The Third Member

"You want to learn how to make ninja tools?"

In a clearing within the small woods, Orochimaru looked at Kagetsu in confusion. He did not understand why Kagetsu was interested in something like ninja tools.

In his view, Kagetsu's talent should be focused more on learning ninjutsu and accumulating knowledge.

"I just want to understand a little." Facing Orochimaru's questioning gaze, Kagetsu answered firmly. He had no intention of studying it too deeply; he simply wanted to learn a little about how ninja tools were made in this world.

"Ninja tools are a very broad category." Orochimaru fell silent for a moment before explaining, "Ninja shuriken, kunai, swords, Exploding Tags, and all kinds of tools—including Sunagakure's puppets and Kirigakure's seven ninja swords with their differing functions—can all be considered types of ninja tools.

Beyond that, there are also certain legendary items said to possess great power.

The Takumi Ninja Village has the most comprehensive understanding of how ninja tools are made. Other ninja villages tend to specialize in particular categories.

I can only find you some introductory knowledge on ninja tool crafting."

"That will be enough. I only want to learn a little about it." Kagetsu nodded.

Seeing that Kagetsu did not seem to be pretending and truly appeared to be asking out of curiosity alone, Orochimaru stopped paying it any mind.

As his teacher, he absolutely did not want to see Kagetsu waste his talent and time on something with such a limited potential ceiling.

Besides, what he excelled at was Chakra, ninjutsu, Biological Modification, and similar fields. At present, he truly did not know much about ninja tools.

"Sensei, you're giving Kagetsu special lessons again!"

Suddenly, a voice overflowing with resentment rang out alongside a figure dropping from the sky. Anko landed lightly on the ground, steadied herself, then rose and pointed at the two of them, shouting in dissatisfaction.

"No, I only just got here too." Kagetsu hurriedly waved his hands. If he admitted it, then for the next while, he would have to endure Anko's harassment and attacks in every possible form.

When it came to such meaningless matters, Kagetsu very much embodied the Nara Clan's fear of trouble.

"Hmph!" Anko glared at Kagetsu with a huff, then turned to Orochimaru. "What training are we doing today, Sensei?"

"I accepted a mission for you two." Orochimaru remained calmly unsurprised by the exchange between his two disciples. Only after Anko finished fussing did he speak.

"A mission? Are we leaving the village again?" Anko was delighted at first, then somewhat reluctant. She had only been home for a few days.

"A C-rank Mission: deal with a giant beast that escaped from the Forest of Death." Orochimaru raised one finger and explained the mission details and objective to Kagetsu and Anko one by one.

"Although it is a C-rank Mission, its danger is no less than that of some B-rank Missions. If you let your guard down, you could be injured."

"A giant monster that looks like a wild boar. We either kill it or drive it back into the Forest of Death, and make sure it doesn't disturb or damage the village's buildings and crops. Is that right?" Hearing that they would not need to leave the village, Anko felt relieved and became energized.

Unlike Kagetsu, who wished he could stay in the Laboratory with Orochimaru forever, she rather enjoyed hot-blooded battles.

At least in that regard, she could feel that she was not dead weight or useless within the team.

"Wait. One more person will be joining us." Orochimaru stopped Anko as she prepared to leave.

"One more person?"

Kagetsu and Anko both fixed their gazes on Orochimaru.

"Is someone new joining us?" For a moment, Anko could not tell what she was feeling.

"Three-man teams are tradition. This one was recommended by Lord Hokage." As he spoke, Orochimaru looked toward a certain direction in the woods.

"Sorry, Orochimaru-sama! I'm late!" A young figure stepped out from behind a tree in the direction Orochimaru was watching, his face full of apology.

"An Uchiha!" Seeing the conspicuous fan crest on the newcomer's sleeve, Anko blurted it out instinctively.

Like the Senju in the past, the Uchiha Clan was renowned throughout the village. What the village knew best about them was their great strength, their Sharingan bloodline limit, and their closed-off, arrogant nature that set them apart from everyone else.

It was rare for an Uchiha to join a team that was not led by one of their own Jonin.

"Introduce yourself." Orochimaru did not display any extra emotion.

"My name is Uchiha Shisui, and I am a member of the Uchiha Clan. I graduated from the Konoha Ninja Academy not long ago. I specialize in Fire Release, the Three Body Technique, the Body Flicker Technique, and Kenjutsu. I hope we can get along well!" The newcomer introduced himself somewhat shyly.

"What? He's not as arrogant as those legendary Uchiha at all!" Anko immediately developed quite a favorable impression of the shy, handsome Uchiha Shisui.

"Sorry."

Hearing Anko's words, Shisui smiled awkwardly. He knew that his clansmen did not have much of a good reputation in the village. If it had been a more extreme Uchiha, they probably would have flown into a rage on the spot after hearing what Anko said.

"Kagetsu! Nara Kagetsu! I specialize in Medical Ninjutsu and the Shadow Secret Technique."

"Anko, Mitarashi Anko! I specialize in Fire Release and Orochimaru-Style Nintaijutsu. Since you joined later, you can call me Big Sis!" Anko stepped up in front of Shisui, took over from Kagetsu, and introduced herself while trying to claim herself a little brother.

Clap! Clap!

"Finish the mission first." Orochimaru clapped his hands, drawing the three of their attention.

His gaze settled on Shisui. "The Old Man has a high opinion of you. In the upcoming mission, you will serve as the main attacker. The three of you will work together to complete this mission. Once it is done, collect the reward yourselves."

"What about you, Orochimaru Sensei?" Anko asked instinctively.

"I have other matters to attend to." After saying that, Orochimaru's figure vanished in a puff of smoke.

"Damn it!" Seeing that only a Shadow Clone had been present, Anko grumbled angrily. Looking at Kagetsu and the well-behaved Shisui, she said, "Since Orochimaru Sensei didn't say who should take command, I'll be the captain for this mission. You two have no objections, right?"

Shisui's eyes tentatively turned toward Kagetsu. Before coming here, he had learned some information about Kagetsu and Anko from his clan.

After all, Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, had personally come to recruit him as a disciple, and he had learned Medical Ninjutsu from Tsunade. Nara Kagetsu had gained some fame among the Jonin, though everyone thought he had simply gotten lucky.

"I have no problem with that." Kagetsu was more than happy to let Anko charge ahead and take on all the troublesome matters. In any case, whenever necessary, Anko would remember that she had him—the idle, lazy external brain.

"I have no problem either!" Once Kagetsu made his stance clear, Shisui immediately followed suit.

Anko immediately stood with her hands on her hips, beaming.

"Then the first step is to track down the target. Do you know tracking techniques?" Anko's gaze shifted to Shisui.

"No problem." Shisui nodded. The Ninja Academy had classes on how to track targets. Genin took missions like these in order to absorb and truly master the knowledge they had learned at the academy.