Chapter 12: Mission Completed
The Yamanaka clan had been reading minds and controlling thoughts since before Konoha had walls. Mind-walking through memories of the dead, sending messages across battlefields without hand signals, turning an enemy's own body against them—these were the gifts passed down through bloodlines that ran back to the village's founding. Information was power, and power was survival.
Inoichi had reached out to Shikaku the moment they'd crossed into Village of thr Bird's forests. Old habits from a partnership forged in blood and shared nightmares.
Nara Shikaku looked younger without the scars that would come later—his face unmarked by the wars still to come. His hair was pulled back in the same lazy style, but there was an ease to him that peace-time brought.
"Sorry I'm late," he said, though his tone suggested he wasn't particularly sorry about anything. "Ran into some complications."
"Your timing's perfect," Inoichi replied from where he lay sprawled on the grass, eyes closed. Neither man bothered with the formalities—they'd been through too much together for empty politeness.
"Let's move. This place still smells like a trap waiting to happen."
Just like that, Shikaku took command and Inoichi let him. No discussion, no power struggle. Just the kind of trust that came from knowing someone would die before they'd let you fall.
That's what real partnership looks like, Rei thought, watching the seamless transition. He'd never had that—someone who'd drop everything and run two hundred kilometers just because you asked.
Shikaku had brought three freshly minted chunin with him, all of them young enough to still think missions were adventures instead of barely controlled disasters. When Inoichi's distress call had reached him, he'd wrapped up his own assignment in record time and sprinted through the night to get here.
Nine on nine changed the tactical picture completely. Pakura wasn't stupid—she could do math as well as anyone. Her Scorch Release was devastating in close quarters, but that Uchiha kid's Sharingan made getting close a death sentence. The smart play was retreat, and she was smart enough to take it.
"Kid performed like a veteran out there," Inoichi told Shikaku as they made their way back toward Fire Country. "Half his age and twice as vicious as most jonin I know."
"That's saying something, coming from you." Shikaku glanced at Rei, who was practicing hand seals while they walked. "With that kind of drive, he'll either become legendary or burn himself out before twenty."
The Ino-Shika-Cho clans served the Hokage, whoever held the hat. Politics was for other people—they just cared about keeping the village standing and the will of fire burning.
The journey home passed without incident, but Rei never stopped training. Hand seals between meals, pestering Inoichi about genjutsu techniques during rest stops. The Uchiha clan had illusion jutsu locked behind bloodline barriers he hadn't earned access to yet, so he'd learn from whoever would teach him.
Both jonin noticed the kid's hunger for improvement. It reminded Shikaku of someone—Uchiha Kagami, who'd died too young this past spring, leaving behind a two-year-old son and a reputation for being one of the good ones.
Seven days later, Konoha's gates rose like a promise on the horizon.
"Mission complete," Inoichi announced as they finished their debrief at the Hokage Tower. "Drinks are on me. We've earned it."
"Finally!" Hanazuki practically bounced with excitement. Free food was the best kind of food, especially when you were a genin counting every coin.
"Barbecue?" Wada Yu suggested, and nobody disagreed.
Shiranui Genma begged off—he hadn't seen his family in years, and some reunions couldn't wait. The rest of them crowded into the most popular barbecue joint in the village, claiming a table big enough for the whole group.
That's when Rei's evening got interesting.
Two figures walked through the door, and every conversation in the restaurant dropped to whispers. Jiraiya and Tsunade—two-thirds of the legendary Sannin, larger than life even in civilian clothes.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in," Shikaku called out, waving them over. "Join us. We're celebrating."
"Don't mind if I do," Jiraiya grinned, sliding into the seat next to Rei without invitation. "Been too long, Shikaku."
"You promised me drinks," Tsunade pointed out, but she sat down anyway.
"I lied. Inoichi's paying tonight." Jiraiya's shamelessness was legendary for good reason. "Consider it compensation for all those times I saved your life."
"Once," Shikaku corrected. "You saved my life once, and I saved yours twice."
"Who's counting?"
The adults fell into the easy banter of old comrades while the younger ninja sat in star-struck silence. All except Rei, who was studying the two Sannin like they were techniques he needed to master.
Could I ask one of them to train me? The thought crossed his mind and died quickly. What would he offer them? What reason would they have to invest in some random Uchiha kid?
"Now this is interesting," Jiraiya said suddenly, his massive hand landing on Rei's head. The alcohol on his breath could've stripped paint. "Two-tomoe Sharingan at your age? Kid's got potential."
Tsunade glanced over, her assessment clinical and brief. She'd seen too many prodigies die young to get excited about another one.
The evening wound down with the adults deep in conversation about border tensions and political maneuvering—the kind of shop talk that made the younger generation uncomfortable. Rei and the others made their excuses and headed home, leaving the veterans to their war stories.
Miles away, in Sunagakure's administration building, Rei's portrait was being distributed to every jonin in the village. His face stared back from wanted posters that might as well have been death warrants.
"Priority target," the Third Kazekage had declared, his voice carrying the weight of absolute authority. "The Uchiha boy dies the moment we find him."
Pakura's humiliation had become village policy. In a world where bloodline limits were strategic resources, letting an enemy prodigy grow up was tantamount to suicide. Better to cut the problem off at the roots.
The hunt was on, and Rei didn't even know he was prey.
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