The Return Journey and a "Formal" Invitation

The mood was considerably lighter on the way back.

Obito chattered away, reviewing his "heroic performance," with particular emphasis on how he had driven the enemy back with an "ingenious" Great Fireball Technique (actually just a tiny flame), and his "flawless" teamwork with Rin.

Rin smiled gently beside him, occasionally adding a word or two.

Kakashi remained as taciturn as ever, walking a little ahead, his ears seemingly filtering out Obito's noise automatically.

Minato walked at the front with a warm smile, occasionally responding to Obito.

Shuo still brought up the rear at an unhurried pace, but his mind was busy digesting the "Light Energy Affinity (Beginner)" he had just unlocked.

He could clearly feel that the little bit of light energy inside him was like a small spring. Although the stream flowing out was still tiny, it was steadier and more sustained than before.

His recovery speed had indeed improved, too. In the dozen or so minutes they had been walking, nearly half of the small amount of light energy he had used had already recovered naturally.

This felt... nice.

Although he was still a million miles from an "inexhaustible supply," at least he no longer had to rest for ages after using a single skill, as though he were suffering from kidney deficiency.

As he walked, he quietly experimented.

With a slight thought, he discreetly gathered a few particles of light at his fingertips-a little faster and a little brighter than before.

He also tried guiding a thread of light energy into his legs. His steps seemed a little lighter, and the fatigue in his muscles faded faster.

Mm, those 250 Imitation Points were well spent.

Shuo was pleased.

"Shuo!"

At some point, Obito had slowed down and sidled up beside him, his face full of curiosity and admiration. "How did you spot those Summoning Beasts while you were keeping watch in the tree? Kakashi said they were really good at hiding, and even ordinary Chunin would have trouble noticing them ahead of time!"

Up ahead, Kakashi apparently hadn't expected Obito to drag him into this. His shoulders stiffened slightly, but he didn't turn around.

Shuo glanced at Obito. The boy's eyes were so bright that he was a little hard to handle.

He thought for a moment, then spoke in a somewhat dismissive tone that nevertheless sounded rather reasonable:

"Probably because..."

He paused and looked up at the sky. "The tree I picked... had a better view?"

Obito said, "...Huh?"

Minato seemed to chuckle up ahead.

Kakashi's profile looked even colder.

Rin quickly smoothed things over. "Obito, Shuo means that the higher you stand, the farther you can see. That's a very basic tactic."

"Oh..."

Obito only half understood, but he soon grew excited again. "Then what about that kick you used to send that dog flying? It was so fast! I couldn't even see it clearly! What kind of Taijutsu was that? Do we Uchiha have a move like that?"

Shuo was getting a little annoyed by the questions.

Why did this kid have so many questions?

"It wasn't Taijutsu."

He said casually, "It was just charging at me from an angle... that happened to be perfect for sticking my foot out."

Obito said, "..."

Something about that explanation seemed wrong, but it also sounded pretty reasonable?

Kakashi finally couldn't take it anymore. He turned around and said coldly, "Dead last, be quiet and keep moving. We still haven't written the mission report."

Obito immediately bristled. "Who are you calling dead last? Kakashi, you..."

Minato spoke at just the right moment, his voice gentle but leaving no room for argument. "All right, quiet down, everyone. Let's get back to the village quickly. We still need to report to Lord Hokage."

Silence returned to the group, leaving only footsteps and the sound of wind passing through the woods.

Happy to have some peace and quiet, Shuo continued studying his light energy.

He discovered that as his Light Energy Affinity improved, his perception of light in the surrounding environment had also grown a tiny bit sharper.

For instance, right now, he could vaguely sense what seemed to be an extremely faint layer of light around Minato, with a very unusual nature-or perhaps it was residual spatial fluctuations?

Were these probably traces of the Flying Thunder God Technique?

Kakashi, on the other hand, gave off a sharper, more concentrated feeling, as though it were the result of prolonged saturation with Lightning Release chakra.

Interesting.

Shuo mulled it over.

Maybe this ability could let him act as a weaker version of a sensory ninja someday?

At least he could tell who wasn't to be messed with.

Nothing more was said along the way, and the squad returned to Konoha toward evening.

Minato told Kakashi and the other two to head home and rest, while he took Shuo to the Hokage Building to give a brief report.

Shuo had thought this had nothing to do with him, but he had ended up getting dragged along anyway.

Inside the Hokage's office, the Third, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was smoking his pipe as he listened to Minato's report.

The old man looked in good spirits, though a trace of postwar exhaustion lingered deep in his eyes.

As he listened, he cast an appraising look at Shuo, who stood slightly behind Minato to one side.

Minato's report was brief and to the point. He omitted the details of Shuo's light abilities, saying only that while keeping watch on the perimeter, Shuo had spotted and driven away several approaching Summoning Beasts in time, ensuring the mission's smooth completion.

After hearing him out, the Third nodded and gave Shuo a kindly smile (though Shuo thought he looked more like an old fox). "Uchiha Saku, correct? I've heard about your performance on the front lines. Very good. A promising young man. Now that you're back in the village, keep working hard and contribute to Konoha."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

Shuo lowered his head in acknowledgment, his tone respectful but flat.

The Third took another puff of his pipe and looked at Minato. "Minato, I've approved your earlier application for a Temporary Squad Expansion in principle. However, you'll need to put more thought into the specific candidate and how they'll fit into the team."

"Understood. Thank you, Lord Hokage."

Minato accepted with a smile.

Shuo's heart gave a jolt.

Expand the squad?

A candidate? Surely not...

Sure enough, after they left the Hokage's office, Minato stopped in the hallway, turned around, and addressed Shuo formally. "Shuo, as Lord Hokage said, my squad does need another member to handle more complex missions. Based on what I observed today, I believe your abilities and fighting style are quite distinctive and have great potential."

He paused, looking into Shuo's eyes, his tone serious and sincere. "I'm formally inviting you to join my squad and become our teammate. Of course, this isn't a mandatory order. You have the right to refuse. But I sincerely hope you'll consider it."

Here it was.

A formal invitation he couldn't brush off.

Shuo looked at Minato's utterly sincere face, then recalled the Third's meaningful gaze earlier.

He knew perfectly well that this probably wasn't entirely Minato's personal decision.

His little "special ability" had likely already drawn the attention of the village's higher-ups, or at least Minato and the Third.

This so-called "invitation" was both recognition and a gentle way of "bringing him under supervision" and "observing him up close."

Refuse?

Of course he could.

But what would happen afterward?

Keep being a marginal Uchiha Chunin, receiving occasional "attention" from his clan while the village secretly kept an eye on him? That seemed like even more trouble.

Accept?

That meant officially joining the main cast (reserve roster), with future missions, plot events, and troublesome business... probably coming one after another.

But the advantage was that with Minato backing him, resources and safety would be assured. He could also "develop" and use his abilities more reasonably. After all, he'd have a "genius mentor" by his side.

What should he choose?

Shuo fell silent for a few seconds.

The orange-red evening light streamed through the hallway windows, casting alternating patches of light and shadow across his face.

He raised his head, his face returning to its usual expression, a little lazy and a little resigned.

"Jonin Minato," he began, his voice quiet but clear in the silent hallway, "I'm actually... pretty afraid of trouble. I don't have any great ambitions, either."

Minato listened quietly without interrupting.

"But..."

Shuo scratched his cheek, as though searching for the right words. "If joining your squad could mean less 'trouble' for me down the road..."

He paused, meeting Minato's gaze as the corners of his mouth lifted faintly:

"Then I guess... I don't really have a reason to refuse?"

[Ding! Faced with a "formal squad invitation," you gave an ambiguous response: "motivated by slacking off, but actually accepting a challenge." Highly consistent with Kizaru-style "Ambiguous Justice (Joining the Team Edition)." Imitation Points +30!]

[Current Imitation Points: 302/100! The threshold for unlocking new abilities has increased. Please keep working hard at imitating.]

Minato looked at Shuo, the smile in his eyes gradually deepening until it became understanding and a trace of appreciation.

"Welcome aboard, Shuo."

He held out his hand. "I look forward to working with you."

Shuo looked at the outstretched hand, hesitated for a tenth of a second, then raised his own and shook it.

"Likewise..."

He paused, then added, "...I just hope the missions won't be too much 'trouble.'"

Minato laughed aloud and patted his shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll try to arrange 'low-effort' missions for you."

The two walked out of the Hokage Building side by side.

Outside, the sky had darkened, and Konoha's lights were coming on one after another.

"Tomorrow morning, the usual place, Training Ground Three."

Minato said, "We need to do some basic coordination training."

"Yeees," Shuo drawled.

Minato vanished in a flash of golden light.

Shuo stood alone in the square in front of the Hokage Building. The evening breeze blew past, a little chilly.

He lowered his head and looked at his hand.

So that was it... he'd joined the main cast?

It felt a little unreal.

But it seemed... not bad?

He slipped his hand back into his pocket and ambled toward home.

As he passed Ichiraku Ramen, a tempting aroma reached him.

He stopped and rubbed his stomach.

Oh, whatever. He'd worked overtime today. Might as well treat himself.

He lifted the entrance curtain and stepped inside.

"One bowl of Miso Chashu Ramen, with extra chashu."

"Coming right up! Just a moment!"

Sitting at the counter, Shuo picked up his chopsticks as the steaming bowl of ramen was set before him.

Forget it.

He'd fill his stomach first.

He dug in with big mouthfuls.

Outside the window, warm lights filled Konoha's night.

And a certain newly promoted Chunin who had just joined the Yellow Flash Squad was using a bowl of ramen to celebrate (or rather, console himself over) the new life he was about to begin-one destined not to be particularly "low-effort."