Reward
When Shirō and the others returned to the Village, the Third Hokage and his advisors were already waiting at the main gates—joined by a large number of villagers.
The scene was only slightly less grand than the welcoming ceremony for the shinobi who had returned from the front lines not long ago. Unlike that spontaneous celebration, however, this one had been carefully arranged by the Third Hokage himself, meant to ease the villagers' anxieties and showcase the strength of Konoha's younger generation.
Truthfully, the team had earned such honors. Not long after the war's conclusion, Konoha had once again drawn the attention of the other villages, proving that its new generation carried strength worth fearing. The ripple effects were obvious—an increase in missions from other lands.
And missions, of course, meant money.
Money meant development.
Shirō and his comrades' contributions were far from small.
At the head of the group walked Shirō and Namikaze Minato, both of whom had shone the brightest in the exams.
Shirō had even earned a new moniker—the "Blue Flash." His long, fast-paced battles left a deep impression, though he himself disliked the nickname. He didn't enjoy being labeled as "fast," but titles were things others gave you, not things you chose.
Minato, by contrast, had fought fewer times, and his final match had ended quickly. He hadn't yet earned his famed "Yellow Flash" title—but his reputation still surpassed Shirō's. He was, after all, the champion of the Chūnin Exams… and undeniably handsome.
And in this world, handsomeness often counted for more than power. Just look at that masked, silver-haired shinobi who would someday be notorious for reading smut in public—yet somehow admired by everyone. Meanwhile, shinobi like Kiba, who threw themselves into the same jutsu for years, struggled to find recognition… or even romance.
So most of the villagers lining the street had come to see Minato.
For Shirō, it was the first time he'd experienced such a spectacle personally. He had always been among the crowd of supporters, never the one at the center of attention. The sight of villagers cheering on both sides made him nervous, but as a shinobi, he quickly steadied his composure and began politely returning greetings.
Fortunately, this wasn't a massive parade. Once the team entered the Village proper, the crowd thinned out.
---
Hokage's Office
"You all did well," Hiruzen Sarutobi said warmly, pipe in hand. "This time, you have made great contributions to the Village. All of you will regain your Chūnin rank. In addition, this mission will be recorded as A-rank."
"Eh—?!"
"This is too much! Thank you, Hokage-sama!"
"R-really?! An A-rank… thank you so much!"
"I'm not dreaming, am I?!"
One genin even pinched himself hard enough to yelp, leaving Shirō staring in secondhand pain.
The Third Hokage and his advisors only chuckled knowingly. They had seen this same shock in countless young shinobi over the years. After all, one's first A-rank was unforgettable.
An A-rank on record was no small thing—it was the kind of credential that paved the way to leadership. Promotion to Jōnin required a strong track record, and A-rank missions were essential in that climb. Even if raw power wasn't enough to make someone a Jōnin, a decorated resume certainly helped.
And wartime exceptions aside, these rules held firm.
Of course, the official record would only list the rank, not the full details of the mission. But that was enough to make every member of the team beam with pride.
Even Shirō, who had once thought A-ranks in the anime seemed "easy," couldn't deny his own inexperience. Until now, he had only ever completed a single B-rank. Compared to him, Minato seemed far more seasoned. He had graduated earlier, been guided by Jōnin mentors, and had already seen several A-ranks. For Minato, this wasn't shocking—it was expected.
After a while, the group managed to calm down. Hiruzen smiled at their regained composure.
"Good. Now then," he continued, "each of you may select a B-rank ninjutsu from the archives as an additional reward."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama!"
This time, the cheers were more subdued. Most of the group came from established clans and already had access to family techniques. For the civilians, however, the offer was a precious chance.
As for Shirō—his own compensation had already been arranged earlier. He merely stood quietly as the others bowed.
"Minato, Shirō—remain here. The rest of you may go and choose your techniques."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
The room emptied, leaving only the two boys with Hiruzen and his advisors.
"Minato," the Hokage asked, lowering his voice, "is the mark still in place?"
Shirō blinked in surprise. His thoughts raced.
That wasn't something Minato had just placed during the match with Kitsuchi… it was planned from the very beginning?! So Minato hadn't entered the Chūnin Exams just for promotion—it had been a cover to plant Flying Thunder God markers!
Shirō's mouth twitched. So this is politics, huh? Ruthless.
No wonder he never dreamed of becoming Hokage. At this rate, he'd be schemed into bankruptcy by men like Hiruzen.
If Minato had laid such groundwork deliberately, then in the future… The possibilities were terrifying. Shirō vividly recalled that Flying Thunder God could even relocate Tailed Beast Bombs. If Kushina, a Jinchūriki, were to launch one and Minato teleported it—this couple would become a nightmare for any village.
For now, though, Minato hadn't yet mastered that level.
"Good," Hiruzen said after Minato's nod. "Record the coordinates formally later."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
The Hokage then turned to Shirō. "I've heard from Homura that you have something to hand over to the Village."
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Shirō produced a scroll respectfully. "These are my family's secret techniques. I've managed to restore them after some study."
Hiruzen unrolled the parchment. Inside were carefully written formulas—basic magic-based techniques that appeared unusual yet simple enough to grasp.
The Third Hokage's sharp mind caught the gist immediately. They resembled a theoretical framework distinct from ninjutsu, though lacking the practical conditions for full application. That was why Shirō dared to present them—plausible as "restored" heritage, without risk of suspicion.
Hiruzen's eyes lingered for a moment. These weren't world-shattering, but the conceptual difference was intriguing. Still, compared to the endless innovations his own master Tobirama Senju had produced, they were not shocking.
With a nod, he rolled the scroll closed and set it aside.
"They are your family's secrets. I will not pry further. But… you have my thanks, Shirō."