Uchiha Itachi and Maruboshi Kosuke returned to the village on the morning of the fifth day after the ambush, two days after Minato Namikaze and the others had received the report.
The moment they returned to Konoha, Uchiha Itachi and Maruboshi Kosuke went straight to the Hokage's office to report on their mission. When Itachi pushed open the door, he saw a familiar figure asleep on the sofa.
The noise of Itachi and Kosuke entering caught the attention of the person on the sofa. The young man slowly got up, waved to Itachi, and greeted him.
"Hey, my dear disciple. Long time no see!"
Uzumaki Kuming was unusually warm as he greeted Itachi. His voice was hoarse and unfamiliar, and his hairstyle had changed a little, but Itachi recognized him at a glance. He hurried forward and threw himself into the young man's arms.
"Master Kuming!"
"I knew you'd come back!"
Itachi buried himself in Kuming's embrace, his voice choked with emotion. Kuming hadn't expected the usually reserved Itachi to act so openly. He froze for a second, then gently hugged him and said softly,
"It seems you've been through a lot. But it's all right now. Your master will help you."
"I'll never forgive anyone who dares to bully my disciple!"
Kuming understood why the usually restrained Itachi had suddenly become so emotional. This sensible boy must have been truly heartbroken this time.
Hearing Kuming's words, Itachi seemed to stop holding back. He clung tightly to Kuming's waist and sobbed, "Master, they're dead! My two teammates are dead!"
Itachi cried out softly. The sorrow he'd been holding in burst forth when he saw the master who had been missing for years. For a while, his sobs echoed through the Hokage's office.
Maruboshi Kosuke watched Itachi weep in Kuming's arms