On the small road leading to Konoha within the Land of Fire...
The corpses from before had disappeared.
Whether they'd been picked clean by stray dogs or taken away by someone trying to cover up the scene, no one could say.
The team continued moving forward.
Unlike the trip out, the two background genin had completely lost their will to fight.
It was obvious—they had no intention of continuing as ninja after this.
Not everyone has a protagonist's unshakable heart, able to stay calm when facing enemies.
Not everyone, after realizing their own fear, can stab a kunai through their hand like Naruto and use the pain to wake themselves up.
Nao had already been escorted to the Land of Hot Water.
After getting paid, he went off to enjoy his carefree life, not even bothering to say thanks when he left.
Why? Because Hakken had upgraded the mission from C-rank to B-rank, and the reward had doubled.
Of course he wasn't happy about having to pay more.
But Hakken didn't place all the blame for Obito's attack on Itachi.
Since they'd encountered enemy ninja during the mission, the rank had to go up. The pay had to be adjusted. If Nao had refused, Hakken wouldn't have minded taking him out and collecting the reward himself.
After a half-day rest in the Land of Hot Water, Hakken led the team back to Konoha.
On his wrist now hung an agate bracelet, carefully carved.
It was a little gift for Anko, with her name engraved on it.
Aside from that, he also wore a pearl necklace around his neck—a small trinket for Yugao Uzuki. He hadn't forgotten.
"You're seriously reckless, Ken-san."
They hadn't run into another ambush on the way back, but Itachi still couldn't help commenting.
He tilted his head to glance back at Hakken, who was sprawled on his back and snoring like a thunderstorm, then let out a sigh.
Yeah... reckless didn't even begin to cover it.
Ever since that day, when they encountered the man claiming to be Uchiha Madara, Hakken had gone even more intense.
He hadn't stopped swinging his sword the entire way back.
And that sharp, wild look in his eyes—any passerby who caught it couldn't help but flinch, scared he might actually attack them.
Was this the hyper-vigilance that came after clashing with a powerful enemy?
Itachi sighed again.
Now, he had finally collapsed from exhaustion.
Flat out on Itachi's back—it might not have been the most solid support, but at least Hakken could finally sleep soundly.
And honestly?
Carrying Ken-san on his back...didn't feel so bad.
...
The journey back was much smoother than the way out.
By the time they neared Konoha, the sun was already sinking into the horizon.
Hakken was still fast asleep, while Itachi glanced at the two genin rushing toward the village gates in visible relief. In the end, he simply shook his head and said nothing.
The way they handled danger...
Their basic skills as ninja...
It was clear—they were nothing like him or Ken-san.
He'd already overheard them whispering—they didn't want to be ninja anymore.
When faced with hardship, they didn't think about overcoming it—they just wanted to run away.
People like that... didn't deserve to be ninja.
With Hakken still on his back, Itachi slowly made his way to the Mitarashi residence.
He was tired, but his task wasn't finished yet.
He had to get Ken-san home.
But the moment he pushed open the gate, a strange feeling crept over him.
"Hakken! Itachi!"
The one waiting for them wasn't Anko—it was Kurenai.
Before he could even ask her to keep her voice down so she wouldn't wake Hakken, she blurted out, clearly flustered,
"Anko was taken by ANBU this morning. She still hasn't come back."
Taken?
What happened?
Itachi froze, unsure of what to say.
A second later, he suddenly felt a weight lift from his back.
He turned around sharply—Hakken was already on his feet, that mysterious blade in hand, walking straight out of the gate.
Without hesitation, Itachi followed close behind.
The blade was drawn.
What was Ken-san planning to do?
"Go back, Itachi."
Striding through the streets, ignoring the stunned stares from everyone around him, Hakken spoke without emotion.
"Why?"
Itachi clenched his fists.
"What I'm about to do has nothing to do with the Uchiha. Stay out of it."
Hakken stopped. A flash of killing intent flickered in his eyes.
"I'm not here as an Uchiha. I'm here as Hakken Yoru's friend."
"This has nothing to do with my clan."
Itachi shook his head firmly.
"Ken-san, have you forgotten what you told me?"
"You told me, no matter what happens, I'm not alone. The same goes for you."
Is that so?
Hakken smiled faintly, clearly moved—then casually knocked Itachi out with a swift chop to the neck.
"Take him home."
He tilted his head toward Kurenai, who had followed silently from the corner.
Then he gave his Zanpakutō a sharp flick.
"A ninja returns home from a mission..."
"Only to find his sister's been taken."
"Then tell me—what exactly are we supposed to be protecting?"
"This is Konoha?"
"What a joke."
In that instant, a wave of murderous intent exploded from him!
The nearby onlookers instinctively backed away in terror!
And the boy, blade in hand, walked straight toward the heart of the village—
Toward the ANBU headquarters.
...
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