Return

It had been 4 days since the pirate attack that night. The journey of Team 9 after that point was uneventful. Small pirate ships did not even approach them and even medium sized pirate crews backed off after seeing the 4 ships. So, the rest of the trip was relatively safe.

After successfully capturing the ships and the pirate crew, Team 9 scoured all the ships thoroughly. They found huge stacks of money, valuable metals and various other treasures on them. The 4 leaf shinobi took and stored all of those treasures with a straight face. Although, the merchants and the guards were filled with jealousy and greed. They neither stopped them, nor objected to this behaviour of their saviours. The guards were envious but they knew that they owed their lives to these 4 leaf shinobis and kept their mouths shut. The merchants knew very well that Hidden Leaf Village was the number one superpower in this world. So, they did not provoke Team 9. But they did vainly try to strike up deals with Shunsui numerous times.

Shikatsu made an inventory of all the things they had found on the pirate ships. He came to a conclusion that they had struck it rich. There were atleast 5 million ryo in cash. The valuable metals included gold, silver, hig quality iron and most importantly around 10 kgs of chakra metal. Other various treasures included low-level jutsu manuals, sculptures, paintings etc. Takeru even spotted two oni masks with Uzumaki clan symbol. He immediately kept the two masks inside his inventory without anyone noticing. Team 9 discussed among themselves and came to decision that they would take the cash and divide it equally. They decided that they would first search for any useful jutsu scrolls to see if any were worth learning. They would then contribute them with the rest of the treasures to the village. Thus everyone in Team 9 became 1.2 million ryo richer overnight.

Takeru applied gravity seal and chakra disruption seal on each and every pirate on top the already existing restriction seal. They then kept those pirates locked up inside the prison of their own ships. Shunsui meanwhile went about asking all the freed individuals about their details. All of the 13 captured people were either from Jiro Island or Taro Island or Land of Tea. Shunsui asked each of them about their condition and found that 7 men and women were who were from Jiro or Taro Island had no family to go back to. There was one boy among the 6 men and women from Land of Tea who was the son of a businessman. His father had already posted a missing person notice in various lands including Land of Fire. Shunsui recognised the boy's face from the notice posted on the mission board in the Leaf Village.

Shunsui asked all of the people from the islands about whether they would like to go back or not. They all replied negatively. The 7 men and women had no families, homes or people. After talking with the other survivors they decided that they would settle in the Land of Tea, to have a future of some manner. All the survivors were scarred horribly, be it physical or mental, they were badly damaged. They all showed visible signs of torture, trauma and PTSD. Biwako and Takeru helped and healed those traumatized ones to acclimate better to their newfound freedom and life.

Takeru found one useful jutsu among all the low-level ones. The Temporary Paralysis Jutsu was probably a C-rank jutsu. Although this jutsu had some requirements, they were easy to fulfill. Shunsui told him that their village had this jutsu and it was a very useful one. Takeru copied the contents of this jutsu on a seperate scroll and stored it inside his inventory. Shunsui and Shikatsu found no jutsu interesting enough for them but Biwako found an interesting water release jutsu called Water Purification Technique. All the rest were low-level jutsu they already knew or had seen them in the village.

The journey went smoothly after that. Some guards and merchants knew how to sail a ship. So, they opted to sail the captured ships to their destination. Shunsui made 3 clones and stationed them in the ships to watch over. Biwako practiced the Water Purification Technique and sometimes watched over the freed captives, taking care of them. Shikatsu and Takeru practiced wind release. And the days went on.

"Hey! I think I saw the land over there!", - shouted a guard. All the passengers looked over and saw a black line on the horizon. It was the Land of Tea. The passengers were jubilant. Takeru was meditating in the cabin when he heard the cheers of the passengers. He went to the deck and saw the rest of his team was also there. They were slowly approaching the docks of Degarashi Port. Shunsui told them to pack up as they would land in the port in a few hours.

After a couple of hours, the ships docked at the Degarashi Port. Shunsui along with the head merchant went off to contact the local authorities. Takeru, Biwako, Shikatsu along with the guards protected the ships and its passengers. They returned after sometime with the port master and some officials. After a thorough check and identification, all the freed captives were sent to stay at a local guesthouse. The pirates on the hand were swiftly sent to the jail.

Shunsui after some talk with the authorities came back and told his students that they gained some substantial credits on this trip. The pirate captain had a B-rank bounty on him and the crew had a C-rank bounty. The boy's father posted a C-rank find the person mission nearly everywhere and as they were the ones that rescued him, they had earned that reward too. All they had to do now was to return to the Hidden Leaf Village and complete the current mission. And they would receive the completion reward for 1 B-rank and 3 C-rank missions in total. Takeru, Biwako and Shikatsu were gobsmacked, hearing this news.

After half-an-hour an official from the local bounty hunter association came along with the boy's father, the tea merchant. Team 9 received their bounties and rewards from them. The tea merchant was crying his face off while thanking them for saving his son. After receiving their rewards Team 9 started their return journey towards the Hidden Leaf Village.

They were travelling at chuunin speeds to shorten the time taken to reach their destination. Shunsui and Takeru had no problems due to their superior body and chakra but Biwako and Shikatsu were getting tired fast. They took food pills for sustenance and rarely took breaks. Only when one of them became too tired to travel, would they take a small break to recuperate. And like this in 2 days they entered the Land of Fire.

It had been 3 days since Team 9 entered the Land of Fire. They traveled non-stop towards the Leaf Village. Their journey was relatively safe. They noticed some bandit groups on their route but avoided them bypassing their path. Today, they had been traveling along the trees since the morning. All of them were exhausted. Even Takeru with his superhuman stamina was feeling tired. They kept going for sometime when Shunsui spotted the main gate of the Leaf Village.

"Hah! We have reached home.", - said Shunsui as he was too tired.

"Finally, I can sleep!", - Shikatsu exclaimed as he was practically running on fumes.

"Sensei, give us few days rest please. I for one am pretty exhausted.", - Takeru said.

"Huff! Sensei, I think I should work on my endurance." - Biwako spoke as she had the least endurance in the team.

"Do not worry. You three will have a free week to rest and I will increase all of you three's training after that. But now, we will have to go to Lord Hokage to give our mission report.", - Shunsui spoke as they all stopped before the gate. The gatekeepers checked their credentials and let them pass. They went into the village and sped towards the Hokage Tower.

Team 9 reached the Hokage Tower and went in. Shunsui asked the receptionist if Lord Hokage was free. She nodded and let them in. The team went inside the Hokage's office and found Team 7 was also inside quarrelling. The quarrel stopped when Team 9 came inside.

"Lord Hokage, Team 9 has completed its mission. Here is the completion statement. And this is a personal letter from Uzukage to you.", - Shunsui respectfully bowed and presented the statement and the letter to Hashirama Senju.

"Oh? Let me see.", - Hashirama took the documents. He first checked the statement. After checking he stamped the statement. Then he opened the letter and read it carefully.

"What is it, brother?", - asked Tobirama as he was curious as to why the Uzukage would send a personal letter.

"The Uzukage and the elders of the Uzumaki clan want to hold a meeting with us. The letter says that it is about their village and their clan's survival." - replied a confused and concerned Hashirama.

"That is weird coming from them. Still I think we should hear them out", - Tobirama commented.

Hashirama looked perturbed, as he asked Shunsui about whether he noticed anything unusual during their stay in the Land of Whirlpools. Shunsui carefully and meticulously described each and every event that had happened during their journey. He also specifically told the Hokage about their conversation with Shibuya during the boat ride. Hashirama and Tobirama looked at each other and they both nodded.

"Team 9, you have done a great job in your mission. I am increasing the mission rank to B-rank due to the highly sensitive nature of this information. Here is the reward pass. You can take your reward from the mission hall below. And remember all of you, everything you heard here is an S-rank secret from now on. I want no one to even mention a single word about this outside. Understood?", - Hashirama strictly eyed all the 6 genins and ordered.

"Yes, Lord Hokage.", - all the genins replied in unison.

"Alright then, Team 9, you are dismissed for now and good job.", - Hashirama smiled as he dismissed Team 9. Takeru and his team were going out of the room when Tobirama suddenly spoke, - Takeru, stay here for a moment". Takeru looked at his sensei and Shunsui nodded, - "We will wait for you outside.". Then he, Biwako and Shikatsu left the office.

"Yes, Lord Tobirama. What can I do for you?", - Takeru asked respectfully after his team went out.

"It is not what you can do for me but it is what I can do for you, Takeru. You have not only completed the task I gave you but also surpassed my expectations. I never had the chance to give you a reward for your accomplishments after that. So, I am giving you an offer. You can wish for anything from me. Although it will have to be reasonable and within my bounds.", - Tobirama said with a smile.

"Forgive me for asking but can I ask you some questions first?", - Takeru asked.

"Sure, you can ask", - Tobirama spoke curiously.

"If I wish for anything, will it negate the contribution points that I already have?", - Takeru asked pensively.

"No, your contribution points are separate. This is my personal reward to you for graduating the Institution in one year.", - Tobirama understood Takeru's concern as he assured him.

"Okay then, uh, Can you hold onto the offer? I mean, I really do not have anything right now to wish for. If I want something in future, can I cash this reward in?", - Takeru asked after deliberating for a minute.

"Sure, I can do that. I will keep the reward. You can ask for something in future.", - assured Tobirama.

"Thank you, Lord Tobirama.", - Takeru bowed.

"Call me Tobirama-sensei, enough with that lord stuff.", - Tobirama smiled slightly.

"Okay, Tobirama-sensei.", - Takeru smiled back.

Tobirama ordered Takeru and Team 7 to leave the office. But Hiruzen asked in exasperation, - "But sensei, you did not say anything about whether we can go on a high level mission! Even Takeru and his team completed a B-rank mission. And all we have been doing is training and D-rank missions everyday".

"I will take you in a high rank mission when I deem you three are ready for it. You are under my leadership. Train and get stronger and only then I will take high ranking missions." - Tobirama spoke in a strict tone.

"Now, now, calm down all of you. Brother, you can take them to a C-rank mission at least. They have been training for months now. They are surely bored doing only D-rank missions.", - Hashirama said placatingly.

"I will see about that. Now, go outside, all of you.", - Tobirama ordered.

Takeru went out of the office along with a pouting Hiruzen, tired Homura and an sighing Koharu. Takeru looked at them and saw them mirroring his and his team's condition a month ago. They all went out and saw Shunsui, Biwako and Shikatsu waiting. Shunsui gave Takeru a week off and an envelope containing his part of all the mission rewards. Takeru introduced his sensei to Hiruzen and his teammates. After a brief introduction, Shunsui said his goodbyes and left.

The 6 genins chatted for a moment and decided to go to a restaurant. They chatted along the way as they shared their experiences and daily happenings. After graduation they could not meet and chat like they did in the past. Due to training and missions they were all quite busy with their respective teams and lives. They roamed the village for sometime and found a newly opened dango shop in the market. All of them went in, took their seats, ordered a few dishes and resuming their talk.

Soon, the food came and they all dug in. Biwako and Koharu were gossiping about various things while the boys were talking about their training, missions and their evil sensei. Takeru and Shikatsu understood what pain was when Hiruzen and Homura described their sensei Tobirama to them. Tobirama was a slave driver in the sense that he had Hiruzen, Homura and Koharu follow rigorous training regimen every single day despite the missions. Takeru also told them about his team's sensei, Shunsui's tendencies. Takeru and his friends were having a good time after months. Shikatsu expressed his love of sleep. Homura understood him as he too had a beautiful relationship with sleeping. Takeru and Hiruzen chatted about different jutsus and their intricacies.

Takeru learned that Hiruzen was already proficient in 3 chakra natures, fire , lightning and water. Hiruzen was shocked when he learned that Takeru had mastered 2 chakra natures, fire and earth. And he was on his way to learn wind nature chakra. Hiruzen knew he had more than average talent as his sensei, Tobirama told him many times. But he was astonished, as he heard that Takeru, a boy 5 years younger than him, had mastered more than one element. Hiruzen finally became aware that there was someone younger than him with far better talent in ninjutsu. A burning fire of rivalry emerged in Hiruzen's heart as he vowed that he would surpass Takeru. Hiruzen always knew Takeru was a prodigy. But he did not think it would be to this extent. He never saw Takeru as a competition but now he did. Hiruzen saw Takeru as his rival. Hiruzen promised to himself that he would work harder, train better and learn more to surpass his rival.

As the 6 leaf genins were conversing among themselves. Takeru noticed something. He saw Hiruzen looking at Biwako from the corner of his eye many times while chatting and Biwako too would look at Hiruzen when she thought he was not looking at her. Homura and Koharu were unaware of this event. Takeru nudged Shikatsu, as they both saw this weird behaviour. Takeru and Shikatsu both came to a sudden understanding as to why they were behaving such a way, but they did not say anything. Soon, the plates of dango became empty. They all paid the bill by dividing among themselves and went out of the restaurant. Hiruzen invited all of them to his home, but Takeru, Biwako and Shikatsu refused as they were far too tired. Nevertheless he invited them to his home tomorrow and told them that Kagami, Danzo and their new teammate Torifu would also come. Takeru and his teammates accepted the invitation. Hiruzen told them to come before evening. Both teams seperated after that and went on their own way.

Takeru said his goodbyes to Biwako and Shikatsu as he went towards his home. It was late evening when Takeru came in front of the Yamamoto house and saw the lights were on. He unlocked the front door and went in. As he was removing his footwear, Akane came in rushing holding a spatula and saw her son. She rushed at Takeru and hugged him tightly. Akane checked Takeru all over to see if he was fine while she kept crying tears of happiness. Her son had come back safely. The heavy stone weighing on her heart had finally went away. Toru rushed to the doorway hearing the commotion. Toru also sighed in relief when he saw his son had return safely.

"How was the journey, Takeru?", - Toru asked.

"Oh, shut up! He just came back and you are already hurling questions at him. Let me have a look at you. Have you been injured? Did you eat properly? Was there any accidents?..", - Akane started asking questions rapidly.

"I am alright, mom. There were no accidents and the mission went smoothly. I am just very tired right now", - Takeru replied.

"Of course you are. You had such a long journey. Come, come, sit here, I will go prepare the water. You just wait a moment and have some of your favourite riceballs." - Akane hurriedly went away leaving Takeru and Toru in the dining room with a bowl of riceballs.

Takeru and his father looked at each other and laughed silently. Toru asked Takeru about the mission. Takeru told him about his journey, the places he went, the Land of Whirlpools and the Hidden Whirlpool Village, the pirate attack, nearly everything except for the sensitive information. Toru listened to all of it silently. He then asked Takeru about how he felt going to his first mission outside the village. Takeru told him how much he had learnt just from this one journey. It was an eye-opening experience for him. And it truly was.

Takeru had a hard time believing that this world was real. Though after all these years the doubt had lessened much but it was still present to some degree. This journey had finally cleared all of his doubts. He understood that he was not some random character in some manga or novel. This world was real. Its inhabitants were real. It was not fictional. The various people he saw, their daily lives, their joy, happiness, sadness, anger everything was as real as it could be. It made him feel alive and free.

Toru and Takeru talked for sometime while eating riceballs. Toru told Takeru that he was lucky that he had not found himself in a more sticky situation. He told Takeru that though this mission went without any bloodshed. The future might not be so similar. Someday he would have to take a life, either to save his own or to complete a mission. He assured Takeru that no matter whatever happens, he would always be with him. Be it as a support or as a guide or just as someone to talk with, he would always stay right here in the time of need. Takeru smiled at his father's declaration and thought to himself, 'If only you knew, dad'.

Soon, Akane came back and told Takeru that the bath was ready. Takeru went to the bathroom and took a long and comfortable bath in the tub. He came back all freshened up to see the dining table filled with various dishes. Akane had out-cooked herself as she prepared a full course meal with all of Takeru's favourite dishes. The Yamamoto family had a joyful dinner laughing and chatting.

It was night when Takeru went to bed. He thought about all the things he experienced in this month long journey, the various places, people, lives and everything. Takeru knew this peaceful state would soon end due to the war that was heading in their direction. Takeru determined that he would increase his training. He would have to get stronger, much stronger to shoulder all the difficulties that would appear in the coming future.