The journey back to Konoha passed considerably faster than the trip outward. Without a caravan slowing their pace, Team Eight moved swiftly through the forests of the Land of Fire, leaping from branch to branch beneath the night sky.
Aside from the occasional exchange between Hyori and Yogi, very little conversation occurred throughout the return trip. Shinra spent most of the journey observing the scenery rushing past while occasionally extending his sensory field to monitor the surrounding area. Meanwhile, Yogi had somehow managed to yawn almost continuously for several hours straight.
Thankfully, the familiar sight of Konoha's walls appeared shortly afterward.
After entering the village, Team Eight headed directly toward the Mission Administration Building. The interior remained busy despite the late hour. Shinobi moved between desks carrying reports while clerks sorted through stacks of paperwork accumulated throughout the day. Yogi casually approached one of the attendants before dropping the signed escort confirmation and a sealed report onto the desk.
"Escort mission completed."
The woman briefly scanned the documents before leaving the desk. Less than a minute later, she returned carrying another paper and several stacks of cash.
After reviewing everything, she nodded, wrote something down, and stamped the report.
The entire exchange lasted less than a minute.
Shinra silently observed from nearby. It appeared Yogi's constant yawning throughout the return trip had been caused by drafting the mission report on the move. Why he hadn't simply waited until returning to the village remained unclear.
"Mission complete."
Yogi stretched before turning toward the group and handing them their share of the mission.
"Good work. Training tomorrow."
Then he immediately disappeared.
Hyori stared at the empty space where he had been standing moments earlier.
"…He left."
"He seemed to be in a hurry," Shinra remarked while glancing toward the exit.
The following morning, Team Eight gathered at Training Ground Nineteen once more. Compared to the tension that had existed before the escort mission, the atmosphere felt noticeably more relaxed. Yoshimaru slept beneath one of the larger trees while Inumaki practiced hand seals nearby and Hyori worked through several Gentle Fist forms. Having already completed his sword training for the day, Shinra sat beneath another tree reading through one of Kurosawa's fuinjutsu scrolls while waiting for their perpetually late instructor to arrive.
Nearly twenty minutes later, Yogi finally appeared.
He slowly surveyed the training ground before speaking.
"Question."
The group turned toward him.
"Do any of you intend to participate in the Chūnin Exams this year?"
The casual atmosphere immediately disappeared.
Hyori answered first.
"Yes."
Inumaki nodded shortly afterward.
"…Me too."
Yogi shifted his gaze toward Shinra.
"Shinra?"
"I guess."
Yogi sighed dramatically.
"You all really like to make my life miserable."
Nobody reacted.
Several moments later, he continued.
"If that's the case, our schedule changes."
That immediately drew everyone's attention.
"The current one mission per week arrangement is over."
Hyori frowned slightly.
"Why?"
"Because one of the requirements for Chūnin Exam recommendation is mission experience." Yogi pointed toward them. "Skill matters. Teamwork matters. Leadership matters. All those wonderful things instructors love talking about." He raised another finger. "But paperwork matters too. The village wants proof that you've actually spent enough time functioning as shinobi."
He paused briefly.
"Being a chūnin isn't just about strength. During the upcoming missions, one of you will be selected as acting team leader. That includes all the boring responsibilities like drafting mission reports and handling mission logistics."
"So we're taking more missions?" Inumaki asked.
"Yes."
"How many?"
"To meet the minimum requirement, you'll need at least eight completed C-rank missions and a jōnin's recommendation." Yogi's expression became noticeably more serious. "And don't think I'm going to recommend you simply because you want to participate. If I judge any of you to be unprepared, you'll be waiting until next year. I don't want to throw my team to their deaths just because they were a bit hot headed."
The training ground fell silent.
For the first time that day, Yogi looked completely serious.
Later that afternoon, Shinra found himself sitting inside Kurosawa's residence. The old shinobi occupied his usual spot in the living room with a bottle of sake resting beside him. Shinra had long since given up attempting to dissuade him from that particular habit.
"You are back."
Kurosawa spoke before even opening his eyes.
"Yes. The mission lasted a bit longer than expected."
One eye slowly opened.
For several moments neither of them spoke.
Eventually Kurosawa broke the silence.
"So."
Shinra already knew what was coming.
"How was your first kill?"
The question arrived without warning or ceremony.
Shinra considered the answer briefly.
"I still don't know. I spent the entire night wondering whether I would hesitate or not, but when the moment came all I felt for those bandits was pity."
Kurosawa nodded.
No disappointment appeared on his face. No approval either.
Only acceptance.
Several moments later, he asked another question.
"Have you found it? Your ninja way?"
This time Shinra thought considerably longer.
Eventually he shook his head.
"No."
Kurosawa chuckled.
"That's normal."
Shinra glanced toward him.
"It is?"
"Most people who discover their ninja way at ten years old are idiots. Ambitious idiots are usually worse." The old shinobi picked up a small stone and tossed it out the window. "The answer isn't supposed to come quickly. If it does, it usually isn't worth much."
Shinra didn't necessarily agree with those words.
Instead, he changed the subject.
"The scroll you gave me."
Kurosawa immediately became more attentive.
"The chakra compression formula?"
"Yes." Shinra nodded. "When chakra is compressed and stored inside a seal, can it be reabsorbed afterward?"
The old shinobi immediately shook his head.
"Ordinary chakra? No."
"Why?"
"Because once it's separated from the original source, it loses its connection to the user." Kurosawa gestured with the cup in his hand. "Think of it like pouring water into a container. You can store it, move it somewhere else, even use it later, but it doesn't become part of you again."
Several ideas quietly died inside Shinra's head.
Then Kurosawa continued.
"But if you somehow managed to create a chakra storage seal inside your own body and connect it directly to your chakra pathway system, then it might be possible. That would require extensive knowledge of medical ninjutsu, fuinjutsu, and most importantly, absurd chakra control."
That immediately regained his attention.
'Isn't he basically describing Tsunade's Strength of a Hundred Seals?'
Shinra kept the thought in the back of his mind and continued listening.
Kurosawa picked up the sake bottle and poured himself another cup.
"Although if you ever reach the point where you're capable of doing something like that, you probably won't need my help anymore."
Shinra raised an eyebrow.
"Are you encouraging me to attempt to create such a seal?"
"I am not." The old shinobi snorted. "I'm telling you not to waste the next ten years of your life chasing something that may very well be impossible."
Shinra remained silent.
Kurosawa stared at him for several moments before sighing.
"…You're going to try anyway, aren't you?"
"Probably. Once I understand the underlying theory."
"Do as you wish."
The old shinobi reached for the sake bottle once more.
"Was there anything else?"
Shinra thought briefly before shaking his head.
"No."
"Good."
"Good?"
"Yes. I'm running out of sake."
After leaving Kurosawa's residence, Shinra spent the remainder of the afternoon wandering through the village before eventually making his way home. The conversation regarding chakra storage remained in the back of his mind, though for now it was little more than an interesting theory. The requirements involved were far beyond anything he could currently achieve.
The Chūnin Exams, however, were considerably more immediate.
Unlike simple Academy examinations, becoming a chūnin wasn't something that could be accomplished through talent alone. The village expected its officers to lead teams, complete missions, write reports, and make decisions that affected the lives of others.
If he judged himself according to the standards Yogi had outlined, he was confident he could at least reach the tournament stage unless he encountered some exceptional prodigy.
His biggest weakness remained unchanged.
A lack of offensive capability.
His current offensive arsenal consisted of the C-rank Lightning Kunai and the D-rank Lightning Palm. While he also possessed the Rasengan, using that technique inside Konoha would practically be a death sentence.
Shinra gradually became lost in thought as he continued walking through the village streets.