Chapter 25: Returning to the Village
Having successfully completed the mission, everyone felt a hint of excitement, especially Yagura and Kiyoshi. Their first mission as Anbu members was an S-rank mission of such high difficulty, which was a glorious mark on their records.
What's more, after Kazama identified them, they had also eliminated five rogue ninjas with bounties during the mission, which could be considered a small fortune.
Of course, this excluded Kiyoshi, who had already unknowingly become a wealthy figure in the ninja world.
Although the other three now knew that Kiyoshi had a bit of wealth, they had no idea that Kiyoshi was currently also one of the mysterious high-level figures behind the underground exchange.
After the excitement subsided, the group returned to their respective rooms to rest. After visiting the exchange tomorrow, they would relax in the capital of the Land of Water to unwind before returning to the village.
The next morning, the group who had completed their mission woke up early. After breakfast, the four set off separately.
As the leader, Kazama went to the underground exchange to collect the bounty. The other three had half a day of free time to enjoy themselves in the capital.
In the past few days, they had been in a tense state of carrying out their mission. Every time they went out, it was with a purpose, mainly to gather intelligence. Today, they finally had free time to properly stroll around this city with a long history.
Coming to the street and quietly experiencing the hustle and bustle, the young boys and the girl felt a long-lost sense of relaxation.
"Senno-neechan, hurry up!" In recent days, the relationship between the three had grown rapidly, and they had begun to address each other as siblings. Hōzuki Senno was a full four years older than the two, definitely the older sister. Kiyoshi was born in February, almost two months earlier than Yagura's April 3rd birthday. Coupled with Yagura's obviously underdeveloped and short stature, Yagura reluctantly accepted the title of the youngest brother in the team.
"Kiyoshi, I want to eat this. It looks so delicious!" Yagura said, pointing to a small stall selling takoyaki on the side of the street. This unfortunate child simply thought he was out on a mission and had brought everything except money.
"Hehe, call me 'big brother'! Then big brother will treat you!" Kiyoshi couldn't help but tease.
Although Yagura acknowledged that he was the youngest of the three and often called Senno "neechan" (older sister), the proud boy just wouldn't call Kiyoshi "big brother."
"Senno-neechan, look at Kiyoshi, he's bullying me again!" Yagura, who had no money in his pocket and thus no confidence, had no choice but to complain to Senno.
Senno also felt playful at this moment and shook her head at Yagura, striking a pose like a bear shrugging its shoulders, directly silencing Yagura.
Having spent nearly a month together, Senno already knew that Kiyoshi was a hidden tycoon. Still thinking about having Kiyoshi treat them to a meal later, she naturally wouldn't fail to give Kiyoshi face at this time.
Yagura's face flushed red with frustration. Under the expectant gazes of Kiyoshi and Senno, he finally let out a mosquito-like sound after a long while.
"Kiyoshi-nii!"
"What? Louder, I didn't hear you clearly!" Kiyoshi intentionally teased the proud Yagura again.
Yagura mentally prepared himself for another half a day, mustered all his strength, and shouted loudly, word by word.
"KI! YO! SHI! NII!"
"Hahaha!" Kiyoshi and Senno couldn't help but laugh. This little brother Yagura, despite usually being so outgoing, was quite adorable in this regard.
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Here, take the money and go buy it quickly!" Kiyoshi handed the money to Yagura.
Soon, Yagura returned with the takoyaki, holding it in both hands.
"Senno-neechan, this is for you! Kiyoshi-nii, for you!" After the shameful utterance of "nii" that he had been unwilling to say, it was as if Yagura's Ren and Du meridians had been opened. He no longer felt any resistance to calling Kiyoshi "older brother."
Walking and stopping on the street, the three tasted all the delicious food they saw, eating until their stomachs were completely round.
When they met up with Captain Kazama at an izakaya at noon, Kazama looked at the three who were so full they could barely walk. Thinking about how he had painstakingly gone to the underground exchange to exchange the money and then quickly returned to share it with everyone and make them happy, he was left speechless.
"Captain, you're back!" Yagura said happily, "How much bounty did you get?"
Yagura was a little excited that he was finally going to have money. His brain, already stuffed with food, almost stopped working, and he didn't notice Kazama's increasingly dark face at all.
Kazama pulled Yagura to a corner.
Yagura, who thought Kazama was going to give him his share of the money, was immediately met with a heavy beating.
Kazama lashed out, muttering while hitting.
"I told you to share the money...! I told you to eat...! I told you not to take me...!"
"Ah... ah... ah~~~" Yagura's miserable cries were truly enough to make the listener weep and the hearer grieve.
After a long while, Kazama, having vented his anger and feeling refreshed, returned with Yagura, whose nose was bruised and face swollen.
The five rogue ninja brothers, who had committed many evils and had bounties from various parties, were exchanged for a total of twenty million Ryō, close to half an Asuma.
Although there were a total of two Jōnin and three Elite Chūnin, they were after all just rogue ninjas. Getting twenty million Ryō was already a pleasant surprise, so everyone was quite satisfied.
In the end, Kazama and Kiyoshi, both being Jōnin, received the largest shares. Kazama, as the captain, took seven million Ryō, Kiyoshi received five million Ryō, Senno, who had contributed the most, also received five million Ryō, and the remaining three million Ryō went to Yagura, who was at the Chūnin level.
After the three put the money into their portable storage scrolls, they called for a waiter, preparing to treat their hardworking captain Kazama to lunch.
Upon hearing about ordering food, Yagura, who had just received a heavy beating, immediately perked up again. It was unclear whether he was going through puberty or if Kazama was too lenient, but the 9-year-old brat Yagura actually wanted to drink alcohol, even grandly calling it a bold attempt at experiencing life.
Senno, who had been smiling, immediately frowned, grabbed Yagura's ear and pulled him over, then used one hand to forcefully clamp his neck and reprimand him.
"Yagura! You're only 9 years old and you're already thinking about drinking alcohol! How did you learn the three prohibitions for ninjas! Are you planning to go to brothels and enjoy romantic evenings under the moon next?!"
Yagura, with his neck held in the grip of fate, finally sobered up and repeatedly admitted his mistakes. After Senno's long lecture, Yagura reluctantly signed a series of unequal treaties before being let go.
After the playful fight, the feelings between the group deepened further.
The three siblings, who had extremely compatible personalities and whose parents had all passed away, seemed destined to become close to each other.
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In the afternoon, the group, having replenished their energy, embarked on the road back to the Hidden Mist Village.
Because the mission had been completed, and Anbu regulations stipulated that squads that completed an S-rank mission during peacetime were entitled to a 5-day vacation, the group was not in a hurry. Instead, they slowly traveled along the way, enjoying the scenery of the Land of Water.
On the morning of the fourth day, just as the sun was rising, four figures slowly approached the Hidden Mist Village.
Entering the village through the Anbu passage they had used when they left, the group separated.
Kiyoshi, Yagura, and Senno each went home to enjoy their last two days of vacation, while Kazama, as the captain, had to return to the Anbu Main Base first to submit the mission report.
Anbu Main Base, Commander's Office, Kazama was respectfully reporting the overall situation of the mission to Ken, the Anbu Commander.
After a long while, Ken, having listened to the report, revealed a satisfied smile. As expected of his most promising Anbu rookies.
"Commander Ken, your decision was absolutely correct. If it had been any other team, it's hard to say whether they could have completed this mission so perfectly and smoothly. Given time, I believe Kotsu, Kagami, and Hana will definitely become the pillars of our Hidden Mist!" Kazama's words were full of recognition and hope for the three.
"Hehe!" Ken smiled and didn't reply.
Seeing that the Commander had no other instructions, Kazama respectfully withdrew. He also wanted to enjoy his vacation.