That Teacher Is Too Evil~

Nara Shikaku had no doubts whatsoever about Yamanaka Kei's political wisdom.

After briefly explaining the situation, he took out a D-Rank Mission Scroll he had prepared long ago.

"Clean up the garbage in the River Depression?"

Yamanaka Kei looked at the mission details on the scroll, thought for a moment, and did not refuse.

Compared with D-Rank missions such as killing wild boars or driving away ferocious beasts, cleaning up the river channel was more time-consuming and labor-intensive, so the corresponding compensation was also considerably higher.

He still needed some time to organize the useful information in his mind.

That way, he could maximize the advantage of knowing the plot.

A mission where he could watch his subordinates work while slacking off himself could not have been more suitable.

He left the Mission Assignment Office.

He arrived at the meeting place he had agreed upon with the Three Little Ones yesterday.

After distributing yesterday's mission rewards, Yamanaka Kei led the three delighted youngsters straight to the River Depression downstream of the Naka River to continue carrying out the mission.

Konoha's assignment-based mission system was actually rather unfriendly to ordinary ninja.

The fact that a genin needed only eight missions, in addition to a Jonin's recommendation, to participate in the Chunin Exams made that clear.

For most genin, the frequency of missions was actually extremely low!

One reason was naturally that the number of commissions could not fully support Konoha's enormous ninja population.

But the bigger reason was the imbalance in resource distribution.

To strengthen his rule and authority, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi tightly controlled the power to review, distribute, and assign missions.

The official explanation was: Allow ninja of different abilities to undertake missions of corresponding ranks, thereby increasing mission success rates and reducing casualties.

Those close to the Hokage faction would naturally receive high-quality missions, and their mission frequency would be extremely high.

For those opposed to the Hokage faction, not receiving missions was already fortunate. Being assigned several high-difficulty, dangerous missions was what truly threatened their lives.

As for genin who had been unable to advance to chunin for years and marginal ninja with little presence...

It was common for them to go an entire month without receiving a single mission, leaving them struggling to survive.

Someone like Yamanaka Kei—

He could take a mission whenever he wanted, and could even choose his missions to a certain extent.

That was treatment reserved for the inner circle of the Hokage faction's inner circle.

Because Yuhi Kurenai had spent most of her ninja career working in the logistics corps, she did not have much of a reaction to this.

But Might Guy and Shiranui Genma had truly experienced firsthand how painful it was to have no missions to do.

So while Yuhi Kurenai was agonizing over the garbage covering the water's surface...

Might Guy and Shiranui Genma had already rolled up their sleeves and prepared to work hard.

"Before the mission starts, I'll give you a few small gifts."

Yamanaka Kei rapidly formed hand seals, then struck three times in succession, accurately hitting the three youngsters in the abdomen.

Sealing Technique: Four Limbs Heavy Seal!

A pitch-black, whirlpool-shaped curse seal rapidly appeared on their abdomens, extending several Sealing Chains toward their limbs.

Invisible pressure swept over their entire bodies.

Might Guy, who had the strongest physique, staggered and hurriedly supported his knees with both hands.

Shiranui Genma and Yuhi Kurenai, meanwhile, simply sprawled onto the ground.

"Four Limbs Heavy Seal. As the name suggests, it's a sealing technique that places heavy pressure and restrictions on the body. You need to exert physical strength and Chakra in sync to resist it."

"Once you completely adapt to the seal, your physical strength, mental power, and Chakra reserves will all improve considerably."

"So, keep it up, boys."

With an amused smile on his face, Yamanaka Kei explained the effects of the so-called small gifts.

"A brand-new way to train with weights? The flames of youth are already burning! Ooh-yoh-hoo~"

Feeling the gravity spread through every part of his body, Might Guy showed no trace of distress. Instead, he looked as though he had been injected with stimulants.

Amid a series of ghostly wails and wolfish howls, he began repeatedly trying to throw punches and kick, adapting to the seal on his body.

Shiranui Genma glanced at Might Guy, who was already leaping about energetically. He silently forced himself up from the ground and slowly began moving his limbs.

"Who gives gifts like this~!"

Yuhi Kurenai, who had nearly taken a bite of fresh soil, furiously complained inwardly about her team leader's malicious sense of humor.

She had been just a tiny bit away!

Just a tiny bit!

If she had not reacted quickly, she would have bitten straight into that rotten soil mixed with who knew how much garbage!

He was too evil~

Her beautiful-girl image had nearly been ruined on the spot!

"The tools for cleaning the river channel are in that wooden hut over there. Now then~ let's begin the mission! Warm reminder: stepping on water while under the seal requires higher Chakra control."

Seeing that the three had gradually adapted to the seal, Yamanaka Kei directly announced the start of the mission.

He himself used the Body Flicker Technique, found a large tree upwind, and half-reclined on its trunk while continuing to organize the plot information.

Due to the terrain, this River Depression had accumulated a large amount of household garbage.

At the working speed of ordinary genin...

To completely clean up this area would take at least four or five days.

On top of that, the Four Limbs Heavy Seal on the Three Little Ones seriously slowed their work.

Without a week's time, they could forget about cleaning it all up.

Splash~ Splash~

Yamanaka Kei had just taken out his scroll and pen when two splashes reached his ears.

Looking at Might Guy and Shiranui Genma crawling out of the filthy water in a sorry state...

He began focusing happily on his own affairs.

Konoha Root Base.

Shimura Danzo, wearing a full-metal samurai helmet with thick bandages wrapped around his forehead, sat upright inside a steel cage. His already grim expression darkened as he stared at several subordinates before him.

From yesterday morning until now, his head had inexplicably been attacked three times.

The broken beam of the Jonin Waiting Station, the ceiling of the Root Medical Room that fell, and the stone bricks falling from the office!

If he had not been a seasoned veteran with lightning-fast reactions...

His name might already have been added to the Memorial Stone!

"Lord Danzo, Lord Orochimaru replied that your body shows no abnormalities. If the accidents you encountered were not due to chance, then they could only have been caused by some unknown secret technique."

The Root ninja cautiously reported the result of Orochimaru's analysis.

Shimura Danzo's already grim expression bulged with several veins. He was extremely dissatisfied with Orochimaru's answer, which amounted to saying nothing. After a moment of silence, he continued asking questions.

"...Have you investigated the Jinchuriki's movements from yesterday until today?"

"Please take a look, Lord Danzo."

Another Root ninja presented a neatly compiled surveillance record.

Danzo opened the scroll and looked at it for a moment before silently considering how to proceed with his next plan.

Yesterday, he had provoked the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki by using the request for a secret technique of the Uzumaki Clan as an excuse.

The biggest purpose was to see the attitudes of the Ino-Shika-Cho, Kurama, Inuzuka, Aburame, Hyuga, and other ninja clans toward Root.

The Inuzuka, Aburame, Hyuga, and other clans had acted very tactfully, regardless of whether they had seen through his purpose.

But Ino-Shika-Cho, Kurama...

"Stayed the night, then left the next day carrying a large amount of money. Why activate an Anti-Perception Barrier? Could it be..."

Thud~

Countless thoughts flashed rapidly through Danzo's mind.

He had just thought halfway through.

A stone the size of a pigeon egg precisely avoided the cage's obstruction and smashed into his steel helmet.

His already unbearable head was struck by a piercing pain.

The several Root ninja crouching before Danzo all lowered their heads in unison.

And Danzo's dwindling patience was completely shattered by this single stone.

"Investigate! List everyone who came into contact with me yesterday! Investigate them one by one! You must investigate clearly! Who exactly tampered with me?!"

"Yes!"