Inside the quiet inn room, Yuji packed his things with methodical, emotionless movements. The storage scrolls containing his clean clothes, leftover rations, and medical equipment were rolled up neatly and placed back into his deceptively small backpack. Every movement was an efficiency born from habit.
They had been in the Capital for five days. Five days that felt like a month, filled with tension, violence, and the awkward silence of hospital corridors. Akane was getting better. She would need a few weeks for a full recovery, but she would heal. Their mission, with all its complexities and bloodshed, was complete. And today, they were going home.
Yuji paused for a moment, his hand holding an empty Fūinjutsu scroll. He stared out the window at the hustle and bustle of the Capital's streets, which had become a familiar sight. This city was noisy, crowded, and filled with dangers hidden in its dark alleys. But it was also full of life. He would miss it, in a strange way.
After making sure all his belongings were inside the seals, Yuji shouldered his backpack. It felt light, as usual. He stepped out of his room, sliding the door shut behind him with a soft click.
In the dimly lit hallway, he found Kiba, who had also finished packing. His large backpack was a stark contrast to Yuji's. Akamaru sat comfortably on top of his head, yawning widely.
"Time flies, doesn't it?" Kiba said, breaking the silence. His voice was quieter than usual, devoid of the usual cockiness or shouting that accompanied him.
"Quick enough," Yuji nodded, leaning against the wall across from Kiba. "Has Akamaru eaten?"
"Of course he has," Kiba snorted, but there was no bite in his voice. It was more like a reflex. "If I eat, he eats too. That's how it works." Akamaru barked softly, as if confirming a fact that had existed since time immemorial.
They then walked slowly down the hall, towards the lobby where they would meet the others. Their synchronized footsteps were the only sound besides the distant hum of the city outside.
In the midst of that comfortable silence, Yuji's mind drifted back to the fight in the sewers. To the chaos, the fear, and the impulsive actions that had nearly gotten one of them killed. He glanced at Kiba, who was staring straight ahead, his face serious.
"You move pretty fast, you know?" Yuji said suddenly.
Kiba turned, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
Yuji continued, his eyes fixed on the wooden pattern of the floor. "In the sewers. When you saw Akane-san in danger. You have great courage. You didn't hesitate. Even if it was reckless, you moved forward without thinking to save someone else."
It was an acknowledgment, a sincere compliment that felt strange coming from Yuji's mouth. But it was the truth. While Yuji and Masami were still analyzing and Tsukasa was formulating a strategy, Kiba had acted on his pure instinct to protect.
Kiba was silent for a moment, processing the words. He didn't grin or boast as he might have a week ago. Instead, he looked up at the inn's wooden ceiling.
"But courage alone isn't enough, apparently," he said softly, his voice filled with a newfound maturity. "I've realized that. In the hospital, when I could only lie there... I had a lot of time to think." He sighed, a breath heavy with regret. "I was reckless. Too confident. And I let my anger take over. I was filled with emotion. It was... unstable. I almost got myself killed. And I almost got Sensei killed too."
Yuji turned, looking at his friend's now somber face. And for the first time, he saw beyond the arrogant loudmouth. He saw a young shinobi struggling with his first real failure. And he felt a wave of empathy.
A rare, thin smile appeared on Yuji's lips. "But I guess," he said, "that's what proves you have a big heart. The desire to protect someone so strong that it overcomes your own fear... that's not a bad thing, Kiba."
He paused, choosing his words carefully. "You just don't have enough fighting experience to control it yet. To channel that spirit into something sharper, more focused. We're all like that. We're still new to this."
That last word, we, hung in the air between them. It was an admission. A bridge. Yuji wasn't placing himself above Kiba. He was placing himself beside him.
Kiba nodded slowly, a comfortable silence enveloping them again as they continued to walk. He seemed to be digesting Yuji's words, finding a little relief in them.
"You're not so bad yourself," Kiba said finally, breaking the silence again. He glanced at Yuji with a new, amused look. "Staring at books all the time in class wasn't a waste after all, huh? You have a good mask. That thing... it's very useful."
It was his highest praise. An acknowledgment of Yuji's strength, a strength completely different from his own.
This time, Yuji smiled broadly. Not a thin smile or a cynical one. It was a sincere smile, filled with an unexpected pride. He touched the silly crying mask hanging at his belt.
"It's a legacy from my father," he said, his voice filled with a warmth that surprised even himself.
…
"Ah! My cute soldiers are all packed!"
Tsukasa-sensei's cheerful voice greeted them as Yuji and Kiba arrived in the now-quiet lobby. Masami was already there, standing calmly near the door, her backpack already neatly shouldered. Tsukasa grinned, his hands on his hips, radiating a morning energy that Yuji did not feel at all.
"Alright," Tsukasa continued, "now that we're all ready to leave the luxury of civilization and return to the beautiful wilderness, it's time to say our goodbyes to Akane and Koji-san first. We don't want to be people with bad manners, right? Leaving without saying goodbye would leave a bad impression of Konoha shinobi."
"Have their new bodyguards arrived, Sensei?" Kiba asked, his question practical and to the point. Yuji knew what Kiba was thinking. They couldn't leave with peace of mind if Koji and Akane weren't safe. The investors interested in Koji's project should have provided new protection for their next journey.
"Of course," Tsukasa smiled, his smile reassuring. "I confirmed it this morning. Two experienced Chunin from Konoha on duty in the Capital have been assigned. They are professionals. You don't need to worry about that anymore. Our mission is truly complete."
A visible relief washed over Kiba's face. Yuji also felt a bit of the tension in his own shoulders loosen.
…
The hospital corridor in the morning was not as suffocating as before. The soft morning sunlight shone on the polished floors, and the air felt fresher, as if it had gained new life after the darkness of the night.
They found Koji sitting on a bench outside Akane's room, looking much calmer than the previous days. When he saw them approach, he stood up.
"You're heading back?" he said, his tone not a question, but a statement filled with a slight melancholy.
Tsukasa smiled, his smile softer this time. "Actually, we'd love to stay here longer and enjoy more of the Capital's Yakiniku," he said, trying to lighten the mood. "However, the mission is over, and we have to part ways. Konoha is calling."
"Ah," Koji nodded, his eyes looking at them one by one, pausing for a moment on each Genin's face. "Alright. In that case... thank you. For everything. You truly saved us. More than just our lives."
"No problem! That's our job, right, Sensei?" Kiba smiled broadly, his usual confidence having returned, but now tinged with a bit of humility. He looked at Koji with an amused gaze. "I only have one piece of advice, Old Man. Cut back on the grumbling. It'll make you old fast."
"I don't grumble," Koji grumbled automatically, which made everyone laugh.
A soft laugh was heard from the slightly ajar room door. "You just did, Father," Akane said.
They all turned and saw Akane standing at the doorway, leaning against the doorframe for support. She was wearing hospital clothes, her face still pale and adorned with a few fading bruises, but her eyes were clear and her smile was sincere.
Their laughter became more unrestrained. The atmosphere of farewell, which had been a little heavy, now felt light and warm.
When the laughter subsided, Koji then looked towards Yuji, who had been standing quietly in the back, observing everything.
"I have a few things," Koji said, his tone becoming serious. "Could I speak with Yuji for a moment?"
The request surprised everyone. Yuji raised an eyebrow, having no idea what this old man wanted to talk to him about.
"Of course," Tsukasa said after a brief pause, glancing at Yuji with curiosity. "As long as you don't try to persuade him to stay here and become your blacksmith apprentice."
"Funny joke," Koji said flatly, without a hint of a smile. He picked up a square leather bag that was lying beside the bench, then motioned for Yuji to follow him.
Yuji hesitated for a moment, then followed the old man. For a few moments, there was only silence between them as Koji led him away from the crowded corridor, towards a door at the end that led outside. They arrived at a small garden in the hospital's backyard, a hidden green oasis with a few shady trees and well-tended flower beds. They sat on a long white bench facing a small pond.
"So, what did you want to talk about, Koji-san?" Yuji got straight to the point. He wasn't good at small talk, and he was genuinely confused about where this conversation was heading.
Koji let out a long sigh, the sigh of a man who had carried a heavy burden and could finally set it down. "I just wanted to say thank you," he said softly.
"You already did that earlier," Yuji replied.
"Let me do it properly," Koji cut in, his tone firm. He turned, looking Yuji straight in the eye. "Listen, you saved Akane. And before that... I'm sorry. For all the anger and grumbling I showed throughout this journey. I'm old, so I have a lot on my mind, and I was under a lot of pressure. But still, that's no excuse. I was rude to you and your friends."
Yuji shrugged, feeling a little awkward. "I often grumble myself," he said. "I didn't take it to heart."
"Good," Koji smiled faintly. "I've gotten a lot of scolding from my daughter about that." His smile faded into a softer expression. "You know how much she means to me, don't you?"
Yuji nodded. Of course he knew. He also had something, someone like that in his life. Something that made him willing to do troublesome things, even frightening things. "We're the same in some ways," he said softly.
"You saved her," Koji said, his eyes gazing at the bright blue sky. "Thanks to you... thanks to all of you... I can hear her voice again. I can see her smile again. I don't know what I would do if I lived without her. All this time I've worked hard, I've forged steel until my hands blistered... my main goal was always to make her smile. To give her a good life."
"And that day," his voice trembled slightly, "at that inn, I was so afraid that I would lose all of that. Lose my reason for living."
Yuji was just silent, letting the old man talk, letting him release all the feelings he had pent up.
"All this time I've always been a bother to her," Koji continued. "She's the one who always listens to my ramblings, no matter how much I complain. She's also the one who makes me tea in the morning, who reminds me to eat. Someday, she might get married and leave me with a man who might not be good enough for her," he snorted. "However, I'd rather see that a thousand times than have to experience what happened yesterday again."
Koji turned, his sharp, clear eyes looking at Yuji. "You," he said with a quiet intensity. "Have kept all of that intact. You have given me back my future."
He then picked up his leather bag, placed it on his lap, and opened it. He put his hand inside. "So," he said. "I also want to repay the favor."
He then took out a piece of pitch-black metal, with a sharp blade protruding from its top. It looked like a brutal weapon yet crafted with incredible skill. Yuji could see the fine grooves carved along its metal, grooves that seemed to be for more than just decoration.
"This is not just a weapon," Koji said, his tone full of a craftsman's pride. "This is a Chakra Blade. I made it as an experiment some time ago. The metal is forged in a special way to be able to receive and channel the user's chakra very efficiently. Those grooves... they are channels for your energy."
Yuji stared at the weapon in awe. It was a weapon designed specifically for a shinobi.
"I'm giving this to you," Koji said.
Yuji raised an eyebrow, instinctively wanting to refuse such a valuable gift. "Koji-san, you don't have to—"
"I have to," Koji cut in, his voice accepting no argument. "I need to do this. Listen, I know this might not be much compared to my daughter's life. But I also want to say thank you in the way I know how. With the fruit of my labor. And maybe... maybe leave a mark on your life, just as you have left a mark on mine."
He looked at Yuji earnestly, his old eyes filled with a deep seriousness. "I want you to use this," he said. "To keep living. To keep getting stronger. To keep living and protecting what you need to protect. Let this be the spearhead of that resolve."
Yuji was silent. Those words, protecting what you need to protect, resonated within him, touching the very core of his motivation, the reason why he was here. He thought of his parents, his friends. Their faces flashed in his mind. His throat felt tight.
Koji, seeing that Yuji would no longer refuse, held out the Chakra Blade to him. Yuji accepted it.
The grip fit perfectly in his hand, as if it had been made just for him. The metal felt cold and solid, filled with a quiet potential. He could feel the perfect balance in its weight. It felt right.
"Hold onto this well," Koji said. "May... may it be useful to you."
Yuji was silent. He said nothing. He just gripped the handle of the Chakra Blade tightly. It felt like an extension of his arm, an extension of his resolve. It was no longer just a piece of metal. It was a promise. A responsibility. An unexpected legacy that was now his.
AN: With this ARC one is over, we have seen Yuji change little by little throughout the story. The next chapters will feature the POV of the team eleven, not just Yuji. I'm doing this for character development.