Chapter 91 A Journey

The exchange event between the ANBU and the Ninja Academy concluded smoothly, albeit with a hint of awkwardness.

"We gained a lot from this exchange. Thank you all for coming..."

"No, no, we are the ones causing you trouble."

"It wasn't any trouble at all. It's just that the kids need more practice..."

At the Academy's entrance, at the same place where they had arrived, a large group of teachers from the Ninja Academy was bidding farewell to Logan and the others. And unlike before, there were also many students gathered behind the gate.

Just as they were about to leave, someone in the student crowd shouted: "Goodbye, Body Replacement Technique-sensei!" This was followed by a chorus of similar farewells.

"Hattori-san is very popular." The leading older teacher said with a smile.

Logan glanced surreptitiously at the composed Aida beside him. It was thanks to this man that he was so popular. That awe-inspiring, thunderous kunai throw had undoubtedly left a deep impression on the teachers and students of several classes, and Logan's quick use of the Body Replacement Technique in response had earned him their recognition.

"You're too kind. It's the best outcome if the students gained something from the lessons." Logan answered with some boring but tried-and-true clichés.

The older teacher's expression grew even more kindly, while the retired ANBU, who had been serving as the menacing presence, also softened his expression slightly. After all, some of the lecture notes were written by him.

The two sides finally parted ways after an exchange of sincere words.

"Why did the kids only call out 'Body Replacement Technique-sensei' and not mentioning us?" It was a leisurely and lazy evening, and on the way back to the Hokage's Office to return to work, Aida suddenly spoke.

Logan rolled his eyes. "How would I know? Maybe it's because I am handsome."

"Stop joking around." Aida said, clearly not understanding the real reason.

Logan was too lazy to discuss this in detail with the two simple-minded seniors. Soon, the three of them arrived at the Hokage Tower and made their way to the office with practiced ease.

"Sandaime-sama, we're here to report on the mission." Aida said, leading the way.

Hiruzen, with a pipe in his mouth, had taken off his Hokage cloak. Bathed in the setting sun's glow, he had few documents left on his desk, suggesting he was almost done for the day.

"I see." Hiruzen nodded, his aged features exuding calmness.

After taking the document handed over by Aida, the Ninja who looked like a secretary on standby also told some of the information he had learned.

Standing quietly in the warm light behind the others, Logan looked out over the undulating Konoha village, bathed in the evening glow. The bustling, ant-like people and the smoke rising from the chimneys painted a serene picture.

'Konoha is still quite nice right now,' he couldn't help but think so, 'It's a pity I'll soon be leaving this tranquility behind.'

…

"Well, it's a relief they gave an 'excellent' rating for the completion."

Night appeared on the horizon, and Logan returned home while muttering to himself.

Making students cry during a lesson isn't a good look, especially when it happened during his part of the lecture. But fortunately, Hiruzen's fair evaluation took into account that. Although making the students cry makes the class progress a bit confusing, but after being comforted later, Logan's teaching was effective and well-received.

Aida also shared some responsibility for the kunai incident. In the end, since the results were good and no major issues arose, everyone completed the exchange task successfully.

After finishing his first experience of teaching in front of a large audience, Logan's life temporarily returned to being a 'NEET'. Besides resting, he secretly studied the theoretical parts of Forbidden Techniques and planned his departure from the village.

With one week left before the deadline set by Pain, Logan went to the Hokage's Office to inform the Third Hokage of his intentions.

"You want to travel outside the village..." Hiruzen put down what he was reading and pondered.

If people in the village want to go outside the village, they can travel freely, but Logan knows that there will be people watching him. In addition, he would be out for a long time this time, so it was necessary to report it.

As for whether someone would follow him out of the village, Logan didn't mind. As once outside, he wouldn't need to hold back.

"Yes, although I've traveled across most of the continent due to ANBU missions, those were under a secret identity. This time, I want to experience the various countries from a different perspective." Logan said earnestly, almost adding the clichéd, 'The world is very big and I want to see it'.

After saying this, seeing that Hiruzen was still contemplating about it, he continued, "While outside, I will remember that I am a Konoha's Ninja. If I encounter anything interesting, I will send the information back to the village."

Hiruzen finally seemed moved. Logan's earnest words, despite being a bit of a stretch, had struck a chord with him. With a slight pang of guilt, Logan received Hiruzen's approval for his request to leave the village.

"Thank you, Hokage-sama." Logan said happily.

"Hmm." Hiruzen stroked his pipe, "When are you leaving?"

"In the next few days. I've been thinking about it for a long time." Logan replied with a smile.

Hiruzen looked into Logan's eyes, and the pure thoughts they might contain made Logan dare not look too closely at them, "Safe travels."

…

Three days later, Uchiha Compound.

When Logan entered, he didn't see Sasuke, who was usually practicing diligently in the courtyard.

Autumn's presence was growing stronger. Under the half-yellow, half-green trees, Logan quietly entered Sasuke's house.

Given their increasingly familiar relationship through teaching, Logan no longer felt the need to knock before entering.

"He's not home?" Logan wondered, then through the courtyard to the entrance of the house, and shouted, "Anyone home?"

'No one responded.' Logan scratched his head. He came to say goodbye to Sasuke this time. He had come here to bid Sasuke farewell, having prepared for a long journey over the past three days.

With a large backpack on his back, Logan looked around. He then leapt onto the second-floor railing with a quick movement. He circled around but couldn't find anyone.

"The Ninja Academy should be on break today, strange." Logan muttered as he returned to the courtyard. The grass was beginning to wither, and the once lively park-like area now felt desolate with the autumn wind. The cypress tree, often climbed in summer, was no longer as lush as it had been a month ago.

Logan's eyes flickered as he noticed a hint of blue and white clothing peeking from behind the tree trunk.

Walking around to the other side, Logan smiled helplessly. The excitement of his impending journey had made him less attentive than usual, as he didn't notice a person sitting on the other side of the trunk of the big tree.

Logan looked at Sasuke, who was sleeping peacefully with even breaths, and his clothes are dirty.

'He must be exhausted from training. This tsundere child fell asleep just like that.'

After a moment's hesitation, Logan decided not to wake him. He found some paper and a pen, wrote down what he wanted to say, and placed the note under a rock on the grass.

Logan retrieved a blanket from inside the house and gently covered Sasuke with it. He then stood up, tightened the straps of his backpack, and prepared to leave.

As he was about to depart, a thought crossed his mind. Logan blinked, walked over to the sleeping Sasuke, and bent down, extending his right hand toward Sasuke's forehead.

…

In a daze, Sasuke felt his forehead was flicked by some familiar technique...

The sensation was so familiar, warm yet instantly irksome. He suppressed the rising feelings of dependency, as he would no longer be the weak younger brother.

With his body still exhausted from training, Sasuke slowly opened his eyes.

His mind was still a bit foggy, and the cold autumn wind blew against his sweaty skin. He reached out and felt something soft.

'A blanket?'

Sasuke turned his head and saw something peculiar.

On the green and yellowing grass, there was a gray stone pinning down a white piece of paper. As the uneven grass swayed in one direction, the white paper fluttered slightly, the crease shifting downwards, and Sasuke saw the black signature in the corner.

'Raiden Hattori.'