[A/N: Shoutout to Jean and Lord Of the Mysteries—thank you for the support!]
Chapter 23: Glorified Errands
Deciding that further Rasengan attempts could wait, Kiyoshi grabbed a fresh set of clothes and headed to the bathroom. The cold splash of water on his face grounded him, washing away the last remnants of sleep.
As he dried his face with a towel, his gaze flickered to the mirror. He looked… normal. No drastic changes, no overwhelming realization that he was holding one of the most powerful jutsu in the world.
Yet deep down, he knew.
He was getting stronger.
After changing into his usual shinobi attire, he stepped into the kitchen and quickly prepared a simple breakfast—nothing fancy, just rice, miso soup, and grilled fish. As he ate, his mind drifted to the day ahead.
He still had to check in at the mission office. Even though his last mission was technically over, the paperwork still needed to be finalized. There was also the matter of his promise to his uncle—he had assured him yesterday that he'd come over for lunch. He had no excuses now.
Kiyoshi exhaled, pushing his empty plate aside.
Mission office first, then everything else.
Kiyoshi set a fresh scroll on the table, uncapped his ink, and dipped his brush. The quiet hum of the village outside was a stark contrast to the battles fought in the field, but this—writing reports, handling the aftermath—was just as much a part of shinobi life.
He began writing, his strokes precise and efficient. The structure was drilled into every shinobi from the academy—objectives, execution, outcome. Simple in theory, but in practice, it required a balance of clarity and detail. Too vague, and it raised questions. Too elaborate, and it wasted time.
His brush glided over the parchment, filling in the necessary sections. Every mission had nuances that couldn't be fully captured in words, yet the report had to be as close to reality as possible—a record for future reference, an account for the village's intelligence network, a summary that could influence future assignments.
As he neared the end, his thoughts briefly wandered back to the Rasengan.
If I had this technique back then, would it have made a difference?
He pushed the thought aside. No use dwelling on what-ifs.
Once finished, he let the ink dry before rolling up the scroll and sealing it. He'd drop it off at the mission office later.
With that done, Kiyoshi exhaled and leaned back slightly.
---
Kiyoshi stepped into the mission office, stretching his arms as he approached the desk. He was about to hand over his mission report when he noticed a familiar figure standing nearby, arms crossed, observing him with an unreadable expression.
Kenshiro. His Jōnin-sensei.
Kenshiro raised an eyebrow. "Took you long enough, kid."
Kiyoshi handed over the mission report, exhaling. "I wasn't exactly rushing. Mission's done—that's what matters."
Kenshiro smirked. "Efficiency matters too." He tapped the counter. "At least you didn't forget, unlike a certain teammate of yours."
Kiyoshi rolled his eyes. "Ryota?"
Kenshiro nodded. "Who else?"
Kiyoshi sighed. "I'll remind him later. What are you doing here anyway, Sensei?"
Kenshiro glanced at the mission board, scanning the available listings. "Scouting your next mission. You and your team have a few days to rest, but I'd rather not let you slack off too much."
Kiyoshi smirked. "Didn't take you for a babysitter."
Kenshiro chuckled and ruffled Kiyoshi's hair in a deliberately annoying manner. "I'm your sensei, kid. If I don't push you, who will?"
Kiyoshi swatted his hand away. "Tch. Fine. Just don't pick anything too ridiculous."
Kenshiro laughed. "No promises. Enjoy your break while you can."
With that, the Jōnin turned and strode toward the mission board, leaving Kiyoshi to start making his way home.
---
As Kiyoshi walked through the village, he caught sight of Mikoto just ahead. She was heading home, likely having just submitted her own report.
But what caught his attention was the boy walking beside her—a young Fugaku Uchiha.
Dressed in a Chūnin vest, the boy looked around 13 or 14 years old, a few years older than both Kiyoshi and Mikoto. His sharp features and serious demeanor made it clear he carried himself with the pride expected of an Uchiha.
Kiyoshi instantly recognized him. The future head of the Uchiha clan. Right now, he must be in ANBU...
Curious, he quickened his pace slightly and called out. "Mikoto!"
Mikoto turned, her face lighting up. "Oh, Kiyoshi! Done with your report?"
Kiyoshi nodded. "Yeah. Figured I'd head home."
Mikoto chuckled. "You should remind Ryota to submit his. He probably forgot the moment we got back."
Kiyoshi smirked. "He'll remember when Kenshiro-sensei finds him."
As they talked, Kiyoshi noticed Fugaku glancing at him repeatedly. The young Uchiha wasn't being subtle, but his expression remained unreadable.
Deciding to break the awkwardness, Kiyoshi turned to him and smiled warmly.
Fugaku flinched.
For the briefest moment, something like guilt crossed his face. Mikoto, ever observant, caught it immediately.
She sighed softly. "I'm really lucky, you know."
Kiyoshi raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"
Mikoto smiled gently. "That I got you and Ryota as teammates. You don't treat me differently because of my Uchiha status."
Kiyoshi blinked, then scoffed. "Why would I?"
Fugaku stiffened at the comment.
Mikoto continued, her voice quieter. "Not everyone is like you. There are people in the village who see the Uchiha as… a problem."
Kiyoshi wasn't blind to the whispers and the politics. The Uchiha were respected but also feared, and fear could easily turn into resentment. This had been going on since the time of the Second Hokage. His mistrust, along with the subsequent actions of people like Danzo, had worsened the situation.
Fugaku looked a bit embarrassed.
Kiyoshi didn't press the matter. Instead, he simply shrugged. "Doesn't matter to me. You're my teammate—that's all there is to it."
Mikoto smiled, while Fugaku remained silent, clearly lost in thought.
After a moment, they continued walking, their conversation shifting to lighter topics.
As they walked through the village streets, the morning sun cast long shadows across the stone pathways. The usual bustle of the village was just beginning to stir.
"For the next few weeks, we'll mostly be sticking to D-rank missions," Mikoto said, recalling what their Jōnin-sensei had mentioned earlier. "Simple stuff—escort jobs within the village, assisting in the archives, minor patrols. Nothing too exciting."
Kiyoshi sighed. "Glorified errands, huh?"
Mikoto chuckled. "It's necessary, though. The village doesn't just run on high-stakes missions."
Fugaku, who had been mostly quiet, glanced at them before adding, "He's right to start you slow. Most Genin get overconfident too quickly and end up making careless mistakes. D-rank missions help with discipline."
Kiyoshi gave him a look. "You sound like you're speaking from experience."
Fugaku crossed his arms, his expression serious. "I've seen it happen. A mission that looks easy can turn dangerous in an instant. You should never let your guard down, even on something as mundane as delivering supplies."
As they reached a crossroads, their paths diverged. Mikoto turned toward the Uchiha compound, and Fugaku followed. Kiyoshi adjusted his posture and continued toward the Senju compound.
Mikoto glanced over her shoulder and gave Kiyoshi a small wave. "See you tomorrow, Kiyoshi."
He nodded. "Yeah. Later."
Fugaku hesitated before saying, "Be careful out there."
It was a simple statement, but coming from him, it carried weight.
Kiyoshi smiled slightly. "You too."
With that, they parted ways. The village remained peaceful, but in the back of Kiyoshi's mind, he knew that peace was never guaranteed. Training, missions, and the responsibilities of a shinobi—they were only just beginning.