Farewell, Return to the Village

The message brought by the carrier hawk was simple and firm: the situation on the front lines had stabilized, but the village was short-handed, and the report regarding Uchiha Fugaku required further verification from the individual concerned and his teammates.

The Hokage's order: Namikaze Minato and Nishikawa Tetsu, return to the village immediately.

In the early morning, the rain outside the door continued to drizzle. The atmosphere of parting made the otherwise warm breakfast difficult to swallow.

"Do you really have to leave?"

Konan put down her bowl, her voice a little down.

For the past six months, she had truly come to regard these two youths from Konoha as family.

"We can't help it, we're Konoha ninjas."

Although Namikaze Minato wore a smile, reluctance was hidden in his eyes.

He reached out and ruffled Konan's hair, "Besides, you're not the same children who could only cry anymore. I believe you can take care of yourselves even without us."

Jiraiya leaned against the cave entrance, gazing at the rain curtain outside, his back to everyone. "I'll stay here for a while longer, until the three of you can truly stand on your own, until I feel you're ready to graduate."

Hearing that Jiraiya-sensei would stay, the three children's emotions eased slightly.

Nishikawa Tetsu silently tidied his backpack, then walked up to Yahiko and handed him a thick notebook.

"What is this?" Yahiko took the notebook and flipped it open. It was densely packed with words and charts.

"This is the Rain Country Commercial Development Plan and the Penicillin Production Process Standards."

Nishikawa Tetsu's tone was serious as he admonished:

"Yahiko, you are the leader of 'Akatsuki'. Remember, passion can get you started, but only rationality can take you far. Follow this plan, steadily build an economic foundation, don't rush to expand, and don't easily trust the promises of the great nations."

"If you encounter insurmountable difficulties..." Nishikawa Tetsu pointed to the last page of the notebook, "There are our secret contact codes in Konoha, remember to contact us."

"Tetsu..." Yahiko hugged the notebook tightly, his eyes slightly red, but he held back tears and nodded heavily, "Don't worry! The next time we meet, I'll show you a brand new Rain Country!"

Nishikawa Tetsu nodded. He helped these youths not only to change their tragic fates but also to make money; he received dividends from the medicines sold.

As everyone knew, scientific research was very expensive.

Then he turned and walked towards Nagato, who had been silent all this time.

The red-haired youth was looking down, his Rinnegan hidden in the shadow of his bangs, his expression unreadable.

"Nagato."

Nishikawa Tetsu called out.

Nagato looked up, his eyes filled with confusion and reluctance.

Nishikawa Tetsu glanced at Jiraiya and the others not far away, then leaned close to Nagato's ear, speaking in a voice only they could hear, "Nagato, listen carefully. Those eyes of yours possess the power to change the world, but they will also attract countless demons who covet them."

"You must, absolutely, guard your original heart, and guard Yahiko and Konan."

After speaking, Nishikawa Tetsu patted Nagato's shoulder and handed him a final pack of candy.

"Take care."

Nagato clutched the candy tightly. Although he didn't fully understand Nishikawa Tetsu's words, he etched them deeply into his mind.

Besides, even without being told, he would protect Yahiko and Konan, these family members who were so precious to him.

"Alright, it's about time."

Jiraiya turned around and looked at his two disciples.

"Minato, Tetsu."

"Sensei." The two stood at attention.

"Be careful on your way back. Although the main forces have withdrawn, there are still many bandits." Jiraiya, usually carefree, now had eyes full of affection. "When you get back to the village, say hello to the old man for me... say hello to the Third Hokage. Also, tell Tsunade and Orochimaru that I'll be staying for a while longer, though those two probably aren't in the village anyway."

"Understood, Sensei," Minato replied with a smile.

"And Fugaku..." Jiraiya paused, "His situation might not be good. When you get back, if you can lend a hand, try to help him out. After all, he's a comrade we've been through life and death together with."

If it were anyone else, Jiraiya might not have said this.

Two commoners helping an Uchiha? It was practically a huge joke.

But these two disciples of his were truly different, not just in their strength as ninjas, but also in their mindset, which set them apart from other children.

"Don't worry, Jiraiya-sensei," a glint flashed in Nishikawa Tetsu's eyes, "We won't let Senior Fugaku be bullied."

The rain had stopped, or perhaps it had only paused for this moment.

Namikaze Minato and Nishikawa Tetsu stood at the foot of the hill, their bags on their backs.

Above, Jiraiya, Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato were waving goodbye.

"Goodbye!! You must come back again!!" Yahiko's loud voice echoed through the valley.

"Take care!!" Minato waved vigorously.

Nishikawa Tetsu cast one last glance at the cave, at the three figures who would stir up storms in the Ninja World in the future.

The course of history had already been slightly nudged by him.

"Let's go, Minato."

Nishikawa Tetsu turned, not looking back.

"Our battlefield is in Konoha."

A few days later.

The gates of Konohagakure, Land of Fire.

The long-awaited sunlight spilled onto the massive green gates, the "An" character on the gate frame appearing exceptionally familiar. Compared to the gloom of the Land of Rain, Konoha's prosperity and peace felt like another world entirely.

"Finally... we're back."

Namikaze Minato took a deep breath, gazing at the familiar streets and the three stone faces on Hokage Rock in the distance, a relaxed smile gracing his features.

"Yeah, we're back."

Nishikawa Tetsu observed the villagers and ninja coming and going through the gates, but he keenly sensed that beneath this tranquility, an imperceptible undercurrent seemed to be stirring.

The guards at the gate were much more vigilant than usual, and the number of Anbu patrolling the streets had also increased.

"It seems the storm brought about by Fugaku-senpai's eyes has already begun to brew," Nishikawa Tetsu murmured.

"What?" Minato hadn't heard clearly.

"Nothing, I said it's time to go get some yakiniku." Nishikawa Tetsu smiled.

However, before they could even step through the gates, two masked Anbu ninja appeared before them like phantoms.

"Namikaze Minato, Nishikawa Tetsu."

The Anbu's voice was devoid of any emotion, cold and mechanical: "By order of the Hokage, you are to report to the Hokage Building immediately upon your return to the village. There will be no delays."

Minato and Nishikawa Tetsu exchanged a glance.

They weren't even allowed to go home first, but directly to the Hokage Building.

It seemed the higher-ups in Konoha had grown impatient.

"Understood."