As Chiyo had predicted, Konoha's offensive had indeed slowed down, and their stationed areas were constantly being moved back.
With the loss of an elite team and the near-death of three powerful individuals on the battlefield, Konoha was dealt a heavy blow. Many of Nara Shikashin's arrangements were disrupted.
Left with no choice, they opted for a defensive stance.
They tried to avoid large-scale confrontations with the enemy as much as possible.
They had to wait for reinforcements from the village before deciding on the next move.
---
After sleeping deeply, Takashi yawned, took the scroll from the crow puppet's leg, and patted the puppet's head, saying:
"Good job. You can go back now."
"Caw!"
Receiving praise from its master, the crow puppet flew into the night sky, disappearing into the rain soon after.
Takashi lit a candle, poured himself a glass of water, and spread the scroll out on the table.
The moment he read the contents, the water in his mouth sprayed out several meters.
"What the hell? They've got some nerve."
Takashi couldn't understand where the Third Hokage got the audacity to say, "It's all for the village."
He actually wanted him to contribute his puppets unconditionally.
Tsk!
They were really pushing their luck this time.
Takashi had thought that the village might cooperate with him in making puppets or might send some parts over for him to manage.
What he never imagined was that they would want to take them for free.
"Hell no."
He had originally intended to cooperate, but now it seemed completely unnecessary.
After cursing a few times, Takashi casually threw the scroll into the fire pit, completely dismissing the idea of collaborating with the village.
They wanted something for nothing?
Well, I'm not playing along.
Takashi decisively put the matter behind him. He didn't think it was worth ruining his good mood over a few shameless individuals.
Instead of getting angry over this, it was better to make something good for himself to eat and replenish his worn-out body.
As it happened, just as he finished preparing dinner, a visitor arrived.
Opening the door, the rich aroma of food filled the room. Nara Shikashin raised an eyebrow, noting that Takashi's culinary skills might even surpass those of the Akimichi clan.
"You've eaten already?" Takashi asked.
"I did..." Shikashin paused, then quickly changed his response: "Not yet. Mind if I join you?"
Takashi: "…"
Can you say that again with a straight face?
Having an extra person for dinner made things livelier, so Takashi didn't mind Shikashin sticking around for a meal.
After all, they were all on the same side, and getting closer was a good thing.
After taking a few bites of the smoked meat rice, Nara Shikashin showed a satisfied expression. Then, while eating, he suddenly said:
"The village's upper management has rejected my request for materials and parts. They... sigh."
Why were they so shortsighted?
Nara Shikashin didn't even feel like saying it out loud.
"They want me to contribute my puppets, right?"
Takashi couldn't help but chuckle.
Nara Shikashin nodded awkwardly. Thankfully, he was only delivering the message, and he was on Takashi's side; otherwise, he'd be too embarrassed to say it.
But there was no other way. The order had come from the village, and even if it was shameful, he had to deliver it.
"None. Not a single one. I'm just a medical ninja, so don't come to me with combat matters."
Takashi's rejection was swift and absolute.
There was no room for negotiation.
At this point, forget about contributing the puppets—even if the so-called elders changed their minds and sent over materials and parts to cooperate on puppet-making, Takashi wouldn't be interested.
He had given them a chance, but they didn't cherish it.
If they didn't value it, then why should they come back to him?
"Cough, cough!!"
Takashi's resolute refusal made Nara Shikashin cough in embarrassment.
"Is there room for discussion?"
"No. Senior, please relay my exact words back. Tell Lord Hokage that I initially planned to cooperate with the village to make puppets, but I've now changed my mind. There will be no puppets, and cooperation is even more out of the question."
This completely shut down any avenue for further negotiations.
Nara Shikashin cursed silently to himself, but he wasn't cursing Takashi—he was cursing the ones who wanted something for nothing.
Wouldn't a proper collaboration have been great?
Why were they shamelessly trying to get things for free?
Why didn't they contribute their own family fortunes instead?
They had no shame.
Nara Shikashin said nothing more, quietly finishing his meal. After eating the bowl of rice, he stood up:
"The elite team we previously assembled has been wiped out. The village is under a lot of pressure, so I won't disturb your rest any longer."
"Alright, take care, senior."
Takashi's attitude wasn't particularly nice, but that was aimed at the freeloaders, not Nara Shikashin.
Nara Shikashin was on his side, but at the moment, he was representing the elders council to talk to him, which was why Takashi had such an attitude.
No matter how unwilling, Nara Shikashin had no choice but to report it faithfully.
"Orochimaru, is there any point in hiding? He must have noticed you already."
It wasn't only Nara Shikashin who had come to find Takashi; Orochimaru had also come, but Nara Shikashin had arrived first.
"Seems like I still need to improve my stealth skills."
Revealed by Takashi in one sentence, Orochimaru pushed open the door and walked in unhurriedly.
He sat in the spot where Nara Shikashin had just been, crossing his arms and saying regretfully, "Looks like our cooperation is coming to an end."
"I don't want it to end either, but some people are just too greedy. They don't even care about their dignity anymore."
Takashi continued eating, without even looking up, as he reminded Orochimaru:
"I hope my puppets won't end up in someone else's hands."
"Of course."
Takashi's decisive rejection of the Third Hokage meant that Orochimaru wouldn't hand over the puppets he had either. He still needed the puppets for research, and he didn't want to offend Takashi over this.
They want puppets?
Go ask Takashi. Don't look at me.
The original plan for collaboration ended prematurely due to the greed of the of the elders.
After making his stance clear, Orochimaru soon left.
---
In the Hokage's office, the atmosphere was suffocating.
The Third Hokage silently smoked his pipe, Homura Mitokado's face looked grim, and Koharu Utatane was about to explode in rage.
To be precise, ever since Nara Shikashin's scroll arrived back at the village, she had been livid.
"What does he mean by this? Doesn't he know that the village urgently needs these puppets? As a member of the village, he should contribute them for the village's sake."
"What does he mean by saying he won't hand over even one, and that there will be no cooperation with the village? What on earth is Takashi trying to do?"
Koharu Utatane ranted like an enraged old hen, her mouth flapping incessantly.
Ever since she became a member of the village's council of elders, Koharu Utatane hadn't been this angry in a long time. Not even Tsunade's constant rebuttals had made her as angry as Takashi's outright refusal.
Tsunade might often argue with her and show no respect, but to Koharu, Tsunade was at least on the same level as them. They were on the same level and from the Hokage's faction. Friction between them was normal.
It could be dealt with behind closed doors.
So even when Tsunade argued with her, Koharu would be angry, but not this furious.
But Takashi was different. Leaving aside Tsunade's support, Takashi, in the eyes of the elders was just a low-level ninja—one ostracized by his clan, suffering from Bloodline Degradation.