Chapter 65 - Back At Konoha's Camp

Chapter 65

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I get up and then make way for Konoha's camp...

Hmmm… 

I wonder... 

What will Tsunade's reaction be when I show her four of the Seven Swords of the Mist? ... 

…

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As I arrive at Konoha's camp I immediately go towards the command tent in the very center of the camp. 

I step inside, and as soon as I enter, my eyes meet hers... 

Tsunade's... she's standing up arms crossed, close to her seat at the center of the table; the one with the strategic map and doc.u.ments. 

And she is giving me that annoyed "I'm gonna make your face my punching bag" expression. Nothing unusual in her to be honest...  

In a moment's notice, I have the undivided attention of every jonin in the room. I don't pay much attention to the rest and say:

"What's the matter Tsunade-sensei?"

**Tch**

After a loud tongue cl.i.c.k.i.n.g, she just turned her head in another direction so as to not look at me...

Hahaha wow. She sure as hell is letting her childish side take over now... There's a sannin for ya. 

At the lack of an answer, -one with words anyway- my gaze turns to Shikaramu Nara as if requesting an explanation...

**Sigh** 

"What a drag..." 

"It has been decided by the Hokage and the Konoha Council that Tsunade will be sent to another theater. They need her advanced medical-nin skills desperately." 

"Our frontline against the Land of Lightning has suffered increasingly heavy casualties in the camps' infirmaries..."

...

*Sigh*

...

"Therefore, as her second in command,  naturally you are appointed as the Commanding Officer of the forces in the Land of Water..."

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OOOOHH YEESSSS!!

Almost... 

It was hard to keep my grin from showing up in my 11-year-old face... 

Finally, I have the authority and power to do some of the more complex bloodline experimentation I've been meaning to for a long time... This will greatly further my plans...

But still though, taking Tsunade away from the theater... It will definitely weaken my forces... 

But they can't exactly let a Senju take orders from an Inuzuka, kid or otherwise... Even if I am an S-rank ninja…

And no matter how they sugarcoat it, I know what they are doing... The Land of Lightning division is constantly suffering heavy casualties...

Hmph... And that is why I love politics... They're putting me to the test... To see if I can replicate the feat I pulled off against the Land of Sky... 

Probably Danzo's idea... As I expected...

Although they seem to trust my abilities, enough to put a child in command of the 2nd largest theater anyway... 

But the things is, that they're underestimating me just as well... 

Not contacting me directly as soon as I arrived at the camp... No summon delivering a message as I was en route… Even ignoring my clone...

No doubt, the pretension is to have Shikaramu as the one in actual command. 

They know I'm not stupid, and that I'd figure it out sooner rather than later… They're trying to pass it as a controlled test of my capabilities… when in reality they're putting my mask to the test… The want to see 'just how cunning this kis' and if I suppose a 'potential threat' to them. 

Even if they tried to hide it, it has Hiruzen Sarutobi written all over it. That pipe-smoking rascal... 

I mean, sure I might get all the renown. But if I don't have the power and authority, all of that doesn't matter. Fame is irrelevant to my plans... At least for now.

Political scheming sure is complicated and entertaining.

On a different note, looks like that 4 Swordsmen of the Mist debrief is old news to them right now. 

I had already sent a clone with my mission report as soon as I finished "cleaning" out the camp remains, and while it's protocolary to be debriefed by one's dispatching officer (in this case Tsunade), it shouldn't become a problem for me later on given the circ.u.mstances. 

This actually works great for me; the fewer questions asked, the better. They already know what I wanted them to know. 

The icing on the cake is that 4 Swords of the Mist I "collected" remain in my possession... 

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Anyway, after a couple minutes' worth of a somewhat awkward silence, I look at Tsunade and in a fake sad voice I break the ice with one of my patented child-mask jokes... 

*Sigh* 

"So the student has surpassed the teacher… Huh?..."

"Don't worry Tsunade... I'll never forget what you did for me once I become Hokage..."

Tsunade then turns to me with an even more pissed-off look (was that even possible at this point) and says:

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"You are REALLY pissing me off Yami… Don't push it..." 

I just smirk slightly, only to then get serious and say in a tone as domineering as a child's voice can allow:

"I have some things I want to discuss about the new battle plan with former commander Tsunade. In private..."

They just nod and comply. 

Now that we're all alone, I look towards Tsunade and say.

"You know they are doing this to you because you didn't meet their expectations, right?"

*Tch*

"I told you not to push it...."

"Do I really look like I'm joking right now, Tsunade-sensei?"

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*Sigh*

She sits down on her chair, throwing her feet over the table and bringing her hands to the back of her head. The cue of me using honorifics worked.

"I get what you mean Yami... I know... it's just... complicated ok? They expect me to pull off miracles just because I am a Senju."

"Well I do feel sorry for you but... I need you to do me a favor."

She gives a small nose exhale in amus.e.m.e.nt and then looks at me with a mildly curious look...

"For my prodigious student, I guess I can... but depends on what it is."

…

"I need you to take Shikaramu with you to the front against the Cloud Village..."

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'Or else I am definitely killing him if he stays in here. A mountain can't hold two kings. I don't want to take the unnecessary risk of killing someone as smart as Shikaramu. He will definitely leave clues on who the murderer was... The cunning bastard...'

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"Why would you want to get rid of someone like Shikaramu?! He would be a valuable asset to you and has a great head on his shoulders."

I look at her with a bored look and say...

*Sigh* 

"Political schemes Tsunade... they are trying to undermine my authority and I haven't even started."

It took her a second to understand what I meant... 

"Oooh... I get it now..." 

"It won't be easy to take him away though... After all, it won't do my reputation any good if I make this decision..."

'Well, you won't even have a reputation to worry about in the future... But I can't tell her that… So...'

"Look at it this way: I'll be on your debt and you can collect whenever... It can be ANY favor..."

She looks surprised and harbors a little doubt in her eyes... After all, a favor from an S-rank ninja is not something that is given away without a good reason, even if it's limited. In this case it isn't... 

Of course, that would be an empty promise. She still doesn't know me well enough to know... It's not like I will keep my end of the deal if it's against my best interests… So let her think that I owe her anything she wants… 

I notice that she is in deep thought about this...

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"Ok, I will get him off your back... But DON'T forget your promise..."

Excellent. Everything is falling into place, as it should.

"Yes, thank you! ... You have no idea how much this will help me... I will now begin my plan to end this war!"

Her eyes widen a little when she looks at me.... then she says...

"I understand Yami..."

Then she gets up and as she is leaving the tent she says:

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"Don't make me regret this, you understand?"

I give her a smirk as I nod...

"I never break a promise Tsunade..."

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-(Tomorrow)-

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As I wake up I dispel the clone that keeps watch while I sleep.

I get dressed, and after that do my daily morning exercise. It keeps me in peak physical and mental condition, as also I mix it up with light meditation. 

After an hour of training, I get out and ready to say goodbye to Tsunade and the squad she's taking with her. 

I also make a shadow clone and order him stealthily to go back to Konoha and contact a certain Konoha Council member, with utmost secrecy...

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After I said goodbye to Tsunade, I waited for five hours just to be sure. 

I then called someone from the Torture & Interrogation Department and asked him:

"Tell me... How many prisoners do we have here? ..."