Kudo Shin dropped to one knee.
He raised two scrolls with both hands and bowed his head.
Miyamoto Yukie frowned, but still took the scrolls and read.
A moment later, after finishing the mission report, he slapped the desk hard.
"Hmph, disgraceful."
"That Ishikawa Itsuki, what did he even learn at the academy?"
"Does he not grasp the basic conduct of a shinobi?"
"He ignored orders, charged in blindly, and lacked the strength to back it up."
"Grievously injured?"
"He might as well have died."
Miyamoto seethed.
He had been a jounin long enough to see all types, from arrogant to timid, but obedience to orders was the floor.
Even the cocky ones listened when it was time to execute.
A case like Ishikawa's was a first.
Worse, this was Miyamoto's first tour as a field commander, and Ishikawa had gifted him a stain on day one.
Even if he earned merit this campaign, Ishikawa would linger as a blot.
If the boy were from a great clan, Miyamoto might have spared some face.
But a mere commoner? There was no need to be polite.
"Summon ANBU."
"Chuunin Kudo Shin, hand Ishikawa Itsuki over to ANBU when they arrive."
"As for your team, no reward and no punishment."
"You will atone with future merit."
"After the transfer, you may rest and await your next assignment."
Relief washed over Kudo.
They had muddled through.
Silently cursing Ishikawa half to death, he also felt grateful for his two reliable teammates.
They had saved a wagon and found a scapegoat.
The minds of clan born shinobi really did turn faster.
Ten minutes later, a fox-masked ANBU appeared. Kudo followed him to the medical compound and formally transferred the unconscious Ishikawa. Only then did he trudge back to the squad's tent.
He collapsed onto a cot and rubbed his brow, still shaken.
Catching the others' eyes, he managed a weary grin.
"It is done."
"Ishikawa has been handed to ANBU. No credit for the mission, but no penalties either."
"Now we rest and wait for the next task."
Nara Kazama nodded like he had expected as much.
Uchiha Jin exhaled.
The outcome confirmed his earlier judgment. The Uchiha clan's doom really did hinge on creed.
Boiled down, it was interest.
If the Uchiha never learned to keep their light sheathed and move with the dust, their path in the Leaf would keep following the old timeline.
Time slid by.
Days passed with no orders.
Each morning Jin rose, then wandered outside the forward camp to a pleasant patch of grass.
He sunbathed.
As for training, his system had long since made that obsolete. If he grew stronger while lying down, why not enjoy it?
Toward dusk, Kazama returned from drills to find Jin sprawled on the grass. His look said it all.
He sat beside him.
"Jin, you are peculiar."
"We have been here for days, and whenever there are no missions, everyone trains."
"They all want even a sliver more strength before the enemy arrives."
"Yet you lounge here so at ease. Someone might think you were out on a picnic."
Kazama's tone held real curiosity.
The closer he got to Jin, the less he understood.
Just when he thought he had the man pegged, the next moment proved otherwise.
The only thing he felt sure of was that Jin was not like an Uchiha at all.
For a Nara, that was maddening.
He was a classic Nara. He looked lazy because the world bored him. Most problems were simple to him, so he drifted.
But since meeting Jin, no matter how many brain cells he burned, he could not categorize him.
It rankled his pride.
So he had been edging closer, hoping to see the real man.
Only to discover Jin might be even lazier than he was. Kazama at least trained a little each day. Since leaving the Leaf, he had not seen Jin practice once.
Yet Jin's performance in battle had met A Class standards.
Kazama assumed Jin was hiding his strength, and could guess the reasons.
What he could not fathom was how someone this indolent had trained to that level.
So he probed.
Jin, still on his back, studied Kazama with a glint of caution.
He did not answer directly.
Instead, his voice went soft.
"I am curious about you too."
"With the strength you showed, A Class would have taken you in a heartbeat."
"So why play weak and land in B Class with the fodder?"
"And Ino-Shika-Cho."
"That trio is your traditions' iron rule. We have members of the other two here."
"How did you end up sharing a squad with me, an Uchiha?"
"Well?"
"Nara-san, you are curious about me. I am just as curious about you."
"Care to explain?"