Yakushi Nonō had gathered this intelligence in great detail. After reading through it once, Sarutobi Toru had already sorted out all the threads.
Gently stroking Yakushi Nonō's smooth, fair back, Sarutobi Toru could not help but sigh. "You've worked really hard, Nonō."
Yakushi Nonō gave Sarutobi Toru an adoring look. "It's all right, my lord. Nonō is happy to work for you."
Sarutobi Toru smiled faintly. With such a capable and pleasingly beautiful woman around, his future work in Root would be much easier.
A few days later, Tsunade and the others, who had been reassigned, also returned to Konoha Village.
"After being busy for so long, we're finally back." Tsunade stretched lazily.
Beside Tsunade stood a graceful young girl with a head of red hair. Unfortunately, she was currently making the exact same motion as her teacher, stretching lazily as well.
"My, my, honestly, Konoha seems to have expanded again." Having finished stretching, Tsunade and the red-haired girl, Uzumaki Kushina, looked around Konoha's streets.
Behind them were dozens of ninja who had returned to Konoha with Tsunade. They could be considered Tsunade's trusted core team.
"Lady Tsunade, we should report to the Hokage's Office first." A somewhat lazy young man with a pineapple-shaped ponytail spoke from the front row behind Tsunade.
Nara Shikaku was the strategist Sarutobi Toru had recruited. Along with Akimichi Choza and Yamanaka Inoichi, he formed the Ino-Shika-Cho trio—the Deer responsible for restraining enemies and devising strategies.
He was also the specific executor of all the reforms in the Land of Whirlpools. Since the age of thirteen, he had been responsible for its reconstruction plans, making him the tool worker most heavily exploited by both Sarutobi Toru and Tsunade.
At first, Nara Shikaku naturally had not wanted to go to the Land of Whirlpools to work