When Shin pushed open the front door, Aoi was holding a cleaning cloth, carefully wiping down the low cabinet in the living room.
Hearing the door open, she turned around in surprise. "Shin?"
Aoi glanced at the wall clock, confusion appearing in her voice. "At this hour… did you forget something?"
Shin bent down to remove his shoes and answered in his usual calm tone. "No. We just accepted a mission. A C-Rank Mission."
"I'll be leaving the Village for a few days. Yamato-sensei told us to return and prepare supplies for five to seven days."
"A C-Rank Mission? Leaving the Village?" Morisaki Aoi paused mid-motion.
She slowly straightened up, draping the cloth over the edge of the cabinet as her eyes settled quietly on Shin, who was already walking toward his room.
After a moment of silence, she finally spoke softly. "I see… time really does pass quickly."
Her gaze drifted slightly, as though she were seeing herself from many years ago, preparing for departure alongside companions whose faces had gradually become blurred with time… companions who had ultimately remained behind forever on the battlefield.
Even she herself had been stopped by a certain mission, never again able to return to the life of an active Ninja.
A trace of sadness flashed across Morisaki Aoi's eyes.
How exactly should she describe that past?
Was it nostalgia? Sadness? Or perhaps fear?
Even she could no longer tell. At this moment, all that remained within her heart was a complicated mixture of emotions.
And now… her son had also stepped onto that same path.
—
Aoi walked into Shin's room and watched him methodically placing standard kunai and shuriken into his Ninja pouch.
Without saying much, she naturally took over the task. "Let me handle it."
Shin did not object and simply stepped aside.
Aoi's movements were smooth and practiced, carrying the professionalism of someone who had once lived as an experienced Ninja for many years.
She quickly packed a lightweight sleeping bag, water bottles, soldier pills, and compressed rations, arranging every item with precision to maximize the available space.
Throughout the entire process, she never asked about the details of the mission, nor did she show any obvious worry.
She simply focused quietly on preparing everything for him. Before long, both the backpack and Ninja pouch had been packed to near perfection.
Aoi handed the equipment to her son, a gentle smile appearing on her face. "Be careful out there."
Shin accepted the packed supplies and met her gaze for a brief moment before nodding. "I will."
He said nothing more. Turning around, he walked toward the front door and pulled it open.
Aoi stood silently in the entryway, watching her son's departing figure until he disappeared around the corner of the street.
Only then did she slowly close the door.
—
At the gates of Konoha Village, the morning sunlight was warm and clear.
Unlike usual, Shin was the very first person to arrive.
Looking at the massive gates standing wide open and the endless road stretching far into the outside world, he could not help feeling a trace of inquisitiveness.
For twelve entire years, he had remained within the walls of the Konoha without ever once stepping outside.
Being so close to the outside world for so long, yet never able to cross that boundary… Who could honestly say they would not feel curious?
Not long afterward, Yamato quietly appeared nearby.
Seeing Shin already waiting there, he gave a small nod. "Shin, you're early."
"Yamato-sensei." Shin nodded back in greeting.
Soon after, Ken and Yumi came running over while panting heavily, excitement and nervous anticipation written all over their faces.
"We're not late, are we?" Ken asked while catching his breath, while Yumi beside him stuck out her tongue awkwardly.
"The timing is perfect," Yamato replied calmly.
He then shifted his gaze toward the side of the gate.
A small caravan was already waiting there.
Five wagons pulled by sturdy pack horses stood lined up neatly, each loaded with tightly secured cargo hidden beneath thick tarps.
Nearby stood seven or eight merchants dressed in traveling clothes, along with four or five wandering ronin who appeared to have been hired as guards for the journey.
At that moment, a middle-aged man wearing a brown short jacket and a bamboo hat, who appeared to be the leader of the caravan, noticed Yamato and immediately hurried over with a respectful smile on his face.
"You must be the Ninja sent by Konoha, right?" He bowed politely as he introduced himself.
"I'm the person in charge of this caravan. Please, just call me Heikichi. Thank you very much for accepting this commission!"
As he spoke, his gaze swept across Shin, Ken, and Yumi. A trace of doubt flickered briefly in his eyes.
'Three kids? Konoha actually sent children to handle a C-Rank Mission? Was all that money really spent properly…?'
A hint of unease rose within him, but the moment his eyes landed on Yamato standing at the front, his nervousness eased slightly.
'At least their leader looks like a reliable Jonin. It should… probably be alright.'
Yamato gave a small nod. "I am Jonin Yamato. These three are my subordinates: Kagutsuchi Shin, Kobayashi Ken, and Sato Yumi."
"During this mission, we will be responsible for protecting the caravan and completing all related tasks."
Heikichi quickly bowed toward Shin and the others as well. "Then I'll be counting on all of you! Please take care of us!"
His attitude was so polite and humble.
Shin glanced sideways.
Ken immediately straightened his posture and tried his hardest to look reliable, while Yumi nodded seriously with a determined expression.
"Alright then," Yamato said calmly. "If everyone is ready, we'll depart now."
"Yes, yes! Everything's prepared already! We were only waiting for you, sirs!" Heikichi hurriedly waved toward the caravan workers.
The pack horses snorted impatiently while the wagon wheels slowly began to creak forward, crushing gravel beneath them.
Without another word, Yamato stepped forward first, crossing through Konoha's massive gates.
Shin followed behind him.
The moment his feet truly stepped beyond the gates and onto the land outside the Village, an indescribable feeling surged through his chest.
For the first time in twelve years… he had finally left Konoha.
Behind him, Ken and Yumi exchanged excited glances, unable to hide the anticipation and eagerness in their eyes before quickly following after the others.
Thus, the small group consisting of Ninja, merchants, wagons, and pack horses gradually departed from the protection of Konoha Village, traveling along the main road toward the eastern border of the Land of Fire.
—
Not long after Shin's group left Konoha, deep inside Root's underground base—
A shadowy figure appeared in the dim hall and knelt before Danzo.
"Danzo-sama! Kagutsuchi Shin left the Village with Yamato and the others on a C-Rank escort mission!"
Danzo turned sharply, surprise flashing in his exposed eye. "He left the Village?"
The Root Ninja lowered his head. "Yes, Danzo-sama. It has been confirmed."
Danzo's expression darkened. Yesterday's humiliation in the Hokage's Office was still fresh in his mind, and now Hiruzen had allowed Shin to leave the Village so soon.
One of the Root members nearby spoke carefully. "Danzo-sama… should we use this chance to bring him back to Root?"
But another voice immediately spoke up from the shadows.
"Danzo-sama, please reconsider. Hokage-sama already warned us yesterday. Root's funding and operations are already being restricted. If we act now, and the mission is exposed—"
"Hmph." Danzo cut him off with a cold snort. "Fear and hesitation only waste opportunities."
He gripped his cane tightly. "Once the boy is in Root's hands, everything will already be decided. Do you think Hiruzen would truly strike Root over one Genin?"
Danzo looked toward the Root Ninja who suggested the attack.
"Move immediately," Danzo ordered coldly. "Yamanaka Fū, you will lead the operation. Select two elite squads and leave the Village in secret. No matter what it takes, bring that brat back to me… completely unharmed."
Danzo deliberately emphasized the words "completely unharmed," a chilling glint flashing through his lone eye.
"Remember this well—you are to capture him alive. That insolent brat…" His voice grew colder with every word. "I will personally carve the mark of Root onto him and teach him what true devotion to Konoha means."
"Yes, Danzo-sama!"