Chapter 46 (Patreon)

The gates of Konoha.

Two figures stood there beneath the evening sky.

The sunset dyed the village entrance red, and the moon had already begun to rise faintly in the distance.

“Today is already the fifth day since Yujiro left the village for his mission…”

“Why hasn’t he come back yet?”

Yuhi Kurenai spoke anxiously, her eyes fixed on the road outside the village.

Beside her, Uzuki Yugao tried to comfort her.

“Kurenai-onee-san, Yujiro is strong. He’ll be fine.”

However, the worry on Yugao’s own face had already betrayed her.

Since two days ago, Kurenai had been coming to the village gate every day, waiting for two full hours each time.

She was truly worried about Yujiro.

She had even gone to her father, Yuhi Shinku, several times, asking him to speak with Hokage-sama and tell him not to assign such dangerous missions to her otouto.

Yuhi Shinku had been quite helpless about it.

He was only a Jōnin of Konoha, and this was still wartime. There were countless missions waiting for him as well.

However, Shinku was also quietly relieved.

No one could handle his daughter’s temper.

Except Yujiro.

It seemed his judgment back then had been ruthless—but correct.

At least he would not have to worry too much about Kurenai finding a partner in the future.

After all, Yujiro and his daughter were not related by blood.

At the village gate…

Three figures slowly appeared at the end of the road.

Kakashi walked on the left.

Itachi walked on the right.

And in the middle was Yujiro, his expression calm as ever.

The moment Kurenai saw him, she rushed forward and hugged him tightly.

“Otouto! You really made Onee-san worry!”

Kurenai’s voice was full of relief.

However, Yujiro was not really listening to the second half of her words.

His attention had basically stopped on the first part.

After the brief warmth passed, Yugao stood beside them, clearly envious.

Yujiro’s body was not exactly clean. After several days outside, he was covered in dust, and his clothes were naturally damaged in places.

“I’m back,” Yujiro said with a smile. “Let’s go to the hot springs first.”

“Hot springs it is.”

After saying that, Yujiro calmly walked ahead.

Itachi thought for a moment and decided it was better not to follow them.

Watching that kind of atmosphere from the side would only make him feel like an outsider.

Besides, he also wanted to return home quickly and tell his father that he had awakened the Sharingan.

Seeing both Itachi and Yujiro leave without hesitation, Kakashi helplessly held his forehead.

The moment those two returned to the village, they threw everything else aside.

Which meant the mission report had been left entirely to him.

In Yujiro’s words—

“Kakashi-nii, we believe in you.”

Kakashi could only make his way toward the Hokage Building.

Konoha Office Building.

Inside the Hokage’s office.

Minato looked at the report sent from the border, and his expression was not good.

He had already sent more than half of Konoha’s ANBU to reinforce the front line.

But now, more support was still being requested.

Konoha truly had no spare forces left.

To be honest, Minato really wanted to ask Yujiro what he thought about the current situation.

Ever since he had gone to the Uchiha Clan compound with Yujiro last time, Minato had understood one thing clearly.

Yujiro could not be judged by ordinary standards.

At that moment, someone knocked on the office door.

Minato said, “Come in.”

Kakashi pushed the door open and entered.

The moment Minato saw Kakashi, he stood up.

“Kakashi, is the mission complete? Where are Yujiro and Itachi?”

“The mission is complete,” Kakashi said with a nod. “Yujiro went to the hot springs. Itachi went back to the Uchiha compound.”

“I see.” Minato smiled faintly. “With you on the team, I knew there wouldn’t be any major problems.”

“No, Minato-sensei.”

Kakashi took a deep breath, then said seriously,

“This time… if it hadn’t been for Yujiro, our mission might have failed.”

Minato’s smile faded slightly.

“We had only been out of the village for half a day when we were attacked for the first time.”

“And the assassin’s strength was at least elite Jōnin level.”

“Not only that…”

Kakashi’s voice became heavier.

“He used a technique similar to Wood Style.”

“What?”

Namikaze Minato’s expression changed instantly.

After that, Kakashi reported everything about the first assassination.

Minato listened quietly.

But by the time Kakashi finished, the shock on his face was impossible to hide.

“You’re saying… even against an opponent of that level, Yujiro didn’t fall behind?”

“And Uchiha Itachi awakened the two-tomoe Sharingan during that attack?”

Kakashi had already expected Minato’s reaction.

“Minato-sensei, don’t be shocked yet. There’s more.”

Then Kakashi reported everything that had happened over the past few days.

There was no exaggeration.

Everything was the truth.

“…”

After hearing the full report, Minato’s expression went from shock to complete silence.

Yujiro had personally killed eight sneak-attack shinobi with Jōnin-level strength.

Nearly twenty Chūnin-level enemies.

And countless Genin-level attackers—roughly fifty in total.

How was this still an A-rank mission?

This was clearly S-rank.

But precisely because of that, Minato now had an even clearer understanding of Yujiro’s strength.

One had to remember…

Yujiro was only six years old.

Minato accepted the mission report from Kakashi.

Yujiro really was an extraordinary genius.

It seemed his feeling back then had not been wrong.

After Kakashi finished the report, he left the office.

Minato returned to his seat and put the mission report away.

Then he looked at the battle report on his desk, and his expression once again sank into thought.

…

Konoha Hot Spring Pavilion.

Yujiro relaxed in the hot spring, letting out a quiet breath.

The comfort after battle really was different.

Kurenai and Uzuki Yugao were next door.

Although there was only a wall between them, Yujiro had no intention of doing anything improper.

After all…

It was still a little too early.

Suddenly, Yujiro’s eyes narrowed.

In the next instant, he turned around.

The black blade resting beside him was already in his hand.

Being watched while soaking in a hot spring…

That feeling was not pleasant at all.

…