Kotetsu leaned back, grinning. "Alright, Inoiki. Since we just completed our first mission outside the village, how about treating us today?"
Inoiki chuckled, catching on quickly. "Oh, I get it now! You guys insist on me getting the largest share of the reward so I'll cover the celebration, huh?"
The group burst into laughter, their camaraderie echoing as they made their way to Ichiraku Ramen. Teuchi, the owner, greeted them with his usual warmth, and soon all four were seated, ready for a friendly challenge: a ramen-eating contest to see who could down the most bowls.
To everyone's surprise, Inoiki, the youngest of the team, won with ease, polishing off six bowls.
Kotetsu shook his head in amazement. "Unbelievable, Inoiki! You're only 12, yet you can put away this much food? You're from the Yamanaka Clan, not the Akimichi Clan!"
The group erupted in laughter.
"Yeah," Izumo added, patting his stomach, "I barely managed three bowls myself."
Inoiki shrugged with a playful smile. "Maybe it's all the physical training—it builds up an appetite!"
They spent the rest of their time together laughing and enjoying each other's company, never once discussing their mission or the ROOT ninja.
After leaving the ramen shop, the team strolled through the village, enjoying the crisp evening air. Inoiki turned to Izumo, curiosity lighting up his eyes. "Captain, when do you think we'll take on another mission?"
Izumo thought for a moment before replying. "I was planning for us to start a new mission a week after we completed the last one. We all needed some solid rest after that, and I thought seven days would be a good break. We're already three days into that, so we've got about four days left."
The group nodded in agreement, satisfied with Izumo's thoughtful pacing.
Izumo added, "I'm also considering a B-Rank mission this time. I think we're ready for it—we've got the strength and skill."
Inoiki's eyes lit up. "That sounds perfect."
The others shared Inoiki's excitement, smiling as they took in his energy and enthusiasm. With their next mission on the horizon, the team exchanged nods and farewells, then headed their separate ways, each feeling the anticipation of what lay ahead.
Late at night in the Hokage's office, the soft glow of a single lantern cast long shadows across the room. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, held a report in his hands, his eyes narrowing as he took in every word. After a long moment, he placed the paper on the table, exhaling slowly.
He looked up, his sharp gaze settling on the figure before him. "So, not only does he possess the ability to control objects within a hundred-meter radius, but he can also fly—and his physical strength has grown strong enough to inflict severe injuries on even a seasoned Jonin. It seems Inoiki's strength has indeed grown drastically. Six years ago, he stormed out of this very office, vowing that one day no ninja would dare to hunt him without fearing for their life. It seems...he's fulfilled that promise."
A respectful voice answered, "Yes, Hokage-sama."
Stepping forward into the light was Kosuke, an older shinobi with lines of experience etched into his face. His posture was reverent, yet there was a hint of concern in his eyes.
Hiruzen nodded, a slight smile breaking the tension. "Thank you, Kosuke, for your hard work. It couldn't have been easy keeping eye on him."
Kosuke bowed, his movements slow and careful. "This is my duty, Hokage-sama. Inoiki may criticize your methods, but his loyalty to the village remains unshaken. He's young—he doesn't understand the difficult choices you make to keep the village in balance. It's not just our own safety you weigh, but also the threat from every hidden village."
Hiruzen's gaze softened, and he placed a reassuring hand on Kosuke's shoulder.
Finally, Kosuke bowed deeply once more and left, his footsteps fading down the quiet corridors of the Hokage's office. Hiruzen remained, staring at the paper on his desk, lost in thought about the path that lay ahead for both Inoiki and the village.
Four days later, as promised, Izumo took on a B-Rank mission. Their task was to capture a group of bandits terrorizing a nearby village and deliver them to the authorities. Among these bandits were three suspected ninjas—though their exact skills and affiliations were unknown. Their orders were clear: confirm whether these ninjas were from other hidden villages, and if so, eliminate them.
Izumo gathered his team and asked, "Is everyone satisfied with this mission?"
Inoiki nodded confidently. "No problem. With my Psycho Mind Transmission technique, I can tell if they're from other villages or not. This mission is perfect for us."
Kotetsu shrugged, adjusting his gear. "I'm ready."
Kosuke smiled, his calm, kind expression reassuring. "No problem here."
"Good," Izumo said. "Let's meet back here in an hour. We'll leave Konoha today and aim to finish this mission quickly."
The team dispersed to gather supplies, then regrouped at the Konoha gate. They set off as planned, moving swiftly along forested paths. They traveled the entire day, finally stopping to rest under the stars, with Kosuke preparing a simple but hearty meal for the group.
At dawn, they resumed their journey, moving with purpose as the sun rose higher in the sky. By noon, they had reached the outskirts of the village plagued by bandits. The air was tense, and the villagers watched their approach with a mixture of fear and hope, quietly whispering to one another. The team could feel the weight of the mission ahead—and the need to rid the village of its tormentors.
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