Iō couldn't hide his praise once he heard what had happened the night before — and that wasn't even mentioning the delicious breakfast they shared this morning. For a man who had seen the harshness of life firsthand, such moments of simple kindness were rare treasures.
After finishing his meal, Hayama, still recovering but in good spirits, smiled at Enso. He promised him a day off once they returned to Konoha. It was a rare gesture coming from the strict Jonin, but it was heartfelt. He also thanked Enso sincerely for carrying him back to the room last night when he had been too exhausted to move on his own.
Meanwhile, Tokuma and Inari, the younger members of the team, couldn't help but feel a little angry. They were upset, thinking that Hayama and Enso had underestimated them during the emergency.
Enso quickly apologised, bowing his head slightly. "I'm sorry," he said earnestly. "The situation was too urgent. I couldn't risk your safety."
Hearing his honest explanation, and after seeing the state Hayama was still in — his face pale, his body strained from the hidden jutsu he had used — the two younger boys couldn't hold a grudge. With a shared glance, they forgave Enso, understanding that sometimes decisions had to be made fast, even if they stung a little.
After breakfast, the group set out once again, accompanying Iō and his assistant toward Konoha. The trip was much smoother this time. No enemies appeared along the road, no traps triggered, and no sense of lurking danger hung in the air.
Enso had sealed the bodies of the two intruders, Shojoji and Tsukiyo, into a scroll using the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques he recently learned. He figured it would be foolish to leave such dangerous enemies behind, and maybe — just maybe — their corpses could fetch a bounty.
Curious, Enso asked Hayama if he could borrow his Bingo Book during their journey. Flipping through the thick, leather-bound volume, he quickly located the profiles of the two men they had fought.
His eyes widened. Shojoji's name appeared right at the top, listed among the most dangerous missing-nin. His record of crimes was extensive: murder, theft, kidnapping, black-market dealings, and worse. His abilities were noted to be especially formidable, even among missing-nin.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed, Enso showed Hayama the page.
Hayama's eyes narrowed as he read the entry, his usual calm shaken. Shojoji's bounty was listed at a staggering 300 million ryo. Tsukiyo, while less infamous, still had a respectable bounty of 10 million.
"This is the latest version of the Bingo Book," Hayama muttered, running a hand through his hair. He had received the update just before leaving on this mission, but he hadn't expected to encounter such high-value targets during a simple escort mission.
Seeing the uncertainty on Enso's face, Hayama reassured him, "Don't worry. The black market has its ways to verify the identities of corpses. We'll get this sorted."
Enso nodded and handed him the scroll containing the sealed bodies. After all, he was still too young to even set foot near the black market without risking exposing himself.
Hayama chuckled lightly, a rare grin spreading across his face. "Looks like we just got rich overnight," he said, amused. "Don't worry, Enso. We'll split it in half."
Truthfully, if Enso hadn't been so thorough, Hayama admitted he wouldn't have even thought about retrieving the corpses. Their priority had been clear: protect Iō and ensure the weapon supply reached Konoha safely.
Dealing with bodies had seemed like unnecessary baggage at the time. But now, realising the fortune they carried, Hayama couldn't help but feel grateful for Enso's foresight.
Upon arriving at Konoha, the team immediately escorted Iō to the Hokage's office. They submitted their mission report and explained the details of the journey, including the unexpected confrontation with the two powerful enemies.
Minato frowned slightly as he listened to their report. His sharp mind quickly recalled that, just before assigning Team 1 to their mission, he had dispatched a separate Anbu squad to dismantle a notorious group known as the Mujina Bandits.
Pulling the related mission reports, Minato's brow furrowed. According to the Anbu's findings, the gang had been mostly wiped out — except for the mysterious disappearance of their leader and second-in-command.
Connecting the dots, Minato turned his sharp gaze toward Hayama. "Take the bodies to Ibiki at the Interrogation Unit," he instructed, his voice firm. "Confirm whether they're connected to the Mujina Bandits. If they are, I'll authorise an additional B-Rank mission credit for your team."
Without wasting a moment, Hayama nodded and set out immediately after Minato dismissed them. At the Interrogation Unit, he quickly found Ibiki Morino, the imposing head of the department. Without much ceremony, Hayama unsealed the scroll, revealing the two bodies.
Ibiki's experienced eyes swept over them, cold and assessing. After some interrogation of the surviving Mujina Bandits, the truth came out clearly: Shojoji and Tsukiyo had indeed been their leader and right-hand man.
After completing the identification process, Ibiki handed the bodies back to Hayama. "They're not tied to your original mission parameters," he said gruffly. "They're yours to claim."
Ibiki could have easily kept the bodies for himself, but he respected hard work and fairness. Hayama had earned his credit, and Ibiki wasn't about to undermine that—not when it was so plainly deserved.
As Hayama returned, a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Things had turned out far better than he could have expected. With the bodies secured, he made his way toward the Land of Fire's Bounty Station — a hidden black market exchange where bounty hunters collected rewards for targets listed in the Bingo Book.
The entrance to the station was cleverly concealed behind an old, grimy urinal in a public restroom. To the casual observer, it was just another filthy stall; only those who knew the right sequence of taps could reveal the hidden passage.
Inside, the air was thick with the scent of damp stone and old paper. Dim lighting cast long shadows across the narrow halls. Hayama navigated the familiar twists and turns until he reached the main counter, where he was greeted by Zangei — the gruff but reliable operator.
After a brief inspection of the sealed scrolls, Zangei confirmed the identities: Shojoji and Tsukiyo. Everything checked out. The process went smoothly, and within minutes, Hayama walked away with a stack of checks in hand, each one bearing an official seal that allowed them to be cashed at any local bank without raising suspicion.
Enso was granted a well-deserved day off, while Tokuma and Inari were instructed to continue their training under Hayama's supervision. The next morning, Hayama approached Enso with a satisfied smile and handed him a brand-new bank card.
To Enso's surprise, it was loaded with a staggering 150 million ryo. Hayama explained that he had decided to reserve 10 million ryo from Tsukiyo's bounty to be split equally between Tokuma and Inari — a reward for their efforts and a way to make up for not including them during the critical moments of the mission.
Enso had no objections. To him, 150 million ryo was an incredible fortune, especially considering that his mother's entire lifetime savings only amounted to around 500 million. Receiving such a sum at his age was beyond anything he had ever imagined. He accepted the card with a deep bow of gratitude, feeling excited and overwhelmed by the possibilities it opened for his future.
For the next several days, Team 1 was not assigned any missions. Their recent accomplishments had vaulted them into the spotlight, making them one of the top-performing Genin teams in the village. Only Team 2, another elite squad, could match their recent success.
Their outstanding performance did not go unnoticed. As a reward, the Fourth Hokage personally assigned them a prestigious mission. Teams 1 and 2 would be joining forces to guard the Fire Daimyo during his annual visit to the Hidden Leaf. It was an extraordinary honour, especially for Genin, and a clear recognition of their potential.
The mission was scheduled to begin in a week. Until then, the Hokage instructed both teams to focus on training, preparation, and coordination. It was an opportunity none of them could afford to waste — and a stepping stone toward even greater achievements.
Over the past few days, Enso decided to visit Shisui and Itachi for some training. Shisui, a skilled and seasoned Uchiha, was particularly impressed by Enso's rapid learning ability. Even without the Sharingan, Enso was able to master the Shuriken technique after only a few attempts. Falling three or four times before succeeding was enough for Enso to grasp it completely.
Shisui was not accustomed to seeing such speed in someone who lacked the Sharingan. He began to wonder whether Enso had some form of Dojutsu, a unique eye technique. However, Enso quickly denied it, saying he didn't possess anything of the sort. Shisui and Itachi exchanged glances, both feeling a sense of regret.
If Enso were a Uchiha, with his extraordinary talent, he might have become one of the strongest members of their clan once he awakened the Sharingan. It was a thought that lingered, as they both realised the immense potential that Enso held.
For Enso, the situation was bittersweet. He too felt the loss, as he had once tried to possess an Uchiha himself—only for the tragic outcome of killing the boy in the process. It was a painful memory, one he wished he could forget, but couldn't.
Back at home, Enso spent some time organising and picking up a few water scrolls he had left behind. These scrolls contained instructions for various Water Release techniques, many of which were part of his father's vast arsenal.
The techniques ranged from the basic C-Rank "Wild Water Wave" to the more advanced A-Rank "Water Severing Wave," covering a variety of water-based jutsu. Enso had always been fascinated by his father's mastery over these techniques and was eager to learn them. Fortunately, his father's memories make it easier to pick up on those techniques.
Enso's focus was initially on practising the hand signs and chakra moulding needed for each technique, as he had no intention of flooding his house anytime soon. He began with the two C-Rank techniques, "Wild Water Wave" and "Starch Syrup Capturing Field," which were manageable for his level.
Moulding one chakra and controlling it, however, were two different factors. Enso had learned this the hard way, particularly after devouring Shojoji and Tsukiyo, two powerful entities that had greatly expanded his understanding of chakra manipulation. This newfound knowledge inspired him to focus on some practical ninjutsu to further refine his chakra moulding skills.
The following day, Enso visited the Uchiha compound for more training. After easily defeating Itachi in a quick exchange, He asked Shisui for a sparring match, eager to test his skills. Shisui agreed to the challenge. He unsheathed his tanto and activated his Sharingan, ready for the fight.
Shisui's speed was breathtaking, and Enso found himself immediately pushed to his limits. But despite the overwhelming speed, Enso was able to match his speed using his "Void Step" technique. This unique movement allowed him to dodge Shisui's attacks with fluidity, leaving Shisui surprised. What troubled Shisui even more, however, was his inability to copy Enso's techniques with his Sharingan, despite his vast experience.
Enso wasn't worried about Shisui copying his techniques. He knew well that even the Sharingan, with all its power, had its limitations. Techniques that operated at speeds faster than the Body Flicker technique, for instance, were nearly impossible to replicate, even by someone wielding the Mangekyo Sharingan. Enso had already anticipated this, which is why he felt confident in the match.
The two exchanged blows with remarkable speed. The clash of their weapons flowed between strikes and counters, each one more intense than the last. Enso was particularly impressed by Shisui's tanto, which was sturdy enough to withstand the force of his full physical strength. Their strikes were so fast and powerful that Itachi, who had yet to awaken his Sharingan, struggled to keep up. The rapid movements were a blur, even for him.
Despite the intense exchange, Shisui quickly realised that in terms of pure swordsmanship, Enso was far superior. Each time they clashed, Shisui found himself forced to retreat. It was a humbling experience for the Uchiha prodigy. In an attempt to create some distance between them, Shisui used the Uchiha clan's signature "Fire Ball Technique."
The massive fireball surged toward Enso with a burst of heat and power. But Enso was quick to respond. With a swift and precise strike, he used his "Sword of Wind Count" to split the fireball in two. Though fire is stronger against wind release, Enso's technique was of a higher rank than the basic jutsu of the Uchiha clan, which made all the difference.
Enso seized the opportunity to refine his Wind Release techniques, which he had gained from Shojoji's conscious soul. Training against the Uchiha prodigy was far more valuable than practising alone. However, it was no easy task—Shisui did not hold back in the slightest.
In hindsight, defeating Itachi first might have been a mistake, but Enso couldn't bring himself to regret it. The thrill of the battle had been worth it, and if given the chance, he knew he would make the same choice again, for the sake of his mental well-being.
Shisui maintained his composure, his resolve unshaken. Feeling that nothing could surprise him anymore, he decided to escalate the fight. He combined his B-Rank and A-Rank techniques, "Dance of the Sun Halo" and "AfterImages Clone," unleashing a series of deadly flame blades from all directions. The flames sped toward Enso with incredible velocity, forcing him to think and react quickly.
Enso, in turn, activated the Mind's Eye of the Kagura and combined it with his Void Step. Using his heightened senses and swift movements, he weaved through the fire blades like a street performer dodging obstacles. The speed and intensity of the attack left him with no room to retaliate. Instead, he was forced to use his 'Wind Release: Shield of the Wind Count' to create a protective barrier around himself, deflecting the onslaught of fire blades.
The clash between the two was intense, with each side testing the limits of their abilities. While Shisui was a master of his techniques, Enso's sheer adaptability and versatility were proving to be a formidable challenge. What started as a sparring match between friends quickly turned into an intense battle of wits, strength, and strategy. Neither side gave an inch, each one trying to outmanoeuvre the other in a test of skill and determination.
Fugaku had been secretly observing the sparring match, fully aware that Enso was one of Minato's students. Although it made him slightly uncomfortable to see Itachi lose to his rival's student, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride when Shisui managed to pressure Enso using their clan's techniques. The match, intense as it was, had showcased the strength of the Uchiha bloodline.
Eventually, the two called it a draw, as Shisui began to run low on chakra. Enso took a moment to heal both Itachi and Shisui's muscle fatigue, easing their tired bodies before they parted ways.
Afterwards, Enso headed to Kushina's home for dinner, though he was equally exhausted. He had been training all day before the sparring session with the Uchiha. Shisui's skills were impressive, and his reputation was well deserved. If it had been a more serious battle, the outcome might have been different, with the fight possibly not ending in a draw.