The return journey was a whirlwind of speed.
Without Tazuna as "dead weight," Team 7's travel pace increased by more than one level.
Ninjas leaped swiftly across treetops, the wind pressure from their passage rustling leaves in their wake.
Naruto led the charge, brimming with energy as if he had an infinite motor inside him. He occasionally turned back to make faces at Sasuke.
Sasuke followed silently behind, spending most of his time staring down at his own hands.
A faint crimson occasionally flashed in his eyes, but more often it was a deep, profound confusion.
After witnessing that godlike power, he found himself doubting the bloodline limit he had just awakened for the first time.
Could this kind of strength really allow him to catch up to that man's back?
Karin quietly brought up the rear, staying close behind Sora's side.
Her gaze never left the leisurely figure ahead, strolling through the forest as if on a casual walk.
Sora walked with hands in his pockets, lightly tapping tree trunks with his toes, his body drifting forward like a weightless falling leaf.
In his mind, he was tallying the gains from this trip.
[Ding! You have received a legacy gift from NPC 'Haku' (Ice Release Bloodline Limit Disc)!]
[Ding! You have received a surprise gift from Konoha Genin 'Uchiha Sasuke' (Sharingan: Single Tomoe Disc)!]
[Ding! You have received a passionate gift from Konoha Genin 'Uzumaki Naruto' (Nine-Tails Chakra Disc)!]
[Ding! You have received the entire fortune of the Land of Waves' unscrupulous capitalist 'Gatō' (Storage Scroll · PLUS Version) x20!]
Tch, overflowing with riches.
Sora whistled inwardly, though his face showed an exhausted expression of "I'm so tired, I just want to go home."
Maintaining a perfect persona is just this simple, unadorned, and utterly boring.
...
The familiar gates of Konoha Village finally appeared at the edge of their vision.
Seeing the tall, solemn gate walls and the bright red symbol of the Will of Fire atop them, Naruto let out an excited roar and sped up.
"We're back!!"
The gate guards, Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane, froze for a moment when they saw the four familiar yet unfamiliar figures.
When they left, they had been three green-as-grass rookie genin and one seemingly unreliable team leader.
But now, the faint yet unmistakable aura they carried—mingled with blood and confidence—clearly proclaimed that they had been through a real war.
...
Hokage Office.
The air still carried that familiar scent of aged paper mixed with premium tobacco.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind a mountain of documents. Hearing the knock, he wearily raised his head.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Sora Akashi's energetic face was the first to poke through.
"Third Hokage-sama! We're back to report the mission!"
Behind him stood the three members of Team 7, each with their own expression.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's cloudy eyes flashed with a subtle glint when he saw them.
He set down his pipe.
"You're back. Good work."
Sora strode to the desk, placed the mission scroll on it, and flashed the smile of a model student reporting in.
"Report, Third Hokage-sama! C-rank escort mission—successfully completed!"
He recounted the events in a light, casual tone.
From the encounter with the Demon Brothers, to the battle with Zabuza, to Gatō's final appearance with his samurai—all described as "there were some minor hiccups, but we handled it easily in the end."
"...In short, that's it. All enemies have been eliminated, the bridge in the Land of Waves was successfully completed. Everyone's happy, everyone's happy."
Sora finished his summary with a grin begging for praise.
Hiruzen Sarutobi listened in silence, fingers unconsciously tapping the desk.
All enemies eliminated?
The intelligence from the Anbu he had secretly sent to observe was not "easily handled."
That boiled ocean, that severed fortress—they were all real.
"Oh, right, Third Hokage-sama."
Sora suddenly clapped his forehead as if remembering something.
"There are two small incidents I should report."
He turned, grabbed Sasuke by the neck, and pulled him forward.
"This kid Sasuke got a bit stimulated in battle and accidentally awakened his Sharingan!"
He held up a finger in front of Sasuke's face.
"Single tomoe—pretty cool, right?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils contracted sharply.
Before he could speak, Sora pulled Naruto over too.
"And Naruto—seeing his teammate injured got him all fired up, and a little bit of the Nine-Tails' chakra leaked out. He got super strong!"
He patted Naruto's head in a coaxing tone.
"But he got it under control quickly. No problem, no problem—don't worry."
Dead silence filled the office.
Sasuke and Naruto were both stunned by Sora's breezy, downplayed report.
Awakening the Sharingan and erupting Nine-Tails chakra were "small incidents"?!
Only Hiruzen Sarutobi, on his wrinkled face, could no longer maintain that calm, unruffled composure.
He stared fixedly at the carefree, grinning young man before him.
Sora took in the Third Hokage's spectacular range of expressions with delight.
Look at this old man's face—tch, truly a masterpiece.
His smile grew even brighter.
But...
This was probably the last time he would stand here reporting a mission to the old man.
"Alright, Third Hokage-sama, if there's nothing else, we'll take our leave."
Sora waved at Hiruzen Sarutobi, then grabbed the still-dazed Naruto and Sasuke, pushing them firmly out of the office.
"The kids are exhausted—they need to go back and refuel!"
Bang.
The office door closed.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at the closed door, then looked down at the casually written mission report on the desk. He silently picked up his pipe and took a deep drag.
...
"Mission accomplished! Sensei is treating you all to hot pot to celebrate!"
As soon as they left the Hokage Building, Sora reverted to his energetic self, waving grandly.
"Ohhh! Hot pot! Ichiraku's deluxe!"
Naruto instantly revived at full health, drooling.
Sasuke remained silent but didn't refuse.
Karin naturally walked to Sora's side, a faint smile on her face.
Konoha Ichiraku Hot Pot, main branch.
As the secret big boss, Sora naturally received top-tier treatment and was led straight to a luxurious private room not open to the public.
The bubbling red oil broth gurgled fiercely, its domineering aroma instantly filling the entire room.
"Itadakimasu!"
Naruto grabbed a slice of freshly boiled fatty beef, didn't even blow on it, and stuffed it into his mouth—scalding himself into grimacing, yet beaming with happiness.
Sasuke ate quietly, but his chopsticks moved no slower than Naruto's.
The impact of that battle had been not only mental but physical.
He now desperately needed energy, needed food, to replenish his body's depletion and prepare for the next, even harsher round of training.
Sora leisurely sipped iced plum soup, taking in the sight of the two boys wolfing down food and Karin eating vegetables in small, careful bites. He nodded in satisfaction.
Once everyone was mostly full, he cleared his throat and set down his cup.
"Alright, stomachs full—time for the real talk."
The three immediately paused, turning to look at him.
"I've decided to recommend you all for this year's Chunin Exams."
Sora's voice wasn't loud, yet it landed like a stone in still water, sending ripples everywhere.
"Chunin Exams?!"
Naruto leaped up first, eyes sparkling with excitement, already imagining himself wearing a chunin forehead protector looking cool.
Karin nervously tightened her grip on her chopsticks.
Sasuke's eyes instantly blazed with competitive fire.
This was an opportunity.
An opportunity to prove himself and catch up to that man's back!
"But..." Sora dragged out the word, building suspense. "The Chunin Exams require a minimum number of completed missions for genin—at least eight official ones."
"And right now, we've only completed one."
He spread his hands helplessly.
"So, for the next two months, be prepared mentally."
"We're going to grind through D-rank missions like crazy, plus keep up the intensive training."
He looked at Naruto and Sasuke, a devilish smile appearing on his face.
"The promise I made to you two still stands."
"Whoever masters their technique first—Rasengan or Lightning Release—and meets my requirements, I'll teach them an even stronger ninjutsu."
He paused deliberately, watching their eyes light up, his smile widening.
"That technique is one of my personal signature moves."
"Master it, and you might just shine brilliantly during this Chunin Exam."
The room instantly crackled with tension.
Naruto's and Sasuke's gazes collided in mid-air, invisible sparks flying.
"Hmph."
Sasuke suddenly snorted coldly and stood up.
He looked down at Naruto, who was still shoveling food, his pitch-black eyes filled with undisguised contempt and battle intent.
"I won't lose to this dead-last."
With that, he turned without looking at anyone else and strode out, pulling open the private room door.
"I'm going home—for special training with my brother."
His figure disappeared through the doorway.