Hagoromo didn't wait for the Chunin Exams to fully conclude. Once his specific tasks and duties were finished, he immediately returned to the Iwagakure front lines.
During the period that followed, Asuma Sarutobi underwent a continuous, high-intensity, and large-scale regimen of "inhuman" treatment. His body recovered at an extraordinary speed.
He proved through firsthand experience that medical ninjutsu wasn't just delicate—it could be incredibly violent.
With Asuma back on his feet, the Hagoromo Squad's combat effectiveness was finally restored. As the "No. 2" of the team, his absence had naturally limited their operational range. The squad soon resumed their routine patrols, monitoring the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain to track Amegakure ninja movements and prevent small enemy cells from infiltrating.
Although combat orders had been added to their scouting mission, they were highly specific. The targets the Hagoromo Squad could engage were limited to four-man teams like their own to ensure a balanced fight.
If they encountered medium or large enemy detachments, the mission did not expect them to throw their lives away. Hagoromo's priority remained gathering and transmitting intelligence.
Infiltration missions like the previous one became rare. The Land of Rain was not Konoha's backyard, and the enemy was no fool; frequent incursions would likely trigger a devastating retaliation.
Surprisingly, since they resumed their mission, encounters with Amegakure ninja became scarce. Even in the rare event of a sighting, the Rain ninja refused to cross the border, retreating immediately upon contact without engaging.
Considering the earlier intelligence about the evacuation of Rain outposts, Hagoromo began to wonder if Hanzo of the Salamander was preparing to fold his hand.
After all, the Great Nations were essentially bullies. A hidden village like Amegakure, even with a so-called "Demi-God" at the helm, couldn't hope to outplay the "Five Great Powers." If you can't win, you stop playing—otherwise, you'll lose everything down to your last scrap of dignity.
The reality, as it turned out, was close to Hagoromo's guess.
The Hagoromo Squad spent about two months roaming their patrol sector. The border was eerily quiet. The Rain forces had almost completely retreated, and skirmishes between the two sides' shinobi trended toward zero.
No movement was, in itself, the biggest movement of all.
As the front grew silent, Hagoromo began to wonder if these high-density patrols were still necessary. It was then that the squad received a recall order from Jiraiya.
"Enter the Land of Rain? Openly?"
Hagoromo was stunned by Jiraiya's words. What does that even mean?
He had assumed the new mission would be another covert infiltration to sniff out Hanzo's true intentions. This level of peace on the border was unsettling; either Hanzo truly wanted to end the war, or he was brewing something foul. Given his unpredictable nature, the odds were fifty-fifty.
Hagoromo looked at the three people behind him. Including himself, they were just a handful of individuals. Walking into the Land of Rain broad-daylight style? That was just asking to be served on a platter.
Do they really think Hanzo is a toothless cat? Did everyone forget how the 'Sannin' got their title?
The "Sannin" was, technically speaking, a title of defeat. And everyone knew exactly whose hands they suffered that defeat at.
Seeing the confusion on all four faces, Jiraiya began to explain. "Actually, not long ago, Hanzo sent a request for peace talks to Konoha. Combined with the large-scale scouting results from your squad and others, as well as the Rain's movements over the past few months, we've determined this intent is likely genuine. Therefore, we are sending a Goodwill Ambassador to Amegakure..."
Hagoromo understood now. Hanzo had finally blinked.
So, was he the ambassador? That seemed unlikely.
"So, I'm the ambassador? Because I feel like if I enter the Rain, I won't be an ambassador—I'll just be target practice. Or worse, I'll get the life beaten out of me..."
His colorful description made the other three males in the tent shrug, but Kurenai Yuhi looked like she wanted to kick Hagoromo. She was in the prime of her beauty, yet he was painting mental pictures involving... unpleasant bodily functions.
Jiraiya, meanwhile, looked at Hagoromo as if he were an idiot.
Hagoromo had definitely overthought it.
"Your squad is responsible for guiding the ambassador. It takes a heavyweight figure to earn the right to negotiate with Hanzo."
Even without his heavy gear, Hagoromo was a "heavyweight" in skill, but Jiraiya clearly didn't mean it in that sense.
Just a guide, Hagoromo thought, breathing a sigh of relief.
But that raised the next question.
"Who is the Goodwill Ambassador?"
There were only a handful of people in Konoha who could be considered "heavyweights" in this context. Jiraiya uttered four words:
"Shimura Danzo."
The answer was logical, yet jarring. Danzo conducting 'goodwill'? Who are we trying to terrify?
By the time the meeting started, either Danzo would have Hanzo in tears, or Hanzo would have Danzo in tears. Was "goodwill" even a possibility with that man? Konoha might as well have sent Danzo to propose a marriage alliance—they certainly had the matching stern faces for it.
The Shimura clan was a prestigious lineage that had produced many prominent figures—like the sharp-tongued Shinpachi Shimura or his关刀-wielding sister.
In the world of shinobi, Danzo Shimura was undeniably a polarizing figure. He was someone who couldn't be simply labeled as "good" or "bad."
Hagoromo had met Danzo once, not long ago.
His knowledge of the man from his previous life was limited but specific: First, the man was the "Darkness of the Shinobi," and second, he had a fetish for "external upgrades," modifying himself with red eyes and white cells.
In reality, as a disciple of the Second Hokage, Danzo was undoubtedly a powerful shinobi. His combat style favored Wind Style.
This was easy to judge. The man had a cross-shaped scar on his face. Hagoromo joked to himself that when Danzo was young and practicing the Vacuum Wave, his lips slipped so badly that he accidentally sliced his own chin twice with his wind breath.
It was a lesson for the world: no matter how gloomy or sinister a lonely old man may be, they all have their moments of "adorable" stupidity.
After a brief thought, Hagoromo spoke up again. "Given Lord Danzo's... intelligence capabilities, he wouldn't need us as guides to enter the Rain. I'd wager he knows enemy territory better than we do."
Wager? Hagoromo was certain Danzo knew the Rain Village better than he knew his own backyard.
Jiraiya turned his gaze away.
From his position, Hagoromo could only see his profile, making it impossible to read his expression.
Jiraiya spoke in a completely ordinary tone: "He indeed doesn't need you to lead him. In fact, his people will likely be leading your squad. However, you must be the ones to 'guide' him... do you understand?"
His words were a riddle, but Hagoromo heard the message loud and clear.
This wasn't a mission to guide Danzo. It was a mission to monitor him.
Jiraiya, it seemed, did not share the Third Hokage's absolute trust in Danzo Shimura.