative. Against an expert like Kushina, Hagoromo's little trick probably would not work at all.

But Kushina's sealing skills were among the finest in the ninja world. If this scroll fell into the hands of a sealing ninja at her level, Hagoromo would simply have to accept his loss.

Because of his chakra nature, some of these ninjutsu were temporarily beyond his ability to practice. And because of the amount of chakra he possessed, there were also certain techniques he could not yet use.

That was not to say he lacked enough chakra to cast even one ninjutsu. Rather, once he cast one, his mana would be empty. It was like Megumin's Explosion Magic—one shot per day. What use was that?

Yesterday, this squad had come under attack, and Hagoromo had undergone his first real battle. The result had been largely satisfactory, but the team had already grown tense. Until they reached Konoha's command headquarters, they needed to remain on high alert.

"Stop!"

The Anbu Captain at the front suddenly raised a hand, signaling the team to halt. The entire squad stopped at once, and the Anbu ninja instinctively took up guard and defensive positions.

A Konoha ninja appeared in a large tree off to the front side of the team.

It seemed they had entered the Konoha command headquarters' security perimeter.

The Anbu ninja did not speak with the other party. They had their own methods of identifying allies, and he directly threw a scroll toward the Konoha ninja who had appeared.

That ninja caught it without hesitation, swiftly opened the scroll, and carefully examined its contents. After thoroughly observing Hagoromo's group as well, he finally signaled for them to continue forward.

This was the Mission Scroll for their current mission.

The ninja led the way in front, while Hagoromo's team followed behind. Beyond that, Hagoromo could sense quite a few Konoha ninja accompanying them from the forests on either side.

It seems Konoha really is desperately short on frontline Medical Ninja against the Sand Ninja... After seeing how much importance the Konoha ninja placed on this newly arrived group of Medical Ninja, Hagoromo silently thought.

After advancing another thirty kilometers or so, the accompanying ninja gradually dispersed. They still had to return to their own security zones to carry out their duties.

The ninja guiding them then brought Hagoromo's group to the command headquarters' Field Hospital.

Though it was called a Field Hospital, it was really just several larger tents. From time to time, injured people could be seen moving about inside.

Hagoromo's group stopped at the entrance to the hospital, while Kushina led the Medical Ninja inside.

About twenty minutes later, Kushina emerged again. She waved the Mission Scroll in her hand at Hagoromo and the others, then said, "The A-rank escort mission is complete. Perfectly executed."

It truly had been perfect. Both the escort team and the Medical Ninja had reached their destination without a scratch—apart from the injured Kamishiro Hagoromo.

Such a minor injury was entirely within acceptable limits.

"Lady Kushina, now that the mission has been completed, we should return to Konoha as soon as we have rested briefly. Given your status, you should not remain on the front lines for too long."

Kushina's excitement was immediately interrupted by an Anbu ninja who had no idea what atmosphere was.

"What's the rush? Since we've come all this way, of course we should meet Tsunade-sama first." Kushina replied bluntly. Naturally, she did not give the Anbu ninja who had poured cold water over her any kind looks.

"But..." The Anbu ninja had his own difficulties. If the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki suffered even the slightest injury, the sins of ninja like them could not be redeemed even by dying ten thousand times.

"In any case, we'll meet Tsunade-sama first."

Naturally, Kushina would not accommodate the Anbu ninja. She had finally managed to leave the village, so there was no way she would return so soon. At the very least, she was far freer here than in Konoha, without having to listen to the Third Hokage nagging her all the time.

She had been allowed to come to the front lines partly because Konoha truly lacked manpower. But the main reason was that the Hokage had been worn down by her endless pestering, treating it as a chance for Kushina to relax and a chance for his own brain to take a vacation...

However, while Kushina had been permitted to leave Konoha, the condition was that she had to return immediately once the mission was complete.

Kushina naturally understood that if she returned to Konoha right away this time, it meant she would lose her excuse to bother the Third Hokage again for quite some time. It also meant that she would have to obediently remain in Konoha for a long while, which was not what she wanted.

That long while might be one year, or perhaps three or five—unless the time truly came to throw the tailed beasts into the war, she would never again be able to reach the front lines. None of that was something Kushina wanted to see.

Therefore, ignoring the Anbu's reactions, Kushina took Hagoromo and headed toward Tsunade's tent. She had already asked around and learned its location while they were at the Field Hospital.

The Anbu had no choice but to silently follow behind Kushina... When Kushina became unreasonable, she was infamous even in Konoha. They had no way to stop her.

Unless they used force. But they could not do that.