On August 6, Year 37 of Konoha, Akaseki returned to Konoha once again.
This was the first time Akaseki had ever been away from home for so long...
Before the war, most Chunin probably had never spent more than three months away from Konoha either—Chunin rarely received missions that lasted that long.
"Finally, we're back. Now I can have a proper bath..." Ranwu sighed.
"Huh? Didn't you bathe pretty often at the medical branch too?" Akaseki asked, puzzled. You're a Water Style ninja. How could you not have water to bathe with?
"It feels completely different," Ranwu insisted.
"But... we should go see Lord Hokage first," Akaseki said.
"Huh? Looking like this? We don't have anything urgent to report. Let's meet at the Hokage Building in an hour..." Ranwu looked down at her travel-worn appearance and started complaining.
"No, no, no. Looking like this shows how hard we've been working!" Akaseki said as though it were obvious.
Ranwu: ...
Although Ranwu thought it unnecessary and didn't want to look so scruffy now that she was back in the village, Akaseki still dragged her to the Hokage Building to report first.
Akaseki was in a good mood when he entered the Hokage Office this time—because that bastard Danzo looked distinctly unhappy, which, by a little creative rounding, meant Akaseki felt great.
Although he had already reported everything in his letters, Akaseki enthusiastically went through it all again...
"Excellent. You've all performed very well, and you look much more mature... The village's ninja have nothing but praise for you now, and the young ninja all look up to you." Sarutobi looked at the three of them and nodded in satisfaction.
Standing off to the side, Danzo wanted to say something several times, but held his tongue each time.
"Lord Hokage, I