Taiichi tuned out the power plays happening back in the Hokage's office. Right now he was knee-deep in the Jonin promotion paperwork on his own.
Last time Minato had smoothed the Special Jonin process into something quick. Doing the full Jonin climb solo made every step slower and more complicated.
Still, running through the whole ritual gave him a clear look at why Konoha sat at the top. The ceremonies were built to make every shinobi feel seen, respected, and proud—like the village itself was saying "we notice what you've done." By the end even Taiichi felt that warm rush of belonging.
The part that stuck with him hardest was in the big hall. A middle-aged shinobi stood up and read out, one by one, every non-classified mission Taiichi had completed since he first became a ninja. Hearing his own story—from scrawny rookie to the guy who'd killed a tailed beast—hit deeper than he expected. This village felt like something he'd helped build. Anyone who tried to burn it down would have to go through him.
By the time the last stamp was on the last form, even he was fired up and half-ready to bleed for Konoha again.
He had to force himself to calm down on the walk home.
Glancing back at the Hokage Tower, he shook his head with a small, wry smile. The village had people who knew exactly how to work the mind. The whole process planted loyalty so deep that even when you spotted the manipulation, you didn't resent it. Because at the end of the day, you chose it.
He pushed open his gate. The courtyard was spotless—clearly the orphanage kids had been keeping up with it.
First order of business: a long, scalding shower to scrub off the road dust and weeks of tension.
Clean and dressed again, he stepped out into the busy streets. The Hokage had told him to rest, so he let himself wander without a plan. Whenever something smelled good he bought it and kept walking.
His feet carried him to the orphanage without him really deciding. The second he heard the kids laughing inside, a smile tugged at his mouth.
The moment he stepped through the gate the noise cut off—then exploded into a wave of happy shouts.
"Big brother Taiichi! You're finally back!"
They swarmed him. Then one of them mentioned that both he and Nonou had left, and the mood flipped like a switch. Little faces crumpled. Tears started falling.
Taiichi panicked and popped out a swarm of shadow clones so every kid suddenly had their own personal playmate. The crying stopped almost as fast as it started. Within minutes the yard was loud with laughter again.
Grandma Keiko came out, took one look at the clones, and smiled. "Taiichi. You're home."
They sat on the stone bench while the clones kept the kids busy. She filled him in on the quiet weeks he'd missed. He mostly just listened.
Later, cheerful voices called from the gate. "Grandma Keiko, we're here!"
Taiichi turned. The three figures walking in made him blink—Asuma, Kurenai, and Shino. They were clearly on some rotation helping at the orphanage.
Kurenai's eyes went wide when she saw him. "Taiichi? You just got back today, right?"
Asuma's expression tightened the second he noticed how close Kurenai was standing.
They sat down together. Kurenai leaned forward, eyes bright. "So? What's the front really like? Tell us everything."
Taiichi gave them the truth without sugarcoating it—endless missions, no real rest, constant tension, friends dying right next to you, the sheer scale of destruction when someone like a Kage or a tailed beast cut loose. Medical tents that never stopped running. The way a stray attack could kill you even if you were winning your own fight.
Asuma frowned. "Come on. It can't be that bad. You made it back fine."
Taiichi looked at him for a second, then answered flat. "Last big push we crushed Sand. Still lost over a hundred Leaf shinobi and most of the rest got hurt. That was a victory. And I'm a Jonin who can use Flying Thunder God. Most people don't have that kind of exit strategy."
The number hit harder than the description. Asuma went quiet.
Kurenai's eyes were shining. "You're already a Jonin? That's amazing. Can I train with you sometime?"
Asuma's face went green. He opened his mouth, clearly about to object, but Kurenai was still looking at Taiichi like he'd hung the moon.
Taiichi just smiled, small and a little too pleased.