This Is Way Too Rigged, I'm Not Playing Anymore

After they entered the Land of Fire's border, the rest of the journey passed without incident.

They delivered the intelligence to the frontline command post without trouble, completing their mission.

Naturally, someone else would be assigned to verify the intelligence afterward.

Sakumo led the three youngsters on the journey back to Konoha.

Too many unexpected things had happened on this mission, and Asuma's identity was too special. They needed to return to the village and report.

As they approached Konoha:

"Teacher, how should we report what happened on this mission?"

"Let's tell them what actually happened."

For a moment, all four of them fell silent.

Asuma and Kurenai had also heard about the Konoha spy on the way back.

Confronted with the question, "What is a ninja?" they truly didn't know how to answer.

Tamaki didn't dwell on it, though. There was simply no way to answer a question like that.

"Teacher, why do you think the Third sent Asuma on this mission? Do you have any ideas?"

"I don't know enough to figure it out. I've never been part of the village's inner circle."

"Teacher, Tamaki, what do you mean?"

"I mean you should never have been on a mission like this. Even if someone had lost their mind and assigned you to it, the Third would have made sure they knew who the Hokage was."

"Th—that can't be."

"Asuma, don't doubt how protective the Third is of you."

"Besides, I suspect that ninja may not have exposed himself entirely of his own accord."

"I even suspect another team, perhaps several teams, followed us from a distance the whole way."

"Though someone forced the Third to assign Asuma to this mission for some unknown reason, they definitely wouldn't dare let you actually die in the Land of Earth."

"Th-this..."

Asuma was speechless for a moment, while Kurenai was even more stunned.

Neither of them had thought of any of this. They had simply thought it was an entirely normal mission, only for a major accident to occur.

If Sakumo had said those things, they could have dismissed them as an adult's alarmist talk. But coming from Tamaki, they felt entirely different.

"Teacher, there's another possibility."

"What is it?"

"You're their target."

"Me? What do you mean?"

"You're Kage Level. Though you don't specialize in frontal assaults, you're even more of a deterrent than a Kage Level fighter who does."

"What if certain people wanted to use this mission to make the Third prejudiced against you, either because of the losses from a failed mission or because something happened to Asuma?"

"Then you'd effectively be crippled, teacher."

"What would the purpose be? What good would crippling me do anyone in the village?"

A bitter look touched Sakumo's lips, but he knew Tamaki's hypothesis was very likely true. On the surface, he and Asuma were the only people on this team worth scheming against like that.

"Who said it had to be someone from the village? What if they were sent from outside? If it meant keeping a Kage Level fighter off the battlefield, I believe the other four great nations would definitely join forces."

"Of course, we can't rule out someone from the village either. With a Kage Level fighter in a difficult position, there would be plenty to gain just by lending him a hand."

Sakumo fell silent. He had still been thinking too simply.

At that moment, Asuma spoke up.

"What about you, Tamaki?"

"You have the Eight Gates Released Formation, the Rasengan, and a mysterious forbidden medical technique. Those are worth targeting too, aren't they?"

"Not many people know about them, but going by what you said, whoever arranged all this must hold a high position. It wouldn't be strange for them to know about you."

"Asuma, you're right."

"I overlooked that. I never thought I might be a target too."

After hearing Asuma's words, Tamaki thought it over carefully. There was indeed a chance he was a target too.

Or perhaps all three of them were targets, conveniently gathered in one place. If anything went wrong for even one of them, it would serve some purpose.

"So I'm the free extra?"

Kurenai's words made the three of them a little awkward. Compared with the three of them, Kurenai, despite her great talent for Genjutsu, really could only be called a free extra.

Kurenai remained downcast for the rest of the journey.

Asuma had things on his mind. With a New World suddenly opened before him, he began thinking about things he had never considered deeply before.

Sakumo was even quieter, pondering how he could protect himself in the village from now on.

Tamaki, meanwhile, resolved to visit Brother Bonsai a few more times and see if he could unlock the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai. He already had a few ideas.

Facing Gari's Explosion Release this time had made him fully aware of his shortcomings.

He had enough methods of attack, they were powerful, and his recovery was strong,

but he couldn't hit people—or rather, he couldn't hit the handful standing at the pinnacle of ninjas.

He urgently wanted a large-scale attack method.

Both shape transformation and nature transformation for the Rasengan counted, and they were also among his goals.

But a Kekkei Genkai would be more convenient, and after studying Brother Bonsai's condition for a while, he felt he had some leads on Wood Release.

At the Hokage building, they went through the usual procedures and soon met Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Lord Hokage." ×4

"Sakumo, none of you ran into any problems this time, did you?"

"There were a few complications, but we completed it without trouble."

He then gave a detailed account of the mission.

He included the spy's betrayal and what happened while covering the retreat. The Third fell silent for a moment upon hearing it.

"I understand. Thank you for your efforts. After this mission, take a good rest for a while."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

"Lord Hokage, I have something I need to report in private."

"Tamaki, you—"

Ignoring Asuma's surprised words, Tamaki stepped forward.

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Tamaki and waved the others out.

"Go ahead. What is it you need to tell me in private?"

"I need some time to see whether I can fully develop my Uzumaki Bloodline."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand trembled, and he nearly dropped the cigarette he was holding.

He raised his head and stared at Tamaki.

"How confident are you?"

"I'm not sure."

"How long do you need?"

"Three to six months, I think."

Click—

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a drag on his cigarette and fell silent for a while.

"All right. Later, go ask Kushina about the Uzumaki Bloodline."

"Thank you, Lord Third."

After leaving the Hokage building, he went with Sakumo and the others, who were waiting outside, to have a meal of grilled meat. Then they parted ways and went home.

Tamaki had secured himself a long break this time, and his family was delighted.

That evening, he went to see Ichite Ki.

After learning how dangerous the trip had been, Ichite Ki was shaken by the thought of what might have happened.

"You brought Asuma back safely this time. The Third may not say anything, but he'll surely remember the favor. It's a bit of a pity to use it up just like that."

"It's no pity. Besides, I really do want a Kekkei Genkai."

Ichite Ki's lips twitched slightly when he heard that.

Though he was certain Tamaki hadn't fully awakened his Uzumaki Kekkei Genkai, he didn't think the unawakened Tamaki was inferior to an Uzumaki clansman in any way. At the very least, he didn't have any less Chakra.

"Besides, I have some ideas about Wood Release."

"Really?"

"So I need time. Although my strength has reached the level of an Elite Jonin, it's still not enough. I need a powerful Kekkei Genkai."

"Only when I'm strong enough can I fear no schemes or plots."

Ichite Ki could no longer keep his expression under control.

Tamaki hadn't even reached the age of twelve, when normal ninjas graduated, yet he already had the fighting strength of an Elite Jonin and still thought he wasn't strong enough. Acting like that would really make a lot of ninjas look like utter trash.

But Tamaki was right. Once someone was strong enough, all other means were hollow.

He needed to seek out the precious few remaining members of the Senju Clan. Tamaki's value was definitely enough to drive them mad, and it wasn't impossible to risk contacting Lady Tsunade too.