Chapter 14: Mission Debrief
The tension still lingered in the air as Team Kenshiro moved swiftly through the dense forest, their mission now complete. The bodies of their fallen enemies had been sealed in storage scrolls, and one enemy shinobi was captured, unconscious and restrained. The battle had ended, but its weight was far from lifted.
Kiyoshi moved ahead with sharp focus, his mind already piecing together the events. Mikoto walked beside him, her brows furrowed, deep in thought. Ryota, though exhausted, couldn't stop himself from voicing the questions that had been swirling in all their minds.
"Why did we even get this mission?" Ryota muttered. "That was way beyond what a genin team should handle."
Mikoto nodded, her arms crossed. "It doesn't add up. They weren't just random rogue shinobi. They fought like trained soldiers."
Kiyoshi, his eyes still scanning the trees ahead, finally spoke. "Because they weren't rogue."
Mikoto turned to him. "You think they were from one of the other Great Nations?"
Kiyoshi gave a short nod. "Their formations, the way they covered each other in battle… that kind of discipline isn't something you find in runaways. But they didn't use any village-specific jutsus, which means they were hiding their origins."
Ryota frowned. "So we won't know where they're from until interrogation."
"Exactly," Kiyoshi said.
Mikoto exhaled slowly, her expression darkening. "Then that raises an even bigger question… why were we the ones sent?"
The three of them fell silent.
Finally, Mikoto voiced the answer they were all starting to realize. "It's because Konoha doesn't have enough manpower right now, does it?"
Kiyoshi clenched his fists. "The last war drained us more than we'd like to admit. The talent pool is stretched thin. That's why even genin teams like us are being sent on high-risk missions. The higher-ranked shinobi are forced to take missions beyond their strength, while we're pushed into battles we're barely ready for."
Mikoto grimly nodded. "And it's going to stay this way for years."
Ryota looked between them, his hands tightening around the straps of his gear. "But won't Konoha recover eventually?"
Kiyoshi sighed. "It will. But the moment we start regaining strength, the other Great Nations won't stay silent. They're preparing too. And the second they feel ready, they'll come for us. At most, we have ten years before war breaks out again."
Mikoto glanced at him, her sharp mind catching the weight in his voice. "You're sure?"
Kiyoshi didn't answer. He didn't have to.
Ryota's face fell. "So… no matter what we do, another war is coming."
The three of them walked in silence after that.
Up ahead, Kenshiro glanced back at his team. He had been listening to their discussion, observing them carefully. Their ability to analyze the situation, to think beyond just their immediate survival—it was beyond what most shinobi their age were capable of.
"They're growing faster than expected."
But he didn't speak. They deserved answers, but those would come later. For now, they needed rest.
The atmosphere remained heavy as they continued their journey, but fatigue was starting to creep in. Ryota groaned, rolling his shoulders.
"Can we just take a break?" he whined. "My legs are going to fall off."
Mikoto sighed. "We're almost there. Just a little longer."
Ryota glared. "You said that an hour ago."
Kiyoshi smirked. "If you've got the energy to complain, you've got the energy to keep moving."
Ryota scoffed. "Says the guy who isn't carrying a whole storage scroll full of bodies."
Kenshiro, who had been silent for most of the trip, suddenly spoke, his tone completely serious.
"We can stop for a bit… but I did hear this area is home to giant wild boars. They tend to charge at anything that stays still for too long."
The three genin froze.
"Wait… what?" Ryota blurted, eyes wide.
Kenshiro kept walking, his expression unreadable.
Mikoto narrowed her eyes. "Sensei, are you messing with us?"
Kenshiro finally glanced over his shoulder. "Who knows?"
A beat of silence.
Then Kiyoshi casually stepped forward. "Well, I guess we'll find out if Ryota gets trampled."
Ryota immediately bolted forward. "NOPE. I'M GOOD. NO BREAKS. LET'S GO."
Mikoto sighed, but there was a small smirk on her lips as she followed. Kiyoshi shook his head and walked calmly behind them. Kenshiro chuckled under his breath.
The heavy tension from earlier didn't disappear completely, but it was lighter now. They were still just kids, after all.
As they continued moving, Ryota finally stopped running and fell back in line. He glanced sideways at Mikoto.
"You didn't believe him, right?" he asked hesitantly.
Mikoto shrugged. "It wouldn't be impossible. There are giant summons, aren't there? Wild ones could exist too."
Ryota paled. "Great. Now I can't tell if you're messing with me or not."
Kiyoshi patted Ryota's shoulder. "If a giant boar does come charging, don't worry. I'll give you a three-second head start before I run."
Ryota shoved him. "Not funny, Kiyoshi!"
Their voices carried through the trees, the tension finally loosening.
After what felt like forever, the trees thinned, and the great gates of Konoha finally came into view.
For the first time since the mission began, they felt a sense of safety.
Mikoto exhaled. "Finally."
Ryota grinned, despite his exhaustion. "I swear, the first thing I'm doing is eating an entire bowl of ramen."
Kiyoshi smirked. "Just one?"
Ryota glared. "Shut up."
Kenshiro watched his team, allowing himself a rare, small smile. They had faced death, pieced together the reality of their village's situation, and still found the energy to joke.
They were strong. But they still had much to learn.
As they entered the village, he let them bask in the relief of home.