Ch-173 Old acquaintance.

Inoiki knocked firmly on the door of the Hokage's office before pushing it open. The familiar scent of ink and parchment filled the air. Inside, Lady Tsunade was seated at her desk, stamping a tall stack of documents with a look of focused irritation.

She glanced up as the door opened and met Inoiki's eyes.

"You're here," she said, setting the stamp aside. "Good. I've got a mission for you."

Inoiki stepped forward, his posture straight. "One of the Anbu told me as much," he said. "But I wasn't given the details. What's going on?"

Tsunade leaned back slightly, her expression tightening. "Five days ago, a coalition of rogue ninjas launched an attack on a small village under the jurisdiction of the Land of Earth. The group is mostly made up of missing-nin from Kirigakure and Iwagakure, and they've taken control of the area."

Inoiki's expression grew more serious as she continued.

"Iwagakure sent a team to deal with the threat," she said. "But there was a betrayal from within. One of their own turned against them. The entire operation was compromised—ambushed, overrun. Most of the squad was wiped out."

She paused, letting the weight of the words sink in.

"Only one member of that team survived," she added. "A kunoichi. Someone you know."

Inoiki's brow furrowed. He didn't know many from Iwagakure personally, but only one name fit.

"Kurotsuchi," he said.

Tsunade nodded, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Didn't expect you to remember that girl."

Inoiki ignored the jab. "What exactly do you need me to do?"

Tsunade's expression turned serious again. "This mission involves you directly. The rogue ninjas from Iwagakure and Kirigakure could be handled by Iwa's own forces under normal circumstances. They have the strength to crush the rebellion outright. But the problem isn't just the rebellion—it's rescuing Kurotsuchi. Getting her out alive is the real challenge."

She folded her hands on the desk. "Iwagakure doesn't have anyone strong enough to pull it off without risking major losses. Aside from the Tsuchikage himself, there's no one with the necessary skill. But Onoki can't leave the village. If he does, it leaves Iwagakure vulnerable. There's already tension with other nations, and his biggest concern is the Fourth Raikage. If Onoki moves, the Raikage might take it as an opening."

Inoiki frowned. "So they asked for help?"

"In a roundabout way," Tsunade said, nodding.

"Roundabout?" Inoiki asked, raising an eyebrow.

Tsunade leaned back in her chair. "The Daimyo of the Land of Earth approached our Daimyo with a diplomatic agreement—one that hinges on us sending a top-tier shinobi to assist. Someone with enough power and skill to ensure Kurotsuchi's safe return. In short, they're asking for you… or Jiraiya."

Inoiki's jaw tightened slightly. "And Jiraiya?"

"He's already tied up on a separate mission. Which means you're our best option."

Inoiki sighed. "So this job falls to me, then?"

Tsunade nodded. "Exactly. You haven't taken on a mission in over a month, and frankly, you're overdue. Besides—look on the bright side—you'll get to reunite with an old friend."

Inoiki ignored the hint of amusement in her voice. "When do I leave? If I'm doing this, I'd rather get started right away."

"The sooner, the better," Tsunade said. "If you can head out today, do it. Every hour we delay puts her at greater risk."

"Understood," Inoiki replied. "Then I'll leave immediately. I'll handle preparations and be on the road before sunset."

Without another word, he turned and walked out of the Hokage's office, his mind already shifting into mission mode.

Inoiki moved quickly to prepare for the mission. His first stop was home, where he informed his mother he would be leaving.

She smiled, her expression calm, and helped him pack without hesitation. Over the years, she had come a long way. In the early days of his missions, she used to worry constantly, asking questions, fearing for his safety. But things had changed. Inoiki had grown stronger—so strong that she no longer asked what kind of mission he was taking on. She didn't need to. She trusted that her son would return, just as he always had.

Within the hour, Inoiki departed from Konoha, heading straight for the Land of Earth.

To save time, he travelled by air, using his chakra to fly at high speed. He kept a strict rhythm—stopping only when his chakra reserves dropped to 30%, then resting until they fully recharged before resuming his journey. This method let him cover great distances without exhausting himself.

He flew through the night and the following day, pushing himself with steady discipline. By evening of the next day, he arrived near the rebel-occupied village—his target—nestled in the rocky terrain of the Land of Earth, now crawling with rogue shinobi.

He stopped just outside visual range, concealed by the terrain.

From his aerial vantage point, Inoiki spotted a large encampment of Iwagakure forces stationed about a kilometer outside the occupied village. The camp was well-fortified, a sea of tents and watchtowers surrounded by alert sentries.

He descended smoothly, landing just outside the perimeter.

The moment his feet touched the ground, several Iwa shinobi—those on patrol and nearby—rushed toward him. Weapons drawn, chakra flaring, they moved to intercept the unknown figure who had approached unannounced.

Inoiki raised his hands calmly. "Stand down. There's no need to be alarmed."

His voice was firm, measured. "I'm here on the Hokage's orders to assist with the situation. Inform your commander that Yamanaka Inoiki has arrived."

There was a brief pause as the guards sized him up—some clearly still on edge. Then one of them, slightly older and more composed, nodded and turned back toward the camp at a sprint to deliver the message.

Inoiki waited, steady and unfazed, as the others kept their weapons raised—just in case.

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