Thick fog rose in the woods, and the fallen leaves gleamed in the light.
Sen shook his hands and wiped them on the bark.
"First hideout, all done."
He smacked his lips, half a sour fruit stuffed in his mouth.
Last night, he had wiped out three hideouts in one go.
The Root Suicide Corps members hadn't even managed to send out a signal.
The gold bars were all packed in the burlap sack behind him.
"All right, now that it's light, time to head back and split the loot."
Sen hefted the heavy sack and turned into a green blur.
The leaves of the old pagoda tree behind the Hokage Building trembled slightly.
Sen stood on a branch, tilting his head to peer through the window.
The window was open, and he heard someone slam the desk.
Bang!
"Tsunade! You've gone too far!"
Mitokado Homura roared loud enough to be heard from far away.
"Root's headquarters was burst apart by Wood Release, and Danzo's fate is unknown!"
"And you're sitting here drinking tea as if nothing happened?"
Up in the tree, Sen propped his face on his hand and cheerfully watched the show.
Behind the desk, Tsunade lounged in her chair, picking her teeth.
Leftover peanuts sat on the desk, and Tonton snored away.
"Coming here to stir up trouble first thing in the morning? Looking for a beating?"
Tsunade flicked her fingernails impatiently.
"You! I'm discussing the village's safety!"
Beside him, Utatane Koharu chimed in with a dark expression.
"Root has been wiped out. Where is Sen Senju?"
Hearing his own name, Sen ducked his head in the tree.
"Sen? I sent him out on patrol last night."
Tsunade lifted her eyelids and casually spun a lie.
"On patrol at the exact time everything happened last night?"
Mitokado