Ready to Set Out

When Tejima Shinichi pushed open the front door, Mori Chie was holding a rag and carefully wiping down the low cabinet in the living room.

Hearing the door open, she turned around in surprise.

"Shinichi?" Mori Chie glanced at the wall clock, her tone puzzled. "At this hour... did you forget something?"

Tejima Shinichi bent down to change his shoes and responded as usual. "No. I just accepted a mission, C-rank. We're leaving the village. Teacher Yamato told us to come back and prepare supplies for five to seven days."

"C-rank? Leaving the village?"

Mori Chie's wiping motion stopped.

She straightened up, draped the rag over the edge of the cabinet, and watched Tejima Shinichi walk toward his room in silence for a moment.

"Is that so... Time really flies."

She spoke softly, her gaze drifting away for an instant, as though she saw herself years ago, ready to depart, as well as those companions whose faces had now become blurred... those who had remained forever on their missions.

She herself had also been stopped by a certain mission, never able to return as a ninja again.

A trace of sorrow flashed through Mori Chie's eyes. How could she describe that period of her past?

Nostalgia? Sadness? Or fear?

She could not tell.

At this moment, all that remained in her heart were countless emotions.

Her passion had not cooled, and her memories were still warm, but everyone had gone their separate ways.

And now, her son had embarked upon this path as well.

Mori Chie entered Shinichi's room. Seeing him stuff the usual Kunai and Shuriken into his ninja tool pouch himself, she naturally took over.

"I'll do it."

Tejima Shinichi did not object and stepped aside.

Mori Chie moved deftly, with a professionalism that had long been absent yet had never grown unfamiliar.

Then, she efficiently packed a lightweight sleeping bag, water flask, and compressed food. Every item was arranged in perfect order, making the fullest use of the bag's space.

Throughout the process, she did not ask any more questions about the mission, nor did she reveal any unease. She simply focused on what she was doing.

Before long, a thoroughly prepared, exemplary travel pack and ninja tool pouch had been organized.

Mori Chie handed them to her son, a gentle smile appearing on her face.

"Be careful."

Tejima Shinichi accepted the fairly heavy luggage, met Mori Chie's gaze, and nodded.

"I will."

He said no more, turning toward the door and pulling it open.

Mori Chie stood in the entryway, watching Tejima Shinichi's retreating back. Only after he disappeared around the street corner did she gently close the door.

At Konoha's gate that morning, the sunlight was just right.

Unlike before, Tejima Shinichi was the first to arrive.

Looking at the massive gates standing open and the road beyond them stretching into the distance, he could not help feeling curious.

For twelve years, he had been trapped inside the village, never once taking a step beyond it!

How could anyone not be curious about something so close at hand, yet forever beyond reach?

Not long afterward, Yamato appeared quietly. Seeing Tejima Shinichi already waiting there, he said, "Shinichi, you're early."

"Teacher Yamato."

Tejima Shinichi nodded in greeting.

Soon after, Kobayashi Ken and Sato Yu came running over, panting heavily, their faces filled with excitement and a hint of haste.

"We're not late, right?" Kobayashi Ken asked between breaths, while Sato Yu stuck out his tongue beside him.

"Just in time," Yamato said, turning his gaze toward the side of the gate.

A small group was already waiting there.

Five Pack Horse-drawn carts stood loaded with tightly bundled goods covered by rain tarps.

Nearby stood seven or eight men and women dressed as merchants, along with four or five wandering samurai who appeared to be hired guards.

At that moment, a middle-aged man in a brown short jacket and conical hat, evidently the leader, spotted Yamato and immediately came over with a respectful smile.

"You must be the ninja sent by Konoha, sir. I'm the person in charge of this merchant caravan. Just call me Heiji. We're truly grateful that you accepted this commission!"

As his gaze swept over Tejima Shinichi and the other two, a trace of doubt flashed through his eyes.

Three brats? Konoha sent brats like these on a C-rank mission? This money...

He was deeply uneasy, but when his gaze fell on Yamato, he suppressed that unease.

At least the Jonin leading them looks reliable. It should... be fine, right?

Yamato nodded slightly. "I'm Yamato, the Jonin leading this team. These three are my subordinates: Tejima Shinichi, Kobayashi Ken, and Sato Yu. During the mission, we will be responsible for everyone's safety and for completing the rest of the assignment."

Heiji hurriedly bowed and nodded to Tejima Shinichi and the others as well.

"We're counting on you all, truly!"

His stream of polite words could only be described as humble to the extreme!

Tejima Shinichi returned his look. Kobayashi Ken immediately straightened his back, trying hard to look dependable, while Sato Yu nodded solemnly.

"Then, if everyone is ready, let's set off," Yamato announced concisely.

"Yes, yes, yes, everything's ready. We've just been waiting for you, sirs!" Heiji hurriedly called to the caravan members.

The Pack Horses snorted, and the cart wheels began to turn, crushing the gravel beneath them.

Yamato said nothing more. He took the lead, stepping through Konoha's enormous, heavy gates.

Tejima Shinichi followed without the slightest hesitation.

When his foot truly landed on the ground outside the gates, an indescribable feeling swept through his heart—this was the first time in twelve years.

Kobayashi Ken and Sato Yu exchanged glances. Both saw the uncontrollable excitement and eagerness in the other's eyes, and they immediately stepped forward to follow.

Thus, a mixed party of ninja, merchants, and Pack Horses left the shelter of Konoha and slowly made its way along the main road toward the eastern border of the Land of Fire.

Not long after Tejima Shinichi's group left Konoha's gates, deep within the Root base,

A shadow slipped into the dark hall where Danzo stood and dropped to one knee.

"Lord Danzo! The target, Tejima Shinichi, left the village a quarter of an hour ago with his Jonin Instructor Yamato and two other Genin, escorting a merchant caravan on a C-rank mission!"

Shimura Danzō, who had been standing with his back to the entrance and staring into the darkness, spun around abruptly. Disbelief burst from his single exposed eye.

"What did you say?!"

The Root Ninja lowered his head even further and repeated, "The target, Tejima Shinichi, has been confirmed to have left the village!"

"He left the village... He actually left the village at a time like this?!"

Danzo repeated in a low voice.

The fury from yesterday's humiliation had yet to fade, and now... Sarutobi Hiruzen had sent that brat out of the village on a mission!?

Countless thoughts flashed through Shimura Danzō's mind as anger took control of him.

At that moment, another figure beside Danzo spoke.

"Lord Danzo, the target has left the village. Should we... seize the opportunity we discussed last night?"

The meaning was obvious: take action outside the village and forcibly bring Tejima Shinichi back to Root.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, another, more cautious voice sounded from the shadows.

"Lord Danzo, please reconsider! We only received Hokage's formal warning yesterday, and starting today, our mission funds and several important channels have been drastically cut. If we rashly move against Tejima Shinichi right after he leaves the village, the risk is too great! If this is exposed, Hokage's side..."

Mentioning the word Hokage would have been fine, but once it was brought up... Danzo's eyes narrowed at once, a sinister light flickering fiercely within them.

"Hmph, hesitation will only make us miss the perfect chance!" Shimura Danzō snorted. "Sarutobi's warning? Once we successfully bring him back under Root and the deed is done, would he really break completely with me over a Genin who had already 'voluntarily' dedicated himself to the village?!"

He turned to the subordinate who had proposed taking action and gave the order.

"Act immediately! Yamanaka Fu, you will lead the operation. Select the elite from two squads and leave the village in secret! Use every possible means to bring that brat... back to me completely unharmed!"

Shimura Danzō deliberately emphasized the words "completely unharmed," a cold, determined light gleaming in his eyes.

"Remember, he must be captured alive! That evil brat... I will personally brand him with Root's mark and make him understand what true dedication is!"

"Yes!"