The Soldier Pill Research Base was a hive of activity.
No matter how hard Byakuya looked, he couldn't spot any signs of damage or sabotage.
Being cautious, he waited and observed for an entire day, using the downtime to practice his Storm Style ninjutsu dozens of times.
The next day.
The base remained unchanged.
A Leaf logistics unit arrived, loading up crates of supplies before heading toward the front lines.
"Would those two bounty hunters target the supply convoy instead?"
The more Byakuya thought about it, the more likely it seemed. He shadowed the convoy secretly. They passed through a valley that was practically begging for an ambush, but the targets never showed up.
Byakuya suddenly panicked. Did the enemy spot me? Are they waiting for me to leave so they can destroy the base?
He immediately sped back to the Soldier Pill Research Base.
It was still peaceful. Still busy.
Nothing out of the ordinary.
"Did the targets decide there were too many people here and move on to another location?"
He spread out his map.
The nearest facility was the Combat Uniform Factory.
Byakuya rushed there.
But just like the research base, the factory was orderly. Workers were sweating buckets as raw materials arrived and finished uniforms were shipped out. Everything was running like clockwork.
Now he was completely lost.
He decided to camp in the forest near the factory and finish his system mission.
> [System: Hard Work Pays Off]
> Limited Time Mission (3 Days): Practice Storm Style Ninjutsu (50/50)
> Status: Complete.
> Reward: Minor increase in Ninjutsu Talent.
Once he received the reward, Byakuya finally understood what "Ninjutsu Talent" meant.
It was chakra efficiency, learning speed, comprehension, and creative breakthroughs in jutsu development.
"My Storm Style: Torrential Lightning, which I developed from Water Style: Wild Water Wave, has so many flaws. Wasted chakra, poor control, misjudged power output... I could have done it better, but my old talent capped my potential. Now, things are different..."
Returning his focus to the Root mission, Byakuya finally resigned himself to putting on his Leaf forehead protector and approaching the Soldier Pill Research Base directly to ask questions.
Only then did he learn the truth: the base had been attacked. Several people were injured, but Leaf reinforcements arrived in time and killed the attackers.
With that confirmed, Byakuya could finally return to the village with peace of mind.
He wore his Shuten-doji mask and black trench coat. At the village gates, he flashed his Root pass without saying a word to the guards, ignoring their questions. He took back roads to the Academy and vaulted over the wall.
He unlocked the warehouse, took off the coat, and stowed his weapons. He placed the demon mask in a corner. Then, taking the bounty hunters' ID tags and the Exchange mission scrolls, he went to Hiroya's office.
Knock, knock.
"Come in... Ah, Byakuya! You're finally back! Sit, sit!"
The old snake Hiroya flipped through the "Anteater Bounty Group" ID tags and the scrolls while listening to Byakuya's mission report.
"So you're saying you used a Shadow Clone to lure the enemy into an ambush, then killed them both with that explosive tag sword from the warehouse?"
"Yes, sir! That's exactly how it happened."
"You're not hiding anything?"
"I wouldn't dare."
Hiroya patted his shoulder. "Good lad. I knew I didn't misjudge you. You have a bright future! Since fate brought you and that explosive sword together, you can keep it."
"Thank you for your cultivation, Principal."
"Take the rest of the day off. Go home and rest."
"Is... is that really okay?"
"I'm the Principal. What I say goes."
"Yes, sir!"
---
Back at the warehouse, Byakuya locked the three heavy doors. He suddenly remembered Orochimaru's defensive jutsu, the Rashomon. He wondered if the Leaf had a scroll for that.
For someone following the Way of Laying Low, you could never have too many defensive measures.
He had been away for a few days, and even fewer students were around now.
Teacher Izumi happened to be coming downstairs carrying her lesson plans when they bumped into each other.
"Teacher Izumi, isn't it class time?"
"Oh, Byakuya! Didn't you know? Most of the students have graduated early. Teaching has become quite relaxed. By the way, I went to the warehouse to find you yesterday, but you weren't there."
"The weather turned cold recently, and I got sick. I took a few days off to recover."
"Are you feeling better?" Izumi touched his forehead, then her own.
"I took some medicine and I'm fine now. Thanks for caring."
Izumi's baby face broke into a dimpled smile. "Since we're both free, let me treat you to barbecue."
Byakuya shook his head. "If you're paying again, I'm not going."
"Fine, fine. I'll treat, you pay."
"Let's go then. My diet was bland while I was sick; I've been craving meat."
Suddenly, Izumi gave him a curious look. "I haven't seen you for a few days, but you feel... different, Byakuya."
"Probably just the sickness."
"Maybe."
Izumi dropped her things off at her office, and they left the school together.
---
Hiroya also left the Academy, heading straight for the Root base.
"I need to see Lord Danzo!"
"Lord Danzo is busy."
"I have important news to report!"
"Wait here."
Nearly half an hour later.
"Follow me."
Danzo stood with his back to the door, admiring a calligraphy scroll on the wall that read Hard Work Pays Off. He didn't turn around. "Hiroya. What is it?"
"Lord Danzo, Byakuya Senkaku has returned."
"Hmph." Danzo made a noncommittal sound.
Hiroya was there primarily to cover his own ass. Even if he wasn't sure he'd committed a crime yet, it was best to be cautious when Danzo took a personal interest in a mission.
He relayed Byakuya's report to Danzo in full detail.
"I only knew the mission was about rogue ninjas. I never expected it would involve the Anteater Bounty Group and the Underground Exchange."
Danzo closed his eyes for a moment, then glanced back at Hiroya. The man was still useful. "Stop kneeling. Get up."
"I wouldn't dare."
"Root's manpower is spread thin elsewhere. Oversights on minor matters are inevitable. The fault is not yours."
Hearing this, Hiroya finally stood up, feeling like he was walking on thin ice.
"Did you teach Byakuya Senkaku the Shadow Clone Jutsu?"
Hiroya hurriedly explained the entire context, hiding nothing.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Hiroya dropped to his knees again. "I deserve to die."
"Regarding Byakuya Senkaku... from now on, you report only to me."
"Huh?"
"You have an objection?"
"No! No, I was just... surprised."
Seven days. In one week, the boy had mastered the Shadow Clone Jutsu and killed two experienced Chunin-level combatants. He had proven his strength.
Danzo pulled Byakuya's file from his desk. He murmured to himself, "One mission doesn't mean much. I want to see if you are a little fox hiding its tail, or just a piece of rotting wood that got lucky."
"Here is Byakuya Senkaku's new mission. Give it to him in seven days. Also, ask him if there are any jutsu he wants to learn. Consider it compensation for the unexpected difficulty of his last mission."
"Understood."
"Do as I say."
"Yes, sir!"
---
Byakuya and Izumi walked into the barbecue restaurant and coincidentally saw Kurenai Yuhi there with friends.
Izumi greeted her warmly. "Kurenai! Congratulations on your graduation."
"Ah, Teacher Izumi! And... Byakuya?"
Byakuya exchanged a few polite words, then immediately went with Izumi to a different table.