From the Ashes

𝐻𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝒮𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓉 𝐻𝑜𝓂𝑒.

The seven days it took for Kurenai's wound to heal had been a well needed rest and recovery from the madness that had started off as a C-rank.

Kakashi's messenger bird had been dispatched once they'd laid Zabuza to rest,reassuring the kage that they were indeed still alive after the month and change they'd spent in the Land of Waves...That was supposed to only be a week.

Today was the day they were set to depart,much to the people of Wave's sadness.Saryn and Haku had made sure to visit Zabuza's grave one last time before they'd met the group infront of the town, where the camp received one last standing ovation as they departed.

Tazuna also took the liberty to grant them honorary citizenship,and to be on a lookout for a treaty once they'd returned to their former prowess as a merchant town.

So with nothing left on the agenda,the Konoha teams headed back home,Haku in tow as they were eager to see the village again.

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Words couldn't capture the relief they'd felt, seeing the gates of their village after so long.They'd checked in at the gate briefly,stopping as the eternal guards Izumo and Kotetsu questioned the plus one with them.

"Who's the girl?" Izumo scrutinized Haku,narrowing his eyes at the Kiri headband that still sat on his forehead.

Before Kakashi could wave them off,an ANBU appeared before the crowd of ninja. "All is in order,Izumo-san.The girl,along with Team 7 and Team 8 are to report to Hokage-sama."

He nodded to Kakashi before vanishing,leaving them to be welcomed into Konoha.

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The walk to the Hokage tower had been rather mundane for Saryn.Haku however seemed starstruck,seeing the bright and warm colors of the infrastructure that reflected the uplifting atmosphere of the coveted hidden village.

Beside them,Naruto grinned as he sought their attention,walking backwards with his hands behind his head. "So,what do you think Hokage-jiji is gonna say once he learns we saved a country?" Saryn closed her eyes,smiling at the memory of the spiraling mess of a mission.

"I believe he'll be pleasantly surprised.The hard part,will be convincing him to accept Haku as a Leaf shinobi." Haku tensed for a second,remembering that his Kiri headband was still upon his forehead.Quickly he took it off,letting his hair cascade down his neck as they neared the tower.

Most of Team 7 and Team 8 broke off to their own devices sometime during their stroll to the tower as you didn't need ten people to give one report. Kurenai,Kakashi and the three youths were more than enough to contribute to the oral report.

They'd walked in,the desk lady smiling brightly at them. "Hokage-sama's been waiting for you for a long time now,Kakashi-kun."

"Well now,guess we can't keep him waiting too long." He thanked her as she waved them in,nodding to their wizened leader as they filed in.

Upon their entry Haku was awestruck once again: Before them was the God of Shinobi,the Godfather and The Professor.The Sandaime Hokage sat at his desk,grandfatherly smile on as he welcomed them in.He did notice however,a few shadows seemed to shimmer out of the walls as the door closed behind them.

Hiruzen folded his hands as the senseis came and saluted their leader.

"Team 7,returning from a successful mission."

"Team 8,mission was a hell of a success,Hokage-sama."

The man nodded,raising an eyebrow to the latter part.Yes,he'd learned of the monument of lies the bridge builders had built up to get them to send out a team.The Sandaime read the report from the messenger bird and was a hundred percent sure had he not gotten that backup to Team 7 they'd have been killed.