The journey back to Konoha proved far less dangerous.
When the petty bandits along the way saw the forehead protectors the group wore, they all chose to step aside.
For ordinary people, taking on a group of ninja head-on was hardly a wise choice.
After several days of travel, they finally saw Konoha's gates again.
The ninja on gate duty were once again that pair of close buddies, Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki.
Among the many ninja in Konoha, those two stood out as some of the few Chiba could remember.
Their combat strength was completely out of step with their chunin rank, and their bond of brotherhood was stronger than steel.
Sure enough, friendships between Konoha ninja were always something special.
After greeting them, Kakashi Hatake led the three toward the Hokage Office.
He needed to give the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, a detailed report on their mission to the Land of Waves.
As a former member of the Anbu, Kakashi Hatake had already sensed that something about it was unusual.
After giving a brief report on the mission.
Kakashi Hatake handed Chiba and the others their share of the payment, then sent them on their way.
"Lord Hokage, about this mission..."
Before Kakashi Hatake could finish, Hiruzen Sarutobi raised a hand to interrupt him.
"I know."
"There was a deeper purpose behind this mission."
Hiruzen Sarutobi held a pipe between his lips, though no smoke rose from it.
He still exercised a measure of restraint while working.
Keeping the pipe in his mouth, however, had already become a personal habit.
The pipe helped Hiruzen Sarutobi feel more at ease.
"Please forgive me for withholding some of the details of this mission from you."
"Of course, if not for your strength, I wouldn't have assigned it to you."
Clearly, Konoha's Anbu weren't just sitting around doing nothing.
Although impoverished, the Land of Waves was still a country worth establishing diplomatic ties with.
Konoha could meet the country's needs without having to invest much.
The Land of Waves, in turn, could provide Konoha with a large number of construction workers.
That was an advantage other countries lacked.
After hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's explanation, Kakashi Hatake nodded.
He had already suspected that some details of the mission had been concealed.
As such, he felt no real anger over it.
After all, a ninja had to be prepared to serve as a tool.
Kakashi Hatake had learned that lesson back in his Anbu days.
"Also, the members of Team 7 have rather unusual backgrounds."
Hiruzen Sarutobi folded his hands beneath his chin, his gaze growing deep.
"I hope you'll be patient with them."
Kakashi Hatake bowed slightly and said:
"As their team leader, that is part of my duty."
Hearing his words, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction and smiled.
"I have a mission here that's quite suitable for the three of them."
"The risk is low, and it should give them a chance to unwind."
He took a mission scroll from his desk.
"Take a few days to rest, then carry out this mission."
Somewhat curious, Kakashi Hatake accepted the scroll and unrolled it.
Its contents immediately caught his attention.
"This mission..."
Konoha's lackluster entertainment options left Chiba feeling rather bored.
"There doesn't seem to be anything to do besides train!"
As Chiba's loyal follower, Naruto Uzumaki suggested:
"Big Brother Chiba, how about we go get ramen?"
"They reassessed the rank of our mission."
"We completed a B-rank mission!"
Clearly, Naruto Uzumaki was still basking in the joy of completing the mission.
That was perfectly understandable.
After all, once the reward was divided, each of them received five thousand ryo.
According to Kakashi Hatake, this was compensation from Konoha.
For Naruto, who had always been fairly poor.
This was already a small fortune.
Naturally, the first thing to do after the mission was to get ramen.
In fact, money had been giving Chiba headaches lately, too.
Ever since he added the Eight Gates Released Formation to his training, his expenses had been steadily increasing.
Food and drink accounted for more than eighty percent of those expenses.
"Training in taijutsu really burns through money."
Chiba grumbled, then said, "Let's get ramen, then."
"Uncle Teuchi's portions are pretty generous."
His relentless daily taijutsu training had given Chiba a frightening appetite.
A single large bowl of tonkotsu ramen used to fill him up.
Now, even after seven or eight bowls, he didn't feel the slightest bit full.
"Oh, right. Let's invite Sasuke."
Chiba suggested:
"This will be our first meal together since completing the mission."
Naruto Uzumaki nodded without objection.
Of course, when they dragged Sasuke Uchiha away from the training ground.
He didn't look too pleased.
But Chiba and Naruto Uzumaki were already used to his sour expression, so they paid it no mind.
Ichiraku Ramen Shop.
"Whoa, whoa!"
Staring at the notice in front of the Ichiraku Ramen Shop, Naruto Uzumaki exclaimed in shock:
"The Ichiraku Ramen Glutton Challenge?!"
Before you continue