Konoha, Land of Fire
The morning sunlight streamed through the windows of the Hokage's office, illuminating the mountain of documents.
Shikamaru pushed open the door, his steps heavy as if filled with lead. He had dark circles under his eyes, and his hair was a mess, as if he had been blown up by a dozen Explosive Tags.
"Yo, you're finally here?" Tsunade sat behind her desk, legs crossed, swirling a glass of sake in her hand, a dangerous smile playing on her lips. "What's wrong? Too excited to sleep last night? Thinking about the 'S-rank mission' we're carrying out today?"
Shikamaru raised his eyes listlessly. "Lord Hokage... the 'S-rank mission' you mentioned, it wouldn't be..."
His gaze slowly shifted to the corner—where three stacks of documents, taller than himself, were piled up, each labeled with a different color: [Financial Budget] [Ninja Dispatch] [Diplomatic Documents].
"That's right!" Tsunade on the table, causing the top document to fall. "From today onwards, you're my special assistant! These—" she waved her hand grandly, "Are all yours to handle!"
Shikamaru's lips twitched. "... This is clearly paperwork, isn't it?"
"Wrong!" Tsunade held up a finger, a sly glint in her eyes. "This is a strategic mission concerning the future of Konoha! Think about it—" She suddenly leaned closer, lowering her voice, "If you approve a supply request incorrectly, the frontline ninja might run out of ninja tools; if you miscalculate a single expense, the entire Anbu's salaries will be delayed..."
Shizune was trying so hard to suppress her laughter that her shoulders were shaking, and Tonton in her arms "poof" spat out a sunflower seed.
Shikamaru looked out the window in despair—just in time to see Asuma walking by with a cigarette in his mouth. The master and disciple stared at each other across the distance, and Asuma actually gave a thumbs up, mouthed "Youth!" and then disappeared faster than the Flying Thunder God Technique.
"Stop looking." Tsunade had appeared behind him without him noticing, a "Special Assistant" armband appearing out of nowhere in her hand. She slapped it on his shoulder. "By the way, after finishing these..." She pointed to the mountain of documents, "there's also the archives on the basement floor waiting to be organized~"
Shikamaru: "..."
(This is so troublesome...)
(Is it too late for me to defect now?)
On the other side...
The morning mist had not yet dissipated in front of the gate of Konoha.
Kurenai brushed a strand of red hair behind her ear, glancing at the three students before her— Hinata Hyuga nervously twisted her fingers, her white pupils occasionally stealing glances at Kurenai before quickly looking away;
Kiba Inuzuka excitedly stomped his feet, while Akamaru bounced back and forth in rhythm with his master.
As for Shino Aburame... well, he was as quiet as a tree, his sunglasses reflecting the morning light, even the insects under his collar were more active than him.
"Remember, this is a Rank B escort mission." Red waved the mission scroll in her hand, her silky red hair shimmering in the morning light. "The objective is to escort Miss Qianying from the General's Mansion safely to the Land of Iron marriage."
"A marriage alliance?" Ya's eyes widened, and he scooped up Akamaru. "Is it one of those princess-marriage dramas? Won't there be bandits trying to abduct her? Or--"
Akamaru barked in agreement, its tail wagging like a propeller, its tongue lolling out happily.
"Quiet." Red-haired, her fingers beneath silk gloves gently pressing her temples, said, "Just a routine escort..."
Before she could finish speaking, a commotion arose inside the Konoha Gate. Twelve porters carried six gilded lacquered boxes out in single file, followed by a richly dressed young woman supported by four maids.
The girl was about sixteen or seventeen years old. Her long, black hair was styled into an exquisite bun, adorned with pearls and jade, and her kimono was embroidered with intricate cherry blossom patterns.
"This is my guard?" Miss Qianying's voice was as clear as a silver bell, yet it carried obvious disappointment.
Her critical gaze swept over Team 8: a red-haired woman, a strange man in sunglasses, a boorish boy, and... Her eyes landed on Hinata, and suddenly lit up. "Ah, at least there's a decent-looking noble lady."
Hinata's face flushed red, and her fingers clenched even tighter, almost tearing the sleeve of her kimono.
"Hey! Who are you calling rude?" Ya was so angry his hair stood on end, and Akamaru bared his teeth at his feet.
Shino pushed up his sunglasses, and a faint rustling sound came from under his collar—his swarm of insects was stirring.
Kurenai took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to use Genjutsu to shut the young lady up. "Miss Qianying, we are here on the orders of the Hokage..."
"Alright, alright," Chiyo waved her hand impatiently, her wide sleeves billowing a fragrant breeze. "Let's get going, my beauty time is precious." She turned to her maid, "Take good care of my 'little sweethearts,' or you'll be held responsible for even the slightest loss."
Hinata looked curiously at the boxes. "Excuse me... who is Sweetheart?"
Chisakura gave a mysterious smile, and her nail-painted fingers gently lifted the lid of the nearest box—a dozen pairs of gleaming cat eyes opened simultaneously in the darkness.
Meow~
As the sun set, the Team 8 escort team set up camp at the edge of the forest. The twelve dowry chests were arranged in a circle, and a campfire was lit in the middle. Miss Qianying insisted on soaking her feet in rose essential oil inside the tent, keeping her four maids busy.
"I'll say it again," Hong said in a low voice to the three students, "B-Rank Mission means there might be armed conflict, although the probability is very low, you must remain vigilant."
He was applying ointment to his face—a stray cat had scratched his nose earlier that day. "I think the biggest threat is those damn cats," he muttered. "Why are there three boxes of cats in the dowry?"
Hinata explained softly, "Miss Qianying said... that's her 'emotional anchor'..."
Shino suddenly looked up, his sunglasses reflecting the Kakkō: "There's movement."
Almost simultaneously, a sharp meow pierced the night sky. Then came a second, a third... In the blink of an eye, dozens of cats burst out of the boxes and rampaged through the camp.
"My sweethearts! My sweethearts!" Chisakura's screams echoed from inside the tent.
A large Persian cat jumped onto Ya's shoulder, its sharp claws adding more bloody scratches to his face. "Ouch!" Ya cried out in pain, Akamaru angrily pounced on the group of cats, only to be attacked by even more cats.
"Insect Secret Technique: Kikaichū!" Shino calmly formed hand seals, and a dark swarm of insects surged from his sleeves, forming a standoff with the cats.
"Wait! Don't hurt them!" Hinata shouted urgently, but it was too late—the swarm of insects and the cats were already locked in battle, cat hair and insect carcasses flying everywhere.
Kurenai sighed, rubbing her forehead, and was about to cast Genjutsu when she saw Hinata take a deep breath and assume the Gentle Fist stance. Her movements were fluid and graceful, her fingertips precisely striking the pressure points on each cat. In no time, a "cat mountain" rose in the center of the camp—and all the cats were fast asleep.
"That's... that's amazing!" Chiyo popped out of the tent at some point, her eyes shining as she looked at Hinata. "What was that move you just used called? Can you teach me?"
Hinata blushed and waved her hands. "This, this is a secret technique of the Hyuga Clan..."
With scratches all over his face, he gritted his teeth and said, "Before the next mission, I must make sure that the person I'm escorting has brought a cat!"
The next morning, everyone set off again, chatting and laughing all the way, creating a lively atmosphere.
Two days later, we arrived at a fairly large town.
"Finally, I can take a proper bath." Hong breathed a sigh of relief and stepped into the women's hot spring. The days of traveling had left her sore all over, and the steaming hot spring water was the best comfort.
From the men's bathhouse next door came a tone-deaf singing. "~I'm the strongest ninja~ Akamaru is my best partner~"
Suddenly, a piercing scream came from the men's bath.
"Ah--! There's a woman!"
Her red bath towel almost slipped off. She hurriedly wrapped it tighter around herself and rushed out, just in time to bump into Hinata and Shino, who had also rushed over after hearing the commotion—the latter was even wearing sunglasses while soaking in the hot spring.
At the entrance to the men's bath, a man, his face flushed and wrapped in a towel, pointed to a blurry figure in the mist. "She... she suddenly barged in!"
Miss Qianying emerged leisurely from the steam, wrapped only in a towel, yet showing no embarrassment whatsoever. "Oh dear, I've heard that the men's bath at this inn has special beauty benefits~"
The proprietress rushed over upon hearing the commotion and nearly fainted upon seeing the scene. "This... this is outrageous!"
Hinata's face was as red as a boiled shrimp, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted onto Shino's shoulder.
"Please calm down." Shino's voice remained steady. He supported Hinata with one hand, while forming a hand seal with the other. Countless tiny insects gathered from all directions, spelling out two large characters in the mist. "Misunderstanding."
The proprietress stared at the floating insect character in the air, her eyes wide like saucers. "This, this is..."
"A ninja's little trick," Hong quickly explained, glaring at Chisaki at the same time, "We'll handle it right away."
That night, Team 8 was punished by the hotel to clean all the bathrooms. Chisakura, however, was writing something in her diary with great interest, occasionally letting out a strange laugh.
"What is she writing?" Ya asked, rubbing his aching back.
A glint of light flashed in Shino's sunglasses. "It's best not to know."
After a good rest, the group set off again, heading north. Gradually, the number of mountain paths in the vicinity began to increase.
The mountain path was narrow, with towering cliffs on both sides. Hong walked at the front of the group, keenly sensing the movements around her. The recent commotion had put her on edge—this terrain was perfect for an ambush.
"Ah~ So boring~" Chisakura yawned as she sat in the palanquin. "Are you ninjas always this boring? Not even a single bandit..."
Before he finished speaking, three Kunai the air and embedded themselves deeply into the wooden frame of the sedan chair.
"Enemy attack!" Hong shouted sharply, instantly forming hand seals, "Genjutsu Mist Servant Technique!"
Five masked robbers leaped down the cliff face. The leader grinned maliciously, "Leave the woman and her dowry behind, and we'll spare your lives!"
Despite having a band-aid on his face from a cat scratch, he grinned menacingly. "Finally... finally, we can have a proper fight!" He formed hand seals, "Beast Mimicry Ninjutsu: Four Legs Technique!"
Akamaru transforms simultaneously, and the two of them, along with their dog, rush towards the enemy like lightning.
Hinata's Byakugan veins bulged, and her Gentle Fist stance remained as steady as a mountain. When a robber swung his knife, she deftly sidestepped, her fingertips precisely striking a pressure point on his wrist. The katana clattered to the ground, and the robber clutched his arm, howling in pain.
The battle ended in three seconds. Kiba, standing on the back of the last robber, smugly said, "How about that? You've seen the power of the Konoha Ninja, haven't you?"
Chisakura cupped her cheeks, her eyes turning into hearts. "Ah! Is this the passionate love of youth?!" She pulled out a small notebook from somewhere and quickly jotted down notes. "A ninja from an opposing faction and a noble lady... a forbidden love..."
"What is she talking about?" Ya looked completely bewildered.
Shino silently took two steps back, seemingly wanting to keep her distance from everyone.
Looking at the groaning robbers on the ground, and then at Chisakura who was lost in strange delusions, Hong suddenly had deep doubts about the rating of this mission.
Three days later...
The morning mist shrouded the Land of Iron, and the distant noble mansions gleamed with a cold, metallic sheen in the rising sun. Red raised her hand to signal the group to stop, her red hair fluttering slightly in the morning breeze.
"Is that our destination?" Ya squinted, shading his eyes with his hand as he gazed into the distance. "It looks even more impressive than the Hokage Building!"
Fine veins bulged around Hinata's Byakugan, her vision piercing through the high wall. "Inside... there are twenty-three guards, positioned at various key locations."
Shino's sunglasses reflected the morning light, his voice calm to the point of being indifferent. "There's a sensory barrier on the wall, and six samurai at the main gate, all equipped with Chakra weapons."
Chisakura peeked out from the sedan chair. Her makeup was still exquisite and perfect, but it couldn't hide the dark circles under her eyes—the journey of the past few days had clearly exhausted this noble lady's patience.
"Have we finally arrived?" she yawned gracefully. "My bones are about to be shaken apart by this rickety sedan chair."
Hong cleared her throat lightly. "Miss Qianying, according to etiquette, we need to announce our arrival first..."
"What announcement?!" Qianying flung open the sedan curtain, the dust brushing against the hem of her gold-embroidered kimono. "I'm a young lady from the General's Mansion! They should be lining up to greet me!"
Before anyone could react, Chisakura had already strode towards the main gate of the mansion. Her twelve chests of dowry—including the three chests of the troublesome cats—were lined up behind her. Hong sighed, gave the students a wink, and quickly followed.
The mansion gates slowly opened, revealing six armored warriors standing on either side. The leading warrior had a flowing beard and three katana of varying lengths at his waist.
"Miss Qianying," the samurai leader bowed deeply, "The head of the family has been waiting for you for some time."
After passing through three courtyards, the group was led into a Japanese-style room. Expensive silk cushions covered the tatami mats, and landscape paintings by famous artists from the Land of Iron hung on the walls. Maids silently served tea and refreshments, their movements so precise it was as if they had been calculated with a protractor.
"Please wait here." The samurai leader bowed again and left the room.
Kiba plopped down, grabbed a pastry, and stuffed it into his mouth. "Mmm... this pastry is good! Hinata, Shino, you should try some too!"
"Kiba-kun," Hinata whispered a reminder, "You need to be mindful of your manners in front of nobles..."
Before the words were finished, the paper door was suddenly pulled open. An elderly woman in fine clothes, supported by a maid, slowly entered. Her full head of silver hair was neatly combed, and the wrinkles on her face were etched with majesty.
"This must be the young master of the Inuzuka Clan, right?" The old woman's sharp gaze swept over the corner of his mouth, which was still covered in crumbs of pastry. "Indeed... lively."
Choking on his teeth, Akamaru let out a pitiful whimper at his feet.
Kurenai rose and bowed. "I am Kurenai Yuhi, Jonin Konoha, ordered to escort Miss Qianying to this arranged marriage."
The old woman nodded slightly, her gaze falling on Qianying: "The daughter of the General's mansion truly possesses extraordinary bearing. My Kotaro is fortunate to have such a fiancée..."
"Kotaro?" Chisakura blinked. "Excuse me... is he your...?"
"My grandson," the old woman said with a loving smile, "Is also the only heir of the family."
The paper door opened again, and a little boy dressed in a formal kimono skipped in, his hair bun swaying with his movements.
"Grandma! I heard the bride is here!" The little boy—who looked no more than seven years old—looked at Qianying with his innocent, wide eyes. "Sister, you're so pretty! Can you tell me a story?"
Time seemed to stand still.
Chisakura's face turned from white to pale, her nail-painted fingers gripping the hem of her kimono tightly until her knuckles turned white. Kurenai could clearly see her lips trembling, yet she couldn't utter a sound.
Tooth's jaw almost dropped to the ground. "This... this is the arranged marriage partner? Are you kidding me?!"
Hinata hurriedly pressed down on her teeth, which were about to explode, but her Byakugan widened slightly in shock. Even Shino, who was usually calm, had his sunglasses slip down a few millimeters.
The old woman seemed to have anticipated this scene, calmly explaining, "Political marriages don't care about age. By the time Kotaro comes of age, Miss Qianying will only be twenty-five or twenty-six, a perfect age."
"Such a good age?!" Qianying finally found her voice, so sharp it almost pierced the roof, "You want me—the daughter of a general's mansion—to be a child bride to a nursing baby?!"
Kotaro was startled by the sudden scream and burst into tears. The old woman's face darkened, and the samurai outside immediately placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Hong keenly sensed the danger and stepped forward to block Chishou: "There's probably some misunderstanding..."
"There's no misunderstanding," the old woman said coldly. "The marriage contract was written by the general himself, the betrothal gifts have been received, and today is the wedding day."
Just as tensions were about to rise, Shino suddenly crouched down and took an almost transparent leaf from Kotaro's collar.
"The Listening Technique," he calmly demonstrated to Red, his sunglasses reflecting an eerie light, "A very sophisticated modified version that can transmit sound in real time."
Hong instantly understood, her expression turning grave. "The political infighting within the General's Mansion... they deliberately sent Miss Qianying into the hands of the enemy."
Hinata gasped. "Wouldn't that be... using someone else to do the dirty work?"
The old woman squinted. "It seems the ninjas of Konoha aren't too stupid."
Ya pulled Chiyo behind him protectively. "Hey! Old hags! Don't get any funny ideas!"
The samurai drew their katanas with a whoosh, Chakra forming visible streams of energy on the blades. Kurenai quickly formed hand seals, ready to unleash Genjutsu at any moment.
Just as the battle was about to break out, Shino's swarm of insects suddenly surged in from all directions, forming a black barrier that separated the two sides.
"The guards in the backyard have been temporarily paralyzed by my insects," he pushed up his sunglasses. "There's a weak point in the barrier on the east side of the wall, enough for us to evacuate."
Kurenai immediately decided. "Hinata the way! Miss Qianying! Shino, Shino retreat! We're going back to Konoha!"
Chiyo stood rooted to the spot, her face as pale as paper. "Go... go back? Father... he actually..."
Hinata, abandoning her usual timidity, firmly grasped Chizuru's hand. "Miss Qianying, now is not the time to be sad! Please believe in us!"
Perhaps it was the determination in Hinata's eyes that inspired her; Chishou took a deep breath and straightened her back. "Okay... I'll go with you."
As everyone rushed out of the Japanese-style room, Kotaro was still wailing, "Bride, don't go! You promised to tell me a story!"
On the way back, Chisakura was unusually quiet. It wasn't until they set up camp at dusk that Kurenai discovered her and her cats sitting around the campfire, intently writing something.
"The Cold-Faced Jonin and the Noble Lady..." Hong read the cover title, her eyebrows rising higher and higher. The protagonist is a mysterious ninja who always wears sunglasses, while the heroine is a noblewoman betrayed by her family.
Shino laughed so hard he rolled on the floor, "Shino! You're going to be famous!"
Hinata tried to say something, but choked on her own saliva and coughed uncontrollably.
Shino's swarm of insects flew toward the distant bushes, as if fleeing something terrible.
Kurenai watched this scene and rubbed her temples. She suddenly missed the hot springs of Konoha and the bottle of sake hidden deep in the closet—she was determined to drink to her heart's content after this mission.