Time passed swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, a full month had gone by.
During that month, Team Eight completed three missions in total—two C-rank and one A-rank.
Strictly speaking, they were actually three C-rank missions, with one of them unexpectedly escalating to an A-rank in the middle.
Any mission that involves going up against other shinobi, even if they're just rogue ninja whose skills might be inferior to academy students, is by definition at least B-rank.
Wealthy patrons or nobles might not mind high fees, so they'll usually commission B-rank or above so the village assigns powerful shinobi to protect them.
But not everyone is so free with their money. Plenty of shrewd employers will hold on to a glimmer of hope, thinking there won't really be any shinobi threats, so they only pay the C-rank price but expect B-rank or better results.
The first two C-rank missions for Team Eight both went very smoothly, with no unexpected issues.
In fact, if Team Eight actually wanted trouble, they still couldn't get any.
Setting aside the Tenseigan, Izayoi also had a several-dozen-kilometers range on his Mind's Eye of the Kagura. Hinata's Byakugan had similarly impressive distance vision, nearing 30 kilometers now, and on top of that, they had Shino's insects to track scent.
Their survival skills were off the charts.
Unless the enemy had space-time ninjutsu, they simply had no way to catch Team Eight because they'd be spotted from dozens of kilometers away.
So it was inevitable that Team Eight wouldn't end up in fiascoes like Team Seven, who ran into trouble nine out of every ten missions.
If the client was cooperative, even if they picked up signs of enemy ninja ahead, they'd just advise taking a detour and only charge the C-rank commission.
However, their third mission had the misfortune of running into a "cheapskate" type of client.
He had a bit of money but not a lot, yet insisted on flaunting himself like he was some rich noble. He was obnoxiously arrogant, refused to listen to Izayoi's advice, and firmly believed that turning aside to avoid trouble was just "time-wasting nonsense."
With no supervising adult around, and three younger but proud shinobi, Team Eight decided they'd give that client a lesson.
Sure enough, when they encountered a band of rogue ninja ahead, Team Eight immediately "abandoned the mission," scaring the client so badly he almost wet himself. The client rushed to upgrade the mission to B-rank on the spot—yet the group only refused, claiming Team Eight "might not be up to the task."
In the end, the client upped the request from a C-rank all the way to an A-rank—top-tier A-rank, with a fee of one million ryō.
When Hinata and Shino tore through the enemy with no difficulty, the employer became completely docile and dared not try cheating them out of the payment.
He could see that if he tried to swindle them, these three "teenagers" could easily end his life.
Hence, in the official records, Team Eight ended up having one more A-rank mission.
After three consecutive missions, Shino was the only one who stayed unimpressed—Izayoi and Hinata didn't even feel tired.
In truth, they'd basically turned each mission into a "business + trip."
All they had to do was run regular scans every so often—Hinata's Byakugan, Shino's insects, plus Izayoi's Mind's Eye of the Kagura, and they were good.
Outside that, it was just them and the road: walking side by side, eating side by side, staying awake on watch side by side—sometimes even napping on each other's laps.
With that going on for three missions straight, Shino had his fill. Finally, unable to take any more, he asked for some time off—and only then was he "freed."
From Hinata's perspective, that was a shame.
Because inside the village, there was always Hanabi or Karin… or even Sasuke hogging Izayoi's attention.
Only on missions away from home was Izayoi truly hers alone, one-hundred percent doting on her.
Meanwhile, two months had gone by, and Izayoi's new house was now 50% complete.
At this pace, it'd likely be done around mid-to-late December.
His Wood Release range was too big—he couldn't really apply it finely to ornamental parts of the structure, or it'd just slow things down.
If it were just a simple building, a single "Wood Release: Three-Rooms-and-a-Living-Room no Jutsu" would've sorted it out in a snap.
…
Early morning, in the Land of Fields.
Within a hidden underground base…
"Hah… Hah… Damn you, Old Man!"
A hoarse voice cursed inside a dimly-lit chamber.
Orochimaru was in the bathing room, letting fresh water rinse endlessly over the blood pouring from his arms.
Even though both arms throbbed with excruciating pain, they were motionless.
Because the agony was in his very soul.
Outside the bath, Kabuto was mixing medicine, wearing a worried expression:
"Orochimaru-sama, you've lost the soul of both your arms. It's causing a backlash between your spirit and this body you 'borrowed,' speeding up its collapse."
"At this rate, your body will fail in about a week, so you have to complete the Rebirth right away or risk total breakdown."
"I know that—no need to remind me!"
Orochimaru gritted his teeth viciously, so furious his usual gentlemanly composure was nowhere to be seen.
Glaring at the blood that never seemed to stop flowing, Orochimaru growled:
"I have to perform the Rebirth earlier than planned… Let's go to Konoha and capture Sasuke-kun for me!"
"Time is too short, though," Kabuto pointed out, pushing up his glasses. "You haven't branded him with the Curse Seal yet, and given his current ability, he won't be able to reach 'Curse Mark Stage Two' in a short span of time. Even if you succeed in transferring now, you'll end up missing out on Jūgo's power."
"Hehehe… Kabuto, never underestimate that man's younger brother," Orochimaru said with a sinister smile. "If it's to kill that man, Sasuke-kun would walk through hell itself. That kind of hatred and drive—he'll endure any ordeal. I believe once he's 'died' once, he'll be reborn into someone entirely new."
"Oh, I see."
Kabuto looked pensive, already understanding Orochimaru's plan for forcibly accelerating Sasuke's "growth."
"All right, then. I'll have the Sound Four capture Sasuke-kun in three days," Orochimaru said firmly.
"Yes, sir," Kabuto answered, leaving the room.
As he passed down a hallway, Kabuto stopped by a particular door upon hearing muffled, agonized moaning from within. After a moment's hesitation, he opened the door and went inside.
…
"Haah—boom!"
Late afternoon, beside the Naka River.
A crisp cry from a girl echoed out, followed by fish blasting out of the water as if struck by a torpedo.
Lightning crackled around Sasuke, who stared in shock at the water erupting into a column. His newly awakened three-tomoe Sharingan and the excitement from before had all but vanished, replaced by fear.
As droplets from the water spout rained back down, soaking him to the bone, Sasuke turned to face the red-haired girl. In his eyes, her crimson pupils gleamed with a color even deeper than that of the Sharingan—like some sort of demon.
"You… were you trying to kill me just now?!" Sasuke shouted, the fighting spirit drained from his voice.
"Huh—?"
Karin seemed confused, scratching her head. "But you told me to 'go all out,' didn't you?"
"I only said to help me practice my chakra control on the river!" Sasuke said, feeling a migraine. "You just finished learning the Lightning Release transformation, right?!"
"Ohh…" Karin blinked, then gave an awkward laugh: "My bad! I've been focusing on Monster Strength training—my instincts kinda took over."
Just the thought of her spontaneously adding Lightning Release to that blow had Sasuke's blood run cold.
If that had actually happened, he'd be seeing his parents—and the entire Uchiha clan—in the afterlife right about now.
Deciding that she was about as dangerous and clueless as Naruto, Sasuke dispelled his Chidori Current and said dismissively, "Never mind—we're done for today."
But inwardly, he resolved: Never again.
At least Hinata—that dear sister-in-law—always just fought until his stamina ran out, letting him save face at the finish.
He'd rather train with Hanabi from now on than with Karin.
He was sure of that.
Tossing away any excitement about perfecting his three-tomoe Sharingan, Sasuke's silhouette disappeared in a flicker of movement, leaving Karin standing there, scratching her head over his abrupt mood change.
Shortly after, she just shrugged and jogged back up the bank.
On the shore, Izayoi was fishing. Spotting her approach, he asked without turning around, "All done?"
"Yeah… Sasuke just took off in a bad mood."
"I figured." Izayoi reeled in his line and smiled. "It's about time anyway. Let's head back."
"Sure. Need me to carry your bucket?" Karin asked, seeing the fish flopping inside.
"All right," Izayoi said casually. "But you're soaked—change into some dry clothes first."
"Not a problem; I won't catch a cold anymore," she bragged, flexing her new body.
"Fine, fine," he said with a laugh. "Fish soup tonight it is."
"Okay!" she answered cheerily, picking up the bucket in one hand. Sometimes she'd skip along ahead, sometimes she'd walk side by side with Izayoi, her energy radiating far beyond anything from a few months earlier.
In the past, living in Grass felt like hell for her, but now—
Joining Konoha meant an even better paradise than staying in Sakura Street: free to cook for Sasuke and Izayoi by day, then receiving constant warmth from her teacher and seniors at the Hokage's office…
And everyone in Konoha—those dreaded mid-to-high-level shinobi once out of her reach—were so friendly; some even showed a hint of respect. Far unlike those from Grass.
At the same time, she'd made friends: Hinata, the kind heiress; Hanabi, the mischievous kid sister.
Her life now felt like heaven.
More than once, Karin had woken up crying from fear that all this was just a dream.
She was well aware that it was all because of Izayoi.
Thus, she practiced with ever greater determination.
She wanted to become a powerful ninja, with a high enough standing to be truly useful to him.
In day-to-day life, she also took care of him tirelessly. Cooking and cleaning—she took on all the chores.
Truth be told, if Izayoi wanted to revert to the days of his Tenseigan's metamorphosis—living like a pampered invalid—Karin alone could make that happen. Even Sasuke had grown used to her care, waiting at home for dinner rather than going out to hunt every evening.
Late that evening, having changed into dry clothes, Karin arrived back at the Uchiha manor, only to see Sasuke on the veranda reading, as though all was perfectly normal.
Seeing that everything was ready, Izayoi quietly plucked two scrolls from his room and tossed them in front of Sasuke.
Catching them, Sasuke turned in confusion. "What's all this?"
"A present for your newly-evolved Sharingan," Izayoi said, smiling.
Sasuke paused, feeling a warmth inside. But outwardly, he gave a sullen snort. "You should've waited for me to awaken the Mangekyō before giving me this."
Still, even as he spoke, Sasuke's lips twitched in a slight smile and he immediately unrolled the scrolls.
"Wait—these are illusions and Fire Release techniques?!"
He stared at them, stunned. "Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation, Great Fire Destruction, Dragon Flame Release Song… These are clan jutsu from the Uchiha, so how'd you get them?!"
"I stole them," Izayoi replied flatly. "So keep it quiet—it wasn't 'given to you by me.'"
At that, Sasuke's gaze sharpened. "During the Chūnin Exams, you… you weren't actually there?"
"Right. I left a clone," Izayoi said, sighing. "Now that you know, you're an accomplice, so if I ever get caught, I'll just throw you under the bus."
"Tch… so childish," Sasuke grumbled. Even so, he carefully set aside the scrolls, as though they were priceless treasures.
He was about to speak again when Izayoi abruptly stiffened. Karin also ran up, evidently alarmed about something.
"Sasuke," Izayoi murmured with a wry smile, "Orochimaru's men are here to 'collect' you."
Sasuke's face turned grave. "That bastard just won't quit, huh?"
"Relax—it's not himself in the flesh, just a few subordinates," Izayoi said. "But one of them is pretty strong. If we fight them here, your house might be destroyed. I'll go meet him outside."
"All right."
Both leapt into action. At the same time, Karin grabbed her own gear.
A short distance away, four shinobi in Sound Village attire—the Sound Four—were cautiously heading deeper into Konoha.
Noticing the presence of two large chakra signatures, Tayuya's face hardened. "What's this? Weren't we told that only Sasuke lived in the Uchiha district? Why do I sense two massive chakras?!"
"We've probably been discovered," Kidōmaru said, looking warily at the white-haired boy—once their squad leader—who strode silently at the front. "Kimimaro, should we press on?"
"Proceed," Kaguya Kimimaro answered calmly. "Those two are mine to handle. Your task is to take Sasuke."
He gazed down the path, his sickly pallor even more pronounced than before. Though so weak he could barely stand, Kimimaro's eyes carried unyielding resolve.
"Once you capture Sasuke, leave the village immediately. I will buy you time… Lord Orochimaru, if I can't be your vessel, then let me be your final waltz."
As Kimimaro spoke those last words in a hushed voice, a nostalgic gleam flickered in his eyes, recalling that day, that man, and that flower.
For Kimimaro, the meaning of life itself was found in meeting Orochimaru.
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 100 Chapters Ahead of Others!