Unbreakable Bonds 《Book 2》

Chapter 33

 -3rd Person-

The Hokage's office was thick with tension, the weight of an impossible mission hanging over every word exchanged. Kakashi stood by the door, his face calm, but his mind was racing. In front of him, Tsunade frowned deeply, her elbows on her desk, fingers laced together as she considered the request that hung in the air. Shikamaru stood nearby, his gaze fixed on the floor, still shaken from the battle that had taken Asuma's life. The decision was now up to Tsunade.

"We can't send Mizuki on this mission," Kakashi's voice broke the silence, steady and firm. "If something happens to Naruto, we lose half of the Nine-Tails. Mizuki shares that same risk. We can't gamble with both halves of the Nine-Tails' power."

Tsunade's sharp eyes flicked to him. "You're suggesting we leave her behind?"

"Yes," Kakashi replied. "At least for this mission. Hidan and Kakuzu are formidable foes, and if something goes wrong, we can't afford to lose her. Naruto can be reckless. We know that. But if he's captured, we're down the most important asset this village has—and if Mizuki's there too, the consequences would be devastating."

Tsunade leaned back in her chair, the gears in her mind visibly turning. The room felt stifling, the silence heavy as both Shikamaru and Tsunade considered Kakashi's words. He could see the hesitation in Tsunade's eyes—the internal struggle of sending her best to battle, knowing the stakes were higher than ever before.

Shikamaru, who had been standing quietly, finally spoke up. "But Mizuki's strong. She could help us—"

"Strength isn't the issue, Shikamaru," Kakashi interrupted softly but firmly. "We're dealing with immortals. This isn't just about power. It's about strategy and ensuring we don't risk the village's future."

Tsunade closed her eyes for a moment, pressing her fingers to her temples as if trying to drive away an impending headache. She opened them slowly, her gaze steely. "You make a good point, Kakashi. If Mizuki is there and we lose both her and Naruto, the village will be in chaos."

Shikamaru's brow furrowed. "So... you agree?"

Tsunade didn't answer immediately, staring at her desk as if weighing every possible outcome. "I hate it," she said, her voice low, "but you're right. If both of them are captured, we lose too much. The Nine-Tails is vital."

Shikamaru, still wrestling with his own grief, finally nodded, though it was clear he was conflicted. "We're playing a dangerous game, Hokage-sama."

Tsunade's lips pressed into a thin line. "We are. But that's the reality of being shinobi. You want to honor Asuma's memory, right?" She looked Shikamaru dead in the eye. "Then trust in your strategy, and trust that Kakashi will lead the way."

Shikamaru swallowed hard, his resolve only strengthening. "I understand."

With the decision made, Kakashi felt a small but noticeable shift in the room. The atmosphere was still thick with uncertainty, but now there was a plan. A dangerous plan, but one they would see through together. Tsunade nodded, her voice returning to its usual sternness. "Fine, we proceed without Mizuki. But you, Kakashi—you take full responsibility for Naruto. Make sure he doesn't do something stupid. Shikamaru, stay sharp. I'm trusting you both with this."

Kakashi gave a single nod, his eye flicking to Shikamaru, who stood tall despite the weariness in his posture. "Understood," Kakashi said.

As the door clicked shut behind Team 7, only Shikamaru remained, lingering by the doorframe. He hesitated before speaking again. "Tsunade-sama... about the rest of the team."

Tsunade sighed, as if knowing what was coming. "Spit it out, Shikamaru."

Shikamaru squared his shoulders. "I need to be the one to lead this mission."

The Hokage's eyes narrowed. "You're not in any shape to lead a team right now."

"This isn't about my shape," Shikamaru said, his voice unwavering, though his hands shook slightly. "This is about Asuma. He trusted me to think ahead. I can handle this."

Tsunade's gaze softened, just for a moment, before she hardened again. "I'm not going to let you throw yourself at this mission, fueled by grief. Asuma wouldn't want that."

"I'm not throwing myself at it," Shikamaru replied, his voice low but fierce. "I'm thinking it through. That's why I need to lead. I'm the one who understands how they think."

Tsunade stood from her desk, palms slamming down as her frustration bubbled over. "Enough! You will follow Kakashi's orders. We are not losing more shinobi to this madness. Is that understood?"

Shikamaru clenched his fists but didn't argue. He simply nodded.

The office was silent once more, the weight of their mission heavier than ever. Before anyone could leave, the door creaked open again, revealing Kakashi, who had been lingering outside. "Hokage-sama, I overheard."

Tsunade shot him an exasperated look. "Eavesdropping, Kakashi?"

"Just making sure things are in order," he replied smoothly, stepping further into the room. "I understand Shikamaru's request. And while I'll be leading this mission, I believe his insight is crucial. I'd like him to play a strategic role."

Tsunade frowned, leaning back in her chair. "You want him on the field?"

Kakashi nodded. "Yes. But I agree with you—he can't act alone."

Shikamaru's head shot up, his eyes wide as he glanced between them. "I'll follow your orders, Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi smiled beneath his mask, his eye crinkling. "Good. Because we'll need every bit of that strategy you've got. But remember, Shikamaru, we fight as a team."

Tsunade exhaled heavily, her frustration still evident, but there was a flicker of trust in her eyes as she regarded both men. "Fine," she relented. "But no solo moves, Shikamaru."

Shikamaru nodded. "I understand."

With the final decision made, Kakashi turned to leave, his mind already calculating the risks ahead. As they left the Hokage's office, the weight of the mission bore down on their shoulders. No one spoke as they prepared for what was to come. The stakes had never been higher, but for Asuma's sake—for the village—they couldn't afford to fail.

The clock was ticking.

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Ughhh hii guys, I haven't updated in a while. Just got a new job and it's been eating my time and energy so I'm feeling soo unmotivated to write the upcoming ones. Honestly I'm so glad that there's a scheduling system on Wattpad now, meaning that I can rush all the chapters in a day and just schedule them.

BUT FR THO, I'm having a major writer's block right on how I should continue on with the story. I think it would be great to write an OVA now for a short break as well, since we're diving deep into the story.

I'm still figuring out how this book should end and when I think it'll be finished, but we'll see. This was supposed to be a trilogy, but I'm not quite sure if I wanna publish the third book since I'm sure it's gonna end up into a 70+ chapters again which mean it'll take months or maybe a year to write them all ;-; 

Ughh I love writing this book soo much but it's sooo tiresome and I can't just abandon the series again.

But yeah, thanks everyone for following the series!

Hope you guys are still enjoying this <3

Bye Potatoes!

Stay Fab!