Chapter 20 - Return to Konohagakure

In the later hours of the afternoon, a fair size group of Konoha shinobi made their way towards the large gates. The gates were painted red with the fire kanji written in black in the center of them, before the gates slowly parted. Thus revealing the interior of a lively village.

Within the group of returners, Kagami was among them as was Mira who couldn't wait. It had been a long time since they saw the village and their grandfathers. So joy welled up inside of them as they marched closer with each step to the village.

Upon stepping back into the village, besides the family members who came out to welcome them back. It was a mostly quiet return to the village with Kagami and Mira finding their grandfather waiting on a bench. The two bicker about the past which they stopped upon seeing their grandchildren coming towards them.

"We're back." Kagami smiled as he fist bumped his grandfather.

"Welcome back you two." Uchiha Maru greeted them. "Both of you grew so big over the last year."

They indeed grew taller, it just the two of them were still about the average height for their ages. So while they did grow bigger it wasn't shocking nor something to be unexpected about them. It has been about a year after all, since they last saw each other.

"Shall we return home?" Taiyō asked Kagami.

"Mmm, I have so many ideas I want to make." Kagami replied happily.

"See you soon, Kagami." Mira said to Kagami before leaving with her grandfather.

Waving to Mira, Kagami felt a bit sad parting from Mira's side as they had been by each other's side daily for the last year. However, he felt a hand on his shoulder as his grandfather smiled at him with an almost knowing look. Well, he hoped it was a knowing look and not him misreading that expression.

"Don't worry, it's not like you're that far from each other." Taiyō said.

Kagami nodded as his grandfather was right and knowing her, it wouldn't be long before either one finds each other again. Since they are best friends and rivals.

--

While Mira walked back with her great grandfather, she was a bit down as she kept almost looking over her shoulder. A jester that wasn't lost on the old man as he just rubbed her hair as he just smiled. While not an expert in love, he has seen such actions on his children and grandchildren before.

"Your best friend will be there tomorrow. So don't worry so much." Maru gently said.

Mira just nodded as she seemed slightly more at ease, while looking at the clock hoping tomorrow would come quicker.

--

Before the blink of an eye, nearly a week passed since the grand return to the village. During which, Mira, when not doing her own training, could be found by Kagami's side. Mostly helping him as they looked around the village empty warehouses up for sale.

"This place is pretty good. While the roof needs a bit of work and the insides revenant. This place isn't far from home and the scrap yard." Kagami said as they looked around the inside. "It also has a fair bit of space outside too."

Mira, who was also looking around nodded as she looked around the large empty warehouse. The building was fairly new as it was built in the last seven to ten years, just due to it being a bit far from the market and other business districts. Hence the warehouse was quickly put up for sale and lacked some maintenance.

"Still, why do you need a warehouse? Wouldn't it be easier to build a laboratory yourself?" Mira asked.

"No, that would be fairly expensive or a lot of unnecessary work. So it is easier just to find a large warehouse already built." Kagami answered. "Besides, do you know how expensive buying land in the village is?"

"Err, not really." Mira scratched her cheek.

"From what my grandfather told me, a small piece of land towards the center cost around double a S-rank mission. While outside the business centers and still within the walls is around B-rank or a cheap A-rank." Kagami replied back.

"Is becoming a shinobi a mistake? Renting land is so much more profitable." Mira muttered softly.

'Plus, I would rather not have my research inside the village. The Nine Tails riot is coming soon and in the future Pain might also come with his Almighty Push.' Kagami thought to himself.

While he would like to stop such events from happening, he doesn't have the strength for the incoming Nine Tails Riot nor the strength to remove Nagato. In truth he would rather not face Nagato in a frontal assault, but with his hatred and view for peace no other option seems possible. Especially when Obito and Black Zetsu whisper in his ear like a devil.

'Well even if my research is destroyed, it's just a matter of rebuilding it as my Science Notes will just record everything inside it.' Kagami thought to himself.

"Still, Kagami, what do you plan to build in such a large space?" Mira asked.

Rubbing his chin, Kagami tried to imagine how he wanted to section off this warehouse. This warehouse was truely big as they could fit nearly eight caravan wagons side to side in width while around thirty or so in length. The merchant who built this place truly went all out when building this place as this building was quite a bigger warehouse compared to others.

"Towards the back will be a large space for building mechanical machines. The middle will be split into a small living quarter and part storage room. While most of the front will hold most of the data and smaller machines needed." Kagami answered. "Since I'm sure there will be visitors in the future, why not have a small room to welcome them at the very front?"

Mira attempted to imagine his words and scratched her head. While she understood it, she had a hard time imagining it all. She didn't understand why he needed to split it into two different sections.

Hence she decided to change the topic. "What are you going to research first?"

Kagami smiled. "Something magical."