Konoha Notes

Chapter 284 The Remaining Things

Shion stood in the familiar courtyard.

He left home, left the scorching Sand Village, and was suddenly taken away from Konoha one day... In the end, he returned here, to the Land of Demons.

"...This is an emergency measure that has to be taken to deal with the demons. Please rest assured, I will protect your safety." This is what the person named Uchiha Shisui said.

Ziyuan was just scared, but she didn't cry or complain.

She simply clutched the bell that Maitreya had left her, awaiting her fate.

Those people will probably send me off soon.

The demons were waiting for her.

However, the expected order to head to the sealed land never came. She followed the allied forces of Konoha and Sunagakure, moving step by step from outside the border of the Land of Demons, and somehow ended up back in the palace that should have been the center of the battlefield.

The ninjas from Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure were busy going in and out, carrying scrolls and examining the traces left behind.

The ninjas in green vests or yellow uniforms would occasionally glance at her, the little shrine maiden, but would quickly look away.

"What is this?" She finally couldn't help but tug at the hem of the ninja named Shizui's robe.

Shisui stopped and crouched down, her gaze level with hers. "The Wraith... and its undead army, suddenly vanished."

“We are searching for clues about their evacuation.”

"Gone...gone?" Ziyuan was stunned, her mind blank. "Then...I..."

"Based on our current assessment, the mission here is temporarily over," Shisui continued. "We will escort you back to Konoha soon."

"Back to Konoha?" Shion's voice trembled without her even realizing it. "This is my home..." Besides, the disappearance of the demon meant it was over, didn't it?

"It's no longer safe here."

Ziyuan looked up, trying to glean more information from the other person's eyes: "Where's Mom? Have you... found Mom?"

Shisui subtly shifted his gaze for a moment, avoiding her longing look: "Staying in Konoha is also to fulfill Lord Miroku's request."

Ziyuan lowered her head, looking at the silent bell in her hand. Her mother's dying wish… was this all she had left?
Inside the main hall of the palace.

"The investigation is complete, and no trace of the demons has been found," Kakashi explained. "The reconnaissance team that was stationed at the shrine in the Land of Swamps reported that they were attacked by an unknown force and briefly lost control of the shrine."

"Now it seems that it was a cover and clearing operation carried out by the demons to facilitate their retreat."

Huang Tu muttered, "This monster is avoiding the main force of the allied forces; it's probably planning to move and find another opportunity."

"We have increased our search forces and expanded our reconnaissance area," Maki said.

Shuji stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the desolate and silent courtyard outside: "Leave three small teams on each side of the border of the Demon Kingdom to take turns monitoring it. Send two more teams to the shrine of the Swamp Kingdom and set up an early warning barrier."

"The main force will begin to withdraw in batches in half a month."

The Land of Demons is a remote place. Even for the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth, there is enough time to respond to any incidents. It is pointless to waste a large force here.

Huang Tu glanced at Maki, and seeing that the Sand Village commander had no objections, he nodded: "Iwagakure agrees to this arrangement."

Then, without saying another word, he turned and strode away, his heavy footsteps echoing in the hall.

Only the people from Konoha and Sunagakure remained in the hall before Maki spoke: "Mr. Shuji, Moryo has temporarily left. Regarding the priestess of the Land of Demons..."

“It’s safer for her to stay in Konoha; she’s too young.” Shuuji didn’t mention who the person was from Sunagakure. “If there’s a real problem, Konoha won’t stand idly by. This isn’t just a matter between Sunagakure and Iwagakure.” “…I understand.” After trying a little and being rejected, Maki didn’t insist any further.

It's obvious who the demon's departure is related to, but no matter how obvious it is, there's no useful strategy.

This is the only way for now; let's bring Shion back to Konoha to cultivate it.

Xiu Si's gaze fell on Maki, and he suddenly changed the subject: "How is the trial planting of the batch of tree species for land reclamation that I gave you before going?"

Maki's eyes flickered slightly, and his answer was somewhat vague: "Well... according to feedback from below, the initial growth is promising. However, the specific details are not my responsibility; I need to verify the data with the relevant departments..."

Shuji turned his head: "Perfect timing, things here are settled. On the way back, Sunagakure shouldn't mind if I stop by to check it out, right?"

Maki's throat bobbed. "Well... although we're allies, please wait a moment, Mr. Shuji... I need to speak with Lord Kazekage..."

"Okay, then I'll go and inform them."

The Sand Village Jonin smiled wryly to himself, but could only nod in agreement.

Having fought side by side all this way, from coordinated defense to tactical assaults, and now to post-war arrangements, the presence and decision-making ability of this excessively young Konoha high-ranking official beside him have subconsciously given him a sense of obedience similar to that towards a superior.

Adjusting one's mindset takes time and isn't something that can be done immediately.

He watched Xiu Si's retreating figure turn back to the window, a silent sigh escaping his lips. If this kind of allied warfare continued a few more times, he feared he truly wouldn't be able to adjust his mindset.

Back at his temporary office, Maki carefully considered his words, cleverly transforming "request" into "request," and adding appropriate personal assessments of the situation, such as "...Konoha, as an ally, has shown dedication and responsibility in this joint operation..."—such remarks were always necessary.

This carefully worded letter eventually landed on Ebizo's desk.

Ebizo picked up the letter and examined it carefully for a long time, his wrinkled face revealing no expression. He then spread out the battle reports that had been sent back earlier, his eyes scanning back and forth between the lines.

Chiyo walked in with slightly heavy steps and saw her younger brother staring blankly at a pile of reports.

"Is things not going well with the demons?"

"For now, it's been resolved smoothly."

Upon hearing this, Chiyo sat down but didn't look at anything; she just stared blankly at the long table in front of her.

"Has Gaara hurt someone again?" Ebizo asked.

"He didn't do anything, he just studied and then stayed by himself."

"No one is going to try to assassinate him anymore. He probably just doesn't care anymore."

"..."

Chiyo then asked her younger brother about what had just happened: "What were you looking at? What happened?"

“Our ally is too capable, so some things have gone wrong.” Ebizo handed Maki’s letter to Chiyo.

“Let him see if he wants to,” Chiyo replied.

“No, as a breeder, that doesn’t matter. The problem is something else,” Ebizo said. “Let’s get Maki back first.”

"We'll know when the time comes."

(End of this chapter)