The night was deep, dawn still far away.
Yamato, leading Tejima Shinichi, rendezvoused at the edge of a wood with his Wood Clone that had been guarding Kobayashi Takeshi and Satō Yū.
The Wood Clone completed its task and crumbled into a rotten log.
"Sensei! Shinichi!"
Seeing the two return —especially Tejima Shinichi, who bore only light injuries and steady breathing —Kobayashi Takeshi and Satō Yū both exhaled in relief.
"I'm so glad you're both all right."
Satō Yū murmured, her gaze sweeping over the torn fabric on Shinichi's right hand and the half-dried blood, concern and lingering fright in her eyes.
Tejima Shinichi glanced at their wounds, said nothing, and stepped forward.
"Don't move."
His hands glowed with soft green Chakra light as he pressed them over Kobayashi's waist wound and Satō's slashed arm.
Mystical Palm Technique!
Gentle, life-filled Chakra seeped in; the pain eased, bleeding stopped, and the cuts even began to close at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Kobayashi and Satō stared in surprise; they hadn't realized Shinichi's Medical Ninjutsu was this advanced.
"Thank you, Shinichi-kun," Satō Yū said softly.
Kobayashi Takeshi grinned. "That was amazing, Shinichi!"
"All right, that's temporary first aid."
Tejima Shinichi withdrew the Mystical Palm Technique.
Yamato, watching, spoke up:
"We hit a snag, but the mission's complete. Let's head to Hozumi Village to debrief."
"No problem, sensei." Kobayashi hurried to answer, then glanced at Shinichi and hesitated. "Shinichi… are you okay? You and Yamato-sensei looked like—"
Tejima Shinichi cut him off, voice flat. "I'm fine. Mission first."
Yamato didn't linger on the topic either. "Let's move."
…Hozumi Village.
Though it was late night, many lights still shone in the village.
The terrifying booms and blasts from the distant forest had already woken the villagers; no one dared sleep.
When Yamato's team appeared at the gate, the old village head and a man called Heikichi hurried forward, awe and dread on their faces.
"N-Ninja-sama, you've returned!"
The elder's voice trembled as his gaze flicked toward the forest. "J-just now, that noise…"
Heikichi swallowed hard, staring at the battle marks on Shinichi and Yamato; it clearly hadn't been mere mountain bandits.
That was no fight against ordinary brigands!
Yamato spoke calmly: "The bandits harassing your village have been eliminated. Mission complete."
"Wonderful! Thank you, noble Ninja!" The elder nearly knelt, but Yamato steadied him. "You've worked hard. Please, stay the night and let us show our gratitude."
Heikichi quickly added, "Yes! Rooms are ready, and you're all injured…"
Yamato glanced at the three Genin, considered, then nodded. "We'll impose on your hospitality."
…Inside the prepared house, an oil-lamp flickered.
After treatment, exhaustion overtook Kobayashi and Satō; they slept soundly.
Yamato and Tejima Shinichi sat opposite each other across a low table.
"Shinichi," Yamato began, voice low, "when we return, I'll report everything to the Third Hokage exactly as it happened."
Tejima Shinichi lifted his gaze; in the lamplight his dark eyes revealed nothing.
"Report what?" he asked quietly. "We finished a C-Rank mission and wiped out bandits. That's all."
Yamato studied him, seeing the hidden chill in the boy's eyes.
He sensed his student had made some monumental decision in his heart.
For the first time, he felt how heavy it was to be a Jonin sensei.
"Rest. We head back at dawn."
That was all Yamato said in the end.
Shinichi said nothing more, closed his eyes, and sat as still as an old monk.
Outside, the night was thick and silent; only the scars in the distant forest proved anything had happened… At daybreak, Team One was ready to depart.
The old headman and Heikichi, along with villagers, came to see them off, thanking them profusely and pressing food and water into their packs.
"Safe travels, Ninja-sama!"
Yamato nodded, then led his three students toward Konoha.
Without supplies or civilians to slow them, they moved at full speed.
Yamato and Shinichi set the pace; Kobayashi and Satō just managed to keep up.
The journey was quiet, the mood far heavier than on the way out.
Only Kobayashi occasionally whispered to Satō; Shinichi stayed silent, and Yamato brooded.
By evening the familiar gates of Konoha finally came into view.
Kotetsu Hagane, one of the gate sentries, spotted them and waved. "Oh! Yamato's team, back from a mission?"
Beside him, Izumo Kamizuki gave a small nod of greeting.
"Yeah." Yamato wasn't in the mood for chatter; after signing in he led the trio through the gate.
On the busy street, seeing ordinary folk and peaceful life, Kobayashi and Satō finally relaxed, last night's bloodshed now seeming a distant nightmare.
"We're home!"
Kobayashi stretched, winced as the motion pulled his wound, but grinned anyway.
Yamato stopped and looked at them.
"Mission complete —well done. It's late, so debriefing is postponed. Take tomorrow off; 0800 the day after, usual spot."
"Yes! Thanks, sensei!"
Kobayashi and Satō answered at once; an extra day off was welcome.
Shinichi merely nodded to show he understood.
"Dismissed." Yamato waved.
"See you, sensei!" "Shinichi, see you the day after!" Kobayashi and Satō called, then melted into the crowd.
Tejima Shinichi gave Yamato a slight bow and left; his silhouette stretched long and lonely in the sunset.
Yamato watched them go, gaze lingering on the direction Shinichi had taken, then sighed deeply.
"…Sigh…"
Rubbing his brow, he turned and strode toward the Hokage Building… Hokage Office.
Outside, night had fully fallen; village lights flickered on one by one, but here the lamps still blazed.
White smoke from a pipe curled upward, veiling Hiruzen Sarutobi's deeply lined face. He had just finished a report; leaning back, he took a long draw and slowly exhaled.
...