Chapter 118: A C-Rank Mission in the Land of Grass
Three months passed in a flash.
Team 1, with Hoshikawa at its core, spent its days both learning new jutsu and tackling missions. Since they were only doing D-rank missions, and their collective strength was immense, they didn't spend much time on them. In just three months, they had completed over one hundred D-rank missions, more than enough to qualify for C-rank.
Hoshikawa followed Tsunade to the Hokage's Office mission hall.
Unlike D-rank missions, C-rank missions were far more difficult. They weren't simple daily chores and could involve a certain degree of danger. A prime example was the first C-rank mission Team 7 took in the original story: escorting the bridge-builder Tazuna. Putting aside the fact that Tazuna lied about the mission details, escort missions whether for people or information were the most common type of C-rank.
While Tsunade browsed the available missions, Hoshikawa pulled up his title system. After three months of study, his Yin Seal progress bar had reached 15%, a solid step into a beginner's understanding. Hoshikawa had expected this, so he wasn't worried.
Besides the Yin Seal, he had also taken the time to learn three sensor jutsu, successfully acquiring a new title.
[D-Rank Talent Title: Sensor Genin.]
[Activation Conditions: Possess three Sensor Jutsu titles.]
[Effect: Increases all Sensor Jutsu effects by 30%.]
[Note: Learn more Sensor Jutsu to advance to the C-Rank title, Sensor Chūnin.]
The three sensor jutsu Hoshikawa learned were the Telescopic Jutsu, Earth-Hearing Jutsu, and Chakra Diffusion Jutsu. The first two were D-rank, while the last was C-rank.
Telescopic Jutsu was a vision enhancement jutsu, similar to looking through binoculars.
Earth-Hearing Jutsu allowed him to listen to the ground and determine what was happening nearby.
Chakra Diffusion Jutsu was a way to expand one's sensing abilities, like a super-weakened version of the Mind's Eye of the Kagura.
Hoshikawa 's two teammates had also made great progress.
Kurenai learned the Water Release: Water Wall Jutsu. The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, had simplified the hand signs for this jutsu from five to two. In addition, there was a very special aspect to it. The Water Release: Water Wall Jutsu performed by the Second Hokage was the only one that formed in a circle and spun around the user. In other words, while others' Water Walls only defended in one direction, his defended in all directions.
Compared to Kurenai, Rin had made even greater strides. Her fundamentals were originally quite ordinary, but under Tsunade's guidance, her skills advanced by leaps and bounds. She had already mastered the Chakra Scalpel, Anesthetic Jutsu, and a simple Antitoxin Jutsu. However, the most important thing she learned wasn't jutsu, but the related medical-ninja knowledge.
"Kid, don't just stand there, give me an idea."
Tsunade didn't know which to choose, so she knocked Hoshikawa on the head.
"Just pick one, they're all the same anyway," Hoshikawa said, snapping out of his thoughts. He had already completed plenty of B-rank missions; C-rank missions were like a walk in the park for him. Of course, this was assuming they didn't get as unlucky as Naruto's team and end up with an unreliable client.
"Things aren't peaceful in the Land of Lightning. We might run into trouble there," Tsunade muttered before asking, "How about we go to the Land of Grass?"
The Land of Grass? Hoshikawa 's heart stirred. In the original story, the Land of Grass didn't have many major roles, but they weren't entirely absent either. For example, Karin's mother and the events of the film Blood Prison with the Hōzuki Castle and the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
"Sounds good." Hoshikawa looked at the mission. The content was simple: escort a merchant named Eijirō to the capital of the Land of Grass.
A C-rank mission, under normal circumstances, would not involve battles between ninja. They would most likely encounter wandering samurai, bandits, or pirates. The world of ninja was chaotic, with the exception of the Five Great Nations, which were a bit more peaceful.
"This is the one, then," Tsunade said, not objecting. Just as Hoshikawa had said, with their skills, any C-rank mission was the same.
With the mission scroll in hand, Tsunade and Hoshikawa returned home.
At the front door, Kurenai and Rin were still training. Their abilities were far inferior to Hoshikawa 's, so they were extremely diligent. In addition to them, three more people had shown up today.
"Hoshikawa , long time no see!" Asuma Sarutobi walked over with a wide grin, his tone a little proud. "I have to tell you..."
"Did you finish a C-rank mission?" Hoshikawa interrupted his speech.
"How... how did you know?" Asuma's face froze. He turned to Shisui and Shizune. "Did you two secretly tell him?"
Shisui and Shizune both shook their heads.
"You're just too obvious," Hoshikawa said, knowing Asuma too well to let him have his moment.
"Damn it!" It was over before it even began. Asuma was so frustrated he felt like he was going to spit blood.
"Team 1, you have the rest of the day off," Tsunade said, turning to leave. First, she felt it was better to give the kids some space to talk. Second, she had been too busy teaching the three of them over the past three months to visit the casino. Now that she had the chance, she was going to relax.
"Let's go!" Asuma clapped his hands. "I just got paid for a mission, so I'm treating you all to barbecue!"
"That's a first, seeing you so generous," Kurenai said, stopping her jutsu practice and running to Hoshikawa 's side.
Asuma was speechless. Did you not see all the times I treated you before?
The six of them arrived at the barbecue restaurant.
"Do you know what mission we did?" Asuma couldn't help but ask once they sat down.
"What's there to talk about with a C-rank?" Hoshikawa replied, uninterested as he flipped a slice of beef on the grill.
"Exactly!" Kurenai chimed in.
Asuma's face twisted in agony.
Shisui and Shizune couldn't help but laugh at the sight.
"What was the mission?" Rin, who had a kind heart, took over the conversation.
"It was to help the Fire Daimyō select his new Guardian Ninja!" Asuma's expression changed in a flash, his voice brimming with excitement.
"Did he pick you?" Hoshikawa asked casually.
"Of course... not!" Asuma coughed lightly. "The Daimyō invited Sensei Sakumo to be the examiner."
"So you didn't do anything?" Hoshikawa said, looking at him.
"The Daimyō thinks very highly of me, you know!" Asuma said proudly. "If I wanted to, he would make me a Guardian Ninja right away!"
"Are you going to do it?" Hoshikawa asked with a light chuckle.
"No," Asuma shook his head.
"Did anything else interesting happen on your mission?" Hoshikawa asked, turning over a sizzling piece of meat.
"Yeah," Asuma said while grilling. "I just found out that besides Konoha, there are a lot of other ninja forces out there, like the Fire Temple."
"Chiriku from the Fire Temple has good skills," Shisui chimed in. "He's about our age, and he almost defeated Asuma-senpai."
"What do you mean, almost?" Asuma said, refusing to back down. "There was a huge difference!"
Hoshikawa continued to grill his meat calmly. Both Asuma and Chiriku were Guardian Ninja in the original story. The former had a 35 million ryō bounty, while the latter had a 30 million ryō bounty. Chiriku was targeted by the Akatsuki members Kakuzu and Hidan. Asuma went to rescue him but was killed after losing to the two.
After the barbecue feast, the group didn't linger and returned to Tsunade's house to train.
Asuma challenged Hoshikawa to a spar and, as expected, was utterly defeated. Although he had learned another Wind and Fire Release jutsu, the gap was too great to be overcome by ninjutsu alone. Hoshikawa used this opportunity to learn two jutsu from him for free.
"See you next time!"
As evening fell, Asuma, Shisui, and Shizune took their leave.
"You two should come early tomorrow," Hoshikawa said, suddenly remembering something. "Sensei took a C-rank mission to escort Eijirō to the Land of Grass."
"That's great!" Kurenai's eyes lit up with excitement. "Finally, no more D-rank missions!"
Rin also smiled faintly. D-rank missions were mostly inside the village, rarely requiring them to go outside. And since the difficulty was so low, she never needed to use her medical ninjutsu. A trip to the Land of Grass would finally give her a chance to put her skills to use.
The next day.
Outside the Konoha gates.
"Are you Tsunade-sama?" Eijirō rushed forward the moment he saw Tsunade, his voice full of respect.
"I am," Tsunade nodded calmly.
"This is truly my lucky day!" Eijirō said, his face full of excitement. What else could you call it but luck, to be able to hire one of the Legendary Sannin for a C-rank mission's pay?
"Tsunade-sama!" The two young men standing behind Eijirō immediately bowed.
"Tsunade-sensei is amazing!" Kurenai whispered, her eyes shining.
"Yeah!" Rin nodded vigorously. Although Tsunade's personality was a little rough around the edges, her reputation was top-notch, and not just in Konoha.
"Let's go," Tsunade said with a faint smile. She then gave Hoshikawa a quick look. She was pleased with the reactions of Kurenai and Rin, but the kid in front of her remained expressionless, showing no emotion at all.
"Hoshikawa , you take the lead and scout," Tsunade said, not bothering to be polite since she knew he had learned sensor jutsu. Kurenai and Rin hadn't learned any.
"Got it." Hoshikawa walked to the very front of the group.
Tsunade and Kurenai walked on the left and right, protecting Rin and the three clients. This plan had been decided over breakfast that morning. In their team, Rin was the medical-ninja, while Kurenai and Hoshikawa were in charge of sensing and combat.
The seven of them headed north. They arrived in the Land of Grass on the evening of the second day.
"Let's rest here," Tsunade said, looking at Eijirō and his two bodyguards, who were already out of breath.
Kurenai set up the tent, Rin went to gather firewood, and Hoshikawa prepared dinner.
After dinner, Eijirō and the two men slept in the same tent. Hoshikawa 's team sat around a campfire a short distance away.
"Now that we're in the Land of Grass, we might run into ninja from Kusagakure," Tsunade warned. "Their reputation isn't great, so be careful if you meet them."
Hoshikawa recalled the general assessment of Kusagakure in the original story: they were good at studying and deciphering the ninjutsu of other villages. But since the jutsu of other villages wouldn't be willingly given to them, where did they get them?
The answer was either through theft or force. In fact, one could get a glimpse of their methods by seeing how they treated Karin and her mother.
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