Unfinished Mission

After thanking Minato Namikaze repeatedly, Takeuchi Joji, who was eager to return home, warmly invited the three of them into Yamagō Village to be his guests.

Minato Namikaze, who had arrived at Yamagō Village two days prior but hadn't appeared in the village, only having secretly restored the water source, agreed. He brought Veigar and Kakashi Hatake, following behind Takeuchi Joji discreetly.

When the villagers of Yamagō Village discovered Takeuchi Joji's return, coupled with the restored water source from the past two days, they immediately erupted in cheers. Before long, Takeuchi Joji, who hadn't even returned home yet, was surrounded by the villagers.

The three, hidden on the rooftop and unseen, had Kakashi Hatake ask Minato Namikaze doubtfully, "Teacher Minato, isn't our mission complete?"

"Why do we still have to accept the client's invitation to stay?"

Generally, after completing a mission, ninjas would receive a mission completion receipt from the client and then leave.

This was how Kakashi Hatake had always done things when accompanying Minato Namikaze on missions outside the village.

However, this time was different. Just now, Minato Namikaze hadn't asked Takeuchi Joji for the mission completion receipt; instead, he had readily accepted Takeuchi Joji's invitation.

This made Kakashi Hatake feel as if he had overlooked something.

Minato Namikaze gazed at Takeuchi Joji, surrounded by villagers in the village, and softly replied, "Our mission isn't over yet, Kakashi."

Upon hearing that the mission wasn't complete, Veigar and Kakashi Hatake were stunned and looked at Minato Namikaze simultaneously.

Then, Veigar asked, "Did something unexpected happen?"

Minato Namikaze responded, "Our mission is to completely resolve Yamagō Village's water source problem. For now, I've only temporarily restored their water source; it hasn't been completely solved yet!"

At this point, Veigar and Kakashi Hatake had new doubts. Veigar continued to ask, "Can't Teacher Minato solve it quickly?"

Minato Namikaze shook his head and replied, "That's not it."

"It's just that I plan to have you two resolve this issue, so..."

"You have to do your best!!"

Veigar and Kakashi Hatake turned to look at each other and responded earnestly in unison, "Yes."

Over the past two days, Minato Namikaze had thoroughly understood the situation in Yamagō Village. Solving the problem completely wouldn't be difficult for him.

However, Minato Namikaze was fulfilling his responsibility as a guiding Jonin, training his students' abilities.

This was why the current situation had arisen.

Takeuchi Joji finally managed to break free from the villagers surrounding him and returned to his home after many days away.

Upon arriving home, Takeuchi Joji tightly embraced his wife, whom he had missed and who had been waiting for his return.

"Nanako, how has everything been at home these past few days? How is Tomoo doing?"

After embracing for a moment, Takeuchi Joji released his wife and asked her.

With her husband's return, the worry on Nanako's face lessened considerably, and she managed a smile that wasn't too forced. "Nothing has happened at home. It's just that Tomoo still hasn't woken up."

Takeuchi Joji nodded and then said, "Then I'll go see Tomoo first."

Then, as if remembering something, Takeuchi Joji turned back to Nanako and asked, "Did you cook dinner today?"

"Three ninja lords will be visiting us later. Perhaps they'll have a way to wake Tomoo up."

When Nanako, Takeuchi Joji's wife, heard this, her face lit up with joy. She asked in surprise, "Really?"

"Do they really have a way to wake Tomoo up?"

Seeing the smile on Nanako's face, Takeuchi Joji's heart ached. Ever since the incident where their son fell into a coma and hadn't woken up, he hadn't seen such a smile on Nanako's face.

To prevent Nanako from worrying and to keep her smile for a little longer, Takeuchi Joji, who didn't know if Minato Namikaze and the others truly had a solution, had no choice but to brace himself and reply, "Yes, they are ninjas; they'll surely find a way."

Receiving her husband's affirmative answer, Nanako immediately responded happily, "Then I'll go prepare a meal for the three ninja lords right away."

With that, Nanako bustled towards the kitchen.

At the same time, remembering Veigar's terrifying appetite, Takeuchi Joji immediately shouted after Nanako's retreating figure, "Remember to cook extra."

Nanako, with her back to Takeuchi Joji, replied without looking back, "I know."

Minato Namikaze and the other two, who had long since appeared on Takeuchi Joji's rooftop, saw that Takeuchi Joji and Nanako had finished their affectionate reunion. After a while, seeing Takeuchi Joji emerge from the house, they reappeared before him.

"Lord Minato, Veigar, Kakashi, you're here! Please, come in quickly."

Upon seeing Minato Namikaze, Veigar, and Kakashi Hatake suddenly appear, Takeuchi Joji quickly invited them.

"Thank you for coming."

The three replied politely before following Takeuchi Joji inside.

Nanako, busy in the kitchen, peeked out when she heard the commotion. When she saw Veigar and Kakashi Hatake behind Minato Namikaze, she couldn't help but be taken aback.

"Are such small children also ninjas? They're not even half as big as Tomoo?"

However, although Nanako was just an ordinary housewife, she knew that she couldn't disturb the guests at this moment, even though she desperately wanted to know if Minato Namikaze and the others could truly wake her son.

Entering the house, Takeuchi Joji served each of them a cup of tea. Then, Minato Namikaze said to Takeuchi Joji, "Mr. Joji, this mission..."

However, before Minato Namikaze could finish speaking, Takeuchi Joji interrupted, "Lord Minato, I understand. I'll give you the mission completion receipt now."

Saying this, Takeuchi Joji took out the prepared mission completion receipt and handed it to Minato Namikaze.

Minato Namikaze pushed away the receipt with his right hand and said with a smile, "Mr. Joji, your request is not yet complete, so we cannot accept this yet."

This time, Takeuchi Joji, like Veigar and Kakashi Hatake just moments before, was stunned. After a moment, he asked, "Lord Minato, hasn't our village's water source been restored?"

"How can you say the mission isn't complete?"