Chapter 56 - Returning to Konoha
Chapter 56 - Returning to Konoha
Konoha Village – The Village Gates
As the night deepened, the massive gates of Konoha stood tall, their wooden surface illuminated only by the flickering torches lining the walls.
Two Uchiha shinobi stood on either side of the entrance, their posture relaxed as they engaged in idle conversation. With the village safely tucked within its defenses, their job rarely required anything more than standing around.
"I heard from the villagers that the Clan Head and the others completely crushed Iwagakure in the recent war," said Uchiha Salt, his arms crossed as he turned to his companion, Uchiha Vinegar. "Apparently, the Clan Head chased their army for over fifty miles—straight to the Land of Earth's border—before letting them escape."
Vinegar let out a low whistle. "No surprise there. I also heard that Shisui took out over a dozen Jonin in a single Shunin. That's Uchiha prowess for you!" His voice brimmed with pride, as though he had been the one to perform the feat himself.
Salt smirked. "For real? That kid's got style—reminds me of my younger days." He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if revealing an important secret. "You know, Shisui is actually my third aunt's second cousin's girlfriend's third cousin's second uncle's kid."
Vinegar's expression instantly shifted. "Wait, what?! That means you're practically family! You've gotta put in a good word for me sometime!"
Salt waved him off. "Ah, let's keep it low-key. I don't go around telling just anyone."
For a moment, silence hung between them before Salt's brow furrowed in thought. "By the way, I heard that the most useless member of our clan—that idiot Obito—also went to the front lines. Any idea how he's doing?"
Vinegar snorted, shaking his head. "Him? Funny you bring that up. Ever since he left, my grandmother's been missing him. She used to make him help her exercise by walking her across the street ten times a day. Now that he's gone, she's been sitting around so much that she actually put on weight."
He sighed before adding, "But I did hear he finally awakened his Sharingan on the battlefield. Not only that, but he's already at two tomoe. The clan even put him on the priority training list."
Salt clicked his tongue. "Damn, even he awakened it? Unbelievable. Too bad the Clan Head wouldn't let us go to war. If I had gone, I'd probably have a three-tomoe Sharingan by now!"
Vinegar smirked. "Yeah, sure. We're just Genin. We don't exactly have much standing in the clan. The lowest-ranked shinobi the Clan Head took to war were Elite Chunin. Guys like us, with our single-tomoe Sharingan, are only good enough to guard the village gates."
Salt let out a long sigh. "Honestly, even if an enemy village did try to invade, they wouldn't be dumb enough to use the front gate. I've been on gate duty for five years, and I've never once seen an enemy shinobi attempt to enter through here."
Vinegar chuckled. "Wouldn't matter if they did. Could you even beat them?"
Salt ignored the jab and steered the conversation in another direction. "Still, the Hatake clan got pretty lucky, huh? First, they had White Fang, and now they've got the Demon Swordsman. My kid was in the same academy class as Kazane, yet he's still just a Genin. How can people be so different?"
Vinegar burst into laughter. "Your kid? Becoming someone like Kazane? Now that's a joke!"
Lately, Hatake Kazane's reputation had only continued to grow. He had become an S-rank shinobi with a fearsome battlefield title, and even Kakashi had already made a name for himself by defeating a Jonin at such a young age.
In the village, a new saying had begun to spread:
> If you have a son, raise him like Hatake Sakumo.
If you teach a son, train him like Hatake Kazane.
The words had become a source of admiration—and jealousy—for many.
Just as the two guards were deep in conversation, movement in the distance caught Salt's eye.
His casual demeanor stiffened.
"Hey… do you see that?"
Vinegar turned to look.
Silhouettes—five figures—appeared on the horizon, steadily approaching the village gates. Their forms gradually became clearer as they neared.
Their conversation came to an abrupt halt.
The gates of Konoha stood tall against the moonlit sky, their wooden surface reinforced with layers of chakra-infused steel. A pair of Uchiha guards stood at their post, their sharp eyes scanning the dimly lit road that stretched beyond the village walls.
It was common knowledge among merchants, travelers, and villagers—once night fell, Konoha's gates were sealed.
Even shinobi knew better than to try returning after dark. Those who arrived late typically camped outside, waiting until sunrise to enter.
And yet, against all expectations—
A group of five figures was steadily making their way toward the village entrance.
Uchiha Salt's brows furrowed as he peered into the distance, his stance tensing.
"Who the hell would be approaching at this hour?"
Salt's breath hitched.
His Sharingan flared instinctively, locking onto the leading figure. His eyes widened in disbelief.
"Wait… Hatake Kazane?!"
Vinegar, who had been lazily leaning against the gate's frame, shot him a skeptical look.
"What are you babbling about? Kazane is supposed to be at the front lines with the Clan Head! How could he possibly be here?"
But the moment he followed Salt's gaze, his words caught in his throat.
His jaw dropped.
"Holy sh— It's really him!"
Hatake Kazane .
A name that had sent ripples across the entire shinobi world.
The Demon Swordsman of Konoha, the man who had carved his way through Iwagakure's elite forces, the one rumored to have slain Kitsuchi, the general of Iwagakure's army.
And yet—he was standing right here, approaching Konoha's gates as if he had merely gone out for a stroll.
Salt exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "Are you just gonna stand there drooling, or are you actually going to go greet the village's hero?"
Vinegar snapped out of his daze, nodding hastily.
The two Uchiha guards straightened their posture, adjusting their headbands before stepping forward to meet the incoming group.
Of all the clans in Konoha, the Uchiha held the greatest respect for Kazane .
His actions during the war had done more than just secure victories—they had shifted the balance of power within Konoha itself.
For decades, the Uchiha clan had been marginalized—pushed into the shadows by the village's leadership, their influence carefully restrained.
But Kazane 's exploits on the battlefield had changed everything.
Reports had already reached the Uchiha elders through summoning techniques. The moment it was confirmed that Kazane had helped turn the tide of war, securing overwhelming victories for Konoha with their clan members, the Uchiha had taken notice.
Even those who had once dismissed him as an outsider to their clan's affairs now understood the truth—
Kazane had helped them rewritten their future.
As Kazane and his group reached the village gates, Salt and Vinegar respectfully stepped forward.
"Kazane -sama, welcome back to Konoha!" Vinegar's voice was formal, all traces of his previous arrogance gone. "For security reasons, we'll need to verify your identification before entry."
Even now, despite the reverence in their tone, the Uchiha clan did not take their duties lightly.
With the war still ongoing, enemy infiltration was a very real threat. Disguises, transformation jutsu, and sensory illusions were all potential risks—especially when dealing with a shinobi as high-profile as Kazane .
Without hesitation, Kazane reached into his vest, retrieving his Jonin identification and handing it over.
Behind him, Might Duy, Might Guy, Shiranui Genma, and Ebisu all produced their mission documents, presenting them to the guards.
Vinegar accepted the paperwork, his expression serious as he meticulously checked every detail.
A long silence stretched between them as he carefully examined the identification, cross-referencing the official seals, the ink stamps, and the chakra-infused marks that prevented forgery.
Finally, after ensuring everything was in order, he nodded and handed them back.
"Kazane -sama, everything is in order. Welcome home."
This time, his voice carried a different weight—not just respect, but acknowledgment.
With a signal from Salt, the massive gates of Konoha groaned open, their reinforced wood creaking as they swung inward.
Beyond them, the dimly lit streets of the village stretched forward, the faint glow of lanterns flickering along the buildings.
As Kazane stepped through the entrance, his presence casting a long shadow against the torchlight, the realization truly sank in.
He was home.
Salt and Vinegar stood at attention as Kazane and his group disappeared into the village.
The moment the gates sealed shut behind them, Salt let out a long exhale, his posture finally relaxing.
"…Damn." He shook his head, still processing what had just happened. "I knew he was strong, but seeing him up close… it's different."
Vinegar nodded silently, watching the spot where Kazane had just stood.
There was a weight in his presence—a pressure that wasn't just physical but instinctive.
No wonder the entire shinobi world had begun whispering his name.
No wonder even the Uchiha elders were starting to take notice.
Finally, Salt chuckled, shaking his head.
"…Maybe I should stop slacking off and start training seriously again."
Vinegar smirked. "Yeah… maybe we both should."
And with that, the village gates remained closed, standing tall beneath the moonlit sky—guarding Konoha as another legend walked its streets.
TN/ Yes, I have the same thoughts as u guys— wtf?!— I checked it five times, but I guess Vinegar and Salt is supposed to be. Ah, Uchiha. Let's just pray they're just passing characters. But seriously, surely better names than that.