After leaving the Land of Water, Ling wasted no time. He pushed his speed to the limit, using Pure Water Release's affinity for moisture and Senjutsu's perception of nature to follow the shortest route, slipping silently across the border and returning to the Land of Fire. Several days later, Konoha's familiar outline came into view.
Rather than returning to the Hatake Residence, he headed straight to the Hokage Building. The Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, had evidently learned of his return through some channel. She had dismissed her attendants in advance and was waiting alone in her office.
"It looks like your trip to the Land of Water yielded quite a lot." Tsunade looked at Ling, travel-worn but still sharp-eyed, and slid a cup of freshly brewed tea toward him. "Tell me the details."
Ling accepted the cup without drinking and gave a concise account of everything that had happened. He covered his infiltration of Kirigakure and subsequent discovery, the discovery and destruction of the Seabed Base, his exploration of the waters around the Ghost Ship, his battles with Kisame and the controlled Kisame, Uchiha Itachi's sudden appearance and rescue of Kisame, and finally Mei Terumi's willingness to cooperate and his conjecture concerning the "ancient evil." His account was clear and objective, emphasizing the threat posed by the "Sacred Lord" organization, the connection between its technology and ancient taboos, and Kirigakure's current stance.
For the moment, he withheld the specifics of the intelligence Uchiha Itachi had passed on-the Netherworld Marsh, the Box of Ultimate Bliss, Danzo's remnants, Naruto, and the rest. He intended to discuss them in a smaller circle with Tsunade and trusted people such as Kakashi.
Even with the most crucial secret message omitted, the intelligence Ling brought back was enough to make Tsunade's expression shift several times. The news