[Yamanaka Ino: Wow, I finally get to leave the village. This is my first time going out!]
[Hyuga Hinata: Me too. Going to Koike Village will take me past Sakai Castle. Maybe I can find Karin along the way?]
[Uzumaki Karin: Are you two together? I really want to see you! Right now, I'm training in sealing techniques with my mom every day. I'm motivated to help Itsuki once I master them, but it's so boring here!]
[Haruno Sakura: Hmm? You're leaving the village? Or are you going together?]
[Yamanaka Ino: No, our two classes got a joint C-rank mission involving combat. @Haruno Sakura, broad forehead, are you guys doing some boring cat-catching mission again? Haha, I heard about it before leaving!]
[Haruno Sakura: It's all our sultry, perverted teacher's fault! He hugs the little book every day and doesn't care about us at all!]
[Tenten: You can say whatever you want, but why are you scolding me?]
[Yamanaka Ino: A sultry pervert? Hmm… I think I heard something incredible.]
[Haruno Sakura: ...]
[Hyuga Hinata: @Uzumaki Karin, if there's a chance, we'll definitely come find you, but we should wait until the mission is over.]
[Uzumaki Karin: Yes, yes! But if it doesn't work out, don't force it. There will be future opportunities.]
[Yamanaka Ino: Don't worry, I'll create opportunities even if none exist. Just stay home and get ready for our arrival!]
[Mitarashi Anko: It's great to be young, but I'm still very young now, oh hehehe!]
[Yamanaka Ino: …]
Unlike the six kids from Team 8 and Team 10, who were leaving the village for the first time, Itsuki, following far behind, felt more confident. This was his second time leaving Konoha.
Just like last time, he would shadow them from a distance and quietly move in when necessary during the mission.
"Why are you looking at me all the time?" Itsuki soon noticed that his partner Tsubaki kept stealing glances at him.
Tsubaki, embarrassed, replied, "No, nothing… just a little weird. Didn't you just graduate from the Ninja Academy? And this is your first mission as an Anbu, right?"
"Yeah, that's right. What's wrong?" Itsuki asked, confused.
Tsubaki asked quietly, "Then why aren't you nervous at all? You seem… experienced."
Tsubaki recalled her first mission vividly—she had been extremely nervous, her mind blank.
She had followed orders like a robot, unsure what to do without instructions.
"That's because I'm the captain!" Itsuki patted her shoulder proudly. "People are different. I'm a genius. You'll feel inferior if you compare yourself to me."
"…" Tsubaki was speechless. After a pause, she gritted her teeth. "Captain, has anyone ever told you that you're narcissistic?"
Itsuki shook his head. "You're the first. People who know me know I'm honest and reliable. You think otherwise simply because you don't understand me yet."
Tsubaki wasn't sure if he was telling the truth, but one thing was clear: he was good at talking. She silently wondered if he'd be just as competent in battle.
"Chun, Chun, why aren't you talking?" Itsuki asked, a little bored and trying to fill the silence.
Tsubaki, not very talkative, replied after thinking for a moment, "We're ninjas, and more importantly, Anbu. During a mission, the mission comes first. Any actions that could affect progress must be avoided."
In other words, she didn't want to chat.
"You're not doing it right!" Itsuki said earnestly. "We're temporary partners on our first mission together. We don't know each other well, so we should use this break to talk and get to know each other better.
"That way, we'll coordinate better when the mission begins. Chun, Chun, don't you think I'm right? This is my first mission too, so I'm not completely sure either."
Tsubaki thought for a moment and then nodded. "You're right. We really do need to understand each other better."
She carefully introduced her abilities.
Born into a commoner family, Tsubaki's skills included the basic Konoha Three Body Techniques, Binding Techniques, and Ninja Tool Throwing Techniques.
She had a solid theoretical foundation and could handle clerical tasks.
Finally, she said, "Also, Captain… could you please stop calling me 'Chun, Chun? It doesn't sound nice."
Itsuki asked curiously, "Isn't your code name Chun? If not Chun, what is it?"
Tsubaki's face darkened beneath her mask. How should she answer? The captain was teasing her.
"Chun, Chun!" Itsuki said again. "After you introduce yourself, it's my turn."
"My main ability is a village secret, so I can't tell you. But I'm very strong—you can rely on me completely. If a fight breaks out, just shout, and I'll take charge."
"Shout? Shout what?" Tsubaki was confused beneath her mask.
"Don't you have a solid theoretical foundation? Then you should be able to design the perfect offensive routine quickly, right? When the time comes, just shout so I can hear, and I'll move!" Itsuki explained patiently.
Tsubaki probably understood, but his method of expression seemed strange.
"If I shout directly, won't the enemy hear me?" she asked.
Itsuki patted her chest reassuringly. "Don't worry, I've got it covered! Even if we're open-handed, as long as the opponent isn't at the Five Kage level, I can handle it easily."
Tsubaki shrank back, her cheeks flushing behind her mask. If she hadn't been wearing armor, she would have thought he was a hooligan.
"Is this your distrust of me?" Itsuki asked sadly. "Chun, Chun, you've chilled my heart! I'm your captain!"
"No, Captain, I'm not used to this!" Tsubaki was torn between laughter and frustration.
She assumed Itsuki was just young and didn't understand personal boundaries.
"Then you need more practice!" Itsuki raised his hand to pat again.
Tsubaki dodged and ran forward hurriedly. "They're speeding up. Let's go—don't get left behind!"
A distance of over 100 kilometers was nothing for a ninja. They sped up, preparing to find a location to rest before the mission began.
Watching Tsubaki's fleeing back, Itsuki couldn't help but smile.
To be honest, completing tasks with a partner was far more enjoyable than working alone.
Especially when men and women worked together—the work didn't feel tiring.
...
Author's Note:
The full completed version of Konoha Harem Chat Group: I Can Fabricate the Future (Completed) is now on Patreon!
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