When Tejima Shinichi pushed open the door, Mori Chie was on her knees, carefully wiping the low living-room cupboard with a cloth.
Hearing the sound, she turned in surprise.
"Shinichi?" Mori Chie glanced at the wall clock, puzzled. "At this hour… did you forget something?"
Tejima Shinichi bent to change his shoes. "No. Just got a mission —C-Rank, out of the Village. Yamato-sensei told us to pack for five to seven days."
"C-Rank? Leaving the Village?"
Mori Chie's hand stilled.
She straightened, draped the cloth over the cupboard's edge, and watched Shinichi head for his room, saying nothing for a moment.
"So… time really does fly."
She spoke softly, eyes drifting as though seeing herself years ago —gear packed, comrades beside her —faces now blurred, forever lost on missions.
She herself had never returned as a Ninja after one particular mission.
A flicker of sorrow crossed her eyes. How could she describe those days? Nostalgia? Grief? Or fear?
She couldn't tell.
All she felt now was a thousand mixed emotions.
The blood still ran hot, the memories still warm —yet everyone was gone.
Now her son was setting out on the same path… Mori Chie stepped into Shinichi's room and, seeing him loading Kunai and Shuriken into his ninja tool pouch, gently took over.
"Let me."
Shinichi didn't object and moved aside.
Mori Chie worked briskly, the old professional ease returning unforgotten.
She rolled up a light sleeping bag, canteen, and compressed rations, every item arranged to make the most of the pack's space.
Throughout, she asked no details and showed no anxiety —only focused on the task.
Soon a textbook-perfect pack and tool pouch were ready.
She handed them to her son with a gentle smile.
"Stay safe."
Shinichi took the weighty gear, met her gaze, and nodded.
"I will."
Without another word he turned, opened the door, and left.
Mori Chie stood in the entrance, watching until he vanished round the corner, then quietly closed the door… At Konoha's gate the morning sun was perfect.
For once, Tejima Shinichi was first to arrive.
He stared at the huge open gate and the road beyond, curiosity stirring.
Twelve years confined inside the Village —never once setting foot outside.
Who wouldn't wonder what lay beyond a threshold so near yet always out of reach?
Moments later Yamato appeared, surprised to find Shinichi already waiting.
"Shinichi, you're early."
"Yamato-sensei."
Shinichi bowed.
Kobayashi Takeshi and Satō Yū hurried up, breathless and bright-eyed.
"Are we late?" Kobayashi panted; Satō Yū stuck out her tongue.
"Right on time," Yamato said, glancing toward the gate.
A small caravan was waiting: five pack-horses loaded with tarp-covered cargo, seven or eight merchants, and four or five hired ronin guards.
A man in a brown short-coat and conical hat —clearly the leader —spotted Yamato and hurried over, bowing.
"You're the Ninja from Konoha? I'm Heikichi, in charge of this caravan. Thank you for accepting the job!"
His gaze flicked to the three youths, doubt flashing. 'Three brats? Konoha sends kids on a C-Rank?'
Yet seeing Yamato, he swallowed his worry. 'At least the Jonin looks reliable…'
Yamato nodded. "Jonin Yamato. These are my subordinates: Tejima Shinichi, Kobayashi Takeshi, Satō Yū. We'll keep you safe and finish the mission."
Heikichi bowed to them as well. "We're counting on you!"
The flattery was almost excessive. Kobayashi straightened, trying to look dependable; Satō Yū gave a solemn nod.
"If everyone's ready, we move out," Yamato announced.
"Yes, yes, all set —waiting only for you!" Heikichi called to his people.
The horses snorted; wheels crunched over gravel.
Yamato stepped first through the huge gate, and Shinichi followed without hesitation —his first foot beyond the Village in twelve years.
Kobayashi and Satō Yū exchanged excited glances and hurried after. The mixed party of Ninja, merchants, and pack-horses set off toward the eastern border of the Land of Fire… Deep beneath the Root Base, not long after they left, a shadow slipped into Danzo's dim hall and knelt.
"Lord Danzo! Target Tejima Shinichi has left the Village under Jonin Instructor Yamato with two other Genin, escorting a caravan on a C-Rank mission one quarter-hour ago."
Shimura Danzo spun round, disbelief blazing in his one visible eye.
"What?!"
The Root Ninja lowered his head. "Confirmed: Shinichi has departed."
"Gone… at a time like this?" Danzo hissed.
Yesterday's humiliation still burned, and now Sarutobi Hiruzen let the brat walk out on a mission?
Fury flooded Danzo's mind. Then a second figure spoke.
"Lord Danzo, the target is outside the walls. Shall we enact last night's plan —bring him back to Root?"
A more cautious voice answered from the shadows. "Lord Danzo, consider! Yesterday the Hokage formally warned us and cut our funds and channels. If we strike now and fail, once Hokage-sama finds out—"
The word "Hokage" made Danzo's eye narrow, malice flashing.
"Hesitation loses the moment!" he snarled. "Once we return the boy to Root, Sarutobi can hardly break with me over a Genin who 'volunteered' for the Village!"
He turned to the first operative. "Move at once! Fu Yamanaka, lead two elite squads—out in secret. Bring that brat back alive and unharmed!"
Danzo's eye glinted. "Remember: he must be captured. I will personally brand him with the mark of Root and teach him true devotion!"
"Yes, sir!"