With a sigh of relief, Tenzo turned to find Sasuke, who had been poised to strike him. quickly dodging, he told Sasuke to stand down.
Sasuke, his Sharingan still active, reluctantly lowered his weapon but couldn't hide the anger in his eyes.
Tenzo knew he had to explain.
"Calm down, Sasuke. We can't afford to leave Naruto in this state. It's for the best for him "
Sasuke, though visibly angered, nodded in agreement. He knew that Tenzo was right, and they needed to take care of Naruto.
That power....It seemed familliar to him, as if he had felt it before.
Was that the nine tails ?
As Tenzo attended to the man while tying him up, he couldn't help but wonder aloud, "What in the world happened here?"
Just then, Sakura and Team 10 finally caught up with them.
"Yamato-sensei, we done ther-- what the hell ? " The sight of the incapacitated man on the ground and the injuries to Naruto and Sasuke left them all with expressions of shock, surprise, and a hint of fear.
Ino, wide-eyed, exclaimed, "What... wasn't he supposed to be the weakest ? Who is this ? "
Sasuke, still on edge, simply replied, "He was much stronger than we expected "
"To think someone could give you so much trouble..and whats wrong with Naruto ? "
Sasuke just closed his eyes, not aswering.
Taking the hint, team 10 and Sakura stopped asking.
As Sakura and the rest of Team 10 gathered around the scene, they were met with a tense atmosphere.
The incapacitated man on the ground groaned in pain, his eyes covered in blood, and the wounds on his body were evident.
"do i need to heal him ? "
"Yes, please. we still need to interrogate him "
"His eyes...Who did this ? "
Tenzo just looked at Sasuke with a tense expression, the latter looking uncaring.
As Sakura examined the man's injuries, she deduced that he was in critical condition.
Without a doubt, he will lost his eyes.
Sakura quickly began administering first aid to stabilize him. "We still need to get him to a proper medical facility," she announced to the group.
Shikamaru, his eyes sharp, started asking Tenzo questions. "What happened here? And why is Naruto unconscious? "
A fainted camarade, the other one looking murderous.
He can smell the complication.
what a drag.
Sasuke, still reeling from the intense battle and the threat to his eyes, explained the series of events that had unfolded. He briefly recounted their encounter with the mysterious man, the relentless battle that had ensued, leaving out how Naruto had tapped into a mysterious power
Tenzo, who had been keeping a watchful eye on Naruto, added, "Naruto's jutsu went haywire. He became a danger to himself, so I had to restrain him."
Ninjutsu going haywire ?
"And here i thought he become stronger than in the academy.." ino commented by the side.
Shikamaru didn't believe one word of that, but he decided to not say anything.
Ino, her curiosity piqued, asked, "Why did you take out his eyes?"
Sasuke face looked very cold, and he took a moment before responding, "that's the real face of the target. Im the one who did it. he tried to steal my eyes " at which his face gave a murderous intent
Sasuke looked very scary to Ino a this moment
She never saw him this cold before
Choji took 3 step back, and stopped eating
Shikamaru only gave a sigh.
Tension hung in the air as everyone processed this information. the team realized that they had narrowly escaped a dangerous encounter.
They were lucky to get the weaker targets
Sakura, finishing up her basic treatment, declared, "We need to secure this man and get him back to the village. "
As the group made their way back to the construction site, they found the workers who had been affected by Sakura's genjutsu slowly waking up, disoriented and confused. Tenzo took the initiative to explain the situation to the workers and the site supervisors.
"Listen, everyone," Tenzo began, addressing the workers and supervisors. "There was an incident here, but it's under control now. We had to deal with dangerous individuals who posed a threat to the construction site."
"We apologize for any inconvenience caused. The safety of the workers is our top priority."
The workers, still recovering from the effects of the genjutsu, nodded in confusion. The supervisor, though concerned, trusted the expertise of the ninja team. He knew that the safety of the construction site and its workers was paramount.
He also knewthat shinobi matters are no concern of them.
He wasn't daring enough to stick his nose on thing that don't matter to him.
Only one life, a very precious thing to cherish.
Naruto, though weakened from his ordeal, managed a grin and waved at the workers. "Don't worry, guys! I got everything under control now!"
Ino, seeing him so proud, complained " you mean we got it under control, as for you, you are just being your usual deadlast. Who the hell use a forbidden jutsu with bad chakra control, if not for Yamato-sensei you will die idiot ! "
"Bad chakra control..? forbidden Jutsu ? " Seeing Tenzo unspoken message, and Sasuke blank face, he gave a weak answer "..yea haha, sorry about it, im still not used to it…ha ha ha.."
Shikamaru only gave a crisped expression
Naruto still bad a lying.
Feeling observed, he just gave a shrug, cold sweat on his face.
Sasuke cold eyes were staring at him, hinting at him to not overthink it with threat of violence.
What a drag.
'i thought they didnt like each other what the hell..'
"Good job guys, now, let clean it up, and go back to the village"
Ino, looking at where they left their targets, commented
"How about our own targets ? "
"Don't worry about it, there is protocol for this"
As the group made their way back to Konoha with the injured man in custody, Tenzo used a light signal to alert the troops stationed near the region. It was a signal that indicated the need for additional support, at which he left the transportation for the captured individuals to chuunin troup garrisoned there, with Ino already having extracted basic information out of them, and understanding their low importance.
Meanwhile, Ino had already been hard at work, using her skills to extract valuable information from the leader of the group they had confronted in the forest. Her mind reading jutsu would allow her to delve into the man's mind, extracting crucial details about their plans and any potential threats to Konoha.
Ino kept meeting stronger resistance, then deeming it better to leave it to the interrogation team in the village.
"There is a seal on his mind, it's better to leave it to more experienced people "
"I thought so, let rush back "
Sasuke, still Tense, kept a watchful eye on their captive, his eyes gloomy and dark.
Naruto, feeling better, stood ready to assist if the need arose, an uneasy expression on his face.
His face looked dark, Not knowing the thought passing by his head
With the captured individuals and the gathered intelligence, the team had accomplished their mission. They would return to Konoha to report their findings and ensure that the necessary actions were taken to safeguard the village from any potential threats that had been uncovered.
--------------------------------------------
Back in Konoha, Team 7, accompanied by Tenzo, made their way to the Hokage's office to deliver their mission report.
Leaving team 10 with the prisoners in the interrogation building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, was seated at his desk, reviewing various documents when they entered.
Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Tenzo stood before the Hokage, presenting their findings and explaining the events that had transpired during the mission.
They detailed the encounter with the enemy group, their successful diversion tactics, and the capture of the enemy leader.
Tenzo gave the hokage the mission rapport from team 10 side,commenting on their excellent work.
Hiruzen listened attentively, nodding occasionally as he absorbed the information. When they finished, he looked at them with a warm smile.
"Well done, Team 7 and Yamato. Your quick thinking and teamwork have once again proven your abilities. I commend you for your dedication to protecting Konoha."
He didn't comment on Sasuke's actions during the mission, choosing to focus on the overall success of the mission instead.
It was clear that the Hokage understood the reaction of the young shinobi.
Hiruzen continued, "Your actions have ensured the safety of our village, and your capture of the enemy leader will provide valuable information. Rest assured, your efforts will not go unnoticed, and you will be duly rewarded. You are dismissed for now, but be prepared for your next assignment."
As Sasuke and Sakura, and Naruto began to exit the Hokage's office, they were stopped in their tracks when the Hokage's voice called out, "Tenzo, Naruto, stay."
Sasuke glanced back briefly, a hint of curiosity in his eyes, but he followed Sakura out of the room as ordered.
Sakura looked puzzled but trusted in the Hokage's judgment.
Inside the office, Tenzo and Naruto remained, waiting for the Hokage's further instructions. It seemed that there was more to discuss, and they were prepared to listen to whatever the Hokage had in mind.
Hiruzen leaned on his chair, his hat partially hiding his eyes, and he asked Naruto, "Are you okay?"
Naruto looked surprised for a moment, then gave a hesitant expression.
Hiruzen observed Naruto's hands closely. He noticed that Naruto opened and tightened them, a sign of his inner struggle. The old Hokage sighed and removed his hat, revealing a sense of concern in his eyes.
"Naruto," Hiruzen began, "I understand this was the first time you lost control like that. It's natural to have concerns about the seal. You're not the first Jinchuriki to feel this way. But I assure you, the seal is intact and functioning as it should."
Naruto nodded, absorbing the reassurance but still filled with questions. "Old man, if Yamato-sensei wasnt there, maybe I would have totally lost control. I was just so angry at the time."
Hiruzen nodded in understanding. "Yamato's expertise in wood release jutsu is indeed valuable in such situations. But you must also learn to control your emotions, Naruto. It's a part of your growth as a ninja and as a Jinchuriki. We'll work on your training to help you gain better control over your emotions .Just remember, you're not alone in this."
Naruto appreciated the Hokage's support and nodded, feeling a bit more reassured about his situation.
"You can go back now, don't forget to visit konohamaru, he miss your presence "
"Alright Grandpa "
He exited the room at this.
Hiruzen, his expression more serious now, turned to Yamato and inquired about the real situation regarding Naruto's use of the Kyuubi's chakra.
Tenzo (Yamato) replied with confidence, "Hokage-sama, I barely felt any strain while helping Naruto regain control. It's a clear indication that the seal is in excellent condition."
The Third Hokage nodded in agreement, his experience with Kushina and her more complex seal providing valuable context. "I had a feeling as much. Minato truly created a marvelous work of art with this seal. It's reassuring to know that it's holding up so well."
Yamato continued, "Naruto's progress in mastering his own chakra is also promising. With time and training, he will improve his control further, which would help resist the erosion of the nine tail power. I can only guess that the seal was made this way on purpose. The yondaime…what a remarkable man. "
Hiruzen nodded in agreement. "Minato's mind was indeed remarkable. It's reassuring to know that the seal on Naruto is working as it should. But we must remain vigilant. The Kyuubi's chakra is a powerful and unpredictable force. As the strongest Bijuu, we should continue to monitor Naruto's progress and provide him with the guidance he needs."
Yamato agreed, his expression serious. "Of course, Hokage-sama. I'll keep a close eye on Naruto's training and ensure that he learns to control his own chakra without the Kyuubi's chakra going haywire."
"Good, I believe in you. Don't forget to notify Kakashi," Hiruzen instructed, showing his trust in Yamato.
"Understood," Yamato replied.
With this matter settled, Yamato took the opportunity to ask the Hokage about Sasuke's recent behavior.
Hiruzen responded with understanding, assuring Yamato not to worry about it and to leave the matter of the Sharingan to Kakashi.
Yamato agreed, and then he inquired about the spy situation, expressing surprise that someone so strong had infiltrated the village's vicinity. He wondered if it meant anything significant.
The Third Hokage leaned back in his chair and explained, "It's unsettling, indeed. However, we have Ibiki and Inoichi on the case. While it's concerning that a spy got so close to our outpost, it's not uncommon. Not all spies are better off dead." His hint suggested that they could be valuable assets for counterintelligence.
Hiruzen's tone turned colder as he added, "It's a shame this one was wasted. We will have him eliminated after extracting what we needed."
Tenzo couldn't help but break into a slight sweat, feeling the sudden cold and ruthless atmosphere in the room.
With a fleeting smile, the Hokage signaled to Tenzo that their conversation had come to an end.
Tenzo nodded respectfully and left the Hokage's office, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi to his thoughts, a pensive expression on his face.
"Alright "
Hiruzen made a decisive move and summoned a small monkey, reminiscent of Enma.
"Enzo, I need you to deliver something " With a piece of parchment in hand, he wrote a message and instructed the playful monkey to deliver it to Jiraiya.
The monkey, perched on the old Hokage's shoulder, playfully interacted with him, asking for a treat in return.
Hiruzen promised the monkey some delicious fruits but requested that it keep the source of the treats a secret from his friends. The excited monkey accepted the deal and vanished in a puff of smoke to carry out its mission.
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I saw that this story not getting much traffic, maybe it's because it still need me to up my game, so release will be slow. I already done the Wave arc and i personally find it epic as a reader, but it will be very slow after the chuunin exam.
Anyway, im not hoping much from this story, beside using as my own training tools to get better at writing and drawing plots for future projets. Have a good read !