123 Chapter 123

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On their way back to the Hidden Leaf Village, Kyomu, Kakashi, and Obito all wore somber expressions, with only Might Guy seemingly oblivious to the mood. Having achieved significant accomplishments, instead of receiving commendations or promotions after more than a week, they were met with a summoning order.

The team members weren't exactly resentful, but they definitely had their opinions. The reason behind this treatment was clear to anyone with eyes.

For instance, Minato's reaction when sending off Kyomu and his team was quite telling.

He hadn't wanted to pick this particular "fruit" but was forced into it by Hiruzen, leaving Minato feeling uncomfortable with the situation.

"What's going on!" Genma couldn't hide his frustration. "The Sand Shinobi have been beaten down by us. Now would be the perfect time to counterattack, but instead, we're being..."

"We're taking a break, which isn't a bad thing," Kyomu finally spoke up. "It's a good opportunity to temper your impulsive nature, absorb the lessons from the past four months of combat, and improve our strength.

Sacrifices bring gains, and this isn't entirely without benefit. Plus, do you really think we're being let off to graze on the mountainside?"

Kyomu shook his head, "Follow me and endure some grievances for now. When the time comes, I'll lead you to charge through the Stone, Cloud, and Mist Shinobi!"

"That's quite bold!"

"Of course," Ebisu chimed in. "Kyomu-san always does as he says; there's no falsehood in his words."

"But I still can't get over it..."

Not only Genma but also Kakashi and Kyomu were discontent. Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, might have seemed decent at times, but his balancing act was terribly flawed, obvious to the point of embarrassment for Kyomu.

Politicking isn't something shinobi should engage in, as their maneuvers are not only inadequate but also lay mines at every turn.

"However, this might be a good opportunity," Kyomu thought, not disheartened or feeling wronged. "It's a chance to consolidate and improve our strength, while also managing the team's morale. Rebellion isn't always a personal desire; sometimes, it's the people behind you pushing you into it. Sarutobi might vaguely understand this, but he's missing the finer details, turning a clever move into a stinking one."

After inwardly despising Sarutobi again, Kyomu didn't stop Genma and the others from venting.

In fact, Kyomu's silence only magnified the complaints within the team. However, the complaints didn't target Kyomu; instead, they voiced grievances on his behalf.

Especially upon their return to the Hidden Leaf, the team's frustration peaked.

The village was eerily quiet, with people busying themselves and no one there to welcome or acknowledge their sacrifices at the front lines. Their achievements were effectively silenced.

"This is too much!" Even Ren, who had been silent up until now, couldn't hold back. "Our efforts... are they really..."

"It's my fault you all had to endure this," Kyomu intervened. "If it hadn't been for my unilateral decision to use Reverse Summoning Jutsu to return to the village and take Kakashi and Obito to the Land of Wind, you might not have had to suffer this indignity."

"Kyomu-san, that's not your fault," Ren disagreed. "While the method might have been improper, the merits cannot be obscured. They're just too sensitive. The deeds done for the village should be a cause for celebration, not suppression."

"And besides, some things were indeed mishandled by them!"

Ren wanted to say more but was cut off by Kyomu, "Just follow the Hokage's arrangements. He's the Hokage, and we just need to follow orders."

The belief that 'when the master is disgraced, the servant dies' was evident. The calmer Kyomu appeared, the more his team felt the injustice on his behalf.

"Kyomu-san, once we return to the village, I'll make sure everyone hears of your heroics. You're a hero, and you deserve cheers!"

"Me too, Kyomu-san. My family might be ordinary, but I have many friends."

"And me, I will…"

Kyomu shook his head, "I appreciate the sentiment, but please don't act rashly. There will be other opportunities. I never considered these events to be true grievances. When you're strong enough, the path beneath your feet is always smooth, and the future always bright. If you truly want to stand up for me, then show me through your strength."

Raising his hand, Kyomu called, "First Shinobi Squad, assemble!"

Instantly, everyone stood at attention, as if undergoing inspection by a king.

"I don't have much to say, but come to my house the day after tomorrow. I'll share some training insights with you. And don't bother me unless it's necessary. Focus on improving your skills. If you really don't understand something, you can ask me, and I'll patiently explain.

My disgrace today won't be avenged on fellow villagers. So, stop talking and harboring complaints. Once your strength meets my expectations, the indignities I faced today, I'll rely on you to reclaim from our enemies.

Grudges solve nothing; what we seek is strength and the renown that comes with it in missions and wars. Do you understand?"

"Understood!"

"Good, disband and process your village re-entry paperwork," Kyomu instructed, allowing everyone to disperse.

Indeed, the 73 people returning from the front lines had to process paperwork to re-enter the village, a protocol that, while standard, carried an underlying message.

Back in the Hidden Leaf, inside the Hokage's office...

Watching through a crystal ball, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt relieved. "It seems I was worried for nothing. Kyomu doesn't harbor any ill will."

"How can you be sure he's not pretending?" Danzo interrupted. "Until it's thoroughly proven, we can't overlook the negative impact Sakumo's death has on both Kyomu and Kakashi."

Hiruzen glanced at Danzo with a cold gaze. "Danzo, tell me, how involved were you in Sakumo's demise?"

"I merely provided information, which was both true and useful. The issue was entirely Sakumo's fault. The slander was spread by enemy informants, unrelated to you or me."

Danzo insisted on his innocence and, seizing the moment of Hiruzen's distraction, made a proposal.

"Hiruzen, let Kyomu join my Root division. I'll scrutinize his true intentions for you," Danzo offered with a sneer. "I'll properly train and transform him into a war machine utterly loyal to the village."

"But..."

"No 'buts'. I can handle this well," Danzo insisted, looking at Hiruzen with expectation. "You must trust me, Hiruzen.

My loyalty and devotion to the village are no less profound than yours. Hand Kyomu over to me, and I assure you, I'll make him a formidable asset to the village without any concerns for us."

Hiruzen didn't immediately respond, reflecting on the proposition before ultimately rejecting Danzo's offer.

"No, Kyomu cannot join Root."

"Hiruzen, you..."

"Kyomu has a different path laid out for him; you needn't worry about him any further," Hiruzen stated, dismissing Danzo with a wave of his hand. "If there's nothing else, you may leave."

Danzo left in a huff, thwarted by Hiruzen once more. But just because Hiruzen refused, did it mean Danzo would stop his scheming?

"Kyomu, I will turn you into my sharpest blade, no matter what it takes!"

Muttering to himself, Danzo returned to the Root headquarters, unusually determined to dig up dirt on Hiruzen. He was tired of being overshadowed and sought to hasten the end of Hiruzen's tenure as Hokage, viewing the ongoing war as a perfect opportunity to pressure Hiruzen into stepping down.

Meanwhile, Kyomu, Kakashi, Obito, and Might Guy, along with Genma and Ebisu, decided to gather and unwind together after their return. Genma was particularly vocal about his achievements and aspirations, although Ebisu remained more reserved.

They all agreed to meet and invited Rin, heading to their usual spot. Rin and Obito's relationship had grown closer, their affection for each other becoming increasingly apparent.

The meal was lively, aside from Obito's repeated mentions of awakening his Sharingan to two tomoe, which slightly irked the others.

However, it was clear that upon returning to the Uchiha clan, Obito's standing within the clan would rise significantly, thanks to his openness about his achievement.

After parting ways with his friends, Kyomu returned home, only to be immediately met with a summon from the Hokage. "Kyomu, the Hokage has summoned you," announced an Anbu member before swiftly departing.

"Is Sarutobi trying to offer me a sweet deal now?" Kyomu thought, making his way to the Hokage's office without delay.

Upon arrival, Hiruzen immediately apologized, explaining his reasons for the recent actions, including suppressing their achievements and recalling them from the front lines. He expressed concern over Kyomu's frequent use of forbidden techniques and the potential harm they could cause to his body.

Sarutobi emphasized that the village couldn't afford to lose another shinobi of Kyomu's caliber and proposed to make it up to him by granting access to the village's Seal Scroll.

Kyomu, understanding the gesture, requested to learn the Sealing Technique: Five Elements Seal, the A-rank technique Explosive Tag Mutually Multiplying Technique, and the S-rank technique Five Nature Great Combo.

Sarutobi agreed, allowing Kyomu a brief period to memorize the techniques from the scroll. Once the time was up, Kyomu handed back the scroll, and Sarutobi advised him to digest the information thoroughly and offered further guidance if needed.

As Kyomu left the Hokage's office, his thoughts drifted to the upcoming refresh of his passive skill, hoping for another favorable addition.

(End of Chapter)