After the battle, Shikamaru discarded the two wild samurai's corpses into the forest. As for burying them, there wasn't enough time for that at the moment. He didn't throw them into the sea either, which could be considered him being diligent, as Tsunami and Inari were just women and children. Shikamaru didn't expect them to handle the bodies.
However, the bloodstains left in the house of Tazuna weren't cleaned up. At this level, the two should be able to manage.
The materials of the building were simple, and the soundproofing was terrible. The sounds of the fight downstairs naturally reached Tsunami and Inari's ears. Although Shikamaru had been confident and Tazuna trusted him, when one's safety is in someone else's hands, it's hard to truly relax. Tsunami recalled Shikamaru's words and, despite feeling panicked and anxious, continued to hold Inari close, comforting him in a soft voice. Together, they quietly stayed in the room.
After a while, the old wooden stairs creaked under pressure, causing Tsunami's heart to tighten. She instinctively tightened her arms around Inari. Only when she heard the soft knocking on the door did she breathe a sigh of relief—if it were someone trying to capture them, they wouldn't have been this polite.
Inari turned his head toward the open door and saw Shikamaru's familiar figure. Without realizing it, he started choking up. "Shikamaru-nii!"
He had been so tense earlier, focusing all his attention on the sounds from downstairs. Now, seeing Shikamaru, he relaxed. His face scrunched up, tears and snot running down his face, making him look pitiful.
Seeing Inari's condition, Shikamaru couldn't help but laugh softly and said to Tsunami, "The two wild samurai under Kado have been dealt with. I've taken care of their bodies. But there are still some bloodstains downstairs. If it makes you uncomfortable, you can stay upstairs for a while."
When Tsunami heard Shikamaru mention "bodies," her face paled slightly. But after thinking for a moment, she shook her head and said, "It's alright."
"Alright." Shikamaru smiled indifferently, not pressing further. He never underestimated women, always treating them equally. After checking the time, he continued, "Kado should be nearing the bridge by now. I'll be leading the fishermen there soon."
Tsunami, who had been wiping Inari's tears, suddenly heard Shikamaru's words and immediately raised her head, asking hurriedly, "We're leaving now? Can I go with you?"
"No." Tsunami instinctively refused, her maternal instincts kicking in. "It's too dangerous, Inari!"
"This is to protect the Land of Waves!" Inari's face turned red, angrily retorting, "How can you be so selfish, Mom?"
Seeing Tsunami furrow her brows and about to get angry, Shikamaru intervened, "You can let Inari come with me. I'll take good care of him."
On the battlefield, promising safety was often a sign of either inexperience or lying. But for this resistance effort, the role of the people of the Land of Waves was more as a deterrent than anything else. Shikamaru didn't truly intend for them to face off with Kado's thugs. Such people, weak in character, were often forgetful and ungrateful. If there were casualties, they might even resent the organization and Shikamaru.
Although Tsunami wasn't aware of this, she had heard of the two wild samurai's strength and knew they were no ordinary men. Seeing Shikamaru handle them so easily gave her some reassurance. Besides, having Inari involved in the resistance was good for his future. Tazuna was elderly, and Kaisha was already deceased. People had short memories, and even if the two men in this family had fought and sacrificed for the Land of Waves and its people, it couldn't be guaranteed that they would be remembered forever. Inari, though young, played an important role in this resistance, and that would ensure his future position in the hearts of the people. This would surely benefit his growth.
With a complex expression, Tsunami approached and gently ruffled Inari's hair. She wasn't sure if this was the right decision, but seeing Inari's determined face, she couldn't make him understand her worries. With a bitter smile, she stood up and bowed to Shikamaru, saying, "Thank you."
Inari's face broke into a smile at the sight. After Tsunami straightened up, she seriously told him, "You must stay close to Shikamaru and listen to him!"
"Don't worry, Mom!" Inari said with a silly grin, scratching the back of his head. He turned to Shikamaru and added, "I'll stick right by Shikamaru-nii!"
Shikamaru smiled faintly, knowing that Inari was just a child. If he didn't listen, it would be easy to knock him out and take him along. If it were someone like Chouji or Ino, even with Shikamaru's superior strength, it would be difficult to protect them in a heated battle.
By now, the mist had completely dissipated, and the red sun hung high in the sky, mercilessly bathing everything in heat.
Tazuna wiped the sweat off his forehead and used his towel to dry his face. Although he was only pretending to work, the bridge was surrounded by sea water with no shelter. The scorching sun made it unbearable, but the sea breeze helped a bit, keeping things tolerable.
Compared to Tazuna, Asuma, leisurely smoking a cigarette, seemed completely unbothered. He leaned casually on the railing of the bridge, watching seagulls swoop down over the sea, catching fish as they passed. He looked more like a tourist enjoying the view than a ninja preparing for battle. The heat and impending fight seemed to have no effect on him.
This carefree attitude and composure impressed Tazuna. Even though Tazuna was over fifty, he couldn't help but admire the confidence Asuma displayed.
"Asuma-san," Tazuna, still puzzled about a few things, took a deep breath. Now that Kado's matter was almost resolved, he hesitated for a moment before asking Asuma, "Aren't ninjas supposed to avoid causing trouble during missions? Shikamaru helped us devise the strategy, which could count as advice, and protecting Tsunami and Inari could be seen as part of the mission, but dealing with Kado... that seems to go far beyond your duties."
Asuma, who had been avoiding Tazuna's questions, smiled and exhaled a ring of smoke. "Tazuna-san, you worry too much. But since you've raised the question, it shows that Shikamaru's efforts have paid off!" He smiled warmly. "Shikamaru, that boy, has a level of insight and character that many adults don't possess. Kado is a world-renowned millionaire, but once he decided to lead his men here, in Shikamaru's eyes, he was already a dead man!"
"As for..." Asuma turned his head, noticing Tazuna still looked confused, and explained gently, "Once Kado stands before us, he becomes an 'enemy.' Eliminating him is nothing out of the ordinary."
Seeing Tazuna's shocked expression, Asuma himself wasn't entirely calm. The sheer audacity of removing such a powerful figure, someone who could avoid future problems, proved Shikamaru's strategy and decisiveness were beyond what could be expected from a mere Chunin.
"I really have a remarkable apprentice..." Asuma muttered to himself with pride.