DiDi Da Ming

Sway~ sway~ rock~ sway. That was probably the entire feeling of sailing at sea. So perhaps the alchemist Singed had once been a sailor.

On the eighth day after leaving Konoha, they finally saw Konoha's gates once more. All four of them were delighted. The constant travel had left them exhausted, both mentally and physically.

After greeting Izumo and Kotetsu, they were about to enter the village when all four suddenly stopped and turned around.

Three sallow, emaciated people were running toward Konoha. Just as they reached the gates, they collapsed to the ground together. Before losing consciousness, one of them struggled to raise his head and said, "A commissioned... mission..."

"Here to commission a mission? Looks like we can't just stand by." Kakashi scratched his hair, already feeling that this was troublesome. "Sakura."

"Got it." Sakura crouched down and examined the three of them.

A few minutes later, the Green Light around Sakura's hand faded. "No injuries. They seem to have simply collapsed from exhaustion and excessive fright, with some malnutrition as well. Based on their physical condition, they're just ordinary people."

"Then let's send them straight to the hospital. We still need to see Minato Sensei. This mission can't be wrapped up with just a written report." Kakashi looked at Naruto after speaking.

Sasuke and Sakura made the exact same motion.

"Why are you all looking at me?" Naruto was confused at first, then understood. "Fine. Looks like Uzumaki Transportation Company needs to add an emergency medical service."

As he spoke, Naruto created two Shadow Clones and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to send them to the hospital.

"All done, let's go!" Naruto took two steps, only to find his teammates still staring at him.

Naruto was at a loss. "What is it?"

Kakashi placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Hokage Office."

Sasuke put a hand on Naruto's other shoulder. "I'm ready."

Sakura placed her hand beside Sasuke's and stuck out her tongue. "Please?"

"...You're too lazy to walk these last few steps?"

Naruto suddenly understood. These three wanted the DiDi Da Ming service.

"Then why didn't you have me fly you back directly from the Land of Snow?"

Kakashi said, "Because letting you get out and walk around more is also part of my duty as your teacher."

"And now?"

Kakashi looked up at Konoha's gates, then pushed Naruto inside together with Sasuke and Sakura. "Well, aren't we already inside the village now?"

"Since when did you three have such tacit understanding..." Naruto complained, but still used Ninjutsu to bring them all to the office door. He couldn't fly directly beside the desk every time—Old Dad had a right to privacy too.

"Knock, knock knock."

"Come in!"

Kakashi pushed open the door.

"Minato Sensei."

"Old Dad."

"Uncle Minato."

"Hokage-sama."

Four different forms of address, with their respective identities clearly on display.

"Oh? It's you all. You've worked hard!" Minato said with a smile, setting down the document in his hand.

"This is the mission report." Kakashi briefly explained the unexpected circumstances they had encountered in the Land of Snow and the final outcome.

Although he knew Naruto had already spoken with his family, he still mentioned every important matter.

"I understand. You handled this very well. As for the reward, it will be issued at the highest standard for an A-Rank Mission."

Minato skimmed through Kakashi's report, stamped it, and put it away. He continued, "I'll arrange for people to handle what comes next."

"Then we'll—" Before Kakashi could finish, a rare beast shoved open the door and charged in.

"Mission complete! I let the pirates of Mixed Stew Strait have a taste of my love-filled fists! If they can reform because of that, then the hot tears I shed for them won't have been shed in vain! Ahahahahaha..."

Like a green whirlwind, Guy rushed to Minato's desk, waving his arms as he described the mission's results. An equally excited Rock Lee followed at his side.

"Oh? Isn't this my eternal rival, Kakashi? It's been so long! How about a long-overdue match?" Guy hooked one arm around Kakashi's neck, raised a thumbs-up with the other, and flashed teeth so white they gleamed.

"I refuse." Kakashi only wanted to hurry home and read his book.

"No~ Don't run from the challenges of youth! I've got it—we'll compete based on this mission! I just led my beloved students in completing a B-Rank Mission beyond the level of Genin~" Guy said proudly. "Well? Doesn't that mean you've lost to me?"

Kakashi sighed, removed Guy's arm, and said blandly, "We just completed an A-Rank Mission."

Without bothering with Guy, who had turned to stone on the spot, he left on his own. Sasuke and Sakura followed him out. Naruto waved to them, indicating that he still had something to do and they could go ahead.

Only then did Neji and Tenten arrive, panting heavily. They knocked on the already open office door, entered, and bowed together. "We're sorry, Hokage-sama! Guy Sensei and Rock Lee were too rude!"

"It's fine, don't worry about it." Minato smiled and waved a hand. He understood Guy's personality and would not get angry over something like this.

"You completed your mission very well. Go get some proper rest now."

"Fourth Hokage!" Guy suddenly came back to life, two flames burning in his eyes. "My youth and my students will not lose to Kakashi! Please give me a more difficult mission!"

"As expected of Guy Sensei!" Rock Lee pulled out the notebook he carried with him and wrote down another Guy Sensei quote.

Neji and Tenten held their foreheads, unable to bear watching. "Here we go again."

Minato wore an awkward yet polite smile and advised, "I've received your request. I'll arrange a mission for you, so could you please go back and get yourselves into proper condition first?"

"No problem! Even while getting into condition, I'll give it my all! Let's go, Lee, Tenten, Neji!"

Naruto watched from the side with great amusement. Having an employee who voluntarily asked to work overtime, yet needing to tactfully persuade him to rest—Old Dad really was a good boss, a good boss who cared about his employees like President Pei.

"Oh, right, Tenten, stay behind," Minato called out to Tenten.

"Ah, yes!"

After Guy and the others had left, Tenten spoke uneasily. "Um, Hokage-sama, Guy Sensei didn't mean any harm. He just..."

Minato looked at the flustered girl and smiled. "Don't be nervous. It isn't about him."

"Huh?" Tenten froze, even more confused.

Minato took out a scroll and handed it to Tenten. "There is some knowledge about Sealing Technique and Summoning Technique inside. Take it back and study it carefully. Once you've learned it, come find me again. I'll try teaching you the Flying Thunder God Technique."

"Huh? Huh~~~~~"

Tenten left in a daze, holding the scroll. She knew about the Flying Thunder God Technique, but she had never expected to have the chance to learn it herself. She had decided—she would stay up all night if necessary and finish reading this scroll. This is my youth, Tenten's youth!

"Ah, Guy Sensei and Rock Lee almost led me astray!" The girl clutched her Dango buns as she walked down the street, happy and annoyed at the same time.