Late afternoon sunlight poured through the tall windows of the Hokage Tower.
Inside the office, the Fourth Hokage stood behind his desk reviewing several mission scrolls.
The door slid open.
Minato looked up.
"Ah."
A small smile crossed the face of Minato Namikaze.
"Welcome back, Shinji."
Shinji stepped into the office calmly.
"Lord Hokage."
Behind him, two ANBU carried a large wrapped object between them.
Another ANBU followed with a sealed body bag.
Minato's eyes flicked briefly toward the items before returning to Shinji.
"I take it the mission was completed."
"Yes."
Shinji stepped forward and placed a scroll on the desk.
"Fire Country diplomat successfully escorted through the Land of Rivers. He was transferred to a secondary security detail as scheduled."
Minato opened the scroll and skimmed it quickly.
"And the attacks on the caravans?"
Shinji gestured slightly.
"Resolved."
Minato raised an eyebrow.
"Resolved?"
Shinji nodded toward the ANBU.
"Evidence is behind me."
The two masked shinobi stepped forward.
They lowered the massive wrapped object onto the floor.
The cloth was pulled back.
A gigantic blade gleamed in the sunlight.
Even damaged and stained from battle, the weapon was unmistakable.
Kubikiribōchō.
The executioner blade.
Minato's expression shifted slightly as he stepped around the desk.
"One of the legendary blades of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist."
He studied the weapon carefully.
"Which means the attacker was…"
Shinji answered simply.
"Jūzō Biwa."
Minato's eyes sharpened slightly.
"That confirms the reports we received."
He turned toward the ANBU again.
"Remove the second cover."
The ANBU unsealed the body bag.
Inside lay the body of the swordsman.
Massive.
Scarred.
And unmistakably dead.
The room was quiet for a moment.
Minato folded his arms.
"So the rumors about a swordsman attacking caravans were accurate."
"Yes."
Shinji remained calm.
"We encountered him shortly after entering the region."
Minato looked back toward the desk.
"And the genin?"
"Unharmed."
Minato nodded slightly.
"Good."
He looked back toward Shinji.
"Walk me through it."
Shinji spoke evenly.
"First encounter occurred during the outbound escort. I ordered the genin to withdraw and engaged the target alone."
Minato listened closely.
"Jūzō retreated after sustaining moderate injuries."
Minato nodded slowly.
"That matches his known behavior."
Shinji continued.
"He attempted to reengage on our return route after the diplomat was delivered."
Minato's eyebrow lifted slightly.
"So he waited for the mission to conclude."
"Yes."
Minato smiled faintly.
"Predictable."
Shinji gestured toward the sword.
"Second engagement ended with the target neutralized."
Minato glanced toward Kubikiribōchō again.
"I assume that blade was… difficult to deal with."
Shinji shrugged slightly.
"It was manageable."
Minato chuckled quietly.
"That's one way to describe it."
He studied Shinji for a moment.
"You used strategy rather than brute force."
"Yes."
Minato tilted his head slightly.
"Explain."
Shinji answered calmly.
"My summon engaged the target under a Transformation Jutsu."
Minato's smile widened slightly.
"Ah."
"The enemy believed he was fighting me."
"Yes."
Shinji continued.
"When his guard dropped, I attacked from his blind side."
Minato finished the thought.
"Chidori."
Shinji nodded once.
Minato studied him for a moment longer.
Then he looked down at the fallen swordsman again.
"One of the Mist's most dangerous rogue shinobi."
He turned back toward Shinji.
"And you eliminated him during your first mission as a squad leader."
Shinji didn't respond.
Minato smiled slightly.
"I'd say the promotion was justified."
The Hokage returned to his desk and opened another scroll.
"This will also qualify for a bounty claim."
He glanced toward the body again.
"Jūzō had a standing bounty across several border nations."
Shinji nodded.
"That was my understanding."
Minato signed the document.
"I'll have the accounting office process it."
He looked back up.
"You've done the village a significant service today."
Shinji remained composed.
"I completed the mission."
Minato leaned back slightly in his chair.
"Still."
He tapped the desk lightly.
"Bringing back Kubikiribōchō alone will send a message."
His eyes flicked toward the massive blade once more.
"The Mist will not be pleased."
Shinji shrugged.
"They rarely are."
Minato chuckled.
"True."
He rolled up the mission report.