"We got a reply!"
Nawaki's voice broke the silence in the cave. He was the first to notice the little snake that had silently slithered in from the rain and coiled at Orochimaru's feet.
"Really? Really?" Kushina hurried over, her face tense with anticipation.
Hiroki, who had been reviewing the code for his new jutsu in his mindscape, looked up and joined them.
The little snake opened its mouth and spat out a small scroll.
Orochimaru picked it up. His pale fingers unrolled it at an unhurried pace, and his golden, slit-pupiled eyes quickly scanned the contents. It was a personal letter from the Third.
"It's a reply from my teacher." Orochimaru nodded, confirming Nawaki's guess.
He carefully read the contents of the scroll before rolling it back up with unruffled composure. Then he looked calmly at the three children gathered around him. "The mission is canceled. Lord Danzo will come to the border himself to escort us back. We're returning to the village at once."
"We're really going back to the village?" Nawaki clenched his fists. His expression first showed surprise, then gave way to a mix of frustration and humiliation.
What? They'd only just reached the border! They'd barely done anything! Going back with their tails between their legs like this didn't seem like something a ninja should do.
But Nawaki knew that a ninja had to obey orders from above.
So he could only pout and unconsciously touch the Blue Crystal Necklace on his chest.
The necklace's smooth, warm feel did nothing to settle the turmoil inside him.
He still felt he'd let down his sister's expectations and failed the necklace his grandfather had given him. He was going to become Hokage, after all. He shouldn't have backed down in the face of danger.
Kushina didn't say