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Tsunade studied him for a moment, then nodded. "That may be true. But your teammates feel otherwise. They believe they're holding you back—and they want to separate."
Inoiki frowned and turned toward Izumo and Kotetsu.
Izumo let out a sigh before speaking. "It's the truth, Inoiki. We feel like dead weight. You're carrying us through missions, and no matter how much we try, we can't keep up with your strength." His voice was steady, but there was a hint of guilt behind it.
Kotetsu nodded. "Because you do everything, we can't even take an equal share of the rewards. It doesn't feel right. We respect you too much to keep benefiting from something we haven't truly earned. But at the same time, we can't ask you to hold back just for our sake. That's not how a ninja operates."
Izumo exhaled, looking directly at Inoiki. "So we decided—it's best if we part ways. For all of us."
A heavy silence settled over the room.
This wasn't just about a team breaking up. It was about respect, self-worth, and the hard truth of being a ninja.
Inoiki took a moment to process their words, then nodded in understanding. He couldn't blame Izumo and Kotetsu for feeling that way. It was a difficult decision, but he respected it.
Tsunade watched him closely. "So, Inoiki, what's your plan now? Are you going to join a new team, or would you rather operate solo? If you choose to go solo, you have my approval."
Inoiki met her gaze. "I'd prefer to work alone. But," he added, "I know the rules. To take on solo missions, I need to be at least a Jonin, right?"
Tsunade smirked. "That's right. And here's some good news for you." She leaned back in her chair. "I've made an exception—you're being promoted. You'd better be grateful, because I had to argue with the Konoha Council just to make this happen."
Inoiki raised a brow. "A full Jonin promotion?"
Tsunade shook her head. "Not quite. You may have extraordinary strength, but you still lack experience with S-rank missions. So for now, you'll be a Tokubetsu Jonin."
Inoiki nodded. "That's fair. I understand. And... thank you, Lady Hokage. I appreciate the trust you've placed in me."
Tsunade simply smirked. "Don't make me regret it."
Tsunade leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "By the way, I heard you had some issues with the old man." Her tone was casual, but there was no mistaking who she was referring to—Hiruzen, the previous Hokage.
Inoiki met her gaze and nodded. "That's absolutely true. I never agreed with the way he handled things—whether it was the Hyuga incident or the two times I was attacked by ROOT ninjas. He knew about it, but he did nothing." His voice was steady, but there was an edge to it. "Maybe he believed he was acting for the sake of peace, but in reality, he never confronted the real threats—only delayed them. He avoided dealing with the root causes of conflict, and that, in the end, only made things worse."
He exhaled, glancing out the window. "And now that he's gone, I'm sure Danzo and his ROOT operatives—who were kept on a leash under Hokage—are moving in the shadows again."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Tsunade let out a quiet sigh but didn't respond immediately. She could have argued, but in truth, she shared some of Inoiki's frustrations. Hiruzen's decisions had driven her away from the village for years. If he were still alive, she likely wouldn't have returned at all.
The others in the room remained silent. Some out of respect. Some because they knew there was truth in Inoiki's words.
For now, Tsunade let the conversation settle. But one thing was certain—Konoha's problems hadn't died with Hiruzen. They were only beginning.
Inoiki exhaled, his expression calm. "But in the end, I don't hold any resentment toward him anymore. He's gone now. And whatever I thought of his choices, he died fighting for the village. That's something worthy of respect."
Tsunade gave a small nod. "That's good to hear." She leaned forward slightly. "Alright, if I come across a mission that suits you, I'll let you know. I want you to reach Jonin as soon as possible so I can assign you to more serious missions." She waved a hand dismissively. "That's all for now—you're free to go."
Inoiki nodded before turning to Izumo and Kotetsu with a grin. "Izumo-san, Kotetsu-san—how about a farewell party? One last outing together?"
Izumo and Kotetsu exchanged glances before smiling.
"That sounds like a great idea," Izumo said.
Kotetsu chuckled. "Yeah, let's make it a good one."
With that, the three of them left together, stepping into the of their lives—but not without a proper send-off.
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