Sasuke fainted.
It wasn't because the injuries were too severe, but he fainted from the pain. Jokichi paid attention to how heavily he struck.
Although Sasuke was covered in whip marks and looked miserable, they were all superficial wounds. With a ninja's constitution, resting for a few days would heal him.
He carried Sasuke out of the woods.
Naruto and Sakura were waiting outside.
Seeing Sasuke's miserable state, Naruto fell silent, his fists involuntarily clenching tightly.
Sakura covered her small mouth, her eye sockets reddening, a bit of moisture swirling within.
But they didn't say anything. This was Sasuke's own choice.
Jokichi took in both of their expressions.
He knew Naruto received a great shock from this incident, while Sakura felt pure unbearability and heartache.
"...I'll take Sasuke to the hospital. You guys wrap up the mission."
After a moment of silence, Jokichi spoke.
"Mhm!"
The two nodded.
Jokichi nodded slightly and headed to the hospital with Sasuke.
About half an hour later.
He delivered Sasuke to the hospital, then went to the Uchiha compound to inform Sasuke's family.
After doing all this, the sky turned completely dark. The bright full moon hung high, draping the earth in a silver-white veil.
Jokichi returned to the riverbank.
Yamato stood on the bank with his hands crossed over his chest, gazing at the river at night.
Not far behind him, Naruto and Sakura sat silently on a rock under a large tree.
Hearing footsteps, everyone noticed Jokichi.
"How is Sasuke?" Sakura asked with concern.
"Nothing serious, he just needs to rest for two days."
"Phew!"
Sakura breathed a sigh of relief. She patted her chest, then looked up at Jokichi gratefully, "Thank you, Jokichi."
"I didn't show mercy because of you." Jokichi shook his head. "No matter what, it was just a fight. Nobody wanted to do anything drastic to the other."
"Anyway, thank you." Sakura bowed deeply to Jokichi.
Jokichi didn't say anything, but looked at Naruto.
He used to be particularly active, but now he had become much quieter.
"Is the mission done?"
"Done." Naruto nodded, then looked at Yamato in front. "Yamato-sensei, I want to do higher-level missions."
"No."
Yamato refused without even thinking. "You've only been Genin for a month. You are not qualified to complete higher-level missions."
"I have no time to waste on these odd-job missions." Naruto clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking. "Jokichi and Sasuke have surpassed me by far too much. If I continue wasting time on these playing-house missions, I'll only be left further and further behind—"
Naruto looked up, staring at Yamato resolutely, his tone extremely firm. "I don't want to be the dead-last forever. I want to become Hokage!"
Naruto...
Seeing Naruto like this, Sakura was a bit surprised, as if knowing Naruto for the first time.
Yamato fell silent.
He stared intently at Naruto, looking at those azure eyes, the fighting spirit inside burning like flames.
Suddenly, a smile appeared on Yamato's face. "Since you put it that way, what reason do I have to refuse?"
Naruto froze, blinking his big eyes at Yamato. It took him a while to react, and he said happily, "Really? Yamato-sensei, you agree to let me do higher-level missions?"
"When have I ever lied to you guys!" Yamato smiled. "Naruto, Sakura, being weak is not a sin. It can make people deeply realize their own weakness and powerlessness, thereby inspiring the heart to become stronger. Through this incident, you have already recognized your own weakness. You will become stronger and stronger in the future."
"That's great, Yamato-sensei!"
"Hahaha..."
Afterward, the few of them chatted a bit and began to summarize the experience of today's mission.
After the summary, Yamato gave the time and place to gather tomorrow, then announced the dismissal.
Before leaving, Yamato looked at Jokichi, hesitating to speak.
He had already learned from Naruto and Sakura that the small forest on the riverbank was created by Jokichi's Wood Release.
Having only awakened the Kekkei Genkai for a month, yet possessing power comparable to, or even slightly stronger than his own...
Then recalling when he learned Wood Release, going from initially only being able to control a few saplings to now skillfully using Wood Release, how many years had passed in between?
Yamato had a feeling that he had lived all these years in vain.
"Perhaps it's just the difference between possessing the bloodline innately and acquiring it through cell transplantation later on!"
Yamato sighed, comforting himself in this way.
...
After the team disbanded, Jokichi returned home alone.
The courtyard was empty, with only Itachi's crow standing on a branch, zoning out.
Kuroneko grew up two years ago. Because of the chakra, he was stronger and more majestic than the huskies on Earth in his previous life.
However, he was also more naughty and terrible. A slight lack of attention and he would tear the house apart.
Jokichi had to train and go to school every day, so he didn't have time to manage him. He didn't want to keep him chained in the yard every day, so he sent him back to the Inuzuka clan.
Having lost Kuroneko's companionship, the crow was very lonely.
Jokichi was the same.
The day he sent Kuroneko away, he was very sad. He went to BBQ Q and ate a ton, wallowing in self-pity for a day.
Today must be the third anniversary of Kuroneko leaving this home!
Mhm! Let's eat hot pot to celebrate!
...
The next day, the sun was bright.
Jokichi arrived at the gathering spot early.
However, Naruto seemed even more impatient, already waiting there early.
"Morning, Jokichi."
"Morning, Naruto."
After greeting each other, they chatted.
It was mostly Naruto talking and Jokichi listening.
Soon, Sakura and Yamato also arrived one after another, and then everyone headed to the Hokage building to receive the mission.
A short while later, they arrived at the Hokage building.
The Third Hokage sat behind the desk and said with a serious face, "I've heard the specifics from Yamato. Since he feels you are qualified to complete higher-level missions, then I also approve."
Saying that, he took out one from the mission scrolls and continued, "I have already selected the mission for you. Come in!"
As the words fell, the office door was opened by a drunken old man.
It was exactly the world-renowned bridge-building expert, Tazuna.
We really bumped into this mission!
Jokichi slightly widened his eyes.
Under the flapping of his butterfly wings, Konoha's development had long become different from the anime.
Especially Team 7, which was completely unrecognizable.
Under such circumstances, to still bump into this Land of Waves mission...
Is this really not some kind of world line convergence?
Jokichi couldn't believe there was such a coincidence in the world.
But thinking about it carefully, world line convergence was absolutely impossible.
If there really was such a thing, the Uchiha clan wouldn't have been saved.
It must be that the Third Hokage intentionally left this mission for Team 7!
Thinking carefully.
Excluding the situation Tazuna hid, this kind of mission to protect the target from bandits and gangs was most suitable for rookie Genin.
As a potential class valued by the Third Hokage, Team 7 naturally needed to be carefully cultivated. Having such treatment was very reasonable.
While Jokichi was lost in his thoughts, the Third Hokage finished explaining the mission details to everyone.
Protect the bridge-building expert Tazuna back to his hometown, the Land of Waves, until the bridge is fully constructed.