Should I Give You an Award? Dattebayo!

Time flew by.

That morning.

Having completed their last D-rank mission, the four members of Team 1 walked back toward the village.

The noon sun was somewhat dazzling, bathing the streets in bright light.

"Time really flies." Yamato looked up at the sun and sighed. "It's noon again in the blink of an eye."

"What's wrong with that, Teacher Yamato?" Kobayashi Ken immediately chimed in, his voice full of anticipation. "After noon, it'll be special training time again!"

Sato Yu nodded as well, brimming with enthusiasm. "The special training has been really rewarding lately! It feels like I gain new insights every day!"

Seeing his two students eager to get started, Yamato laughed heartily.

After nearly three months together, he felt that being a team leader and guiding these young Genin was... actually quite nice.

It was completely different from the dark missions he had carried out in the Anbu and Root. Guiding the younger generation and watching them grow little by little felt simple and fulfilling. For the first time, this former "tool" truly experienced the satisfaction of being a "mentor."

"Looks like you're both in good shape. Once we submit the mission report, we'll meet at the usual place, Training Ground 3, right after lunch break."

The moment he finished speaking, a familiar burst of bickering came from around the corner.

"It's all because you insisted on showing off..."

"Hmph, you're nothing but trouble."

"Ahhh! Sasuke, stop looking down on me!"

As the voices drew closer, another group emerged from around the corner.

Silver hair, a face mask, and dead-fish eyes—it was Kakashi Hatake.

Behind him were Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke glaring at each other, along with a helpless-looking Haruno Sakura.

Team 7.

The two teams ran into each other in the middle of the street.

Yamato's eyes lit up. A bright smile appeared on his face as he hurried forward two steps and raised a hand in greeting like an old acquaintance.

"Yo! Long time no see... Senior Kakashi!"

Kakashi Hatake lifted his gaze from the Icha Icha Paradise in his hand. He raised his exposed eye slightly, and after recognizing the newcomer, replied lazily.

"Oh? So it's Yamato." He closed his book and casually slipped it back into his ninja tool pouch. "Judging by your direction, did you just finish a mission?"

"That's right." Yamato nodded. "I took them to handle the last D-rank mission, and we're about to submit the report. What about you, Senior Kakashi?"

"Same."

Kakashi Hatake kept his answer brief as his gaze casually swept over the three Genin behind Yamato.

His eyes paused on Tejima Shinichi.

He could not help recalling what Yamato had privately told him before, about Tejima Shinichi's encounter—he had single-handedly crushed the joint ambush of a Root Jonin and four Chunin head-on, even killing four of them in return...

He took down one Jonin and three Chunin by himself...

Kakashi silently repeated that record in his mind.

Even he would have to treat an opponent like that with caution now!

...No wonder Lord Third Hokage had been so decisive, willing to break convention just to take him under his wing. His potential and the strength he has already displayed truly make him worth the Hokage's heavy investment.

Meanwhile, the Genin on both sides had already locked eyes.

Uzumaki Naruto was the first to lose patience. Pointing at Team 1—especially Tejima Shinichi—he shouted loudly.

"Hey! It's you guys! You're coming back from outside the village—did Grandpa Third play favorites again and send you on some amazing mission?"

Uchiha Sasuke said nothing, but he could not help pricking up his ears at that... He had had enough of these endless D-rank missions too.

There are so many powerful people out there...

Uchiha Sasuke felt stifled. Then his gaze locked onto Tejima Shinichi, undisguised challenge gleaming in his black eyes.

"Not really."

Tejima Shinichi's expression did not change at all in the face of Naruto's shouting and Sasuke's piercing stare.

"We just finished a D-rank mission too."

"Yeah," Sato Yu added from the side. "We were clearing the riverway east of the village."

Kobayashi Ken followed up as well. "Come to think of it, we've only completed two C-rank missions so far. One was leaving the village to wipe out bandits, and the other was just driving wild boars away from farmland outside the village."

At those words, Uchiha Sasuke's eyes suddenly brightened.

Two C-rank missions!?

Their mission in the Land of Waves, on the other hand, had been a B-rank mission where they fought powerful ninja in a life-or-death battle!

One B-rank mission versus two C-rank missions that were merely bandit suppression and driving away wild beasts...

In an instant, Uchiha Sasuke felt that he had regained the upper hand in terms of mission experience—he immediately felt capable again!

Even the way he looked at Tejima Shinichi became much more confident!

He was smug beyond measure!

"Hmph!"

Hearing Kobayashi Ken's words, Uzumaki Naruto proudly snorted as well. He puffed out his chest and hooked a thumb at himself.

"We completed a B-rank mission not long ago! Huh? So, what do you think?! Awesome, right?!"

Tejima Shinichi raised an eyebrow slightly at that. Looking at Naruto's smug expression that clearly said praise me, he replied speechlessly.

"Wow, how terrifying~~~ Should I give you an award? Dattebayo!"