The extermination mission had taken far less time than expected, and the fighting had been less intense than anticipated. But its impact on Team 8 was real.
Analyzing and gathering intelligence, witnessing the darkness in people's hearts, killing because the mission demanded it, and seeing the schemes between nobles and ninja villages—each had drained the three children who had only recently graduated.
Yet these were things they would have to face sooner or later. Facing them so early was proof of how capable they were.
By the time they returned to Konoha, evening had fallen. As usual, Masasuke Yamaguchi gave the three of them time off, then went to submit his mission report.
The three relaxed as they watched Captain Yamaguchi leave. They had rushed through the entire mission with scarcely a moment to spare, and its psychological strain had left them exhausted. Now they wanted nothing more than to go home and rest.
Taiichi watched Yohei and Saori head to their respective homes, where they could reunite with their families and talk about what had happened. He had only himself.
He stood on Konoha's busiest street, watching friends walk past together, talking and laughing,
along with relatives and married couples. For some reason, Taiichi felt lonely.
Perhaps it was the shock of the mission. Walking alone through the streets, Taiichi seemed lost. He wandered aimlessly through the crowd like a lonely ghost, with nowhere in particular to go.
Eventually, he reached Konoha Academy. Watching the students still studying there, he thought of how they might soon be sent to the battlefield, and sadness rose in him.
A little later, he wandered to Konoha Hospital. People were always coming and going here. Before long, it might grow even more crowded.
Taiichi knew something was wrong with him, but he did