Inside the Hokage Building, Kaito felt it again—that familiar sensation of the sky "watching" him.
It had been a while.
He almost missed it.
Almost.
Of course, he only complained about it in his heart. If it really did come back, he would absolutely start cursing again.
Principles were principles.
In the office, Sarutobi Hiruzen sat behind his desk, flipping through an important document. Standing before him were six people, all waiting quietly.
"There is a B-rank mission," Hiruzen finally said.
"I need your team to handle it."
His gaze shifted to Kaito, calm as always, but his tone carried a hint of apology.
"The village truly can't spare any manpower right now. So, Kaito, you will temporarily act as Team One's captain and cooperate with Kurenai's squad to execute this mission."
"Yes, sir."
Kaito had expected this. Becoming Orochimaru's student meant he would never escape C-rank and above missions. He just didn't expect the first one to come so soon.
"Uncle Hokage! Are we going to the battlefield?" Nawaki blurted excitedly.
Kaito: "…"
Say that again and I'll break your legs before we leave, you suicidal brat.
Beside Nawaki, Might Duy swallowed nervously. He still hadn't forgotten what happened during the last C-rank mission. The soon-to-be youthful father looked very much not youthful at the moment.
Hiruzen glanced at Nawaki, complicated emotions flickering briefly in his eyes.
"Nawaki, you haven't participated in any C-rank missions. I personally suggest—"
"No, no, no, no—!"
Nawaki cut him off, raising a fist as though taking an oath.
"I want to go!
I've been doing D-rank missions for nearly a year! I'm a ninja—how can I keep staying the same?!
My dream is to become someone like you, Uncle Hokage, and protect the village my grandfather built!"
Hiruzen stared at the boy's determined face, stunned for a moment.
Then he lifted a hand to adjust the Hokage hat on his head, a faint smile forming.
"Very well. I'll entrust this mission to you, Nawaki."
"Yes!"
Hiruzen then explained the mission details.
"Delivering a message?" Kaito asked.
Hiruzen nodded. "Correct. You'll be delivering a sealed document to Uzushiogakure. I won't explain its contents."
Kaito watched as Yūhi Kurenai picked up the carefully sealed scroll. Inwardly, he recalled that the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed around the time of the Second Great Ninja War. He had even double-checked this fact before.
So this mission… probably has the potential to escalate to A-rank, maybe even S-rank again.
As they left the building, Yūhi Ryūun noticed the gloom on Kaito's face and slapped his shoulder.
"Don't worry! I'm a chūnin now. Nothing's going to happen!"
Kaito: Shut up, you walking death-flag!
"This is so exciting!" Nawaki practically bounced. "It's my first time leaving the village! Leave the mission to me!"
Kaito glanced at him.
You too. Stop talking.
After saying goodbye to his wife and newborn child, Might Duy strapped on his pack with unmistakable resolve.
Nawaki went to the hospital to say goodbye to his older sister in the medical ward. Worried about his safety, she even gave him Hashirama's crystal necklace.
When the team regrouped and Nawaki proudly flaunted that necklace infused with the First Hokage's Wood Release chakra…
Kaito's expression turned pale.
It's over. The flags are overflowing.
But by now, refusing was no longer an option.
Fortunately, the route from Konoha to Uzushio was considered relatively safe.
It wasn't a battlefield, so technically it still qualified as a B-rank mission suitable for genin—as long as a jōnin led the team.
"Everyone knows the mission already," Kurenai said.
"Kaito, you've worked with my students twice during the Chūnin Exams. You all should have decent coordination."
Then she looked at Nawaki and Duy.
"As for you two… I need to verify your capabilities."
"Yes, ma'am!" ×2
On the road, Kurenai quickly understood their basic information.
"Wind, water, and earth affinities? A promising talent," she commented, looking at Nawaki.
They sped through dense forests, branches whipping by.
Her eyes shifted to Duy, who was struggling to keep pace.
"A pure taijutsu ninja, I see. Without opening that gate technique of yours, even travel speed becomes an issue."
Then her gaze moved to Kaito, running effortlessly beside her.
"And you—how did you train such a troublesome disciple and even complete a B-rank mission with him?"
"Kachoo!"
Somewhere behind them, Kaito sneezed.
Someone must be talking about me…
After crossing a thick stretch of forest, they reached the mouth of a large canyon.
Towering cliffs, streams weaving through the valley, lively koi leaping along the water—if not for the ongoing war, it would've been an ideal picnic spot.
"From here on, it becomes dangerous," Kurenai warned.
"Stay alert."
"Yes!" ×5
Land of Whirlpools
The nation—and Uzushio itself—was located on an island between the Fire Country mainland and the Water Country archipelago.
The island was only about one-thirtieth the size of the Land of Water, yet still vast.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!
A blur sliced across the air above a forested cliff in Uzushio.
A man in a green flak jacket—bearing Konoha's forehead protector—landed lightly on the muddy ground.
Someone had been waiting for him.
A young man stood there, wearing simple clothes, smiling with the slyness of a fox. The only notable feature was the forehead protector strapped to his right shoulder.
It resembled Konoha's—except a triangle was missing.
A pure Uzumaki forehead protector.
"The waterfall is beautiful, isn't it?" the youth said.
The supposed "Konoha ninja" nodded.
"But not as beautiful as the misty villages."
"What happened in the Fire Country that made you risk being exposed by Konoha to come find me?"
"Konoha has dispatched a squad toward Uzushio. They're likely seeking aid."
The man wearing Konoha's symbol stood behind the Uzushio genin known as "Dolphin" (Hai Tun).
"Uzushio's strength is something many nations have coveted for a long time. This is the perfect chance."
A cruel grin twisted his face.
"A chance to destroy the trust between Konoha and Uzushio."
Dolphin's smile deepened.
"How many are in the squad?"
"Reportedly one jōnin, one chūnin, and the rest genin. Two full teams—seven people."
"Two teams, only one jōnin. Makes sense."
He looked at the disguised "Konoha chūnin."
"You can go. The border still needs you."
"No need to worry about that… Dolphin."
Whoosh—
The fake Konoha ninja vanished over the waterfall.
Dolphin took out a cigarette, lit it, and exhaled softly.
"The village I grew up in… is really going to be destroyed, huh."
"A shame… I was a little attached to it."
He performed a summoning technique, calling forth a white-gray seabird. After placing a scroll in its beak and making sure it held it securely, he sent it airborne—toward the Land of Water.To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
patreon.com/nani_kaito