Return Journey

As the morning mist began to clear, Team 8 set out on their return journey. The trip here had taken eight days, so there was no need to hurry back. At Taiichi and the others' pleading, Captain Yamaguchi agreed to let them spend more time sightseeing along the way.

On the winding mountain path, Yohei excitedly waved the newly bought Land of Rivers fan in his hand. The waterfall painted on its surface shimmered in the sunlight. "I heard Mirror Lake is just ahead! Its waters can reflect the thing people desire most deep in their hearts!" He tugged at Saori's sleeve, showing off a story he had heard at a roadside stall yesterday.

After passing through a bamboo grove, the moisture in the air grew thicker. They arrived at the rather mystical Mirror Lake. The place truly was magical; the lake was like a mirror that could illuminate the human heart. Yet not far from Mirror Lake, they could also hear a thunderous rumbling.

A few steps ahead, after turning around a mountain pass, they saw the source of that rumbling sound: a waterfall a hundred meters high, none other than the Thousand-Fold Waterfall, as famous as Mirror Lake.

Before they even drew near, the deafening roar reached their ears. It sounded like rousing war drums, like the cries of countless soldiers and horses, making their blood surge with excitement.

Yohei and Saori had already rushed to the foot of the waterfall to experience its overwhelming force up close.

Taiichi stopped before the roaring Thousand-Fold Waterfall, lost in thought. His fingers unconsciously traced an indescribable pattern through the air—the rushing water fell from the sky with immense force, charging toward the mouth of the valley. It reminded him of the essence of Water Style. Wasn't it supposed to imitate the power of nature?

Chakra Nature Transformation was an intensely personal matter. Everyone had their own unique understanding of it, and at that moment, Taiichi found his own: the grandeur, vastness, and endless continuity of water.

[In a state of enlightenment, Water Nature Transformation experience +400]

[Congratulations, your Water Nature Transformation has increased to Lv7 (262/1200)]

[In a state of enlightenment, your skill Advanced Meditation has improved, experience +300]

[Congratulations, your skill Advanced Meditation has increased to Lv1 (214/2000)]

When he came back to himself, Taiichi was overjoyed. So this was also a way to train Nature Transformation: travel more, see more, admire nature's beauty, and experience the changes of various attributes within it. Taiichi resolved that someday, he would travel across every magnificent land in the Ninja World.

At dusk, they accidentally wandered into a mountain village's lantern festival. An elderly craftsman invited Saori to make a River Paper Lantern. Her slender fingers flew as she wove an innovative lantern, drawing cries of amazement from the children watching nearby. Yohei had already slipped into the center of the crowd, playing a bamboo flute alongside the local musicians. His Sharingan was active as he quietly copied the musicians' movements.

On their last day in the Land of Rivers, they reached Hot Spring Village at the border between the two countries. Amid the hazy steam, Yohei animatedly told newly acquainted travelers stories about Konoha, while Saori carefully polished the lacquered headband she had bought at the market. Taiichi floated on his back in the hot spring, enjoying the rare peace and quiet. He could hear Captain Yamaguchi speaking softly with the bathhouse owner nearby, probably discussing their lodging for the night.

As dawn had only just broken, Captain Yamaguchi woke everyone up. They had enjoyed themselves long enough. Today, they would set foot in the Land of Fire, and they could no longer travel at such a leisurely pace afterward.

After packing their things and finishing breakfast, they set out from Hot Spring Village, leaving the Land of Rivers behind as well. The moment they entered the Land of Fire, the scenery changed completely. Trees of all sizes grew everywhere.

Without a merchant caravan slowing them down, Taiichi and the others no longer stuck to the smooth trade roads. They headed straight toward Konoha, crossing forests when they encountered forests and wading through water when they encountered water, treating it all as training as they pressed onward.

That day, as they traveled, they suddenly heard the explosion of Explosive Tags ahead. Everyone stopped and looked toward Captain Yamaguchi. At a time like this, they needed their captain to make the call.

"This is the Land of Fire. Something like this happening here is rather unusual. We'll approach in combat formation and take a look. Stay alert," Captain Yamaguchi instructed cautiously.

Taiichi and the other two immediately put away their relaxed attitudes and followed Captain Yamaguchi in combat formation as they silently moved toward the explosion. From a distance, they saw three Sunagakure Ninja surrounding a Konoha Ninja. The Konoha Ninja was covered in wounds, and his left arm had been severed at the shoulder. The severed arm lay beneath a tree not far away.

"You think setting off Explosive Tags and making a commotion will bring someone to save you?" the leading Sunagakure Ninja said arrogantly. "Tell us where you hid the intelligence, and maybe you'll get a quick death."

The Konoha Ninja remained unmoved. He looked as though he had already accepted death.

Captain Yamaguchi, who had already infiltrated nearby, assessed their strength. One Jonin and two Chunin—they could handle them.

Hidden nearby, Taiichi saw Captain Yamaguchi's coded hand signal and immediately understood his intention—Captain Yamaguchi would take the Jonin, Taiichi would take one Chunin, and Yohei and Saori would work together to hold off the other Chunin. They would finish this quickly.

Taiichi returned a signal of acknowledgment, then relayed the situation to Yohei and Saori nearby. After a brief wait, the team had finished communicating and waited for Captain Yamaguchi's order to attack.

At that moment, the Sunagakure Jonin seemed to have lost patience and ordered his Chunin subordinates to kill the Konoha Ninja.

Just as the Chunin moved to strike, Captain Yamaguchi gave the attack signal. He immediately charged at the Sunagakure Jonin, while Taiichi and the others rushed toward their assigned opponents.

The instant Captain Yamaguchi sprang forward, the Sunagakure captain heard the movement and shouted, "Who's there?!" to warn his subordinates. He quickly drew a kunai and took up a defensive stance, but even so, he had lost the initiative.

With a clang of colliding weapons, the Sunagakure Jonin was driven back by Captain Yamaguchi's charged strike. He was immediately met with a relentless barrage of attacks from the captain and could only struggle to hold on.

Meanwhile, Taiichi faced the Sunagakure Chunin who had just received the order. He had chosen this opponent in the hope that his strength would allow him to save the Konoha Ninja fighting desperately for his life.

Sure enough, Taiichi did not disappoint. As he charged forward, he drew the Short Sword from his back. It was already wrapped in dense wind-attribute chakra, making the blade exceptionally sharp.

The Chunin clearly did not possess the Jonin's powerful senses. Even after receiving the warning, he only belatedly began preparing to defend himself after seeing Taiichi charge at him.

Taiichi gave him no time to prepare. Once he entered range, he brought the blade across his body and suddenly used Body Flicker. His figure vanished from where he stood and appeared behind the Sunagakure Chunin. The Chunin had not even assumed a defensive stance when a wound opened across his neck. Blood gushed from it with every beat of his heart, and it was clear he would not survive.

Taiichi had used the speed of Body Flicker to slice open the enemy's neck with his Short Sword, much like ancient cavalrymen effortlessly slaughtering enemies with the force of their horses. The swift kill startled not only the enemy, but also the Konoha Ninja nearby. That had been far too clean.

Just then, three kunai suddenly shot out from a tree to the side. Immediately afterward, another Chunin charged toward Taiichi behind them.

"Watch out!"