Chapter 125

Sway~ sway~ rock~ sway. That was probably the full experience of sailing at sea, so perhaps the alchemist Singed had been a sailor in the past.

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

After greeting Izumo and Kotetsu, they were about to enter the village when the 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 commission... a mission..."

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

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

A few minutes later, the green light in Sakura's hand faded. "They aren't injured. It looks like exhaustion, excessive shock, and a bit of malnutrition. Judging from their physical condition, they're ordinary civilians."

"Then send them straight to the hospital. We still need to see Minato-sensei. This mission can't be wrapped up with just a report." After speaking, Kakashi looked at Naruto.

Sasuke and Sakura made the exact same motion.

"Why are you all looking at me?" Naruto was baffled at first, then he understood. "Fine. Looks like Uzumaki Transportation Company needs to add emergency services to its lineup."

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

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

Naruto scratched his head and asked, "What's wrong?"

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

Sasuke put his 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 even the last few steps?"

Naruto finally got it. These three wanted the DiDi Da Ming service.

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

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

"And now?"

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

"Since when did you three become so coordinated..." Naruto grumbled, but he still used his ninjutsu to bring them to the office entrance—he couldn't fly straight to the desk every time. Dad had a right to privacy too.

Knock, knock knock.

"Come in!"

Kakashi pushed open the door.

"Minato-sensei."

"Dad."

"Uncle Minato."

"Hokage-sama."

Four different forms of address, their identities obvious.

"Oh? It's you all. You've had a hard journey!" Minato smiled and set down the document in his hand.

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

Although he knew Naruto had already spoken with his family, he still went over all the important matters once.

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

Minato read through Kakashi's report, stamped it, and put it away. Then he continued, "I'll arrange for someone to handle what comes next."

"Then we'll—" Before Kakashi could finish, a Rare Beast shoved open the door and burst in.

"Mission complete! I let the pirates of Mixed Stew Strait have a taste of my fists filled with love! If they can mend their ways because of it, then the passionate tears I shed for them will not have been shed in vain! Ahahahahaha..."

Like a green whirlwind, Guy charged up to Minato's desk and animatedly described the mission results. Rock Lee, equally fired up, 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 get home and Read Book.

"No~ Don't run from the challenges of youth! I've got it—let's compare this mission! I've just led my beloved students in completing a B-Rank Mission beyond the level of genin, you know~" Guy said proudly. "So? Doesn't that mean you lost to me?"

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

Without sparing another glance at Guy, who had frozen in place, he left on his own. Sasuke and Sakura followed him out. Naruto waved them off, indicating that he still had something to do and that they could go on ahead.

Only then did Neji and Tenten arrive, panting heavily. They knocked on the already open office door, walked in, 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. Get some proper rest now."

"Fourth Hokage!" Guy suddenly came back to life, two flames blazing 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 the sight. "Here we go again."

Minato wore an awkward yet polite smile as he advised, "I've received your request. I'll arrange the mission. Could you go back and get yourself into proper condition first?"

"No problem! Even if I'm resting up, I'll still give it my all! Let's go, Lee, Tenten, Neji!"

Naruto watched happily from the side. With employees who actively asked to work overtime, yet still had to be tactfully persuaded to take a break—Old Dad really was a good boss, a good boss who cared about his employees like President Pei.

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

"Ah, yes!"

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

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

"Huh?" Tenten froze, even more confused.

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

"Huh? Huh~~~~~"

Tenten drifted away in a daze, clutching the scroll. She knew about the Flying Thunder God Technique; she had never expected to have the chance to learn it herself. She had decided—even if she had to stay up all night, she would finish reading this scroll. This was Tenten's youth!

"Ah, Guy Sensei and Rock Lee almost led me astray!" The girl grabbed her twin buns as she walked down the street, both delighted and annoyed.