Chereads / Naruto : a hero's journey / Chapter 44 - 44 just a normal day 1

Chapter 44 - 44 just a normal day 1

The Hokage, awaiting their arrival, greeted them with a warm but slightly worried expression.

As the young genin filed in, Hiruzen's gaze softened, sensing their confusion. "You've done well," he began. "I know this mission became much more complicated than intended, and I appreciate your hard work." He looked each of them over, noting their tired faces. "You're dismissed for now. Only Shinichi and Inoko need to remain."

The genin obediently left the room, closing the doors quietly behind them.

Once alone with the two shinobi, Hiruzen's face turned more serious.

"Now, tell me everything," he said, his voice low.

Shinichi stepped forward, retrieving the scroll containing all the gathered information and handing it over. "Hokage-sama, we discovered that the bandits were planning to cross the border with assistance from bribed border shinobi. They had an entire system in place to ensure safe passage into the Land of Hot Water, disguised as legitimate shinobi."

Hiruzen's expression darkened. "Border security has been a growing issue. We can't afford to have compromised shinobi allowing enemy forces free movement across our borders. I'll see to it that these individuals are interrogated and replaced immediately."

Inoko, stepped forward as well. "Hokage-sama, it's worse than just bribed guards. These bandits have allies among shinobi and civilians alike, operating both within the Land of Fire and in surrounding countries. The organization is… massive."

Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting to Shinichi. "How extensive is this network?"

"Based on the information gathered, they're working for an unknown leader. In addition to their allies here, they've been raiding villages affected by recent wars, recruiting hundreds, if not thousands, of bandits and displaced civilians."

The Hokage's eyes widened at the scale of the operation. The revelation that even shinobi could be complicit in the scheme sent a chill through him. He frowned deeply, digesting the enormity of the threat.

"This leader has managed to create a unified force from disparate groups, operating internationally and strategically. If we don't act fast, this will escalate into a direct threat against our own people."

Hiruzen's gaze drifted to the shadows in the corner of the room, where he knew his ANBU guard was stationed. With a slight nod, he summoned the operative, who appeared silently, awaiting orders.

"Summon the village elders," Hiruzen commanded,"If the enemy can manipulate shinobi in other lands, even within our own ranks, then we need the council's full cooperation to root out the threat." He paused, glancing back at Shinichi and Inoko.

"the first C rank mission should have begun as a learning experience, but you've uncovered something far greater. We'll need all available resources if we're to stay ahead of this growing danger."

The ANBU nodded and vanished, leaving the Hokage deep in thought.

Finally, he turned back to Shinichi and Inoko. "You two did an exceptional job handling the situation swiftly and thoroughly. I'll be increasing security around the village borders, but I need you to prepare for more missions like this in the future. Our young shinobi will have to grow stronger much faster than expected, or they won't survive the battles ahead."

As Satoru and Chosuke made their way to the yakiniku barbecue restaurant, the mood was lighter despite the recent mission's complications. Chosuke glanced at Satoru as they walked, scratching his head thoughtfully.

"So… what do we do now? With the mission above our heads and sensei caught up in it all, I mean."

Satoru shrugged. "There's not much else we can do except eat, sleep, and train. Let's just focus on getting stronger. When they need us, they'll call us back."

Chosuke nodded, a grin spreading across his face. "I'm definitely on board with the eating and sleeping part."

They reached the barbecue shop, a cozy place with the inviting smell of grilled meat in the air. Chosuke waved at his older sister, who was working part-time behind the counter, her shinobi headband tied around her upper arm as she served customers with ease.

When she spotted them, she gave them a quick nod of acknowledgment.

Settling into their stall, they quickly placed their order. Satoru asked Chosuke, "how do you plan on training for the time being"

Chosuke leaned in, "I think I'll ask my sister to help me train. She's no joke when it comes to combat. She taught me a few tricks when I was a kid, but now that I'm a genin, she's promised to show me her real skills."

Satoru raised an eyebrow. The idea of Chosuke's sister, training her brother sounded promising.

The thought made him reflect on his own training, especially Shinichi-sensei's recent advice. His chakra augmentation was still far from refined. Despite the progress he'd made, it hadn't even reached the first stage of mastery, and that was something he needed to fix.

Lost in thought, he looked up just as the waiter arrived, setting down plates of marinated meat and vegetables. The enticing aroma made his stomach rumble, and before he could say a word, Chosuke was already tossing slices onto the grill.

"Stop thinking so hard and eat, Satoru!" Chosuke teased, seasoning a piece and flipping it expertly. He seemed to lose himself in the grilling process, a rare moment of total focus. Satoru, smiling, took a piece, seasoned it lightly, and savored the flavor.

"Maybe there's something to this 'eat and relax' plan after all," Satoru said with a grin.

Chosuke laughed, raising his chopsticks. "Cheers to that! And here's to becoming strong enough to handle whatever they throw at us next."

After they finished eating, both Satoru and Chosuke leaned back, fully satisfied. They glanced at the bill, and Chosuke's eyes widened. Reaching into his pocket, he found his wallet—only to realize it was completely empty.

"Uh… somehow, I'm broke," he admitted, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish grin.

Satoru chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't worry about it. I've got this one." He paid the bill, and they walked out of the restaurant, the evening air cool and quiet as they prepared to part ways.

Just as they were about to head off, Satoru turned to Chosuke. "Hey, do you think your sister would mind if I joined you for training? I could use the help perfecting my chakra augmentation, and she seems like she knows her stuff."

Chosuke's face lit up. "Hold on, let me check with her." He ran back into the restaurant and, after a brief exchange with his sister, came back outside. "She's good with it! Just be at our compound tomorrow morning at six."

Satoru grinned, giving Chosuke a fist bump. "I'll be there." They both parted ways.

Danzo, Homura, and Koharu entered Hiruzen's office, each wearing a serious expression as they took in the tension in the room.

"What's happened, Hiruzen?" Homura asked, his brows furrowing. "Why call all of us here so suddenly?"

Hiruzen exhaled, his gaze heavy. "It's about Shinichi's mission. His team uncovered evidence of multiple bandit groups being led by an unknown leader. These groups are organizing to trespass borders, raiding war-stricken villages, and recruiting aggressively. We can't ignore this any longer."

Koharu gasped, visibly shaken. "Then… what should we do?"

Before Hiruzen could respond, Danzo spoke up, his tone decisive. "The ANBU alone won't suffice for a situation like this. We'll need Root to assist. The first generation of Root operatives has matured in strength and skill. Despite their low numbers, they're ready for this."

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly at the suggestion but nodded, recognizing the urgency.

"Very well. But our immediate priority is ensuring the borders are secure. The current border shinobi will be recalled and replaced with fresh teams before any other groups can attempt crossing undetected."

Koharu stepped forward thoughtfully. "We should also consider deploying a few undercover ANBU agents. If they infiltrate as bandits and head toward these groups' target areas, they could gather critical intel from the inside."

Hiruzen nodded again, his mind racing with plans. "Summon the Jonin Commander," he ordered. "We'll need an elite force to eliminate this threat for good. This operation will require everyone's coordination."

---

Satoru arrived at the Akimichi training grounds, glancing around the empty space. 'Did I come too early?' he thought, his eyes scanning the area.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of someone brushing their teeth. He turned to see Chomi, Chosuke's older sister, rinsing her mouth and spitting out foam.

"Good morning, Chomi-san," he greeted, giving a respectful nod. "Do you know where Chosuke is?"

Chomi wiped her mouth, chuckling softly. "Chosuke? That lazy brat won't show up for another hour, at least," she said. "I told him 7 a.m. for training, knowing he'd drag his feet."

Satoru scratched his head, "Then…why did you call me at six?"

Chomi shrugged, a glint of mischief in her eye. "Thought you'd appreciate the head start. So, what exactly do you need help with?"

"I want to master the first stage of chakra augmentation," Satoru replied earnestly.

She motioned for him to demonstrate, watching him closely as he concentrated his chakra, attempting to enhance his strength. After observing, she crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.

"You're putting in a lot of chakra, but the power boost isn't reflecting it," she said. "You're wasting energy that could be channeled far more efficiently. First thing's first—work on controlling the flow and output."

They spent the next hour on intense drills, from chakra control exercises to refining his focus. Chomi was relentless, guiding him to refine his control over every bit of chakra he used.

Satoru struggled but pushed through, even needing a soldier pill to keep up with the demands of her training. By the end, he was exhausted.

"Keep working like this," Chomi encouraged, watching him catch his breath. "Efficiency and control are everything. The power will follow naturally."

Chosuke arrived at the training grounds, only to see Satoru sprawled out on the ground, while Chomi sat nearby, calmly eating breakfast. He walked over, eyeing the food with interest.

"Hey, can I have some?" he asked, reaching out, only to be met with a sharp kick from Chomi that nearly sent him flying.

"Not so fast. You've got rounds to run," she ordered, pointing at the field.

Chosuke groaned, glancing over at Satoru. "Why does he get to sleep while I have to run?"

Chomi smirked. "Satoru started training an hour before you dragged yourself here. Now move it!"

Grumbling, Chosuke started running laps, while Satoru, stirred by the noise, finally opened his eyes. He rubbed his forehead, feeling the aftereffects of the soldier pill.

"Chomi-san, what should I work on next?" he asked, trying to sit up.

She glanced at him. "You've burned through a soldier pill already. Pushing your chakra any further will only exhaust you. Stick to physical training until your chakra system recovers."

Before he could respond, she launched a swift jab, pulling him into an impromptu sparring match. Satoru barely managed to dodge before she pinned him down with surprising force, prompting him to start pleading.

"Mercy! I give up, get off me!" he gasped, struggling to break free.

By the time Chosuke finished his laps, he looked over to find Chomi sitting on Satoru's back, while Satoru frantically tried to crawl away.

Chosuke burst into laughter at the sight—until a bo staff whacked him from behind.

"Get serious, Chosuke," Chomi barked, still perched on Satoru, who winced as Chosuke nursed his own sore head.

After hours of grueling training, Satoru stumbled, his legs wobbling with each step, while Chosuke's stomach growled loud enough to shake the training ground.

Noticing their state, Chomi hoisted Satoru onto her shoulder and motioned for them to follow her back to the Akimichi household for a well-deserved meal.

As soon as they arrived, Satoru practically pounced on the first plate of food he saw, devouring it within moments and looking up, wide-eyed, for more.

Chomi laughed, shoving more plates his way. "If you're going to train like an Akimichi, you've got to eat like one too."

Satoru's mouth was too full for words, but he nodded, signaling his agreement as he continued to eat. Beside him, Chosuke followed suit, diving into his own meal with equal enthusiasm.

Over the next two months, Satoru and Chosuke trained rigorously under Chomi's watchful eye.

She pushed them both to their limits with exercises focused on chakra control, physical strength, and even sparring techniques. Meanwhile, Shinichi made arrangements for Kaito to train with one of his chunin friends, ensuring he didn't fall behind.

With their sensei occupied, the team took on simple D-rank missions to hone their teamwork.