Team 13 slowly walks in a dirt path while the sounds of leaves rustling in the wind accompany them. After hours of silent walking, they are able to see the large green gates of the Village Hidden in the Leaf, and they are wide open.
Throughout the entire journey, Team 13 are silent and currently within their own thoughts.
This is especially true for Satsuki and Hinata. Before leaving the Land of Wave, they talk to each other about the information they just learned, especially about the Cursed Spirits.
They start guessing about the nature of the cursed spirits, but after discussing for hours, they haven't managed to learn anything concrete.
The existence of cursed spirits is full of mysteries for the two teenage girls. The only good news they had was the fact that Hinata's mother seems to have knowledge about it, and the two girls planned to ask her about the existence of the cursed spirit.
The two girls also didn't inform Fugaku about the existence of cursed spirits for one simple reason: they weren't sure if Fugaku would believe them since even they find the situation absurd.
While the girls didn't inform Fugaku about their concern, it doesn't mean they were able to hide their concern and confusion from him.
Fugaku had long noticed their confusion but didn't ask anything about it, as he sensed that their confusion was related to Naruto, and he wouldn't be able to clear the two girls' confusion, as he himself was confused about Naruto.
While he was tasked by Minato to monitor Naruto and gather as much information as he can throughout the time they spend together, he suspects the intel he gathered.
He wasn't sure if it's real or an act to fool anyone that dares to observe Naruto.
The existence of Miguel truly makes Fugaku suspect the intel he gathered and learned about Naruto to be false.
There is only one thing that Fugaku was sure about Naruto, though. Naruto doesn't have great loyalty to the village, especially regarding the action he takes when facing Zabuza.
Talking about Zabuza, Fugaku also realized the error of his ways. He realized that he greatly underestimated the deterioration of his skills after not training seriously all this time.
'I can't believe I allow myself to fall to this level,' Fugaku thought while staring at his fist, which clenched tightly, and he felt weakness instead of strength.
Fugaku also thought about the reaction of Minato and his wife after learning about the mission he takes.
Minato will definitely reprimand him about the reckless action he takes at the deviation of their original plan.
Fugaku believes he can easily handle the problem about Minato, but what truly slightly worries him is his wife's reaction.
Without a doubt he will face a punishment from her once she learns about the reckless action he took throughout the entire mission.
Fugaku just hopes that the punishment he is about to face isn't cruel.
Naruto, on the other hand, didn't have any reaction to the fact that they were about to return back to the Leaf. While his teammates' thoughts most likely revolve around the information they learn about him, they still show an anticipation to return back to their home, which is something he doesn't share.
He also felt the intense stares Hinata and Satsuki gave him from time to time. He acts oblivious about it since he wouldn't gain anything from entertaining the two girls.
Naruto, though, suspects that they will definitely learn more information surrounding the Cursed Spirit once they return back to Leaf.
'I really want to see her reaction about it,' Naruto thought amusingly as he secretly glanced at Hinata.
As they arrived close to the gates, they didn't immediately enter but made their way towards the gatehouse to inform the gate guard about their return.
"Team 13 reporting back fro—" Fugaku didn't have time to finish speaking his sentence as he saw an unpleasant sight. The two gate guards of the village are fast asleep.
"You guys pick up the pace and make your way to the Hokage Mansion. I just need a few moments," Fugaku said to his students.
The three Genin comply and jump to the rooftops and traverse towards the Hokage Mansion, which is located at the heart of the village.
After seeing his students leave the area, he steps forward to the stand right in front of the sleeping Chunin. One of them is even snoring loudly.
Clearly the two Chunin didn't think about the nature of their job and had the balls to sleep in the middle of the day.
Fugaku slams his fist onto the wooden desk the two Chunin's heads rest on.
Kotetsu jumps in a startled panic from the sudden awakening, falling off of his chair onto the floor. Izumo wakes up in a fright to come face-to-face with frowning Fugaku Uchiha.
"Lo-Lord Fugaku. I see you've returned from your mission. W-What took so long?" Izumo nervously laughed while Fugaku didn't respond and simply stared at the two Chunin with a frown on his face.
"Uuugh," Kotetsu moans as he gets up. "What the hell, man? What's the big i...dea?" he finishes slowly, finally seeing who gave him his rude awakening.
"Lord Fugaku, welcome back," Kotetsu said while standing properly like a soldier facing a commander, sweat beginning to drench the back of his clothes.
Fugaku stared at the two Chunin up and down, making the two sweat more in nervousness. Fugaku reaches over the desk and grabs both of the chairs they were sitting on and looks both of the young ninja over before finally speaking.
"If I ever catch the two of you asleep on duty again..." Fugaku said in a low, menacing tone. He didn't need to tell the two about their punishment if he caught them and instead vanished in a smoke.
Outside the Hokage Mansion.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata are patiently waiting outside the Hokage building when they suddenly hear a poof of smoke near them, attracting their attention.
The three raised their eyebrows in unison upon seeing the two chairs in Fugaku's hands, and they immediately realized what happened at the village gate.
"Sensei," Hinata whispers while slightly shaking her head, yet a small chuckle escapes from her lips, which is mirrored by Satsuki.
Naruto, on the other hand, had an amused smile on his face. He was clear about one of the reasons behind Fugaku's action.
It was clear that Fugaku believes that Naruto wouldn't be able to leave the village if the gate guards did their jobs properly.
Unfortunately for Fugaku, even if they took their job seriously, they wouldn't notice Naruto leaving the village.
"What?" Fugaku said with an amused smile on his face. "What's got you three amused? Let's head inside."
Inside the Mission Assignment Office
Minato sits back in his chair as Team 13 stands before him. The four-man squad had been assigned an escort mission, C-rank, or so they were supposed to, but Fugaku didn't follow the initial plan but instead completed the mission on their own despite the danger around it.
After learning that Fugaku didn't follow the original plan, he didn't send other ninja to provide support to Fugaku's team but instead trusted his friend about his action, which was a great choice after seeing the result.
It was even better than they expected, especially after learning of the death of Gato, which is going to make Fire Daimyo happy since the latter already sees Gato as a pest that needs to be eradicated.
"Team 13 reporting back from the Land of Wave," Fugaku calmly said.
"Um... Fugaku, what are the chairs for?" Minato asks in confusion.
"Consider them gifts. This office seemed pretty bare last I was here. Figured you needed more furniture," Fugaku said while placing the chairs at the front of Minato's large desk while the three Genin shook their heads.
'Since when does this office need a chair for the visitor? 'Minato thought in amusement.
"Oh well, thank you. You were scheduled to be back some time ago. I imagine some complication arose during your assignment," Minato said while slightly leaning forwards and placing his elbows on the desk and letting his hands carry his head.
"Yes," Fugaku slightly nods. "Due to unforeseen circumstances, including the involvement of Chunin and Jonin-level ninja, the C-rank mission assigned to us turned into an A-rank mission."
Minato widened his eyes as an act. He knows the mission details but clearly sees that Fugaku didn't inform his team about it, so he knows he has to act surprised about it.
Naruto notices something strange about Minato but is unable to think of the reason behind the strangeness he sees.
Naruto just chooses to keep silence about it and observes more clearly.
"I see. Why is it that you were unable to return to the village sooner to blacklist the mission requester?" Minato asks.
"Because I took the decision to continue with and complete the mission," Fugaku responded calmly.