"Wha... What is this... Why am I in the center of the village? Wha..." Tenzo stammered as he realized the situation he was in. He stood dumbfounded after admitting to everything. His nurse accomplice was tied up and held by Ando as everyone watched. He saw the shock in their eyes; they couldn't believe what they had heard.
"Trickery. These Leaf ninja must've done this to me! Yes, it was genjutsu!" the desperate Tenzo blurted, trying to win over his villagers' trust.
"Enough!" Takashi yelled, standing up and walking towards his father. "Can't you see? It's over," he said.
"No... No... No! This is a lie. It can't be true. I was so close. I had it, the title was mine," Tenzo muttered, crumbling at the sight of reality. He couldn't believe what had just happened. Murmurs started spreading as the villagers saw Tenzo's current state.
"We also have proof tying all your schemes with those bandits right here," Daniel announced, raising the documents he had acquired from the bandits' camp.
"You Leaf scum. This is all your fault!" Tenzo raged in fury, trying to attack Team Fourteen. But as he tried to run at them, Takashi slapped Tenzo so hard he fell to the ground.
"I said enough! You no longer have any credibility, let alone authority, in this village," Takashi declared. "Take him away," he ordered. The village guards hesitated for a second but then took Tenzo to the detention center.
"Everyone, I'm sorry for everything you just witnessed. Although I cannot atone for what my father has done, I would like to request that you still take me as your leader," Takashi bowed after his father was taken away. The villagers stood silent for a minute, digesting everything that had just happened.
"I see. Then I hope you would still allow me to stay in this village," Takashi added, seeing the villagers' silence.
"It's not that we don't trust you, Takashi. We know you and your love for this village, and we believe you would serve as a great leader. We were just shocked at the lengths your father has taken. If anything, we feel sorry for you and sympathize with what you must be going through, having to deal with such a bad apple in your family. We would love to go forward with you as our leader," the elders said after Takashi asked not to be kicked out of the village. He couldn't help but cry after hearing those words.
"Is this what it feels like to be a third wheel?" Daniel commented as Takashi and the villagers shared a heartfelt moment, with Team Fourteen watching from the sidelines. "It feels uncomfortable and weird," he added.
"Well, it seems our job is done," Nana said as she watched the heartfelt moment between the villagers and Takashi. "We should say our goodbyes and leave now," she added, heading off to call some guards to take the nurse to the detention center as well.
With the head nurse detained, the antidote was administered without a hitch, and Takashi's grandfather began to show signs of recovery.
"I cannot thank you enough for helping me," Takashi bowed as he and Team Fourteen were saying their goodbyes.
"Don't sweat it," Ando replied with a smile.
As Team Fourteen prepared to head back to Konoha, they knew it had taken them two weeks to arrive here, and it would take them another week to return, as they would be faster without Takashi.
Back in Konoha, the clones that Daniel had left behind were still busy trying to augment plants. One of Daniel's clones had started apprenticing at the Research Department, which helped the other Daniel improve faster in their personal research. After joining the Research Department, Daniel had a good excuse to reveal some of his skills. He touched on many aspects while at the Research Department's building, where he assisted in various ninjutsu experiments and read many theories they had compiled.
At this point, Daniel didn't need to learn medical ninjutsu as he was already quite acquainted with the technique, and Buu's healing abilities were much better, amplified the higher his transformation got.
"Okay guys, I'm back from the Research Department," Daniel announced telepathically to the other clones as he entered his house.
"Did you get something useful today?" one of the clones asked after Daniel Clone 2 returned.
"They always have good knowledge there," Daniel Clone 2 said. "Anyway, that's not important. I managed to learn a lot about Chakra infusion today, and I think I finally have a solution to why our approach wasn't working." He sat down on the couch. "Instead of pumping the thing with chakra, we should infuse..." Daniel Clone 2 explained to the other clones about their plans.
"Interesting. Leaving behind shadow clones to do lower-ranked missions, joining the Research Department, and burying them in research for your strange experiments," Hiruzen said, peeking at Daniel's clones.
Hiruzen observed from a distance, his mind filled with thoughts about Daniel. "Quite the resourceful fellow," he mused as he stroked his beard.
Daniel showcased his ability to multitask and use his clones effectively. He's came as just not a fighter; but his interest in medical ninjutsu and ninjutsu research made him appeal more as promising ninja. Hiruzen was not as interested in Daniel before graduation as he simply thought of him as just one of the few friends of Naruto.
Daniel's clones continued to discuss their findings. "Ohhh! So that's what we've been doing wrong." Daniel 5 exclaimed after Daniel 2 finished explaining, "Then we should use seeds instead when conducting our experiments from now on" Daniel 4 responded as the bunch brainstormed. As the clones continued formulating their new approach, a letter was dropped at by the door of Daniels house, left with a sudden knock on the door, "Wonder what written in the letter" The clones pondered in unison after hearing the knocking sound.
Daniel 1 who was close by the door went and opened the door and picked up the letter, "This is something..." He remarked while reading the letter.