When Kushina and Hagoromo were caught red-handed with the Scroll of Seals, the Third Hokage naturally "inquired" about exactly how many jutsus they had seen or learned. Because Hagoromo was cunning enough to leave no physical records—committing everything only to memory—he managed to escape with just four months of home confinement. Had there been hard evidence of transcribed forbidden arts, his punishment would have been far more severe, regardless of Kushina's status.
Faced with the Hokage's questioning, Hagoromo's answer was simple and deceptive: "I didn't remember anything, and I didn't learn a single thing."
Hiruzen didn't entirely believe him, but he wasn't about to send the boy to the Torture and Interrogation Force over it. He assumed that even if Hagoromo had managed to pick up a technique or two, it could be considered a "bonus" for being Kushina's student. He underestimated the boy's eidetic memory; even if Hagoromo didn't understand a jutsu's theory yet, he could memorize the scrolls word-for-word.
During his confinement in Konoha, Hagoromo didn't dare manifest these jutsus. He merely rehearsed them in his mind daily. But once he left the village, he began transcribing them onto a private scroll. Without the constant surveillance of the Anbu, he needed a backup to ensure that over time, he wouldn't misremember a specific seal or flow. In the world of forbidden jutsus, a single misremembered detail during practice could lead to a lethal backfire.
Of course, he wasn't careless. He protected the scroll with a sealing formula that recognized only his unique chakra signature. If anyone else tried to force it open, the scroll would self-destruct. While this wouldn't stop an expert like Kushina, it provided enough security against almost anyone else.
Because of his chakra nature and limited reserves, some of these jutsus were currently unusable. It wasn't that he couldn't perform them at all, but rather that a single cast would completely drain his "mana" pool. Like Megumin's "Explosion" magic, being a one-shot wonder on a battlefield is a recipe for a very short career.
The tension from the previous night's ambush lingered in the group. They remained on high alert until they reached their destination.
"Stop!"
The Anbu squad leader signaled the group to halt. Instantly, the ninjas fell into a defensive perimeter. A Konoha shinobi appeared on a large tree ahead—they had reached the outer sentry line of the headquarters.
Without a word, the Anbu leader tossed a scroll to the sentry. The ninja caught it, verified the contents and the identity of the group, and gestured for them to proceed. This was the official mission log.
As they followed the guide, Hagoromo could sense numerous other Konoha ninjas moving parallel to them in the woods. The shortage of medical staff on the Sand front must be as dire as they say, Hagoromo thought, noticing how heavily they were being prioritized.
After another thirty kilometers, the escorting sentries returned to their posts, and the guide led them to the field hospital—a collection of large tents where wounded soldiers could be seen moving about. Kushina led the twenty medical ninjas inside.
Twenty minutes later, Kushina emerged, waving the mission scroll with a grin. "A-rank escort mission: Completed. Flawlessly."
It was indeed flawless. Every medic and guard had arrived safely—except for the slightly wounded Hagoromo, but his injury was well within the acceptable limits of a combat mission.
"Lady Kushina, now that the mission is complete and we've rested briefly, we should return to Konoha immediately. Given your status, you shouldn't linger on the front lines," the Anbu leader said, his voice flat and professional.
Kushina's excitement vanished. "What's the rush? Since we're here, we have to see Lady Tsunade first," she replied curtly, giving the Anbu no room for debate.
"But..." The Anbu was caught between a rock and a hard place. If anything happened to the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, their lives wouldn't be enough to pay for the failure.
"No 'buts.' We see Tsunade-sama first."
Kushina had no intention of accommodating them. She had finally tasted freedom, and she wasn't going back to the Third Hokage's nagging anytime soon. Hiruzen had only allowed her to come because of the staff shortage and to give his own ears a rest from her constant petitions. However, the condition was an immediate return.
Kushina knew that once she went back, it might be years before she saw the front again—unless the war turned so desperate that they needed to deploy a Tailed Beast. Determined to stall, she ignored the Anbu and marched toward the command tent she'd located earlier while at the hospital, with Hagoromo in tow.
The Anbu had no choice but to follow. Kushina's stubbornness was legendary in Konoha, and unless they used force—which was strictly forbidden—there was no stopping her.
Field Hospital Layout & Wounded Flow
In a ninja war, medical camps are strategic hubs. The flow of wounded often dictates the morale and the "tactical exhaustion" of a front.
Operational Status: You have reached the safety of the camp. The Anbu are anxious, Kushina is defiant, and you are about to meet one of the Legendary Sannin.