Chapter 235 Mission Failed

When Kakashi and Jiraiya caught sight of the Valley of the End, a sense of foreboding gripped them. The towering statues loomed against the sky, their surfaces marred and worn, riddled with countless cracks.

Without saying much, the two leapt into action, jumping into the valley where they found pools of water mixed with broken branches and leaves, as if a violent typhoon had just passed through.

However, strong winds were rare in the valley, making the scene all the more unsettling. The heavy atmosphere quickened their pace as they climbed higher, using the protruding rocks to elevate themselves until they finally reached the top of the statue.

"This is..."

The full view of the Valley of the End lay before them, and Kakashi's eye was filled with shock. Standing atop the Hashirama's statue, they could see every shattered fragment of rock and every fissure with stark clarity.

Below, the forest was a mix of scorched black and lush green, haphazardly slashed and crushed, with massive trails cutting through like wounds on the earth. The stark blackened area, distinctly separate from its surroundings, covered nearly half of the forest.

"What kind of battle did they have?" Kakashi couldn't help but murmured, while Jiraiya, standing beside him, was equally stunned, unable to find words.

It was impossible to connect this devastation with human strength, even though Ninjas were already seen as beings beyond ordinary limits.

Looking at the chaotic landscape, it felt as though whatever caused this destruction had to be magnified countless times. Jiraiya's expression shifted as he recalled the Summoning Technique he had taught Naruto.

The blackened area was continuous, resembling an endless stream of black paint poured from the heavens, staining the forest. Unlike ordinary paint, however, the blackened areas had no traces of vegetation, with the forest completely gone, and no signs of life whatsoever.

"Maybe it was caused by two giant Summoned Beasts." Jiraiya stood and said, "Before the finals of the Chunin Exams, I gave Naruto the Summoning Contract for Mount Myoboku."

"That's quite unbelievable." Even after hearing Jiraiya's explanation, Kakashi couldn't help but marvel. He knew that Mount Myoboku housed massive toads that were physically strong and skilled in Ninjutsu, making it plausible that such creatures were responsible for the scene before them.

The Valley of the End, now unrecognizable, exuded a majestic power and a strange, silent beauty in the dim light of dawn.

Both Kakashi and Jiraiya were captivated by the sight, but they quickly snapped out of it, remembering the more pressing matter at hand.

Kakashi was the first to head off in search of Naruto and Sasuke, while Jiraiya scanned the surroundings, unable to immediately spot the two Genin, let alone Logan. There were no sounds or disturbances when they arrived, indicating that the battle had long since ended.

"So, we failed after all." Jiraiya felt a sharper sense of regret as he recalled Itachi and Kisame's escape. The matter was settled, and he lamented not only the failed mission but also the two young boys caught up in it.

The search wasn't difficult given the efficiency of Kakashi and Jiraiya. They split up to comb the valley systematically, and it wasn't long before they found Naruto and Sasuke lying unconscious on the ground.

"They've exhausted all their Chakra, and some injuries from yesterday's Chunin Exams have also recurred." Kakashi said, carefully inspecting them before laying them side by side.

"No life-threatening injuries, and that's the best news we could hope for." Jiraiya leaned against a slanted, fallen tree trunk, his earlier battle readiness as one of the Sannin now tucked away.

He plucked a few leaves from a nearby branch and discarded them, shaking off droplets of water, "Hattori didn't go for the kill… Is he still thinking about old feelings? Haha."

The odd, dry chuckle at the end of Jiraiya's words fell on Kakashi's ears, and he fell silent. After quickly treating the external wounds of his students, Kakashi sat down heavily beside them.

Naruto and Sasuke slept peacefully as the morning light grew brighter, a few crisp birdsongs breaking the stillness of the devastated valley.

"Let's just wait here for the village's reinforcements." Jiraiya's lazy voice drifted into the distance.

'That Hattori was really gone.' Kakashi instinctively tried to regulate his Chakra but found himself unable to calm his mind. He idly picked up a stone, glancing at the two contrasting sleeping faces beside him. Naruto lay sprawled on his side, lightly snoring, while Sasuke lay more rigidly, brows furrowed.

The valley's riverbed was no longer intact, but a stream still trickled away elsewhere. Kakashi's mind, filled with the memories of their perilous battle in the dark of night, reflected that he might have really relaxed since leaving the ANBU, 'As the Jonin Instructor of Team 7… if I had managed to defeat Hoshigaki Kisame, would the outcome have been different?'

'Hypotheticals and 'ifs', they're the musings of the weak.' Kakashi reminded himself, avoiding the pitfall of helpless regret. He clenched his hand a bit too tightly, inadvertently crushing the stone he held.

As the fragments fell, Naruto's snoring grew louder… Kakashi glanced at Jiraiya sheepishly. With Naruto sleeping so soundly now, it would surely take some effort to get him moving once he woke up.

Snapping out of his daze from waiting, Kakashi composed himself, wiped his damp hair, and took out the mission log from his Ninja Pouch, slowly writing a single line.

"The S-Rank mission: Retrieve Raiden Hattori - Team 7: failed."

…

After Logan relaxed, he felt a deep exhaustion.

He hadn't waited long at the border before Itachi and Kisame arrived punctually. Logan wasn't sure if he should commend the Akatsuki's members for their professionalism, given that the delay plan involved facing Kakashi and Jiraiya.

The three headed north, reaching the border between the Land of Iron and the Land of Waterfall. Normally, they would report back to Amegakure, especially since Logan was officially an Akatsuki's member now, and a stop at the main base would be a good formality. However, they stopped to rest as the sun rose, knowing no one was pursuing them.

Despite not straying far from the Land of Fire, theoretically making it unsafe, the trio was confident that Konoha wouldn't send anyone deep into another country after such a recent battle. So, they boldly set up camp less than half a day's journey from the border.

The campsite was at the foot of an unnamed hill, a secluded enough spot to avoid detection by passing hunters or common folk.

Each of the three was dealing with their own fatigue, and as they settled in after the battle, the nuances of their relationships, good or bad, reappeared.

Kisame clearly didn't think much of Logan, and Logan wasn't aiming to establish a cordial working relationship either. Within the Akatsuki, most members weren't interested in anyone outside their own partners.

A campfire burned before them, with Kisame roasting something to eat. Since it wasn't yet autumn, Logan found the heat unbearable and moved a few steps away.

"Senpai." Itachi greeted as he returned from the mountains, carrying some freshly washed fruits which he offered to Logan.

"Ah, thanks."