The Kusa team moved cautiously through the territory of the Land of Fire. The dense forest gradually began to open up, revealing vibrant green ndscapes where sunlight danced across the grassy fields. Unlike Kusa, where routes were a constant challenge, the roads of the Land of Fire were famously well-maintained, and the security along the main paths was significantly better. Because of this, their journey progressed faster than expected.

  As they continued, the sun descended toward the horizon, painting the sky a warm orange and bathing the forest in a golden glow. —It’s beautiful here —Aiko remarked, admiring the scenery that stretched out around them—. I can’t remember the st time I saw such a picturesque pce. —You’re right —Hiroshi admitted.

  Miyuki nodded silently, her eyes never ceasing to scan the forest. Though the ndscape offered a deceptive serenity, she knew any moment of distraction could be dangerous. The responsibility of being the leader weighed heavily on her, and her focus never wavered. Being in foreign territory was a constant risk, and one mistake could be costly. —We’re close to Konoha —Miyuki finally said, breaking the silence—. As we get nearer, we need to be even more careful and avoid drawing unnecessary attention. The chunin we saw earlier have already reported our presence, so we’ll likely encounter more teams, and maybe even some jounin. —What if they cross paths with us again? —Aiko asked, a slight tremor in their voice. —If that happens, we’ll show the scroll and expin our mission —Miyuki replied, trying to instill confidence—. We mustn’t panic.

  Although she spoke with firmness, Miyuki couldn’t shake her unease. She knew well that Konoha’s ninjas were known for being formidable and not always welcoming to foreigners, especially in ambiguous situations. The Hidden Leaf Vilge was full of warriors who fiercely defended their territory, and any pretext could turn into an excuse for conflict. It was best to remain unnoticed and move forward without trouble.

  The sounds of the forest accompanied their journey: the rustle of leaves stirred by the wind and the birds’ songs created an atmosphere that was deceptively peaceful. Suddenly, a rustling in the nearby bushes made everyone freeze, tense. Their gazes immediately turned to the source of the noise. —What was that? —Hiroshi whispered, his voice low and strained. —Stay ready —Miyuki ordered, a kunai already in hand. She hadn’t sensed any hostile presence, but one could never be too careful.

  The seconds stretched on as they waited, but soon a small rabbit emerged from the bushes, darting off quickly into the trees. A sigh of relief swept through the group. —Just a rabbit —Aiko said with a nervous ugh—. For a moment, I thought it was a ninja. —Being alert is important for a ninja, but being overly nervous can also be counterproductive —Miyuki advised, reminding both her team and herself.

  The afternoon wore on, and they eventually reached a clearing where the path split. In the distance, the imposing wall of Konoha rose above the trees, with the Leaf symbol waving proudly in the breeze. Akihiro felt a mix of anxiety and awe at the sight of the vilge he had imagined so many times. —There’s Konoha —Hiroshi said, pointing toward the vilge with excitement—. We made it! Now I can finally enjoy a hot shower. —But we’re not done yet —Miyuki replied firmly—. We need to make sure we enter without any issues. We can’t afford any mistakes now.

  The group approached Konoha’s gates, where two vilge guards observed them attentively. Dressed in their official uniforms, their expressions were serious and professional. One of them stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the newcomers. —Who are you, and what is your purpose in Konoha? —he asked, his authoritative voice resonating in the air.

  Miyuki stepped forward calmly, showing the official scroll. —We’re a team from Kusa on an escort mission.

  The guards exchanged gnces, and one of them came closer to inspect the scroll carefully. After a few moments of silence that felt eternal, he nodded. —You may pass, but follow the vilge’s security rules. We don’t want any trouble.

  With that warning, the Kusa team finally crossed Konoha’s gates. Akihiro let out a sigh, marveling at the vilge’s bustling energy and liveliness. —Stay here and don’t move. I need to get our objective to pce the seal on the scroll to confirm the mission’s completion before we can move on —Miyuki said, turning to speak with their target.

  Akihiro looked around. There were many ninjas and civilians walking freely. The vilge was picturesque in its own way and appeared full of life, with a constant flow of people coming and going. Although Konoha was a military vilge, it resembled a commercial and tourist city, allowing many people from other nations to enter, but always under the watchful eye of the ninjas from the moment they entered until they left.

  A while ter, Miyuki returned. —The mission is completed. Now we can either head back or stay for a few days —she announced. Without hesitation, they all responded in unison: —We want to explore!

  Miyuki smiled. —Alright, let’s go. I’ve saved up a lot of money from my missions.

  And so, the mission ended, and a small vacation began.