The Forgemage of Konoha

Departure

After briefly explaining the key points of the recent breakthrough to Okita and Saori, Shirō brought them back to the house. It wasn't the right time to delve into such matters—especially when the preparations for the gathering were nearly complete. It would be inappropriate to keep the elders waiting.

When they returned, Might Guy had just arrived.

"Brother Shirō," Guy called out with his usual enthusiasm, immediately standing up in greeting.

"Hey, Guy, relax a little. No need to be so formal," Shirō replied with a chuckle.

"Yes, Brother Shirō," he responded, though still standing at full attention.

Shirō sighed in resignation. "Fine, as long as you're comfortable. Let me introduce you—this is my friend Okita, and his girlfriend, Saori. Okita, this is Might Guy. Just call him Guy; he's a close friend of mine."

"Oh, by the way," Shirō added, "Guy, you're entering the Academy next year, right?"

"Yes, I'm getting ready for the entrance exams," Guy said proudly.

"Great! You three should get along well then. Okita and Saori are still students at the Academy. You'll probably see each other around next year."

"We still have one more year before graduation," Okita added with a polite nod.

"Perfect. Guy, if you need anything at school, just look for Okita. He's pretty dependable—strong enough to deal with most minor problems. You guys talk for a bit. I'm going to help out with the preparations."

As someone who grew up under the values of diligence and discipline—reminiscent of the Will of Fire and modern sensibility—Shirō couldn't just sit around while his elders worked.

Even if he wasn't allowed to cook, he could still carry plates or help set the table. Doing nothing would feel wrong.

Not that his help was especially needed—Keiko and the others had already done most of the work. Still, Shirō assisted by carrying dishes out to the courtyard.

"Shirō, go call your father and Uncle Ci Lang," Keiko called out.

"On it!"

He jogged over to the study room. "Dad, Uncle, it's ready. Come eat."

"Got it. Let's go, Ci Lang. Wouldn't do to keep the kids waiting too long," Qieshi said, standing.

"Right. We'll continue our discussion tomorrow," Ci Lang agreed as they headed out.

Incidentally, Qieshi and Ci Lang worked in the same department at the Intelligence Division. Whenever they had free time, they liked to exchange notes and analyze foreign intel together. Over the years, this had become their preferred form of bonding.

In the courtyard, as the scent of grilled meat filled the air, Ci Lang turned to Okita. "So, Okita, you're graduating next year, aren't you? Confident about the exam?"

"Don't worry, Dad. I'm sure I could pass it now if I tried," Okita replied. "But Brother Shirō advised me to stay another year, to build a better foundation."

"Hmph, I doubt that's all you're thinking about," Ci Lang muttered, his eyes briefly flicking toward Saori.

"I don't disapprove of you two dating," he continued, "but don't neglect your training."

Before Okita could reply, Nanako interjected sharply.

"Honestly, can you not bring this up every time the kids come over? It's exhausting! And they haven't even been slacking off!"

Ci Lang raised his hands defensively. "I was just offering guidance! No need to get so worked up."

"They don't need your guidance! Okita will train just fine," Nanako huffed.

Keiko chimed in next, taking a jab at her own son. "That's right. Okita's doing well. Unlike our Shirō—who's strong, sure—but hasn't even found a girlfriend yet! This boy has no sense of urgency!"

"...Eh?" Shirō blinked, confused. Weren't we talking about Okita? How did I get dragged into this?

Keiko scowled at him. "What are you staring at? You're a real handful sometimes."

A handful? Shirō mused bitterly, sipping his tea. So in your eyes, only perverted lolicons aren't troublesome? Sorry, can't help you there. I walk the path of big sisters. Lolis are heresy.

As he slipped into this mental tangent, Keiko's complaints grew louder, forcing Shirō to act.

"Okay, okay, Mom. I get it. Let's eat before the food gets cold, yeah?"

Keiko narrowed her eyes at him, clearly aware he was trying to change the subject, but chose to let it go.

As the meal continued, the atmosphere lightened. Okita and Guy started chatting more easily. After all, nothing brings people closer than sharing a meal—an ancient truth passed down through generations. As long as worldviews don't clash too hard, a table full of grilled meat solves a lot.

The barbecue didn't last long, though. Shirō had a mission the next day, so they wrapped things up early. Everyone said their goodbyes and dispersed.

As always, Shirō didn't go straight to bed. He trained first.

Training wasn't optional—it was the core of his survival. Even Emiya Shirou, who possessed 27 Magic Circuits and the Origin of "Sword," only reached his peak through relentless training.

After all, standing toe-to-toe with the Lancer of the Fifth Holy Grail War—Cú Chulainn, the Hound of Ulster—even without the advantage of summoned fame, proved just how much dedication mattered.

Shirō, who could now barely project C-rank Noble Phantasms without strain, knew he still had a long road ahead.

This was no time to relax.

---

The next morning, Shirō left quietly without waking his parents. He headed to Konoha's northern gate where the team was supposed to gather.

As expected, Shikamaru was late again.

Once the full team was assembled, Nakamura led them to a quiet corner to brief them.

"Our mission is similar to last time," Nakamura said. "We're hunting rogue shinobi again. Most of them are Chunin-level—dangerous, but manageable. However, this time, I want each of you to handle your targets solo."

"That's fine, but…" Shirō frowned. "Why are there so many rogue ninja lately? Konoha doesn't usually produce that many, right?"

Shikamaru and Taiyi nodded in agreement, also curious.

It was a reasonable concern. Konoha was the strongest of the Five Great Shinobi Nations. While rogue ninja certainly existed, they were rarely this numerous.

Shirō's last mission was rogue ninja suppression—and now they were doing it again?

Nakamura nodded, clearly expecting the question.

"They're not all from Konoha," he explained. "Some are shinobi from other nations posing as our missing-nin to stir chaos. Our job is to eliminate them and prevent misinformation from spreading. Konoha's actual rogue ninja are being handled by internal units like the Anbu and the Konoha Military Police."

"So our targets are foreign operatives?" Taiyi asked.

"Some, yes. We're also clearing out bandits and mountain brigands along the way. The higher-ups want this entire sector pacified."

"Ugh, such a hassle," Shikamaru groaned.

"Do you think you were able to train peacefully just by luck?" Shirō shot back.

"Sigh… I should've stayed in the field longer," Shikamaru muttered.

"Enough whining," Nakamura said with a smirk. "Let's make sure these interlopers regret underestimating Konoha. They've forgotten what it means to provoke a victor. It's time to remind them."