Saying Goodbye, Returning to the Village

The message brought by the carrier hawk was simple and firm: although the situation at the front had stabilized, the village was short on manpower, and the report concerning Uchiha Fugaku required further verification from those involved and their teammates.

The Hokage had ordered Namikaze Minato and Nishikawa Tetsu to return to the village immediately.

The rain still pattered outside that morning. The atmosphere of parting made the normally warm breakfast difficult to swallow.

"Do you really have to go?"

Konan set down her bowl, her voice subdued.

Over the past six months, she had truly come to see the two boys from Konoha as family.

"We don't have a choice. We're Konoha shinobi."

Minato smiled, but there was reluctance in his eyes.

He reached out and ruffled Konan's hair. "Besides, you're no longer the children who could do nothing but cry. I believe you'll be able to take care of yourselves even without us."

Jiraiya leaned against the cave entrance, looking out at the curtain of rain. With his back to the others, he said, "I'll stay here a while longer, until you three can truly stand on your own—until I think you're ready to graduate."

Hearing that their teacher, Jiraiya, would stay, the three children felt a little better.

Nishikawa Tetsu quietly packed his bag, then walked over to Yahiko and handed him a thick notebook.

"What's this?" Yahiko took it and flipped through the pages. They were densely covered in writing and charts.

"It's the Rain Country Commercial Development Plan and the Penicillin Production Process Standards."

Nishikawa Tetsu spoke solemnly as he gave him a few instructions:

"Yahiko, you're the leader of Akatsuki. Remember, passion can get you started, but only reason can take you far. Follow this plan and build your economic foundation step by step. Don't rush to expand, and don't trust the promises of the great nations too easily."

"If you run into a problem you can't solve..." Nishikawa Tetsu pointed to the last page of the notebook. "There's a contact code for Minato and me in Konoha. Remember to get in touch."

"Tetsu..." Yahiko clutched the notebook tightly. His eyes reddened, but he held back his tears and nodded firmly. "Don't worry! The next time we meet, I'll show you a whole new Rain Country!"

Nishikawa Tetsu nodded. He had helped these youths not only to change their tragic fates, but also to make money. He got a cut of every medicine sold.

As everyone knew, research was expensive.

Then he turned to Nagato, who had remained silent.

The red-haired boy had his head bowed. His Rinnegan were hidden beneath the shadow of his bangs, making his expression impossible to read.

"Nagato."

Nishikawa Tetsu called out to him.

Nagato looked up, confusion and reluctance in his eyes.

Nishikawa Tetsu glanced at Jiraiya and the others nearby, then leaned close to Nagato's ear and whispered so only the two of them could hear: "Nagato, listen carefully. Your eyes have the power to change the world, but they'll also draw countless demons who covet them."

"Make sure you hold on to your true self, and protect Yahiko and Konan."

With that, Nishikawa Tetsu patted Nagato's shoulder and slipped him one last packet of candy.

"Take care."

Nagato clutched the candy tightly. Though he didn't understand what Nishikawa Tetsu meant, he etched those words deep into his memory.

And even without being told, he would protect Yahiko and Konan, the two family members who meant so much to him.

"All right, it's about time."

Jiraiya turned around and looked at his two students.

"Minato, Tetsu."

"Sensei." The two stood up straight.

"Be careful on the way back. The main forces have withdrawn, but there are still plenty of bandits around." Jiraiya was usually carefree, but now his eyes were full of affection. "When you get back to the village, give my regards to the old man... to the Third Hokage. And tell Tsunade and Orochimaru I'll be staying here a while longer, though those two probably aren't in the village either."

"Got it, Sensei." Minato answered with a smile.

"And that fellow Fugaku..." Jiraiya paused. "He may be in a difficult position. When you get back, help him out if you can. After all, you've been through life and death together."

Jiraiya might not have said that about anyone else.

Two civilians helping an Uchiha? It would have been a ridiculous joke.

But these two students of his were different—not just in their abilities as shinobi, but in their maturity, which set them apart from other children.

"Don't worry, Jiraiya-sensei." A glint flashed in Nishikawa Tetsu's eyes. "We won't let anyone bully Senior Fugaku."

The rain had stopped—or perhaps it had only paused for a moment.

Namikaze Minato and Nishikawa Tetsu stood at the foot of the slope, packs on their backs.

Above them, Jiraiya stood waving goodbye with Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato.

"Goodbye! Make sure you come back!" Yahiko's booming voice echoed through the valley.

"Take care!" Minato waved energetically.

Nishikawa Tetsu took one last look at the cave, and at the three figures who would one day stir up a storm in the Shinobi World.

He had already nudged the course of history off its path.

"Let's go, Minato."

Nishikawa Tetsu turned and didn't look back.

"Our battlefield is in Konoha."

A few days later.

The gates of Konohagakure, in the Land of Fire.

Long-missed sunlight spilled across the enormous green gates, and the character for "peace" on the gate frame seemed especially welcoming. Compared to the gloom of the Land of Rain, Konoha's prosperity and peace seemed like another world altogether.

"Finally... we're back."

Namikaze Minato took a deep breath and looked at the familiar streets and the three faces carved into Kage Rock in the distance. A relaxed smile spread across his face.

"Yeah, we're back."

Nishikawa Tetsu watched the villagers and shinobi coming and going through the gates. But beneath the village's peaceful appearance, he keenly sensed an undercurrent stirring.

The gate guards were conducting more thorough inspections than before, and there were more Anbu patrolling the streets.

"Looks like the storm brought on by Senior Fugaku's eyes has already started brewing," Nishikawa Tetsu said quietly.

"What?" Minato hadn't heard him clearly.

"Nothing. I said we should go get some barbecue." Nishikawa Tetsu smiled.

But before they could even step through the gates, two masked Anbu Ninja appeared before them like ghosts.

"Namikaze Minato, Nishikawa Tetsu."

The Anbu's voice was completely flat, cold and mechanical. "Hokage-sama has ordered you to report to the Hokage Building immediately upon your return to the village. Do not delay."

Minato and Nishikawa Tetsu exchanged a glance.

They weren't even being allowed to go home. They were being sent straight to the Hokage Building.

It seemed the higher-ups in Konoha had run out of patience waiting for them.

"Understood."