Chad, Ororomoi, Isaribi, Yugao, and Guren returned to Kumo without incident during their journey. As expected, while the genin quickly dispersed to resume their own affairs, Chad and Yugao went straight to the Raikage's office to report everything and clarify the details that hadn't been mentioned in their written report.
Yugao was praised by the Raikage, welcomed back, and promised that rewards would not be lacking. Furthermore, once the information she provided was evaluated, she would receive additional compensation.
In the meantime, while waiting for the full payment, the Raikage advanced her half a million ryo so she could use it to get settled while she waited.
It wasn't that the kunoichi lacked money, but she accepted it gladly.
After leaving, Yugao went straight to Chad's (recently expanded) izakaya to eat something and be alone with her thoughts, while also taking a look around the place to consider her future options. She would probably speak with the staff.
As for where to sleep, Yugao naturally took one of the unused rooms in the place where Chad and Mabui lived. Meanwhile, the siblings were having a rare occasion in which the two of them were calmly having dinner at home alone.
"Sis, you've been tense since I saw you this afternoon. What's going on?" Chad noticed that, despite the good mood in the Raikage's office when handing over the techniques obtained in Konoha and reporting on his actions at the Senju complex, both the Kage and his sister had seemed somewhat uneasy. "Did something happen in the lab or the hospital?"
"No…" Technically, Mabui wasn't lying, since the security breach had happened at the orphanage. "It's nothing, I've just had a few days with too much work," she tried to downplay it.
Chad set his cutlery aside and looked thoughtfully at Mabui before closing his eyes.
Mabui's heart skipped a beat. Her brother suspected something, and she knew that posture well—at this very moment, eyes and ears should be appearing all over the village, seeing and listening.
One of the most terrifying things was that not even Fuinjutsu barriers could isolate this ability, nor did it leave chakra residue at the compromised points during the espionage.
With Chad nearby, the saying "the walls have ears" took on a very literal meaning.
She didn't even realize she had stopped eating, waiting for him to finish and hoping he wouldn't notice anything out of place. They had managed to recover the two Uchiha children from Councillor Tenro, but… not in good condition.
Thank the Sage, the Hiramatsuri clan hadn't taken their eyes or anything like that—probably because they hadn't even awakened their dojutsu yet—but it was clear they hadn't been treated kindly.
To Mabui's and the Raikage's relief, aside from being a little frightened and having a couple of superficial injuries that could be attributed to playing, there was nothing that required a hospital visit, where Chad would undoubtedly be informed.
"Mabui," Chad called after opening his eyes and focusing his gaze on her, a puzzled look in his eyes. "Can you explain to me why, during my absence, the Raikage broke that idiot's legs?"
Mabui let out a discreet sigh of relief upon hearing that, while pretending to think for a moment about how to explain it clearly.
Chad had searched for information, but what could be obtained that way was limited to "immediate information." And undoubtedly, the rumor that the Raikage had broken both legs of the hospital's deputy director in front of everyone had caught his attention.
"It was Councillor Tenro's fault."
"I see," Chad clicked his tongue in disgust.
Mabui gave silent approval to the councillor in her heart. As long as she said he was involved in something, her brother never questioned her. Still, she felt uncomfortable having to lie to her family, even if it was to avoid a bloodbath.
As for the reason behind the Raikage's behavior, it was simple.
Tenro initially wanted to stall, trying to keep the Uchiha children for a few days—perhaps with the idea of brainwashing them or some plan in mind. The Raikage didn't respond. He went to the hospital, burst into the councillor's grandson's office, broke his legs, then returned to ask the old man if he still wanted to delay the matter.
Councillor Tenro was far from happy about what happened, but no one knew whether it was because his grandson was injured or because of the loss of prestige for his clan.
But perhaps sensing the seriousness of the village leader—or fearing he would be the next example—he immediately returned the two Uchiha children to the orphanage.
"Actually… there's something else."
She had to play this card before he suspected anything.
"Hmm?"
"I proposed something to Raikage-sama regarding the orphanage's security, and he recently approved it."
"What is it?" Chad asked, interested.
He was the director of the orphanage and the "father" of the children there. He needed to be aware of everything.
Which reminded him that later he had to bring them the sweets he bought in Konoha.
Speaking of children—had Naruto already found the scroll he left him?
"Well, you know that some people have had ideas about the lineage children at the orphanage for years…"
Because of the children's origins, some of the more extremist-minded people in the village openly suggested ideas such as vivisection, to obtain as much information as possible about bloodlines.
After all, in their opinion, Chad had already done it once and could "do more" if needed.
Why not get the most out of it?
Then, with enough information, maybe their clans could create and develop a lineage of their own…
"You're telling me," Chad replied. "What proposal did you make?"
Mabui proceeded to explain the situation to him, in a slightly altered way but with an identical outcome.
Given the scare caused by Councillor Tenro's reckless behavior, she and the Raikage feared the situation might repeat itself in the future if they didn't take measures, so they escalated the punishment for similar actions.
If anyone tried this again, Kumo's ANBU would have both the permission and the obligation to kill on the spot, regardless of the offender's position or the people backing them.
They were telling those who were aware of what had happened:
Don't even think about testing the limits!
"I see," Chad nodded, rubbing his chin with his thumb. "As long as status and influence don't protect those idiots, they won't have the guts to do anything. Well done, Mabui!"
"It's all for the children," Mabui shook her head. "By the way, is it true that the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki is treated that badly in Konoha?" This time it was her turn to ask. "I mean, anyone with two eyes can see he's identical to the Fourth Hokage! They even have his face carved into a giant rock! One would think—"
"You're right, but the inhabitants are (for the most part) a bunch of idiots," Chad waved his hand dismissively. "It doesn't matter whether it's Konoha or Suna, both treat their jinchuriki terribly." As the teacher of a jinchuriki, he felt deeply disgusted by how people treated them as if they were the incarnations of monsters.
The situation in Kumo was only better by comparison.
Killer B also suffered discrimination as a child, but after becoming a powerful ninja, maintaining a brotherly relationship with the Raikage, and managing to become a perfect jinchuriki, his status changed completely.
But he still sang horribly!
Yugito, on the other hand, had it much worse than Killer B. She was an orphan from a civilian background, so whether it was training resources, money, support, or education, she was in a very precarious situation until she was accepted by Chad.
Three Kumo councillors, knowing some details about the Nine-Tails incident in Konoha that caused so much death and destruction, even proposed to the Raikage that Yugito should never be allowed to have children.
Needless to say, that proposal wasn't even considered. The Raikage directly beat the living daylights out of those who suggested it.
The Raikage felt surrounded by power-drunk idiots.
Yugito had already endured enough with her situation. Taking such an action would practically turn her into a deserter and an irreconcilable enemy of the village, guaranteed!
Even after the beating, those men (elders over ninety years old) were stripped of their councillor positions and "encouraged" to retire.
Curiously—and completely unrelated to that proposal—each of them died of age-related causes exactly one week after visiting the hospital for a routine health check.
What a coincidence, right?