Chapter 70: The Plot Resumes — S-Rank Mission
Noon. Living room of the Yagyu household.
Ryuzen sat on the sofa, one hand holding a book he was reading carefully, the other resting on the small head lying across his thighs. His fingers moved like a comb through long, auburn-tinged black hair.
Hanabi, lying on his lap, was also reading—a Ninja Academy textbook.
Tick tock... rustle rustle...
The only sounds in the living room were the clock's second hand and the occasional turning of pages.
"—Ryuzen!"
An anxious female voice shattered the tranquility, approaching from outside, growing closer.
Both Ryuzen and Hanabi lowered their books simultaneously. Ryuzen turned toward the door while Hanabi sat up with a slight frown, a hint of displeasure flickering in her pure white eyes.
Shizune, dressed in her usual black and gray outfit, rushed in breathlessly. Her eyes locked onto the young man on the sofa, and she spoke urgently:
"Ryuzen! Tsunade-sama has summoned your Team 8. Please report to the Hokage's office immediately!"
Ryuzen's eyebrows rose slightly.
She came personally instead of sending ANBU. This is urgent.
He nodded calmly. "I'll notify the others right away."
"No need—I'll inform Hinata and Shino myself." Shizune shook her head. "As team leader, you should prepare immediately and report ahead to receive Tsunade-sama's orders."
"Understood."
Ryuzen touched Hanabi's head gently. "Remember to lock up when you go home."
"Mm-hmm." Hanabi nodded obediently, understanding this was serious business.
Ryuzen retrieved his sword from the training hall and headed for the Hokage Tower.
When he arrived at the office, Tsunade sat behind her desk, brow furrowed deeply.
"Ryuzen. Good timing."
Her expression relaxed slightly at his entrance, but her voice remained grave.
"As the Fifth Hokage, I am now issuing an S-rank mission to you and Team 8."
Ryuzen's face remained calm as he listened.
Tsunade produced a letter from her drawer and held it up. "This is a decrypted message from our allies in Sunagakure. A request for assistance."
She continued without preamble: "Several days ago, Gaara—the Kazekage of Suna and their jinchūriki—was captured by members of the Akatsuki organization."
Akatsuki.
"The Akatsuki is a terrorist organization composed of multiple S-rank missing-nin. We've determined their target is the tailed beasts. Every jinchūriki is in danger—including Naruto."
Tsunade's tone hardened.
"Team 7 departed for Suna yesterday. I've been uneasy. So I'm assigning Team 8 the same S-rank mission. As a jōnin, you are to immediately lead your team to reinforce them."
Ryuzen nodded without hesitation.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Internally, he felt a flicker of surprise. So Shippūden finally begins.
He waited in the office for Hinata and Shino to arrive.
Soon, the two entered together. Tsunade briefed them quickly, and moments later, Team 8 departed.
Worth noting: Ryuzen was now officially a jōnin. Hinata and Shino had both been promoted to chūnin over the past two years.
Under normal circumstances, a jōnin would leave their original team to lead new genin. Unless assigned high-level missions, they wouldn't return to their former unit. But Ryuzen had refused promotion specifically to stay with Team 8. With Kurenai gradually retiring from active duty, Tsunade had made an exception—allowing him to remain team leader while holding jōnin rank.
So now, Ryuzen was both leader and commander of Team 8. This arrangement had been in place for two years; Tsunade's promotion simply made it official.
Leaving the Hokage Tower, Team 8 walked toward the village gates.
Ryuzen asked casually: "Shino. Can you track them?"
"Ah."
Aburame Shino studied the small black insect on his fingertip through his ever-present sunglasses. "As long as it doesn't rain on the road—even in the desert—I can follow their scent."
"Lead the way. If the scent fades, Hinata takes over." Ryuzen glanced at the pack on Hinata's back. "You brought the map?"
"Yes." Hinata nodded seriously. "Everything's ready."
"Then let's move."
They vanished from the village entrance in an instant, beginning Team 8's first S-rank mission.
Body Flicker techniques made overland travel incredibly fast. With no client to protect and all three at jōnin or chūnin level, they covered ground quickly. Within half a day, they'd left the Land of Fire and were racing toward the Land of Wind.
After a brief rest, they continued. Soon, a forest appeared ahead—beyond it lay the Wind Country's borders.
Halfway through the forest, they encountered Pakkun—one of Kakashi's eight ninken, sent ahead as a scout.
From Pakkun, they learned the Akatsuki members were hiding in the Land of Rivers.
The name triggered vague memories deep in Ryuzen's brain.
Yes. Gaara was in a cave there. They extracted the Shukaku from him in that place.
The Land of Rivers sat sandwiched between Fire and Wind, south of the Rain Country, east of their current position. They would need to turn right and traverse the forest to reach it.
With Pakkun guiding them, Team 8 adjusted course.
"Mm?"
Ryuzen's eyes narrowed suddenly.
He spun on his heel, right hand moving faster than thought. His blade cleared the sheath and swept upward, crescent-moon sword energy—three to four meters long—arcing toward a towering tree behind them.
BOOM!
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