As the group finally reached the gates of the small Oats Village, they felt a wave of relief.
Mikoto turned to their client, giving him a slight nod. "We're here. The mission is complete."
She pulled out a scroll, summoning the remaining goods they had managed to salvage from the battle. The merchant looked at her with a weary nod, his voice thick with gratitude as he replied, "Yes, thank you." Although he had suffered greater losses than expected, he was grateful just to be alive.
Reaching into his pouch, he handed Mikoto the payment, noticeably more than they had initially agreed upon. The unexpected threat had effectively raised the mission's level to B-rank. Mikoto checked the amount briefly, then stowed it away with a small nod of acknowledgment.
Turning back to her team, she gave them a steady look. "Let's head back."
Yasu, Kazuki, and Kakashi all nodded. Kazuki, who had regained full consciousness during their journey after the attack, was still surprised to learn that it was Kakashi, not Mikoto, who had taken down the chunin.
With no further issues, the merchant arranged for nearby villagers to help transport the remaining goods, offering them payment for their assistance. He understood that for shinobi, lingering wasn't an option; once the mission was complete, they preferred to avoid unnecessary delays.
Together, the team departed from the village.
---
At the Konoha Gates
By the time they returned to Konoha, night had fallen. The gate guards checked their identities, giving quick nods of acknowledgment.
Yasu led Kazuki to the hospital for a final check-up, while Kakashi quietly slipped away to head home. Mikoto, however, made her way to the Hokage Tower to submit her report.
Under normal circumstances, she would only need to submit the village's portion of the payment and briefly report any minor complications. Even if the mission's level had been raised due to rogue ninja interference, a simple explanation and an additional payment portion would usually suffice.
But what she had encountered was far from ordinary, and she knew this report would require special attention.
After explaining the situation at the mission department, she awaited further instructions. Soon, she was given clearance to meet with the Hokage directly.
Reaching his office, she knocked and waited.
"Come in," came Hiruzen's calm voice.
She entered the room to find the Hokage seated at his desk, he was going home when this report came.
"Tell me, Mikoto, about your encounter," Hiruzen said, not wasting any time.
"Halfway through our journey, we were ambushed by a squad—three chunin led by a jonin," Mikoto began. "Their strategy was focused; they initially targeted me, leaving one chunin to handle my team."
She continued, "The jonin specialized in lightning style, with a secondary affinity for wind. One of the chunin also used lightning, while the other used water. The jonin's taijutsu style suggests he may be from the Hidden Cloud. However, the chunin seemed less skilled."
She paused briefly before adding, "After I defeated the jonin and the two chunin who attacked me, I regrouped with my team. They were still in the middle of their fight when I arrived."
Mikoto explained further, "I observed their performance before stepping in. Kazuki Shimura started strong, but she didn't adapt quickly. Yasu Inuzuka hesitated multiple times. Both lack the decisiveness needed to be chunin."
Hiruzen noticed she hadn't mentioned Kakashi and understood there was more to the story. "What about Kakashi?" he asked.
Mikoto paused before replying, "Kakashi… he was the one who killed the chunin."
Hiruzen was momentarily stunned, questioning whether he had heard correctly. There was a stark difference between merely defeating an enemy and decisively killing one, especially for a five-year-old genin.
Seeing Hiruzen's silence, Mikoto wasn't surprised. She, too, had understood the gravity of what had happened—a five-year-old genin successfully killing a chunin. Even if it was a new chunin, the gap between chunin and genin was significant; it reflected in their tactics, decisiveness, and reflexes. But Kakashi had matched all of this and still prevailed, showcasing his natural talent and remarkable skill.
Hiruzen took a deep breath. "Start from the beginning," he instructed. He needed to fully understand what had happened.
Mikoto described everything she had observed: Kakashi's sudden strike, his responses, his calculated moves, and the cold precision with which he killed his opponent. She added, "He showed no regret afterward."
"Anything else to add?" Hiruzen asked, hoping for more insight.
"Yes," Mikoto replied. "When I asked the team what they thought about the enemy's origin, Kakashi suggested they might be from another village, possibly trying to provoke conflict between us and the Hidden Cloud."
Hiruzen muttered under his breath, already considering the implications from all angles. He couldn't help but feel impressed; Kakashi, so young, was thinking with a depth that many experienced shinobi lacked.
Turning his attention to Mikoto, he said, "Good work, Mikoto. Submit the report and the bodies to the ANBU, and take this week to rest."
With his permission, Mikoto left the office.
Hiruzen also made his way home, his thoughts drifting to the looming war ahead.
******
Author's pov
Which Pokemon should be summoned?