Naruto rebirth! Born again with a system.

Chapter 37: Return to the Village.

The gates of Konoha came into view as the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the well-worn path. Team 15 moved with careful precision, their formation designed to protect their injured sensei while maintaining defensive coverage against potential threats. The journey back had been tense, every rustle in the underbrush a potential enemy, every shadow a possible ambush.

Shibi leaned heavily against Kōzaru's shoulder, his breathing shallow but steady. The broken ribs made every step an exercise in controlled pain, but his mind remained sharp, processing their surroundings with the practiced awareness of a seasoned jōnin.

"Medical team, gate seven," one of the gate guards called out as he recognized their condition. "Injured squad incoming!"

The response was immediate and professional. A medical team emerged from the gate complex with a stretcher and emergency supplies, their movements efficient and practiced. Konoha's medical corps had been honed by years of war, and they responded to injured shinobi with the competence that saved lives.

"Aburame Shibi," the lead medic said, his hands already glowing with diagnostic chakra. "Multiple fractures, possible internal bleeding. We need to move him immediately."

"The mission," Shibi said weakly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Intelligence hawks... secured..."

"The mission is complete, Sensei," Kōzaru said firmly, his hand moving to steady his teacher as the medical team took over. "Focus on recovery."

As the medical team loaded Shibi onto the stretcher, Kōzaru carefully transferred the secured intelligence hawks to the appropriate handler. The birds remained calm despite their ordeal, their training keeping them composed even in the chaotic environment of the village gates.

"Team 15," the gate captain said, his voice carrying the authority of someone who had seen too many missions end in tragedy. "The Hokage wants to see you immediately. Your mission report is priority one."

The three genin exchanged glances, their exhaustion evident but their determination intact. They had completed their first truly dangerous mission, and now they would face the scrutiny of the village leadership. The weight of that responsibility was both daunting and empowering.

The Hokage's office felt different this time—less like a place of assignment and more like a judgment chamber. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the 3rd Hokage and renown as a god of shinobi, sat behind his desk, his expression grave as he reviewed the preliminary reports from the gate security. The intelligence hawks perched nearby, their presence a tangible reminder of the mission's success.

"Team 15," the Hokage said, his voice carrying the measured tone of someone who had spent decades evaluating mission reports. "Your D-rank mission encountered significant enemy resistance."

"Four chunin-level Mist ninja," Aotaka reported, his voice steady despite the exhaustion. "They had been tracking the intelligence hawks for an unknown period."

"And you engaged them directly," Hiruzen continued, his eyes moving between the three genin with calculating assessment. "A team of fresh genin against experienced Mist chunin operatives."

The implications hung in the air like a blade. Engaging enemy chunin was far beyond the expected scope of a D-rank mission, and the consequences could have been catastrophic. But the results spoke for themselves—the intelligence was secured, the enemy was neutralized, and the team had survived.

"We worked as a team," Tatsuma said, his voice carrying the quiet confidence of someone who had proven himself in combat. "Coordination and tactical thinking."

"The Hōzuki clan member," Hiruzen said, his tone sharpening. "You defeated her through lightning-style techniques?"

"Aotaka's lightning style disrupted her Hydrification Technique," Kōzaru confirmed. "Without that advantage, she was vulnerable to coordinated assault."

The Hokage nodded slowly as he listened, looking at Kōzaru with a questioning look.

"And you know of the Hydrification Technique how?" He asked, getting a stunned expression from all three of them.

"During the fight sir, I overheard the Mist ninja refer to her own technique, telling us our physical attacks were useless against her." He said, managing to pull a fast one out of the bag.

The Hokage interlocked his fingers, his evaluation of their capabilities clearly being revised upward. The defeat of a Hōzuki clan member required both skill and intelligence—physical attacks alone would never have succeeded. Not many know of this ability, few live to tell the tales of such." He said with a nod of approval, seeming to buy Kōzaru's story, getting a quiet sigh of relief from the others.

"And your sensei's condition?" Hiruzen asked, though his tone suggested he already knew the answer.

"Serious but stable," Kōzaru reported. "He used advanced Aburame techniques to eliminate the remaining two enemies, but the final technique of the Mist ninja caught him in the blast radius."

"The Insect Sphere and Insect Imprisonment techniques," the Hokage said, his voice carrying the weight of someone who understood the true scope of what had occurred. "Shibi rarely uses those techniques except in life-or-death situations."

The silence that followed was heavy with implications. The mission had escalated far beyond its original parameters, and the fact that all three genin had survived spoke to their potential as shinobi. But it also raised questions about their readiness for higher-level missions.

"The intelligence gathered from these hawks," Hiruzen continued, his hands moving to examine the birds with gentle precision, "confirms several of our suspicions about Mist Village movements. Your mission has likely prevented a significant intelligence breach."

The validation was important, but it came with a price. Success at this level meant higher expectations, more dangerous assignments, and the constant pressure of living up to their demonstrated capabilities.

"Team 15," the Hokage said, his voice carrying formal authority. "For the successful completion of what became an B-rank mission due to enemy contact, I congratulate you, in the name of the Hokage and the village hidden in the leaves."

The system notifications appeared immediately:

[MISSION COMPLETE] Experience Gained: 550 EXP. Level Up! All three of them heard chime in their ear.

The rush of advancement was intoxicating, but it came with the sobering knowledge that their growth had been bought with genuine danger and the near-loss of their sensei. Power in the shinobi world was always paid for in blood and sacrifice.

"With Shibi in the hospital," Hiruzen continued, "you will be assigned a temporary squad leader until he recovers. I'm currently evaluating several candidates—both chunin and jōnin—who could provide appropriate leadership for your skill level, depending on who has the time between missions."

The uncertainty was unsettling. They had grown accustomed to Shibi's analytical approach and quiet competence. A new leader would mean adjusting to different tactics, different expectations, and different methods of operation.

"Until then," the Hokage said, his expression softening slightly, "you are granted three days of recovery leave. Rest, train, and prepare for what comes next. Your performance today suggests you'll be receiving more challenging assignments in the future."

As they left the Hokage's office, the weight of their advancement settled over them like a mantle. They were no longer the fresh genin who had struggled with basic techniques—they were proven shinobi who had faced chunin-level opponents and emerged victorious.

"Who do you think they'll assign?" Tatsuma asked, his voice carrying the uncertainty they all felt.

"Someone who can handle our coordination style," Aotaka replied thoughtfully. "We've proven that teamwork is our strength."

"As long as they don't try to change everything," Kōzaru added, his enhanced senses detecting the fatigue in his teammates' voices. "We work well together."

The conversation continued as they made their way through the village, but eventually, they reached the point where their paths diverged. The familiarity of home beckoned, offering the promise of rest and recovery after their harrowing mission.

"See you in three days," Tatsuma said, his voice carrying the exhaustion that came from extended combat and the long journey home.

"Get some rest," Aotaka added, his own fatigue evident in his posture. "We've earned it."

Kōzaru nodded, his attention already turning toward the Inuzuka compound and the promise of his own bed. Yuki and Riku padded alongside him, their own exhaustion evident in their slower pace and drooping ears. The ninja hounds had proven invaluable during the mission, but they too needed rest and recovery.

The Inuzuka compound came into view as the evening shadows lengthened, its familiar scents and sounds providing comfort after the tension of combat. But as Kōzaru approached the main house, his enhanced senses detected something unexpected—his mother's scent, strong and recent.

She was home.

The front door opened before he could reach it, revealing Mika Inuzuka in all her fierce glory. Her wild brown hair caught the evening light, and her sharp eyes immediately assessed his condition with the practiced gaze of someone who had seen countless missions end in injury or death.

Beside her, Kiba—her massive ninja war hound—lifted his head from where he had been dozing on the floor. The great dog's eyes fixed on Yuki and Riku with the interest of a pack leader evaluating returning members.

"About time you got back," Mika said, her voice carrying the gruff affection that characterized her interactions with family. "I've been hearing stories about my son's adventures."

"You're back," Kōzaru said, relief evident in his voice.

"Got back this morning," she confirmed, her sharp eyes noting the signs of combat stress and exhaustion. "Heard you've been busy. Two C-rank missions and your first kill—not bad for a rookie."

The casual mention of taking a life was typical of Mika's direct approach. In the shinobi world, killing was a reality that couldn't be softened with euphemisms or gentle words. She had raised him to understand that fact, even if the reality was still settling in his mind.

"Tell me about it," she said, settling into her chair with the fluid grace of someone who had spent decades perfecting the art of combat. "The missions, the teamwork, the enemies you faced."

Kōzaru settled onto the floor, Yuki and Riku flanking him while Kiba watched with calm interest. The telling of the tale took time, his mother's sharp questions drawing out details about tactics, coordination, and the crucial moments that had determined victory or defeat.

"The Hōzuki clan member," she said when he finished, her voice carrying the analytical tone of someone evaluating combat effectiveness. "Lightning-style weakness was smart thinking, but it was the coordination that made it work."

"Aotaka's technique, Tatsuma's clones, and the tracking," Kōzaru confirmed. "We couldn't have done it individually."

"And you took point on the tracking," Tsume noted, her pride evident despite her matter-of-fact tone. "Used your senses to coordinate the entire assault. That's real leadership there runt."

The validation from his mother carried weight that no system notification could match. She had trained him from childhood, shaped his understanding of what it meant to be an Inuzuka, and her approval meant he was truly growing into his potential, even if she wasn't his real mother, he was getting used to the idea that she was something along those lines in this world.

"Tomorrow," she said, her voice carrying the promise of intensive training, "I'm going to test your abilities properly. See how much you've grown, what needs work, and what techniques you're ready to learn."

The prospect was both exciting and terrifying. Mika's training methods were legendary for their intensity, and her standards were uncompromising. But the opportunity to learn from one of the clan's most skilled fighters was invaluable.

"Tonight, though," she continued, her tone softening slightly, "you eat, rest, and recover. Combat stress needs time to settle, and your body needs fuel to rebuild."

The meal that followed was simple but hearty, the kind of food that restored both body and spirit after extended hardship. Yuki and Riku received their own portions, their successful performance during the mission earning them the respect of the pack leader.

After dinner, Kōzaru drew a hot bath, the warm water soothing muscles that had been pushed to their limits during the desperate journey home. As he soaked, his mind wandered over the events of the past days—the terror of facing chunin-level opponents, the satisfaction of coordinated victory, and the sobering reality of taking lives in combat.

The Naruto world had seemed like an adventure when he first arrived, but the reality was far more complex. Power came with responsibility, victory came with sacrifice, and growth came through facing genuine danger. The system notifications were just numbers—the real advancement came from surviving the trials that forged those numbers into actual capability.

Settling into bed, he opened his status screen one final time before sleep:

Kōzaru:

Inuzuka Clan: Level 7: EXP (470/1600) Skill points available: 2,

Health: 135 + (12×2) = 159,

Chakra: 135+ (8×2) = 151,

Taijutsu: 12,

Ninjutsu: 8,

Genjutsu: 2,

Kenjutsu: 2,

Abilities: Wind Style (Gale Palm): Cost 20 chakra.

Body Flicker: Cost 10 chakra.

Beast Mimicry: All-Fours Jutsu: Cost 30 chakra.

Man Beast Clone: Cost 30 chakra per clone.

Special: Heightened senses Yuki & Riku: Ninja hounds Basic Pack Coordination.

The skill points represented choices about his future development. Every point allocated was a step toward becoming the shinobi he wanted to be, and the mission had shown him where his strengths lay.

Physical combat had been crucial during the fight with Mizuki. His enhanced senses had provided tracking capabilities, but when it came to actual engagement, his taijutsu skills had been tested to their limits. The improvement would make him more effective in close-quarters combat and better able to protect his teammates.

Skill points allocated: Taijutsu +2

Kōzaru:

Inuzuka Clan: Level 7: EXP (470/1600) Skill points available: 0

Health: 135 + (14×2) = 163,

Chakra: 135+ (8×2) = 151,

Taijutsu: 14,

Ninjutsu: 8,

Genjutsu: 2,

Kenjutsu: 2,

Abilities: Wind Style (Gale Palm): Cost 20 chakra.

Body Flicker: Cost 10 chakra.

Beast Mimicry: All-Fours Jutsu: Cost 30 chakra.

Man Beast Clone: Cost 30 chakra per clone.

Special: Heightened senses Yuki & Riku: Ninja hounds Basic Pack Coordination.

The improvement was subtle but significant. His body felt stronger, his reflexes faster, and his understanding of combat movement more refined. The system's enhancements worked in mysterious ways, but their effects were undeniably real.

Now that he had levelled his Taijutsu to level 14, he realized that he was now in the Chunin level of Taijutsu, bringing up the system specs as he examined it.

Skill Level → Jutsu Tier Unlocked

1–4 → Academy/basic jutsu,

4–12 → Genin-level techniques,

12–20 → Chunin-level techniques,

20–40 → Jonin-ANBU level techniques,

40–50 → S rank-Kage-level techniques.

Does this mean I'll be able to learn more advanced Taijutsu tecniques... Kōzaru wondered as he soaked in the hot water.

Before long Kōzaru got out of the bath and made his way to his bedroom, hoping into bed once he changed into his PJ's.

Yuki and Riku settled onto their beds nearby, their own exhaustion evident in their deep, steady breathing. The ninja hounds had proven themselves during the mission, their coordination and sensory abilities making them invaluable partners in combat.

As sleep began to claim him, Kōzaru's thoughts turned to the challenges ahead. His mother's training would push him to new limits, a new squad leader would bring different expectations, and the war would continue to escalate around them.

But tonight, he was safe in his family's compound, surrounded by the pack that had shaped him into the shinobi he was becoming. Tomorrow would bring new trials, but for now, rest was enough.

The successful completion of their first truly dangerous mission had marked a turning point in their development. They were no longer students playing at being ninja—they were proven shinobi who had faced death and emerged victorious through skill, coordination, and the bonds forged in combat.

Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, as a team that had learned to trust in each other's abilities and fight as one coordinated unit. The path of the shinobi was never easy, but they had taken another crucial step along its dangerous course.