"Anyone who could provide such top-secret intelligence must be a senior figure in one of the hidden villages, right? Hiruzen, how did you manage to plant an operative among them?" Utatane Koharu asked in surprise.
Mitokado Homura tried to calm him down. "Hiruzen, Danzo handles intelligence. It's only natural for him to be curious about such a high-level operative. Calm down."
Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a blank expression, unsure what to say.
Danzo's guess was reasonable. Anyone outside the inner circle would have trouble accessing such top-secret intelligence.
He would have thought the same thing.
But there was no high-level intelligence operative.
If he had to name someone, there was only Liu Yun...
"Can't you even tell us?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the two of them and sighed. "Koharu, Homura, the circumstances are unusual. I can't explain."
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura nodded.
"In that case, you should at least let us know before taking action in the future."
Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed offhandedly. Having something like this happen once was remarkable enough. He doubted there would be a next time.
Once they had set aside the matter of the mysterious intelligence operative for the moment.
Utatane Koharu cleared her throat. "According to Jonin Dan Katō's message, Lady Mito will be returning in the next couple of days. Let's settle the mission rank and rewards first."
"Agreed." Hiruzen Sarutobi did not hesitate. "It's an S-Rank Mission. As for the rewards, what do you think?"
Mitokado Homura spoke up. "The village will pay the standard fee for an S-rank mission. Since this mission was somewhat unusual, I suggest an additional reward. How about allowing every ninja who participated to apply to learn one A-rank ninjutsu?"
"Agreed," both replied.
"Have the Yamanaka Clan prepare. Once the captured Kumogakure ninja are brought back, they're to make every effort to extract intelligence. Koharu, you and Homura will oversee this together. Don't give Danzo a chance to get near them."
"Don't worry, Hiruzen."
Hiruzen Sarutobi thought for a moment, then added, "Also, don't forget that we'll all go to the village entrance to welcome Lady Mito."
At the entrance to Konoha.
Liu Yun stood outside the Konoha Gate, taking in the familiar sights.
Konoha was as prosperous and peaceful as ever, a stark contrast to Uzushio Village, which was still being rebuilt.
"Still thinking about that?"
Kushina looked a little worn out and nodded.
She wanted her family to come live in Konoha. She had tried to persuade them several times, but to no avail.
"Don't worry. With Grandma Mito there, Uzushio Village will be safe too."
Liu Yun rubbed Kushina's scrunched-up little face.
In his view, Kumogakure and Kirigakure, having suffered such heavy losses, probably would not attack Uzushio Village again before figuring out how their intelligence had leaked.
Especially with Mito Uzumaki still there.
Just then, a voice up ahead caught his attention.
He looked up.
"What? Lady Mito isn't coming back?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes went wide, and the smile froze on his face.
He had to swallow the congratulatory speech he had prepared.
Tsunade explained, "It's not that she isn't coming back. Grandma will return once she's sure Uzushio Village is safe."
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent.
He had never imagined that Mito Uzumaki would stay in Uzushio Village just to be on the safe side...
But things had already turned out this way. He could only accept it.
He could hardly run to Uzushio Village and urge Mito Uzumaki to hurry back, could he?
Pulling himself together, Hiruzen Sarutobi swept his gaze over the group.
Looking at the returning Konoha ninja, he managed a smile and gave a slight nod. "Thank you for your hard work, everyone!"
Everyone stood straight.
Liu Yun listened to the Hokage's speech with utter boredom. Only when he heard "S-rank mission" and "choose any A-rank ninjutsu" did his interest stir.
An S-rank mission on one's record needed no explanation. To any ninja, it was a mark of unquestionable strength.
High-level ninjutsu had always been an extremely valuable resource, especially for civilian ninja without a clan's accumulated resources.
A single A-rank ninjutsu could serve as a Jonin's trump card. This reward was fairly generous.
Sure enough, he could already see the eyes of several Anbu ninja lighting up.
After an indeterminate amount of time, quite a few Konoha villagers had gathered at the entrance to watch. Only then did Hiruzen Sarutobi bring his speech to a reluctant close.
His gaze settled on the seven or eight red-haired children in the group, their eyes timid.
"Tsunade, Liu Yun, come with me."
Tsunade waved a hand. "I'll take these children home first. If you have any questions, just ask Liu Yun."
With that, she gave Liu Yun a meaningful look and left ahead of them with Kushina and the children.
The Hokage's Office.
"Who were those children?"
Sitting opposite Hiruzen Sarutobi, Liu Yun explained, "Clan leader Akina wanted them to stay in Konoha, and Grandma Mito agreed. They'll be living at my teacher's house."
Tsunade's house was pretty big, anyway.
The sprawling Senju Clan Compound had plenty of rooms.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in understanding, a smile appearing on his face.
This was an unexpected bonus.
He could more or less guess what Akina Uzumaki had in mind, and he was happy to see it happen.
He would love nothing more than for even more members of the Uzumaki Clan to stay in Konoha.
"Oh, and one of them is a girl who awakened the Physical Energy Healing gift. Grandma Mito asked me to tell you to make sure she's protected."
Hiruzen Sarutobi paused, then delight filled his eyes.
Physical Energy Healing?
As Hokage, he naturally knew that this gift was exceedingly rare even within the Uzumaki Clan. It was said to be capable of saving anyone who still had a breath left in them.
And now a prodigy like that had actually come to Konoha?
He could not wait to ask, "Who is she? What's her name?"
"Ayaka Uzumaki."
He nodded firmly, committing the name to memory.
This gift was far too important. It was practically a ninja's second life.
In his mind, he had already placed her importance second only to Kushina's.
After digesting this news, Hiruzen Sarutobi continued, "The mission report submitted by Jonin Dan Katō says you killed Raiga Kurosuki, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?"
Liu Yun shook his head.
"My teacher had already wounded him."
Hiruzen Sarutobi quietly breathed a sigh of relief. That at least made sense... no, it still didn't.
The main problem was that Liu Yun's strength had shattered his expectations again and again.
He had gone from being utterly unremarkable in his records to using ninjutsu, then defeating Minato.
And the next time news reached him, the boy had actually killed one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?
That leap in strength was simply unbelievable.
It almost seemed too unreal.
Hiruzen Sarutobi suppressed his amazement. No matter what, Liu Yun was a prodigy.
And a prodigy whom Mito had personally vetted. There was no need to doubt his belief in the Will of Fire.
He was a promising young talent.
Orochimaru could become the Fourth Hokage, and Liu Yun might well become the Fifth...
The more Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at him, the more he liked him, and considerable hopes began to take shape in his heart.
"Your analysis of the intelligence was the greatest contribution to our timely rescue of Uzushio Village. But to protect you, that has to remain secret. You haven't graduated yet, either, so we can't promote you for your accomplishments..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. "How about this? Is there anything you want?"
Liu Yun's eyes lit up. They had finally reached the point.
Who cared about credit? Tangible benefits mattered far more.
Without the slightest hesitation, he said, "Lord Hokage, I'd like to take a look at the Scroll of Seals."
Before you continue