Kawakaze, this camp is no longer of any use," Orochimaru declared, surveying the ruins of the warehouse before turning to Kawakaze. "I will lead the troops to evacuate and head to a town in the Land of Fire to settle down temporarily. We'll find another campsite once the supplies arrive."
His tone was cold and detached, reflecting his unshakable mental fortitude—far beyond Yamaru's. With the camp exposed and supplies depleted, leading a large group aimlessly into the wilderness was not an option.
"For now, there's nothing else we can do." Kawakaze nodded in agreement; staying was futile. The only concern now was how soon the supplies would arrive.
"I wonder, who will you send back to Konoha?"
"You," Orochimaru replied with a faint smile.
"Me?" Kawakaze blinked, unsure if he had heard correctly. Still, the opportunity to return to Konoha and see Tsunade after more than a month apart was appealing.
"Yes, Kawakaze, you're swift and can deliver the news quickly. Besides," Orochimaru added with a sly smile, "I'm sure you miss Tsunade, don't you?"
"Haha, then I won't refuse," Kawakaze replied with a grin. "I'll set off immediately."
"Be careful on the road," Orochimaru said before turning away to organize the troops' evacuation to the town.
Kawakaze entrusted the two younger ones to Sakumo and Duy for safekeeping. If it were Jiraiya, Kawakaze wouldn't have felt as assured. Without delay, he began his journey back to Konoha. Thankfully, his foresight in carving Flying Thunder God Technique markers along the way allowed him to cover the distance in a single day.
Standing before the gates of Konohagakure once again, Kawakaze felt as if he had returned from another world. Perhaps every warrior longs for peace after leaving the battlefield. Ringing the gates, the two gatekeepers quickly verified his identity and let him in with respectful nods.
Despite his personal longing, Kawakaze maintained his professional priorities and went straight to the Hokage Building, bypassing a visit to Tsunade. After a brief questioning by the Anbu, he was brought before the Third Hokage.
"Lord Hokage," Kawakaze greeted respectfully. Despite his bluntness in other matters, he showed deference to the elder, who had always been kind to Tsunade.
"Kawakaze Hatake," the Third Hokage said, his brows furrowed as he puffed on his pipe. "What brings you back?"
Kawakaze met his gaze steadily. "We've secured two major victories in the Land of Rain, capturing nearly a thousand enemy heads."
"Good!" the Hokage exclaimed, clapping his hands in approval. Kawakaze's measured approach—delivering the good news first—had softened the impending blow of the less favorable updates that were sure to follow.
"However, our supplies were destroyed, and we've now retreated to the towns bordering the Land of Fire."
"Orochimaru asked me to return because he hopes you can request the Daimyō to send another batch of supplies to the front line." Kawakaze refrained from mentioning that the idea had been his own. Given Orochimaru's reputation, it was an easy decision to attribute it to him.
"What?"
The Third Hokage's expression darkened, his mood shifting dramatically. If he weren't still relatively young, he feared his heart might not withstand the strain.
"It was truly unexpected when the Amegakure Ninja attacked. They strapped Explosive Tags to themselves and charged in to detonate as soon as they saw someone. The stationed ninja simply couldn't stop them."
Kawakaze elaborated, emphasizing that their failure was due to the enemy's recklessness, not their incompetence.
"Fine, I understand. I will discuss this with the Daimyō as soon as possible."
The Third Hokage sat down and motioned for Kawakaze to leave.
As soon as Kawakaze exited the room, the Hokage summoned his two advisors. Following a brief discussion, the Anbu were dispatched to the Daimyō's mansion to request supplies. This conflict had originated between nations, and the Daimyō's mansion should have provided the resources.
However, this was no longer Kawakaze's concern. Once outside the Hokage Building, he used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport to the underground research laboratory beneath the hospital.
As expected, Tsunade was there alone, immersed in her work. Clad in a white lab coat, she exuded the essence of a dedicated researcher.
The moment he appeared, Tsunade noticed him—unsurprising given the laboratory's small size and Kawakaze's lack of concealment.
"Kawakaze."
A joyful expression spread across her face as she set down the utensil in her hand and darted over, wrapping her arms around him.
Holding the beautiful woman in his arms, Kawakaze gently stroked her head, inhaling her scent before leaning down to whisper in her ear:
"I'm home."
After lingering in his embrace for a long moment, Tsunade reluctantly let go.
"Weren't you on the battlefield?"
"Our supplies were destroyed, so I came back for reinforcements. I just came from the Third Hokage to see you," Kawakaze explained briefly.
"Come, let me show you my results."
Tsunade, uninterested in the battlefield, seemed reassured by Kawakaze's demeanor, sensing that things weren't dire. Taking his hand, she led him to the experimental table.
"I've successfully cultivated Grandfather's cells," Tsunade said, her tone brimming with pride.
"However, they are still unstable and prone to extinction. His cells are highly active, so my next goal is to stabilize them. Once that's done, I can proceed with some fusion experiments."
"Don't be stingy with your blood then," she added, smiling as she shared her accomplishment with Kawakaze, clearly enjoying the moment.
"Just don't drain me dry," Kawakaze quipped, his words teasingly inappropriate.
Tsunade shot him a sharp glare. "Drain your blood," she echoed with mock annoyance before setting aside her work. With no desire to continue her research, she removed her lab coat.
"Let's go see Big Sister Nayuki. I'm sure she'll want to hear about Big Brother Sakumo as well."
"Okay, I'll take you home," Kawakaze replied, wrapping an arm around her waist. In an instant, they reappeared in the Hatake Clan Dojo.
Their sudden arrival startled the hidden samurai stationed nearby. Since Nayuki's pregnancy, the Hatake Clan had significantly heightened security. Recognizing Kawakaze and Tsunade, the guards quietly withdrew.
"Butler, where is my sister-in-law?" Kawakaze called out.
The butler appeared promptly. "The lady is in the living room," he informed.
"Alright, you may go," Kawakaze said, leading Tsunade to the living room. Inside, they found Nayuki conversing with Onimaru, who had been her only source of entertainment during her time alone.
"Kawakaze? Is it really you?" Nayuki asked, her voice tinged with disbelief, though she had already caught his familiar scent.
"It's me; I just got back," Kawakaze confirmed, though his casual tone made him sound less convincing.
Nayuki, however, wasn't one to dwell on minor details. A sister-in-law's arrival was nothing compared to a brother-in-law's return.
Onimaru, sensing Kawakaze, eagerly pounced and began rubbing against his feet. Kawakaze crouched down, gently scratched Onimaru's chin, and watched the creature contentedly lie down again.
"Did you come back here alone?" Nayuki asked, glancing around for any sign of Sakumo. Her face betrayed a hint of disappointment when she didn't see him.
"I came back on a mission. Big Brother is currently staying in a border town and is completely safe," Kawakaze reassured her, easing the worry on Nayuki's face.
"Big Brother said he'll do everything he can to return before your due date."
"No need. His mission comes first," Nayuki replied, though the happiness on her face at hearing this was impossible to hide from Kawakaze and Tsunade.
"Nayuki, it's the perfect time for me to examine you again," Tsunade interjected.
Since Kawakaze had left Konoha, Tsunade hadn't visited the Hatake Clan. Now, she saw this as an ideal opportunity for a follow-up check-up, something Kawakaze had reminded her about before, and she hadn't forgotten.