Chapter 50 – The Journey Home
Chapter 50 – The Journey Home
As the morning mist slowly lifted, Team Eight began their journey back. The trip to Kanematsu City had taken eight days, but this time, there was no need to rush. At the earnest request of Taichi and the others, Captain Yamaguchi agreed to let them linger along the way, enjoying the sights as they returned.
On the winding mountain path, Yōhei cheerfully swung his newly purchased fan from the Land of Rivers. The painted waterfall on the fan's surface shimmered under the sunlight. "I heard there's a place up ahead called Mirror Lake! They say its waters can reflect the deepest desires in your heart!" He tugged at Saori's sleeve as he proudly repeated the story he'd picked up from a street vendor the day before.
Passing through a grove of bamboo, the air grew damp and heavy. Soon, they arrived at the mystical Mirror Lake. The water truly lived up to its name, gleaming like a mirror that seemed able to reflect one's very soul. Not far away, however, came the deep, rumbling roar of water.
A short climb forward and a turn around the mountain ridge revealed the source—a towering waterfall nearly a hundred meters high, known as the Thousand-Tier Falls, as famous as the Mirror Lake itself.
Even before they approached, the deafening roar struck their ears. It was like the pounding of war drums, or the cries of ten thousand charging soldiers. The sound alone stirred one's blood.
Yōhei and Saori quickly rushed down to the waterfall's base, eager to feel the overwhelming force up close.
Taichi, however, remained rooted before the cascading torrent, staring blankly as his fingers unconsciously traced invisible patterns in the air. The surging water crashed down with unstoppable might, sweeping toward the valley's exit. It struck him—wasn't this the essence of Water Release? To emulate the overwhelming power of nature itself?
Nature transformation of chakra was a deeply personal thing—each shinobi developed their own unique understanding. At that moment, Taichi's realization crystallized: water was grandeur, endless flow, an unyielding and eternal force.
[Epiphany: Water Nature Transformation +400 EXP]
[Congratulations! Water Nature Transformation has advanced to Lv.7 (262/1200)]
[Epiphany: Advanced Meditation skill gained +300 EXP]
[Congratulations! Advanced Meditation skill has advanced to Lv.1 (214/2000)]
Snapping back to himself, Taichi was overjoyed. So this was another way to refine nature transformation—by traveling, witnessing the beauty of the world, and experiencing the forces of nature firsthand. He silently vowed that one day, he would journey across every corner of the shinobi world.
By dusk, they stumbled upon a mountain folk lantern festival. Saori was invited by an elderly craftsman to join in making traditional river-paper lanterns. Her slender fingers moved deftly, quickly crafting an elegant design that drew gasps of wonder from the children watching. Yōhei, meanwhile, had slipped into the heart of the crowd, bamboo flute in hand, joining the local musicians in a lively tune. His Sharingan spun quietly, copying the musicians' fingerwork in secret.
On their final day in the Land of Rivers, they arrived at a hot spring town straddling the border between nations. Amid the rising steam, Yōhei was animatedly telling newly met travelers tales of Konoha. Saori, sitting nearby, carefully polished the lacquered forehead protector she had bought from the market. Taichi floated on his back in the hot spring, savoring the rare tranquility. From the edge of the pool, he could faintly hear Captain Yamaguchi conversing with the innkeeper about lodging for the night.
At first light, Yamaguchi woke the team. Playtime was over. Today, they would cross into the Land of Fire—and from then on, there would be no more leisurely detours.
Packing their gear, they ate a quick breakfast and departed, leaving the hot spring town and the Land of Rivers behind. The scenery changed instantly as they crossed the border—here, the Land of Fire stretched out in endless forests, great and small.
Without the burden of a caravan, Taichi and his teammates didn't bother sticking to trade roads. They moved straight toward Konoha, weaving through woods and crossing streams, treating the journey itself as a form of training.
But that afternoon, as they advanced through the dense forest, a sudden explosion shook the air—the distinct blast of paper bombs. The group froze, all eyes turning to Captain Yamaguchi.
His expression hardened. "This is the Land of Fire. Such an attack here is… unusual. We'll approach in combat formation. Stay sharp."
Taichi and his team immediately shed their casual demeanor, slipping into formation behind Captain Yamaguchi as they stealthily advanced toward the source of the explosion. From a distance, they spotted three Sand shinobi surrounding a battered Konoha ninja. The man was bloodied all over, his left arm severed at the shoulder—the limb itself lay discarded at the base of a nearby tree.
"You think setting off an explosion tag would actually bring someone to rescue you?" the leading Sand shinobi sneered arrogantly. "Spit out where the intel is hidden, and maybe you'll get a quicker death."
The Konoha ninja remained silent, eyes resolute, already prepared to die.
From their hidden vantage point, Captain Yamaguchi quickly assessed the opposition: one jōnin, two chūnin. Manageable.
Taichi, concealed nearby, caught the captain's hand signal—orders: he'll take the jōnin, Taichi takes one chūnin, and Yōhei and Saori work together to restrain the last one. Fast and decisive.
Taichi returned a crisp acknowledgment and relayed the instructions to Yōhei and Saori. With silent coordination complete, the squad waited for the captain's signal to strike.
The Sand jōnin, meanwhile, seemed to be losing patience. He snapped a kill order to his subordinates.
The instant one of the chūnin moved to strike, Captain Yamaguchi's hand flicked out the command. He lunged first, charging directly at the jōnin. Taichi and the others exploded into motion, each rushing their assigned targets.
"Who's there?!" the Sand jōnin barked, his instincts warning him of danger. He drew a kunai defensively, but Yamaguchi already had the initiative.
Clang! Their blades met, sparks flashing as the captain's powerful opening strike forced the Sand jōnin backward. The assault didn't relent—Yamaguchi pressed in with a flurry of precise, unyielding attacks, leaving his opponent scrambling to defend.
Elsewhere, Taichi had closed in on the chūnin who had just received his commander's order to kill. Yamaguchi's choice was deliberate—only Taichi had the speed to save the wounded Konoha ninja.
And he didn't disappoint. Drawing the short blade strapped to his back, Taichi channeled pure wind chakra into the weapon. The blade shimmered razor-sharp, almost humming with lethal edge.
The chūnin, lacking the jōnin's sharp perception, only noticed the charging Taichi after his commander's warning cry. He fumbled to prepare his defense—but it was far too late.
Taichi's body blurred. One instant he was rushing forward, the next he vanished in a flicker, reappearing behind his target. The Sand chūnin hadn't even raised his guard when a searing line split across his throat. Blood erupted in a crimson arc, driven by the desperate pump of his heart. He collapsed, lifeless.
It was as clean and merciless as a cavalryman cutting down an enemy with a galloping blade. The sheer speed and precision shocked not only the remaining Sand shinobi—but also the wounded Konoha ninja, who stared wide-eyed. That kill was… terrifyingly swift.
But before Taichi could recover, three kunai whistled from the treeline, followed by another Sand chūnin bursting out, closing in fast.
"Watch out!"