Chapter 73: A dream come true

The rain stopped during the night and Kakashi chose to wait for another one for the land to dry a bit before moving. That was fine with everyone. Except maybe Kakashi himself. Seeing Gai doing more than well in fuinjutsu, more than Kakashi ever did, was a bit demoralizing. However, all wasn’t negative. He was happy for his rival to have something more than taijutsu in his arsenal.

That extra day in base allowed Riku to perfect the vision seal he had made inside Yugao’s eyepatch and adapted it for everyone’s head protector. He put one inside each of each team member’s one. Adapting to the new sight had not been much of a challenge. It was just the colors which changed. It was all black and with many, many shades of grey. Of course the vision was limited by the distance the sound waves emitted by the seal travelled. Beyond the limits, it was just a void, so it wasn’t a perfect tool.

He made a sixth head protector and sent it with the instructions for the seals through the Hiraishin back to the village. To his mother who would decide if or not it would be sent to R&D. He also added a message about Gai’s talent in fuinjutsu.

When the team left their base, they travelled slowly but with stealth. Yugao took point and scouted. If she felt anything out of the ordinary then it was Riku’s turn. He would enter sage mode scout further and with more precision the surroundings. They had avoided an Iwa shinobi troop going to the front line that way. Laying low inside his buried Botib.

It took them three days to arrive at their destination. Another rocky valley and a narrow one at that. Riku and Kakashi used doton jutsus to create a small cave and buried six feet deep in the former’s own Botib.

After contacting the HQ to report they were in position, they began to receive direct intel from Shikaku himself. Soon enough, the team was waltzing like professional dancers behind the enemy’s lines. Every small camp or base was hit brutally during the night. Kakashi and Yugao were experts in assassination so they infiltrated the deepest parts to kill the commanders. Gai, Kurenai and Riku were charged to deal with the guards, patrols or stealing resources. One of them was always in the Botib, watching the area like a hawk and communicating with the rest on the team.

Food and weapons were sent back to the nearest fortified castle to be distributed towards the bases which needed it the most, intel was sent back to Konoha for decryption and analysis.

There hadn’t been great battles yet but many skirmishes had happened. So far, Konoha had been ready, thanks to the hidden bases and the losses had been minimal contrary to Iwa.

A month into their deployment, the team received excellent news from Shikaku. For Kakashi at least. From one of the scrolls they stole during one of their night raids, the Intelligence division discovered that Iwa’s exploding corps had been deployed for a massive attack towards a small fortress near Ame. The enemy was supposed to completely annihilate the place and create a breach into Konoha’s line of defense. The team’s mission was to intercept the corps and dealt with as many numbers as they could before retreating.

Riku was the first to say something.“How do we proceed?”

Unrolling a map on the table, Kakashi put his finger on it and circled an area. “From the intel they will be around here within a day or two. We need to wait for information from LoE 13 through 17 to know exactly where. Once we know we’re going to prepare a surprise for them. Yugao and I are Team A,” he tapped at an area deeper into Iwa’s territory. “We’re going to put in place a minefield forbidding them to retreat.” He moved his finger on the other side, near Konoha’s line. “Kurenai, Gai, you guys are Team B. You’ll do the same there. Riku you’ll be the bait. First you need to infiltrate the camp and create chaos, then lure them towards Team B. You better have your head protector on your eyes or be in sage mode to be sure to not activate one of the mines and blow yourself up.”

Riku nodded and Gai spoke up. “You’re going for total annihilation.”

“Yes. The exploding corps had always been a headache and a dangerous entity. The more we take out the better. Furthermore if we completely destroy them Iwa will think the area is heavily guarded and trapped, they will have to change their strategy and find another location to breach.”

“Do we have enough tags for the operation?” Kurenai didn’t know how much they had at the moment and Kakashi looked up at Riku.

Bitting the inside of his cheek, Riku made calculations. “For one side only.”

“How many tags does that make and how long does it take to make the same number?”

“Nine to ten thousand.” Kurenai took a deep breath when she heard that. Riku continued. “I can use an auto-seal to make them and have shadow clones writing some at the same time. The problem will be the chakra needed for both. I’d say… Five days plus one day to recuperate?”

“We’re to act in two days, so we will be using the Time Seal.” Kakashi ordered.

Riku nodded and immediately went to work. He didn’t do anything himself and let his clones do the work. Instead he worked on making more Shurifuin with the hirahishin on it. Since he would be at the heart of the action he needed as much as he could.

“You be careful?” Turning his head to the side he saw Yugao taking a seat to his right. She hid it well but he knew she was worried.

“Of course. I’m surprised you’re telling me that. It’s new.”

“Usually, I’m not too worried because Taicho or I are there for back up but you’ll be alone this time. I don’t want… I don’t want to relieve what happened after Ame. Even if you can probably heal from that easily now.”

“I won’t be alone for long. If anything, I’m worried about you and Kakashi. Hiraishin or not, you’re deeper into enemy territory than I am.”

“I’m with Taicho, he would die before I do.”

“I know but still.”

He said nothing else and let his head rest on Yugao’s shoulder for comfort.

“If you die…”

“I won’t.”

“If you do… I’m bridging you back and I’ll make you a stay at home mom.” The threat was ridiculous to the point that the always composed Yugao snorted.

“Definitely not dying then. I’ll use Taicho as a meat shield if I have to.”

“I HEARD THAT!”

Kakashi’s shout from the other side of the room made them laugh.

The camp was nestled in a wide depression between jagged ridges, well-hidden from direct sight but not from the scanning pulse of Riku’s senses. With his headband drawn down over his eyes, the world appeared in stark contrasts of shape and sound, a living map of thudding hearts, shifting feet, hushed voices and the soft flutter of canvas. He could feel the weight of every step, hear the smallest draw of breath. There were at least a hundred shinobi down there, some eating, some sleeping, some standing guard but most of them relaxed, lulled by the false security of the basin's concealment.

He waited only long enough to confirm their numbers.

Then he dropped.

The moment his feet hit the packed earth of the main thoroughfare, a concussive crack echoed through the camp, followed immediately by the tremble of ground collapsing in a wide circle around him. Several tents buckled from the shock, carts toppled, and at least a dozen shinobi were thrown from their seats by the sheer force of impact. Before the dust even began to settle, Riku was moving, a blur of momentum and strength enhanced to terrifying levels. He slammed a fist into the nearest support post, sending the entire medical station caving in on itself in a rain of splinters and screams, then spun and drove his heel into the ground, creating another shockwave that upended a cooking pit and sent a cauldron sailing end over end into a pair of panicked shinobi.

Shadow clones flickered to life around him—five, then ten, then more—each rushing off to separate targets without a word or signal. One went for the weapons tent, another for the scroll depot, and the rest scattered among the chaos, punching through wagons, kicking down crates, and scattering supplies across the broken earth. A few enemies tried to regroup, forming hand signs or barking orders, but Riku was faster, cutting through them with sweeping arcs of raw, unrelenting force, each strike sending bodies flying like rag dolls caught in a gale.

He didn’t waste time burning the place. That wasn’t the mission.

It was noise he needed. Confusion. Rage. Panic. Everything that would draw them toward the exit.

And it worked.

A sharp voice rose above the others, shouting commands through the dust. “They’re escaping toward the eastern ridge! Don’t let them get away!”

He didn’t glance back to see how many followed. He already knew.

Riku tore through the outer perimeter, leaping from shattered barricades into the trees beyond, his chakra flaring just enough to remain visible to the trained senses behind him. He kept his pace fast but not unreachable, letting the enemy believe they had a chance to catch him, to strike back, to win. They surged after him like a tide, more than he expected, possibly close to sixty, and their eagerness told him everything. There was no formation, no care in their pursuit. They weren’t tracking. They were chasing.

He reached the preset boundary marked by LoE signals. The chakra mines were live.

Riku whispered a brief command to a passing clone, then vanished into the brush.

A second later, the forest behind him erupted. Roaring explosions shook the trees. Plumes of fire and smoke curled into the night. Screams were muffled by crashing limbs and flying shrapnel. Trees splintered. Rocks shattered. Then came the silence. The kind that only follows absolute destruction.

He waited until the echoes faded, then circled wide back toward the fallback point where Gai and the others had regrouped. A few birds called in the distance. No enemy sounds.

Mission success.

But something felt wrong.

Later, after they had returned to the Botib and Kurenai delivered the preliminary casualty estimates, Riku was unloading his gear in the armory, his cloak streaked with dirt and the smell of burned canvas still clinging to his hands.

“Clean sweep,” Yugao said, dropping beside him. “Twenty-six confirmed dead, the rest are presumed gone. Taicho’ and I swept the perimeter twice. No survivors on our side. That makes a total of eighty seven.”

He didn’t respond right away. Instead, he stared at the floor.

“Are you alright?” she asked.

“I’m thinking,” he murmured.

“About?”

He raised his hand and tapped his knuckles against his temple. “None of the shinobi I fought used explosives. No jutsu. No tags. Nothing.”

She blinked. “Maybe they didn’t get the chance?”

“No. It wasn’t just that. Their reactions were slow. They didn’t move like a proper demolition unit. Too messy. No coordination. Some of them barely used chakra.”

Kakashi voiced his concern. “You think they were decoys?”

“...Yes. It was too easy for my taste. I think… We were baited and that the exploding corps is elsewhere. Either they confirmed we had access to their intel or they launched an attack knowing we’d be busy. It’s possible an Iwa shinobi recognized us while we did our night raids on their bases.”

“It’s possible, yes.” the fake cyclops replied while scratching his chin. “I’ll call Central and report. Good work, everyone. Take some rest.” This update ıs available on novｅlfire.net

Riku went to the kitchen and brought out a tea pot. He filled it with water and added green leaves in it. Channeling chakra into the tag at the bottom he put it to the side and pulled from the fridge some sushi and maki he had made for everyone. Making a shadow clone he made it pick up tea cups. When he came back to the main room, he set everything on the table.

Yugao sat next to him and stole one of the sushi he had on his plate with a small but unrepentant smile. They were joined by Gai and Kurenai who had apparently taken a quick shower as she was drying her hair with a towel. Kakashi finished his call and sat at the head of the table.

“What did Shikaku-san say?” Riku was trying to stop Yugao from pilfering his plate more than she already did.

“No areas reported the exploding corps or even an attack. Until further notice, it is considered we dealt with them. However, your observations have been taken seriously and the outposts will be even more vigilant just in case.” Kakashi explained. He picked up a roll with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. “I think you’re right, though. It’s really fishy.”

The conversation stopped there, Riku switching for a more intriguing subject: if all tags had been used or not. It turned out that on his, Gai and Kurenai’s side, the answer was yes. On Team A’s side the answer was no. They had recovered all the tags that had not detonated and brought them back. Yugao put them in the armory while Riku was making tea and bringing out food.

For dessert, Riku brought out cinnamon rolls that Hinata had made and sent him via Hirahishin.

“Hinata-san sure knows how to make them.” Gai was happily chewing on a roll.

“That she does.” Riku agreed, eating his own.

Kurenai was in a playful mood for her part. “It’s a miracle she didn’t eat them.”

“She probably made thrice as many and once her stomach was full sent us a tenth of what was left.” Riku knew perfectly well his wife’s love for the pastry.

“Sweet Hinata-chan? I doubt it.”

“You don’t know my wife as I do, Kakashi. Cinnamon roll is to Hinata what Ramen is to an Uzumaki.”

“Damn!” Gai exclaimed in surprise. He had once seen Kushina, Karin and Naruto visiting a small ramen stand and he prayed for the well being of the chief and his daughter. They looked exhausted and were still working whereas each Uzumaki had a pile of at least twenty bowls and didn’t look like they were done anytime soon.

Kurenai confirmed Riku's words. “It’s true though. When she was still a genin I had to bribe her a few times with some.”

“Speaking of, how are Shino and Kiba? Neji often visits the manor so I’m aware of what’s going on with your team, Gai, but Team 8? Hinata doesn’t have a good schedule to meet with them.”

“Before we left, Shino was trying to incorporate his doton affinity to his insects. From what I understood he was rather close to being successful. Kiba was-”

The sound of the phone ringing cut Kurenai short. The silence between them, only broken by the sound of the phone, was heavy. At this time of the night it meant only one thing. An emergency.

Kakashi put his chopstick down and stood up, finishing chewing the food in his mouth. He picked up the phone, confirmed it was him with code and listened to, to anyone’s guess, Nara Shikaku.

“Hmm. We’re moving out immediately.”

“...”

“Understood, sir.” Kakashi hung up and turned around, giving orders on the spot. “We’re being called back to Konoha immediately. Everyone, pack your things and use the Hiraishin to get back to the village. Riku, seal the Botib and use your own hiraishin to travel.”

As everyone, walked to the armory, minus Riku. Gai asked his rival a few questions.

“Any idea why we’re going back? Was Riku’s hunch correct?”

“I don’t know. Shikaku-san didn’t say anything more than the need for the team to return. He was… very stressed however.”

“Whatever happened must be bad.” Yugao shared her thoughts while tying her sword onto her back. “They would have sent us elsewhere otherwise, not the village.”

Kakashi put an end to the conversation quickly. “No need to speculate, we’ll know soon enough.” He had a very bad feeling about this and saw only one explanation.

Once ready, they touched the huge hiraishin seal on the wall and they found themselves in a room similar to the one they visited to get to LoE-27. The main difference was the size of it. It was quite small. Another difference but minor was the fact there was only one single seal array.

“Welcome home Team Kakashi.” A voice echoed in the room and the jonins pinpointed it coming from a speaker up in a corner. “One moment, we’re checking your chakra signature.”

In the meantime, Riku arrived behind them.

“Sorry, I’m late. I had to find you inside the village to teleport here.”

“Welcome home, Senju-sama.” the voice said and the door of the room opened. “By order of the Jonin Commander you are to present yourself to the Hokage’s office immediately.”

“Thank you.” was all Kakashi said, taking the lead and walking out of the place. Once outside they travelled on the rooftops to avoid being hindered by the population and shortened the time to get to their destination. Each step was like a rock falling into his stomach.

It didn’t take long to get to the Hokage Tower and everyone gave them a wide breadth at the sight of the team. It wasn’t rocks falling inside Kakashi’s stomach anymore, it was balls of lead.

When they reached the office, the secretary stopped the team.

“I’m sorry, only Senju-sama and Hatake-san are allowed inside.”

Gai nodded and went to sit in one of the waiting chairs against a wall a few feet away. Yugao and Kurenai joined as Kakashi and Riku entered the office.

Inside the room, Shikaku and the elders were present on each side of the Hokage’s desk. Behind it was Hiruzen, sitting in the chair. Kakashi and Riku presented themselves, saluting but nobody spoke beyond that. It was obvious however that the conversation wasn’t going to be pleasant. The silence was so loud that Kakashi could hear Riku’s heartbeat being quite fast. He too had understood why they were there.

Without a word, Hiruzen stood up and went around the desk. He picked the Hokage hat in one hand and stood in front of Riku. His next words were blunt but heavy as he put the hat on Riku’s head.

“Jonin Senju Riku, you are, from this moment forth, the Rokudaime Hokage of Konohagakure no sato.”