Iruka followed Urushi to the intersection outside the Continental. Seeing the sea of bodies, Iruka knew Sasuke and Lee had already moved through the area.
Urushi sniffed the air, trotting over to one of the parked transport buses. He hopped inside and emerged a moment later with a black briefcase clenched in his teeth. He dropped it at Iruka's feet. "One more. Wait for me."
Flicker.
Urushi darted to the second bus and returned with another identical case.
Seeing both portions of the Dragon Bone secured, Iruka smiled warmly. "Great work, Urushi. I'll take it from here."
Urushi looked up at Iruka, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "I expect you to get these back to Lord Hayate safely."
"I will—"
Poof!
Before Iruka could finish his sentence, Urushi dispelled his summoning and returned to the nindog realm.
Iruka chuckled, picked up the cases, and turned to leave when a voice called out from behind him.
"Iruka-sensei!"
It was Sasuke and Rock Lee, each carrying a hogtied prisoner over their shoulders.
"Sasuke, Lee! Is your mission complete?"
"All clear," Lee chirped excitedly. "We caught the primary targets just like Lord Hayate asked."
Iruka beamed at them. "Congratulations on a successful mission. However, Lord Hayate has issued a new order: we don't need to bring them back. Execute them on the spot."
He raised the briefcases in his hands. "The items we needed have been found. They no longer have any intelligence value."
Hearing this, Sasuke and Lee dropped Bakuto and Sowande onto the pavement without ceremony. Iruka stepped forward and efficiently ended their centuries-long lives.
"Come," Iruka said, securing the cases. "Let's report back."
The three ninjas vanished into the shadows, heading toward the ruins of the agency.
Shiranui Agency
Hayate sat in his chair, watching the Bowery King's men and the Belarusian Roma work in tandem to clear the street. He realized then that having a workforce made things much easier; without them, he'd be stuck cleaning up these hundreds of bodies for days.
However, looking at the charred skeleton of his building, he felt a massive headache coming on. Construction speeds in New York were notoriously glacial. If he relied on local contractors, his headquarters might not be ready for a year.
I should have Shiranui Hayate (Kazuma) bring in a team from the East, he thought. Otherwise, I'll be living in a ruin.
Just then, Iruka, Sasuke, and Lee arrived.
Seeing the two briefcases in Iruka's hands, Hayate nodded in satisfaction. Ninja efficiency was truly unparalleled.
Flicker!
The three appeared before him. Iruka presented the cases. "The enemies at the Continental have been eliminated. The mission is complete."
The Bowery King and The Director stared at the three "Adjudicators"—especially the two teenagers—with a mixture of awe and terror. These kids had just dismantled an army and killed two legendary masters in the time it took to grab a coffee.
"Well done," Hayate said, taking the cases. "Rest now."
"It was our honor," they replied in unison.
Sasuke glanced around the clean-up operation. "Lord Hayate, the crisis at the hotel is over. Charlie will be here shortly to handle the final sanitization."
The Director stepped forward, bowing deeply. "Elder Hayate, Charlie will handle the heavy lifting here. Since your agency is destroyed and the hotel is a crime scene, it is hardly suitable for rest. Would you do me the honor of staying at my estate for a few days?"
Hayate considered the invitation. Staying at the Belarusian Roma's opera house was a practical solution. "Very well. I'll stay with you for a few days."
The Director's face lit up with a triumphant smile. "It would be my greatest privilege."
"Bowery King, handle the rest here. Once Charlie finishes, withdraw your men."
"By your command, Elder!" the King replied. He didn't try to compete for the hosting duties; he knew his underground "kingdom" wasn't exactly a luxury retreat for someone of the Elder's stature.
The Belarusian Opera House
The Director escorted the group of five to her most lavish suite.
"Elder, this is the finest room in the theater. It is yours for as long as you wish. Your Adjudicators are in the adjoining rooms. If you need anything, simply use the phone; my staff is at your disposal 24/7."
Hayate took the key card and gave a curt nod. "Goodnight, then."
Inside, he didn't even wait to unpack. He snapped open the two cases and mentally commanded the system to recharge.
[Ding! Recharge successful. Gained 500 Gold Coins.]
[Ding! Recharge successful. Gained 500 Gold Coins.]
His total balance now sat at 6,296 Gold Coins.
After a long soak in a hot bath to wash away the night's grime, Hayate lay in the massive bed, staring at the ceiling.
The night had been a victory, netting him 2,000 Gold Coins and eliminating a major threat, but the two successive attacks had highlighted a glaring weakness: he lacked a dedicated, high-level sentry force.
Tonight it was RPGs and heavy machine guns. What would be next? If a billionaire like Tony Stark could have his villa flattened by missiles, Hayate's new suburban base was just as vulnerable.
Boosting his guard force and summoning more ninjas wasn't just a goal anymore—it was a necessity for survival.