This extermination mission had ended much faster than expected. The combat wasn't even that intense. But the shock it delivered to Team 8 was devastatingly real.
Analyzing the intel, witnessing the darkness of the human heart, executing a forced slaughter, and seeing the dirty politics between nobles and ninja villages—every part of it weighed heavy on the hearts of these three recent graduates.
But these were trials they would have faced sooner or later. Experiencing it this early was just proof of their elite status.
By the time they returned to Konoha, it was already evening. Captain Yamaguchi dismissed them as usual, heading off to file the mission report himself.
Watching the Captain leave, the trio breathed a collective sigh of relief. The mission had been a frantic rush with zero downtime. Combined with the psychological pressure, they were exhausted. All they wanted was to go home and crash.
Taiichi watched Yohei and Saori head off in different directions. They were going home to their families, to people they could talk to.
Taiichi, however, was going home to an empty house.
Standing on the busiest street in Konoha, surrounded by the laughter of friends, the warmth of families, and the closeness of couples, Taiichi felt a sudden, crushing loneliness.
Maybe it was the aftershock of the mission. Taiichi walked down the street like a lost soul, drifting through the crowd without a destination.
He found himself wandering near the Ninja Academy. He looked at the students, still innocent, and felt a pang of sadness knowing they would soon be stepping onto the battlefield.
A while later, he drifted past the Konoha Hospital. It was busy now, but he knew that in time, it would be overflowing with the wounded.
Taiichi knew his mental state was bad. He knew he was spiraling. But he didn't want to snap out of it. He let his thoughts run wild, let the pessimism consume him. This was probably what people called a "Heart Demon" or a psychological block.
In the future, Obito would fall into this darkness after Rin's death, trying to destroy the world to create a dream one.
Itachi would fall into it due to the conflict between village and clan, eventually destroying his own family.
These psychological traps were terrifying for a ninja. They pulled you into a mental dead end, sinking you deeper until you couldn't escape.
Lost in his thoughts, his feet carried him to the place his heart was tethered to. This was where he spent his childhood. This was where the people who cared about him lived. This was what he wanted to protect.
He looked up at the familiar sign over the gate: Orphanage.
Finally, Taiichi broke free from the negative spiral. I'm not alone.
He had Nonou. He had the kids at the orphanage. He had Tsunade, Jiraiya, Guy, and his Academy classmates. He had comrades like Yohei and Saori.
He wasn't the lonely kid he was when he first awakened his memories. He had bonds. He had people to protect. He had a village to fight for.
Taiichi knocked on the gate.
The door opened to reveal little Masami with her pigtails. When she saw who it was, she let out a shriek.
"Ah! Taiichi-nii is here! Taiichi-nii is here!"
Watching her run back inside to spread the news, Taiichi smiled. This is the innocence I need to protect.
He pushed the gate open. Before he could take more than a few steps, over twenty kids came stampeding out, surrounding him with excited faces.
"Taiichi-nii! You haven't visited in forever!" Masami was the first to speak.
"Taiichi-nii, are you staying to play?" asked Kota, the little leader of the pack.
"Did you bring snacks?"
"Tell us a story!"
Their clear voices were like rain on parched earth, healing the cracks in his heart.
In the distance, Nonou watched from the doorway. She could tell Taiichi had been carrying a heavy burden, but as the children swarmed him, she saw the weight lifting from his shoulders. She smiled and let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
Taiichi sat down and started telling a story. This time, it was the legend of "The Bird That Filled the Sea" (Jingwei). The kids listened intently, interrupting with questions that Taiichi answered with a patient smile.
Before they knew it, it was late. Nonou finally stepped in to disperse the "little rascals" who were begging for just one more story.
Grudgingly, but obediently, under the supervision of Nonou and Taiichi, the kids washed up and went to bed.
Once the children were asleep, Nonou finally had a chance to be alone with Taiichi.
The moonlight washed over the courtyard. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, emphasizing the quiet peace of the night.
Taiichi and Nonou sat together in silence for a long time.
Finally, when a cloud obscured the moon and plunged the yard into shadow, Taiichi began to speak.
He recounted the mission in a flat, suppressed voice, as if talking about someone else's life. Even when he described slitting the five-year-old boy's throat, his expression remained disturbingly calm.
Nonou listened silently. She knew he didn't need advice right now; he just needed someone to listen. He was a strong kid who usually kept a tight lid on his emotions.
As he spoke, Nonou understood his pain.
This was the Ninja World. Children were forced onto the battlefield way too early, faced with "kill or be killed" scenarios. Without proper guidance, these precocious kids—deadly enough to take lives but mentally still developing—could easily go down a dark path.
Fortunately, Taiichi was lucky. And strong. He had used his bonds and convictions to navigate through the crisis.
Nonou stood up, walked over, and gently pulled Taiichi into a hug. She patted his back rhythmically, comforting him just like she used to when he was small.
"The world has ugliness and evil, but it also has beauty and kindness. We don't need to hold onto the ugly things, because they will pass. In the end, what stays with us is the beauty and the good."
Taiichi buried his face in her chest, listening to her steady heartbeat and her gentle words. A profound peace settled over him.
"You're right. I have you, Nonou-nee. I have everyone here. As long as you're with me, I won't get lost again."
Nonou smiled at him. "Being a ninja is full of danger and tests. I didn't want you to graduate so early because I was afraid you weren't ready for this. But seeing you now... I can relax. You've faced it and come out the other side. The road ahead will be smoother now."
"Yeah. Thanks, Nonou-nee."
---
On his way home, Taiichi reflected on the day. It was a close call. If not for Nonou's guidance and his strong bonds, the world might have gained another maniac bent on destroying it.
> [Overcame Heart Demon. Found True Self. Blade Momentum (Guardian) Power +5%]
> [Overcame Heart Demon. Found True Self. Advanced Kenjutsu Proficiency +500]
> [Congratulations. Skill 'Advanced Kenjutsu' leveled up to Lv1 (340/2000)]
Name: Taiichi Matsushita
Class: Genin Lv5 (102/800)
Talents: Hard Worker, Academic Genius, Potent
Age: 8
Constitution: 21
Strength: 20
Agility: 19
Spirit: 24
Chakra: 16,400 (17,200)
Attribute Points: 15
Skill Points: 17
Nature Transformation:
Fire: Lv7 (781/1200)
Wind: Lv7 (846/1200)
Water: Lv7 (562/1200)
Yang: Lv6 (739/1000)
Yin: Lv3 (134/400)
Chakra Shape Transformation: Lv6 (897/1000)
Chakra Control: Lv6 (211/1000)
Skills:
Advanced Taijutsu: Lv1 (420/2000)
Advanced Meditation: Lv1 (534/2000)
Advanced Kenjutsu: Lv1 (440/2000)
Derived Skill: Blade Momentum (Guardian Power +5%)
Description: A blade swung to protect carries greater weight. Infusing the will to guard into the strike makes the user feel unbreakable to the enemy.
One mission. One moment of clarity.
Not only did Taiichi level up, but his sword skills had broken through to the Advanced tier—Jonin level.
With a bit more training, surviving against an average Jonin shouldn't be a problem anymore.