The gates of Konoha loomed grand beneath the afternoon sun, their scarred walls bearing silent witness to the passage of years.
Mamoru and his companions, exhausted from days of trekking over mountains and rivers, finally caught sight of the familiar village.
As they passed through the gate, a fine layer of dust clung to all four of them, and every face showed the same quiet relief.
Kurenai turned, her gaze sweeping across the three genin. "I'm going to report to Hokage-sama. All of you go home and rest. I'll notify you about our next team action later. Dismissed."
"Yes, Kurenai-sensei." Hinata and Shino answered in unison.
Only Mamoru stayed silent, eyes fixed on the hand stretched toward him. He blinked, feigning innocence. "What do you mean?"
"Give me the case." Kurenai looked at the black case in his grip, her voice calm but firm.
"This money…" Mamoru tested the waters. "You're not saying I have to hand it over, right?"
"What do you think?" Kurenai arched a brow in a look that said he knew the answer.
"Are you kidding me?" Mamoru's voice jumped an octave. "I risked my life out there, fought tooth and nail, almost died a dozen times, and now the higher-ups want my pay with a single word?"
Indignation dripped from every syllable.
Kurenai wasn't surprised by the outburst. She remembered her own bewilderment when she'd first become a ninja—why money agreed upon in private still had to pass through the village's ledgers.
But rules were rules. Every mission assigned through Konoha's office, no matter how the difficulty changed en route, was subject to percentage-based commission, it kept the village running. Even privately accepted missions had to be registered and reported.
Concealment was treated as tax evasion and a betrayal of the village's economic system. Light punishment meant fines and confinement, the heavy end meant prison.
If the mission conflicted with the village's interests, aiding an enemy or a rogue ninja, for instance, it was outright treason.
Seeing the resentment in Mamoru's eyes, Kurenai resolved to give him a proper lecture later before he charged any further down the wrong path.
"Relax."
She softened her tone and reached out again. "They don't take everything, just their cut. After that, the reward is split by contribution."
"Tch…"
Mamoru clicked his tongue and reluctantly shoved the case toward her.
Yet when she took it, Kurenai felt him still gripping hard, she had to yank it free.
Watching Kurenai walk away, Mamoru glanced around in frustration and spotted the guard booth near the gate. Hagane Kotetsu and Kamizuki Izumi were there, one sitting, one standing, enjoying the show with wide grins.
The irritation that had nowhere to go suddenly found an outlet.
"What are you staring at, old men?" Mamoru shouted. "Pervert duo!"
The two guards exchanged blank looks.
Kotetsu, still seated, scratched his trademark spiky hair. "Izumo, is that kid talking to us?"
Izumo rolled his eyes. "Who else is here?"
Confirmed, Kotetsu shot to his feet. "Why, you little—don't move! I'm gonna teach you a lesson!"
"Easy." Izumo wrapped an arm around his waist. "He's just a kid, you'll make us a laughingstock."
Mamoru doubled down, beckoning with a come-at-me wave.
Hinata tugged his sleeve, whispering nervously, "Mamoru-kun, don't…"
Shino, though not intervening, sighed. "Kurenai-sensei just left and you're already starting trouble."
"Hmph!" Mamoru snorted and strode off down the main street.
"Let me go, Izumo! Today that brat's learning respect!" Kotetsu struggled, shouting after Mamoru. "Stop right there!"
Izumo held him fast. "He's only a child, calm down!"
Their tussle drew stares and murmurs from passers-by, villagers eyeing the oddly intimate pair with curiosity.
After parting from Hinata and Shino, Mamoru headed home alone.
The former Uchiha quarter had been completely rebuilt, the new streets lay quiet at the village's edge. Remote as ever, the road saw few pedestrians and felt deserted.
Walking along a street no longer marked by the fan crest, Mamoru couldn't help recalling the scenes he'd witnessed in the Tsukuyomi world. Back when the Uchiha clan was at its peak, this place bustled with carriages and crowds.
He sighed inwardly, 'Things remain but people change, the same spot now offers a completely different scene.'
Before long, Mamoru stopped in front of a house, pulled a key from his pocket, and unlocked the door.
"I'm home."
He called out casually, shrugged the large backpack off his shoulder and dropped it on the entryway floor, kicked off his shoes, and walked inside.
He went straight to the washroom, turned the tap, and cool tap water gushed out with a splash.
Mamoru cupped some water in his hands and splashed it over his face, scrubbing hard as if to wash away the fatigue of the past few days. After rinsing several times, he raised his head and exhaled, braced both hands on the sink, and stared quietly at himself in the mirror.
His soaked bangs clung to his forehead. He pushed them back, grabbed a towel to dry his face, then slung the towel over his shoulder and walked out.
Whoosh!
A faint whistle cut through the air.
Mamoru's heart lurched. He lifted a hand on reflex and pinched the incoming object dead between two fingers.
The towel on his shoulder slapped onto the floor. He stared at the Kunai glinting between his fingers and sucked in a breath. "Crap, that was close!"
"When did you get back?" The Kunai's owner asked calmly, stepping out from the inner room.
"Huh? You're actually home?" Mamoru twirled the Kunai with a glare. "The hell, were you trying to kill me?"
"I only saw a suspicious, bare-ass intruder." Sasuke shrugged, looking innocent.
Mamoru tossed the Kunai onto the table, bent to pick up the towel. "Even if it were burglary, you don't have to go for the kill, do you?"
Sasuke replied, unconcerned, "It just flew out on reflex."
Mamoru grumbled, heading back to rinse the towel again, "Your reflexes are brutal."
When he came out, he smirked at Sasuke. "If I weren't so wiped today, I'd drag you to the yard for a spar."
"Tch… boring." Sasuke turned away, sounding a bit guilty.
"Is Team 7 that free these days?" Mamoru asked, walking past him toward the entryway, lifting the big backpack and returning.
"Only today. So? How was the mission?" Sasuke eyed the bulging pack, puzzled why anyone would need so much luggage for a mission.
"It started as a plain C-rank escort." Mamoru said, setting the pack on the table, eyes sparkling. "But halfway through, a bunch of ninjas jumped us. Naturally, I wiped them out in a flash. Mission rank got bumped up."
"Really? You've already fought other ninjas?" Sasuke's competitive spirit flared, his expression turning serious.
Mamoru raised an index finger, smug. "More than fought. This was at least B-rank, bro. The enemy boss had the strength of a Jonin."
"You sure the guy was actually Jonin level?" Sasuke raised a skeptical brow.
"You calling me a liar?" Mamoru shot him a sour look.
"Aren't you?" Sasuke shot back.
"Whatever the rank, I raked in a fat bounty." Mamoru grinned. "And I'm not the stingy type. Feast first, then the full 'pleasure-district package' on me."
"Full package? I've only heard of the 'ninja school number one dragon'." Sasuke frowned.
Hearing that cringe-worthy nickname, Mamoru's lips twitched.
He vowed silently, 'If I ever find out which bastard coined it, I'll strip the guy and hang him from the Ninja Academy gate.'
"The pleasure district's too soon for you, let's hit the hot springs instead." Mamoru waved it off.
He was only blustering, taking Sasuke there with their faces would leave them without even bones.
"While I was away, has Team 7 taken any escort jobs?" He changed the subject.
"None, all D-ranks." Sasuke answered, clearly displeased.
Mamoru's hands stilled while unpacking.
Still no Land of Waves mission? Butterfly effect from his presence? Or had Tazuna just not arrived in Konoha yet?
"Anyway, enough of that."
Mamoru upended the pack on the table, threw an arm around Sasuke's neck, and beamed. "I brought loads of local stuff, grab whatever you like."
"Not interested." Sasuke pushed him off coolly, though his eyes drifted to the table.
"Hah… don't be shy." Mamoru slung his arm back over Sasuke's shoulder and steered him outside. "BBQ first."