Dealing with trauma and ...

Shikaku left his students to cope with all the emotions for the moment, he along with Anko dealt with prisoners and hostages.

After a few hours,

Shikaku sat at the bonfire as he decided to spend the night in the forest and start the return journey at dawn, he noticed the melancholic atmosphere.

"First kill will be very hard, so speak your thoughts to someone, I will be there for you if you are ready to speak with you" Shikaku advised his students.

A few moments later

"I ended a life sensei, a guy who could change, a person with dreams, I killed all he could accomplish, I killed a family's love" Hiroto said with a sad voice.

"Itachi why did you kill the enemy?" Shikaku asked his other student.

"To protect my friend sensei" Itachi replied.

"Everyone has goals, everyone has loved ones, family. I wouldn't hesitate to kill if my loved ones are threatened, will you?" Shikaku asked after getting a head shake implying refusal so he continued "You kill to protect your goals, you kill if your loved ones are threatened wars can't be won without bloodshed. The heroes of our village are covered in the blood of other villages' shinobi. You are a ninja of Konoha, the day you wore that headband it meant you are ready to kill, if you are having second thoughts I suggest you quit being a ninja" Shikaku said and left.

A few minutes later,

Hiroto asked his purple-haired teammate "Anko, what about you? How did you cope with your first kill?".

"I was subjected to many things at the hands of Orochimaru, it killed some sides of me and made a monster " Anko replied with tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

Hiroto and Itachi hugged their teammate and said "You are not a monster not now, not ever" which is followed by Uchiha heir saying "And we stand by your side always for the support, we will deal with those hypocrites together ".

Shikaku watched his students' interactions with a smile on his face.

...

...

"I have to go and give the mission report to Hokage-sama. You guys go and rest, meet me tomorrow morning at training ground 3. I will bring along the mission payment tomorrow" Shikaku said to his students as they entered the village.

At Hokage office

Shikaku knocked on the door and entered to see the Sandaime Hokage waiting for his report.

Shikaku passed on the mission report and watched as Hizuren go through the report. A few minutes later, "So how did they cope with their first kill?" the Professor asked.

"At first they were shaken pretty hard because of it but now they are ok and are getting better, Hokage-sama" Shikaku answered.

The monkey summoner thought over it for a few seconds and said "I am upgrading the mission to A-rank, along with the mission fees you can collect the bounty". Shikaku agreed to that decision.

"Chunin exams are near Shikaku. What are your ideas about your team?" Hizuren informed team 3's jonin sensei.

"I recommend them for the chunin exam Hokage-sama, I will also inform them tomorrow" Shikaku said and took his leave.

...

...

Next day training ground 3

Hiroto arrived with Itachi to see Anko enjoying Dango with already a small pile of sticks at her feet.

Hiroto and Itachi could only laugh at their teammate's love for Dango, they greeted each other and sat down waiting patiently for the arrival of their sensei.

Hiroto and his teammates soon stood up on their sensei's arrival and greeted him.

Hiroto's and the others' hands are soon filled with mission fees, "Here is your bounty reward" Shikaku gave both halves to his male genin students who killed the rogue ninja.

But both the genin refused the money saying "Sensei, we just dealt the final blow. But we got the chance for dealing with the last punch thanks to your earlier effort. Truthfully it should belong to you but since we already know you won't accept it let's divide the bounty money into four equal parts".

Shikaku can only agree as he already knew his students' stubbornness.

"I also want to tell you that I recommended you for the chunin exam" Shikaku said and took out forms.

"Thanks, sensei, we won't let you down" Itachi said the team's opinion.

Shikaku heard this and ruffled all his genins hair, he started training them and gave a few tips. The Nara clan head couldn't help but notice Hiroto is eager more than normal so he asked "Hiroto why is it that you are looking desperate to become chunin?".

"A part of me will be available to me only when I become chunin sensei" Hiroto answered.

Shikaku understood his student's answer a bit and advised "Haste doesn't do any good so be calm".

Hiroto nodded and continued his practice with the same vigor and zeal.

...

...

In a cave without any humans nearby

"Tobi the plan with Akatsuki is successful, they now serve our goals. I've got a few guys in mind, once I gathered all intel we will start recruiting" A creature with just a black silhouette gave the report.

"Good black zetsu, we have started taking baby steps soon we will run towards our goal. I will also start dealing with hidden mist soon" A man with a weird white pattern mask said.

"Tobi, a few saplings are growing stronger we need to deal with those saplings before they can become huge trees" Black zetsu said.

"Don't worry zetsu, Konoha has its own woodcutter (lumberjack) we will deal with those if they manage to avoid being struck down" Tobi said with a distant look in his eyes.