Chapter Fifteen: Return to the Leaf Village

Chapter Fifteen: Return to the Leaf

Several days later, on the newly completed bridge that spanned the river...

“Thanks to all of you, the bridge is finally finished. But I suppose I’ll be rather lonely from now on! Safe travels!” Tazuna, together with the entire village, gathered to bid farewell to Shuster and his companions.

“Thank you for looking after us,” Kakashi said, standing at the front of the group.

“Don’t say it like that, Uncle Tazuna. We’ll come back to visit,” Naruto replied, scratching his head.

“Then you must come back,” Inari sniffled again, on the verge of tears.

“Hey! Didn’t I tell you not to cry anymore?” Naruto’s own voice wavered.

“Naruto, you should cry if you want to! Don’t hold it in!” Inari said, struggling to keep his composure.

“All right, both of you, if you want to cry, just cry. No one will laugh at you,” Shuster said gently.

“The sound of sniffling—I'm off now!” Naruto could hold back no longer. He turned his head as tears streamed down his face.

“Honestly, always pretending to be tough,” Sakura thought to herself, looking at Naruto in silence.

“Right! Let’s hurry back. When I return, I’ll ask Iruka-sensei to treat me to ramen to celebrate my mission's success!” Naruto quickly regained his spirits and declared enthusiastically, “Plus, I want to tell Konohamaru all about my heroic deeds this time. Hehe~”

“So… how about going on a date after the mission, Sasuke?” Sakura asked expectantly.

“No… I refuse. I need to train with Kakashi-sensei when we get back,” Sasuke replied, his mind still focused on how to become stronger. Although he had set aside his hatred, he knew he had to become stronger. He had to catch that person and demand a proper answer. This was the topic of a conversation Shuster had with Sasuke after the battle.

“Ah!” Sakura was devastated, feeling as if she had turned to stone.

“Well, I’m available, Sakura!” Naruto said hopefully.

“Drop dead!” Sakura grabbed Naruto and gave him a good beating.

“Hehe~” Kakashi and Shuster exchanged a happy glance and laughed.

“It’s been so long since I felt like this,” Zabuza remarked, watching Naruto and Sakura’s playful scene as Naruto was beaten one-sidedly, addressing Haku.

“Yes, Zabuza-sama,” Haku replied, his smile as pure as snow. This kind of life really is wonderful.

——— This is the dividing line representing the gates of the Leaf Village ———

“Welcome home, Lord Kakashi, Lord Raiden,” Izumo and Kotetsu called out as they saw the group approaching the village gates.

“Oh, Izumo and Kotetsu, I’m here to report the mission and, incidentally, to be Shuster’s guarantor for the rogue ninja,” Kakashi said, signing the entry log.

“Right, I’ll go notify the Hokage,” Kotetsu said, dashing off toward the Hokage’s office.

After a short wait, a member of the ANBU appeared before them and said, “The Hokage wishes to see you.”

“Let’s go,” Kakashi said.

“Wow, the Leaf really is bustling. It’s not like our Mist Village, where the villagers avoid the ninja,” Zabuza observed, gazing at the busy streets.

“That’s right. The greatest strength of the Leaf Village is its protection of its citizens and its genin,” Kakashi explained to Zabuza.

“Haku, I’ll take you to taste the most delicious food in the Leaf Village soon,” Naruto said. Along the way, he had become thoroughly acquainted with Haku, who replied with a smile.

“All right, we’re here,” Kakashi led the group to the Hokage’s building.

After winding through several corridors and climbing to the third floor, they arrived at the main entrance.

“Knock, knock, knock—please come in!” “Creak—Sir Third, Team Seven has completed its mission and returned to report,” Kakashi said, handing over the mission report.

“Hmm~ you must be Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Mist,” the Third Hokage said, glancing at him and nodding, then turned to Zabuza with a question.

“Sir Third, yes, that is me. This is my companion, Haku of the Yuki Clan,” Zabuza said, proud yet respectful, knowing that the Third Hokage was renowned as a ‘ninja hero’ throughout the world.

“Haku of the Yuki Clan? So your guarantors are Kakashi and Shuster?” The Third Hokage looked at Haku for a moment before turning to ask.

“Yes, Sir Third,” Shuster and Kakashi replied.

“In that case, Zabuza Momochi of the Mist, I hereby declare you a newly appointed elite jonin of the Leaf Village. As you are a former rogue ninja from the Mist, your probation period will last three months, during which you may not leave the village. At the end of that time, you will begin taking missions. Haku, with no prior record, becomes a special jonin of the Leaf, with no probation. Does this arrangement suit you?” The Third Hokage spoke as he wrote on a form, then looked up.

“No problem, Sir Third,” Zabuza replied. At last, I can have a home—not a wandering ninja anymore.

“Yes, Sir Third. But I request to stay with Zabuza-sama,” Haku added.

“No problem!” The Third Hokage readily agreed.

“Here, take these two forehead protectors,” he handed them the Leaf headbands.

“All right, it’s settled. Your house will be arranged soon; ANBU will…” The Third Hokage began to organize his endless paperwork, but was interrupted midway.

“Sir Third, why not let them stay at our house? We have plenty of rooms, just no people. Is that all right?” Shuster interjected.

“Fine,” the Third Hokage replied without looking up.

“Let’s get going, everyone,” Kakashi said happily.

“Then we’ll take our leave, Sir Third,” Shuster said, and the group left the Hokage’s building.

“I’ll go buy ingredients for tonight’s meal. Brother, you take Zabuza and Haku to our house. Naruto and Sakura, if you have nothing to do, I can split off two shadow clones to teach you. Brother, you may want to send a clone to help Sasuke train.” As he spoke, Shuster formed the cross sign and produced two shadow clones. His real self then vanished using Body Flicker.

“Well, we really don’t get any say in the matter. Never mind, Sasuke, my clone will help you train, and I’ll take Zabuza and Haku to see the house,” Kakashi produced a clone and then left with Zabuza.

“All right, Sasuke, I’ll be responsible for you now. I’ll stick with you until I disappear,” Kakashi’s clone said, standing beside Sasuke.

“Naruto and Sakura, same goes for you,” Shuster’s two clones said.

——— This is the dividing line for the three’s relentless training ———

“Whoa, a new day begins! Today I’ll perfectly complete the mission! Let’s go!” Naruto, brimming with energy, rushed to the meeting spot early in the morning.

“Hey, Kakashi-sensei, Sakura, Sasuke, good morning!” Naruto greeted everyone upon arriving.

“Good morning, Naruto,” replied Shuster.

Sakura.

“Hmph~” replied Sasuke.

“What’s going on, why hasn’t Kakashi-sensei arrived yet?” Naruto asked, as he did every day.

“Sigh~” ×2

“My brother expects to arrive in three hours. You’re free to do as you wish until then. If you have questions, ask me,” Shuster checked the time and announced.

“Kakashi-sensei, I want to ask: how can I manipulate Lightning Chakra more easily?” Sasuke quickly inquired.

“Oh, Lightning, well, roughly—practice like this and you’ll improve,” Shuster explained.

“And me, how else can I control shadow clones?” Naruto, watching Sasuke practice, couldn’t wait to ask.

“Shadow clones can also be used like this—if you do this, you’ll become even stronger,” Shuster replied with a smile.

“So, Kakashi-sensei, yesterday I was able to precisely control my chakra. Is there anything else I should work on?” Sakura asked.

“Well, Sakura, here, take this and study it carefully,” Shuster recalled something and handed her a genjutsu scroll previously given to him by Kakashi.

“Thank you, sensei!” Sakura exclaimed, looking at the scroll with joy.

And so, the three began their training.

——— ————————————————————————————————————————————

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