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The return trip was almost as smooth as the one to Hot Springs, except for the encounter with the patrol team at our border, but we stopped, chatted a bit (after nearly a month on duty, it was always good to have some news from home), and went our separate ways.
My only worry was the likelihood of a one-time-use prison scroll made on my lap. Still, regular fuin paper isn't meant for this kind of use and can burn out due to too much chakra. True, I had stuffed the weakest chunin in them, but it was better not to take any chances and be home as soon as possible.
After marking my arrival at the gate, I headed straight across the rooftops toward the Hokage Tower, and after handing in a document at the office with a note that the delivery had been completed, I got the money from the cashier's office. I didn't even need to write a report on such simple C-rank missions, so I headed home immediately afterward, wanting only to get rid of the dangerous scroll and wash up properly. A little drink for getting out of a dangerous situation would have been nice, but all the strategic liquor reserves had been consumed during the birthday party and had not been restored yet.
***
- Hiruzen, we need to talk," the Root Leader entered the Hokage's office without knocking.
- Talk? - Sarutobi arched an eyebrow, but seeing his old friend and comrade's face even more serious than usual, he gestured at Anbu's guards and raised the barrier. - What happened?
- Nara's back," Danzo said.
- Nara? - Hiruzen frowned for a moment, remembering who he was talking about. - Didn't Kumo take care of him? What happened?
- The last report from my observers was about three dozen or so shinobi near the town where the target stopped," the one-eyed shinobi shook his head, "after that there were no reports, and about two hours ago, Nara closed the mission and, after receiving the money, retreated to the clan quarter.
- So you're telling me that one kid took out almost four dozen fighters without letting anyone escape, and that's with Root's sensors undercover, and then returned to the village as if nothing had happened? - The Hokage raised his eyebrows.
Even a veteran of two great shinobi wars refused to believe such an unbelievable assumption.
- I don't know what exactly happened, but the boy didn't look like he'd been in combat," Danzo frowned for a moment, "I've already sent my men out to scout the situation, but I doubt they'll be able to find anything concrete about what happened after all this time. I'm hoping for random witnesses, but the odds are... you know what I mean," he said.
- Let's hope the examination of the bodies will yield something," Hiruzen nodded, "It's a shame the nephews didn't do their job and that Nara is still trampling the ground.