Chapter Eleven
After disposing of the body of Hitoki, Indra destroyed the temple by letting it burn to the ground, and then he created a massive hole under and around the burned down temple by using an earth-release jutsu, he then covered it back up. After covering the hole with another earth-release jutsu, Indra quickly left the site, returning back to the town.
Just as he'd expected, the members of the Fuma clan had found out their patriarch had gone missing, and they had quickly locked down the town and were now in the fun process of terrorising the residents of their town, forcing themselves into the houses and business places of the town residents in the name of locating their clan leader.
"Hey, wait there!!" a rough-looking Fuma clan member, holding a massive sword that rested on his shoulder said, shouting at Indra that had just sneaked back into the town.
Indra, now wearing regular civilian clothing sighed before turning around to address the man.
"What is it?" He asked, his irritation bare for the man to see. While he wasn't suppressing his chakra, he was annoyed at himself for not just sneaking back into his room at the inn. He wanted to see the reactions of the Fuma clan to their missing patriarch, so he'd be able to accurately plan for his next move, so he decided to walk back to the inn.
"I just have a few questions for you?" the man asked, stunning Indra since he expected the man to try and harass him like they were doing to almost everyone in the town.
'Huh! Unexpected," Indra thought.
"Why are you looking at me like that?!" the man asked sarcastically, seemingly used to the stunned look that was plastered on Indra's face. "Anyway, have you seen anyone suspicious?" the man asked.
"Sorry, I haven't," Indra replied.
"That's fine, if you see anyone suspicious, come to the Fuma clan and report it. It's of utmost importance," the man said, as he turned to leave. "Piece of advice, you should return to your home," he added.
Indra nodded before leaving,
Upon returning to the inn, Indra first took a warm shower before going to bed. He has to take out the elders of the Fuma clan, but due to how long it took for Hitoki to say what Indra wanted to know, the clan had found out about the missing Hitoki, making them alert. While he could just kill them now and get it over with before heading for the next clan, the probability of him being exposed while assassinating the elders would be significantly higher.
The assassination of the Land of Rice clan leaders, elders, and the Daimyo couldn't be traced back to Konoha, that's why Indra was carrying out this mission So being meticulous is the right call for such a delicate mission, because it would just be poor on him if he's exposed on his first mission for Konoha.
Indra had already spent two months in the Land of Rice, and by his calculations, the mission would take another two months to three months to complete his mission, and an extra three months, possibly six months would be required to track down the people that attacked his village, and get the information on where his mother was taken to. While he would most likely find the person that particular group of bandit reported to, it wasn't unlikely whoever he/she sponsoring the bandit group would know who they attacked and sold as slaves, so he'd have to find the bandit group itself and politely make them remember where his mother was taken to.
................
"Tobirama, are you certain Indra is ready for a mission alone in a foreign and possibly hostile country," A red-haired woman asked, worry for Indra clear on her face. "He's just 12, maybe you should call him back and assign the mission to someone else, someone that isn't Indra. I mean, it's been two months and we haven't heard from him yet," she added.
Frowning slightly, Tobirama replied. "At the age of 12, Anija and I had killed several adults from the Uchiha clan."
Although he communicates with Indra at the end of every week via a messenger hawk, he wasn't going to tell her that.
"And that's something you're proud of?!" the red-haired woman hissed back.
Tobirama said. "Besides the mission is on isn't exactly a dangerous mission, so there's nothing to worry about," he added.
Looking at him with a suspicious look, she asked. "It's not a dangerous mission for Indra? or the average shinobi?"
"Mito, stop worrying about him. I trust Indra would easily complete his mission and return to the village when he's done with his personal business. You should too," Tobirama replied. "Besides, I know you're more worried about him returning than the mission he's on," He added, chuckling at Mito whose entire face was slowly turning red, due to her true intention getting exposed.
"Fine, you caught me." The blushing Mito stated.
"I have a mission to prepare for, so I'd be leaving now," Tobirama said as he got up to leave the room.
"Tobirama," Mito said, stopping the Hokage as he was about to exit the room. "Did you send Indra on this mission so he'd stay out of the intense fighting the war would create?" she asked.
Coming to a halt, Tobirama turned to look at Mito that was staring at him with a slight smirk. "I don't know what you're talking about," he replied, hurriedly leaving the room with a now laughing Mito behind him.
......
After leaving the house of Mito, Tobirama returned to the Hokage's mansion.
"Hokage-sama!" an Anbu operative with a hawk mask saluted Tobirama as he stepped into the Hokage's mansion. "I don't think your mission tomorrow is wise, there is no need for an actual meeting during war-time," he added, his tone showing concern towards the Hokage.
Sighing loudly, Tobirama replied. "Hoki, I have no other option. Konoha is facing three of the five villages, with Kumogakure most likely waiting back to strike a blow at everyone else after exhausting our forces. As the Hokage, it's my duty to ensure the safety of Konoha no matter the risk, and an alliance with Kumogakure would keep more of our shinobi alive at the end of the war."
"You're heading towards the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers, ensure the advancing Sunagakure shinobi do not cross over into the Land of Fire," Tobirama sternly stated before he left Hoki, heading inside his residence.
"Hai Hokage-sama!" Hoki saluted before leaving.
Tobirama had arranged a meeting with A, the second Raikage. Kumogakure and Konoha had entered a non-aggression alliance with both Kage not wanting to fight each other. Tobirama was not expecting any danger at the official signing ceremony, but he wasn't stupid so he made preparations for any sudden attack. And from the information he'd found out, only the Raikage was pro-alliance with most of the powerful shinobi, clans in the village wanting to attack the other four villages after they've weakened themselves significantly.
Although an alliance with Kumogakure would mean Indra's mission is now redundant, Tobirama did not see it that way. An alliance with any of the five great nations is just a piece of paper that would last for a few years, and then get destroyed when one party considers the other weaker or one party gets greedy. A non-aggression pact was signed by the Five great nations during the first meeting with the other Kage, but it was placed at the back of a dusty cabinet after a few years, with the other nations squabbling amongst themselves, and dragging the smaller nations into their squabble. And what happened the moment Hashirama died, the non-aggression pact officially went up in smoke.
Tobirama didn't consider an alliance with Kumogakure anything that would last for long, but he was willing to possibly put his life on the line to sign one if it meant keeping the village his brother created safe.
The next morning Tobirama left for the pre-arranged meeting location in the Land of Hot Water, a small country located between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning. Accompanying Tobirama was Sarutobi Sasuke as an official escort, while unofficially were five of the most elite Anbu members. Based on the agreement between Tobirama and the Raikage, they were only allowed to have one shinobi accompanying them, due to the nature of such a meeting. But Tobirama was very cautious of two sets of people, the first one had red eyes with three tomoe in it, and the other was anyone that wasn't from Konoha.
The Anbu operatives would remain far enough that skilled sensors would discover their presence, but close enough to come to his aid should anything unexpected happen.
"Are you ready?" Tobirama asked Sasuke as they neared the border of the Land of Fire.
Sasuke nodded in response, the serious aura surrounding him slightly intensifying.
"Be prepared for anything, we're entering an enemy nation territory." He added, but to the Anbu operatives accompanying him.
With a nod, they unofficial entered the Land of Hot Water.