Konoha: Uchiha, I get stronger by causing trouble.

Chapter 40 What about the reward?

"Two years ago, I discovered that Ichiro was a spy from the Land of Earth. Ichiro is the spy you killed."

"To this end, I made many preparations, even going so far as to give Ichiro some confidential information so that he could gain Onoki's attention in the Land of Earth and play his due role during special times."

Hearing this, Kushina and Chika understood why Hiruzen Sarutobi was so angry; the two of them had completely ruined Hiruzen Sarutobi's two-year plan.

However, Chiga still had some questions and couldn't help but ask, "Since the Hokage discovered it two years ago, he should also know about their intelligence exchange location. Why would he send the two of us there?"

Hearing Chiga say this, Kushina nodded in agreement, saying, "Yeah, why are you still sending us on missions? You know my personality perfectly well!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi first gave Chiga an approving look, then said to Kushina with a hint of annoyance:

"Ichiro is an excellent intelligence officer with outstanding counter-surveillance capabilities. We can't guarantee that he won't discover us on the road, so we've never followed him outside the village."

"Besides, I only need to let him access the information I want in the village; there's no need to cause any more trouble."

"I see!"

Chiga nodded. There was no need to get too involved in the details. As long as the source of information was controlled, everything would be under his control.

Although Kushina heard Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, she still complained, "What?! So, this is all the Hokage's fault. Chika and I were just unaware of it."

Hearing Kushina say this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's anger, which had subsided, surged up again, and he suddenly roared:

"Kushina, you're already a Jonin, use your brain and think about this!"

"You really think a squad of Iwa ninja can evade the heavily guarded border with just a Chunin-level sensory summoning beast? Do you really think border ninjas are all idiots?"

"Do you think it's that easy to get this information to Ichiro without it being discovered to be fake? Do you know how many ninja lives were sacrificed in this process?"

"I went to great lengths to get this scroll into that old geezer Onoki's hands, my hair turned white as I went, and you delivered it to me before I even left the Land of Fire?!"

"All the preparations were rendered useless because of your unilateral decision, and you still expect a reward?!"

As Hiruzen Sarutobi cursed, Kushina's face turned pale. She could blame Hiruzen Sarutobi for not telling her these things, but she couldn't blame the ninjas who sacrificed themselves to ensure that this false information reached the Land of Earth.

Having said all that, Hiruzen Sarutobi had finally calmed down. Looking at the silent, head-bowed Kushina, he softened his tone and said, "Now, I'm punishing you with three months of confinement. Do you have any objections?"

"I'm sorry, Hokage-sama!"

Chiga looked at Kushina, who remained silent, and then bowed to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded: "Take your teacher down there! This isn't really your fault."

Upon hearing this, Chiga tugged at Kushina's sleeve: "Sensei, let's go!"

Just then, Kushina suddenly raised her head and solemnly walked up to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Unlike his usual carefree manner, he bowed deeply and said, "I'm sorry, Hokage-sama!"

After saying that, to Hiruzen Sarutobi's astonishment, he led Chika out of the Hokage's office.

After Kushina and Chiga left, Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a long time before finally sighing deeply, "It wasn't easy!"

For so many years, ever since Kushina came to Konoha, she had never spoken to him in such a humble tone. He had thought he had no hope of ever having that in his life!

After a moment of reflection, Hiruzen Sarutobi noticed the scroll on the table, immediately stopped thinking, and suddenly said seriously, "Zero!"

A figure suddenly appeared and knelt before Hiruzen Sarutobi, respectfully saying, "Hokage-sama!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a drag of his cigarette and said in a low, slow voice:

"Plan A has failed due to unforeseen circumstances; Plan B is now activated! This time, we must eliminate all unforeseen circumstances and prevent a repeat of the Kushina incident."

Don't underestimate the Shadow of the Village. How could someone who has planned for two years not have a backup plan? He even has plans C, D, and so on.

Despite his stern tone towards Kushina, he wasn't actually that angry inside.

"yes!"

After thinking for a moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi continued, "Also, during the time Kushina and Chika Uchiha are confined, find two ANBU to supervise them, one to be in charge of Kushina and one to be in charge of Chika Uchiha."

Hearing this, the ANBU hesitated for a moment before saying, "But what about Kushina?"

"Don't worry, I think she'll stay home safely this time."

"Understood!"

After replying, the ANBU, seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi had given no further instructions, went to make arrangements.

On the other side, after Chiga followed Kushina out of the Hokage Building, he looked at Kushina, who was walking with her head covered and not saying a word. After hesitating for a moment, he finally said, "Kushina-sensei."

"Don't say anything, I'm fine."

Before he could finish speaking, Kushina raised her hand to interrupt Chiga.

Upon seeing this, Chiga's gaze towards Kushina suddenly became strange; it was rare to see Kushina like this.

It seems this accident has made Kushina much more sensible.

The fault didn't lie with them, and although Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to be scolding them fiercely, he didn't actually blame them.

Chiga organized her thoughts, wanting to persuade her teacher not to take the matter too seriously.

But just then, Kushina suddenly turned her head, clenching her fists tightly, and said angrily, "That's outrageous! Heihachi and Kazuma, those two bastards! I trusted them so much, and they actually conspired with the Third Hokage to deceive me!"

"."

Chiga rolled her eyes and almost awakened the Byakugan of the Hyuga clan.

"That's right, we must teach them both a lesson!"

However, seeing Kushina return to normal, Chiga breathed a sigh of relief, then angrily echoed her sentiment before changing the subject, "Kushina-sensei, we've completed that C-rank mission, right?"

"Of course!" Kushina looked at Chiga with a puzzled expression, not understanding why Chiga would suddenly ask this question.

Chiga asked directly, "And what about the reward?"

Kushina was taken aback. Oh, right. At the time, she was only thinking about how much credit she could get for stopping the Iwa ninja, but she forgot the reason she went out in the first place.

(End of this chapter)