Ino had learned several important things throughout her life.
The first was that she should never call an Akimichi fat if she intended to remain friends with Chōji.
The second was that Sakura could be surprisingly terrifying when she was angry.
And the third, discovered approximately thirty seconds ago, was that walking toward the man with the greatest political authority in the entire Land of Fire caused an absolutely unbearable urge to wonder what the hell she was supposed to do with her hands.
She left them at her sides. Then clasped them behind her back.
That seemed too informal.
She put them back at her sides.
Chōji looked at her.
"Stop doing that", he murmured.
"I'm nervous, idiot. We're representing our clans right now".
"Quiet", Kaito said without turning around.
Both of them obeyed immediately.
The Daimyō's compound was enormous. They had crossed two courtyards, several corridors, and enough guarded doors for Ino to lose count.
There were servants everywhere and guards at practically every important entrance. It finally made her understand something that, until then, she had only ever known in the abstract.
The Hokage governed Konoha. But Konoha still belonged to the Land of Fire.
And the man they were about to meet stood at the political pinnacle of that country.
The Daimyō's authority extended to matters ranging from budgets and privileges granted to the village to political decisions capable of directly affecting Konoha's leadership.
Ino swallowed. This definitely no longer felt like a simple escort mission.
Finally, they arrived at a spacious hall where several advisers waited on either side.
Genzō immediately knelt, and the three shinobi did the same, following protocol.
At the far end sat the Daimyō of the Land of Fire.
Ino had expected to find an intimidating man. Instead, she found someone staring at a document with a deeply confused expression.
"Are these the ones?".
One of his advisers bowed his head.
"Yes, Your Excellency".
The Daimyō looked up.
First he looked at Genzō.
Then at Chōji.
Then at Ino.
Finally, his eyes settled on Kaito.
"Is this the Jōnin?".
"Yes, Your Excellency", Genzō replied.
The Daimyō blinked.
"He's young".
Kaito kept his head bowed.
"I'm told that frequently, Your Excellency".
One of the advisers raised an eyebrow slightly at the response. The Daimyō, on the other hand, seemed to find it perfectly acceptable.
Genzō began explaining what had happened during the journey all over again.
Kaito shot him a murderous look that made Genzō tremble. But even so, he continued ranting.
He spoke about the ambush, the number of attackers, and how the shinobi had protected all the civilians.
Ino noticed that he exaggerated some things, although curiously, there was absolutely no need to exaggerate anything related to Kaito.
When he described the two slashes that had ended the confrontation, as well as the explosive power that had caused more than half of them to lose consciousness. Several advisers exchanged skeptical looks.
The Daimyō opened a fan in front of his face.
"Thirty-seven men? Defeated in an instant by this man".
"Thirty-seven, Your Excellency".
Kaito rolled his eyes.
Judging by their expressions, they were impressed.
Kaito felt like telling them about the terrifying strength of the members of Akatsuki to make this stupid man understand that what he had done wasn't all that impressive.
But in the end, he remained silent and decided not to complicate the trip any more than it already was.
"And this man defeated practically all of them?".
Genzō nodded quickly.
"Without allowing a single casualty among us".
The fan lowered a few inches.
The Daimyō looked at Kaito with entirely new interest.
"That's impressive. Especially after you were already completely surrounded by the enemy".
Kaito inclined his head.
"I appreciate your words".
"What did you say your name was?".
"Kaito Shirogane".
"Shirogane... Shirogane...".
The Daimyō moved his fan slightly as he tried to remember something. Finally, he looked at one of his advisers.
"Should I know that name?".
"It is not listed among Konoha's major clans, Your Excellency".
"Ah".
Ino had to lower her head to hide her expression.
For some reason, she had expected a much more solemn conversation.
But this man seemed a little stupid.
The Daimyō looked at Kaito again.
"Then I'll have to remember it from now on".
That immediately wiped away every trace of amusement from Ino.
Even Kaito remained silent.
The Daimyō closed his fan and casually pointed toward Genzō.
"This man has spent ten minutes telling me that you'd all be dead without you. He talks too much, so I suppose he must be truly grateful".
Genzō seemed to suffer a small internal crisis.
"Your Excellency..."
"Besides, those supplies had to arrive intact, and they arrived intact. That means you accomplished exactly what your village was paid to do". The Daimyō nodded to himself, apparently satisfied with that logic. "Excellent. I'll send my sincerest congratulations to Tsunade for sending a ninja like you on this mission".
Ino's head snapped up.
Chōji did practically the same.
Kaito, to both their frustration, didn't even blink.
"I'm sure Hokage-sama will appreciate your words".
"Also tell her she should send me shinobi like this more often".
One of the advisers cleared his throat.
"Your Excellency, personnel assignments fall under Konohagakure's internal administration".
The Daimyō looked at him.
"That's why I said I'd tell Tsunade".
The adviser fell silent.
"Ah".
Ino pressed her lips together to keep herself from laughing.
The Daimyō opened his fan again.
"You may leave, Shirogane. You've done a good job".
Kaito inclined his head slightly.
"It's an honor, Your Excellency".
Ino and Chōji immediately imitated the gesture.
Only when they were outside the hall and the doors closed behind them did Ino release all the air she had been holding.
"We just met the Daimyō".
Kaito kept walking.
"Yes".
"The Daimyō".
"I was there, Yamanaka".
"The Daimyō of the Land of Fire!".
Kaito finally looked at her.
"Is there another one here?".
Ino opened her mouth, but Chōji started laughing.
"Don't make fun of me!".
Ino then looked at Kaito.
"Besides. When are you planning to stop calling me Yamanaka and start calling me by my name".
Kaito blinked.
"Can I?".
Ino then blushed slightly and tossed her hair.
"Only because I'm allowing you to. Don't get any ideas". She said and walked ahead of them.
Kaito looked at Chōji, speechless.
The Akimichi simply opened a bag of chips. Kaito had no idea where the hell he'd gotten it from.
"No comment". Chōji said and started walking as well.
Kaito sighed wearily.
"I need a vacation alone with Hinata-chan". He muttered under his breath and walked after the kids.