The weeks passed peacefully, almost too calm for Konoha's standards. After the escort mission to Sunagakure — an absolute success that even reached the ears of the councilors — Tsunade decided to give the young ninjas some rest.
The relief was welcome, but not everyone could get used to the quiet.
Naruto spent his days divided between intense training and insistent visits to Ichiraku. Sakura, always behind Sasuke, was trying hard, though she seemed worried about something she didn't say aloud. Rock Lee trained until he dropped from exhaustion, as usual, while Tenten watched him with a smile and tried her best in her own way.
And Li Shang...
He was rarely seen.
With each new day, the rumors grew. Some said he isolated himself out of arrogance. Others, that he sought secret techniques of the Hyuuga clan. But no one knew the truth.
Li Shang dedicated almost all his time to cultivation. When he left to train, he used reverse summoning to reach Shikkotsu Forest, where the spiritual energy was purer and more concentrated — the Yuan Qi of that place was acceptable. The gigantic slugs and beasts of the place watched in silence, as if recognizing and accepting his presence.
There, among ancient trees and streams that shimmered with natural chakra, two creatures accompanied him. Fenrir and Alduin.
The black wolf, now even larger and more imposing, exuded an aura so dense that the air around him trembled. The gray dragon, in turn, hovered high above, watching his master with an intelligent and silent gaze.
During cultivation, Li Shang kept the cursed seal active. It was the perfect complement; the energy overload forced his meridians to expand, polishing every drop of chakra and refining everything. The progress was brutal. In just a few weeks, he had reached the fifth stage of the Core Realm.
'It's not enough...' he thought during one of his meditations. 'Even with the advancement, I feel that each stage becomes twice as slow. I need to find a greater source of energy, if only I were the Kyuubi's jinchuuriki.'
When his concentration reached its peak, the forest's energy stirred. Fenrir howled, and the sound reverberated like thunder. Alduin, from above, responded with a roar that made the ground tremble. It was as if the environment itself recognized his master's progress.
The sun was still sleeping behind the mountains when the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the corridors of the Hokage Tower.
The messengers had been clear: mission summons.
One by one, the members of Team 7 and Team 9 were summoned. Naruto arrived first, sleepy and complaining about the time. Sakura and Sasuke followed close behind. Rock Lee and Tenten arrived together, already prepared for the mission. Finally, Li Shang appeared. His expression calm, his black cloak covering part of his body, and that deep gaze — almost ethereal.
The air seemed to change when he entered.
"I see you all enjoyed your extended rest. You even formed a training group."
Tsunade crossed her arms, observing the six young people lined up in front of her. Naruto smiled nonchalantly, Sakura and Tenten maintained serious postures trying to contain their nervousness, Rock Lee stood erect and excited, and Sasuke, as always, remained impassive. But her eyes soon turned to the last in line — the only one who maintained a calm, almost provocative demeanor.
Li Shang.
"Indeed, you seem dedicated," she continued, though her attention remained on him.
The young Hyuuga's calm gaze made her feel something uncomfortable, as if he saw beyond the surface — perhaps even beyond her. Li Shang slightly arched the corner of his lips, a subtle gesture, but one that sounded almost insolent.
"Well," he said, in a light tone, "privacy isn't exactly a well-known word in this village."
Naruto and Sakura exchanged confused glances at the comment, but Tsunade raised an eyebrow. Her smile was serene, but the glint in her eyes indicated that the provocation had not gone unnoticed.
"Privacy?" she repeated, walking slowly until she stood in front of him. "How can you say such a thing, boy? I always respect the privacy of my ninjas. But caution is another matter."
The Hokage paused purposefully, weighing her words. "Even in Shikkotsu Forest, a certain person seems to think they won't be bothered."
Silence filled the room. The air seemed to grow heavier, but Li Shang merely smiled, showing no surprise.
"Does this person have nothing to say?" Tsunade insisted, now with a slight tone of authority. "No excuse for leaving the village without permission?"
Li Shang sighed softly, but kept his gaze firm. "Perhaps this person just has some secrets. And that's normal, right?"
The way he said it wasn't a challenge — it was a dangerous naturalness, a calm that disconcerted. Her smile wavered for an instant, and then Tsunade responded in the same tone as him, disguising her curiosity.
"Too many secrets raise suspicions..."
Her answer was firm, but what followed was unexpected. Li Shang tilted his head slightly, his penetrating gaze fixed on hers.
"If it were me, Neji Hyuuga," he said serenely, "I would be willing to clear up any doubts... only, of course, if I had an intimate and close relationship with the person."
The phrase cut through the air like a precise needle.
Naruto coughed uncomfortably, Sakura's eyes widened, and even Sasuke looked away for an instant. But Tsunade remained still. The confident smile she always wore vanished, replaced by an almost imperceptible blush that rose to her cheeks.
She cleared her throat, disguising it, but her composure wavered for an instant.
'Why does this boy get to me like this?' she thought, annoyed with herself.
Since taking office as Hokage, Tsunade had grown accustomed to dealing with all kinds of people — from old councilors to the most rebellious shinobi. None of them had managed to shake her calm with just a few words. None, except him.
Li Shang remained silent now, the same enigmatic smile on his face, as if he knew exactly the effect he was having.
Tsunade turned, pretending to concentrate on the papers on her desk. "Anyway," she said, resuming her professional tone, "you will have your next mission soon. I don't want any more... unauthorized escapades."
"Understood, Hokage-sama," Li Shang replied, with an impeccable bow — but the glint in his eyes betrayed the hidden irony in his response.
"Neji Hyuuga, after your promotion to chunin, you have not yet led any missions due to the unstable situation in the village. But after your last performance and considering the growing pressure on the Fire Country's borders, you will be leading the next mission."
Tsunade spoke with her usual authority, resting her hands on the table as she handed over a scroll sealed with the Rank B mission seal.
Naruto was the first to react, his expression a mix of surprise and indignation.
"Only Rank B?"
The comment echoed through the room, drawing discreet glances from Sasuke and Rock Lee, who seemed to agree in silence. For them, after all they had faced in recent battles, a Rank B mission seemed... trivial.
Tenten, however, let out a sigh of relief, while Sakura, discreetly, shared the same sentiment. They knew that a disguised rest mission was not entirely bad.
Tsunade crossed her arms, observing their reactions with a slight smile. "Before any of you complain further, let me clarify."
The Hokage leaned forward slightly, her gaze firm.
"Sunagakure recently suffered an attack. An entire battalion was decimated by mysterious forces. The village sent a request for cooperation upon receiving this news, and this mission will serve both for investigation and to reaffirm our alliance."
Her tone was calm, but the choice of words carried political weight. Naruto, who was about to interrupt, swallowed hard and fell silent.
"So... it's a joint mission?" asked Sasuke, his gaze cold and analytical.
"Exactly." Tsunade confirmed. "And more than that — this mission is a showcase. Other villages are watching how Konoha and Suna act under pressure. A newly promoted chunin leading a shinobi team will send the right message: our new generation is ready."
The silence that followed was respectful. Even Naruto, with all his impulsiveness, understood what that meant.
Tsunade then straightened up and looked at everyone at once. "If you have no questions, be ready in half an hour to depart."
"Yes, ma'am!" Naruto replied loudly, almost too excited, trying to mask his own anxiety.
"Understood," Sasuke said, short and direct.
Rock Lee clenched his fist, determined. "I will give my all, Hokage-sama!"
Sakura and Tenten merely nodded, exchanging knowing glances.