C-Rank Mission: Eliminate the Mountain Bandits

For some reason, all the D-rank missions in the village had been completed.

In just two short weeks, they would be facing the life of real ninja. It felt almost unbelievable.

No matter what, taking on C-rank missions was only a matter of time.

So, after the team assembled, the three of them followed Yushi to the Mission Assignment Office once again.

After considering several options, the three of them and Yushi settled on a mission to eliminate the mountain bandits of Rainbow Mist Mountain.

Under normal circumstances, a bandit-elimination mission would not have been an easy task. However, the intelligence stated that Rainbow Mist Mountain was shrouded in clouds and mist year-round, and many fugitives who fled into it were difficult to discover. It was merely the terrain that made the bandits so hard to eradicate.

Moreover, eliminating the bandits was not solely a ninja matter. The client had their own samurai, who would be acting alongside them.

As for what kind of bandits were on Rainbow Mist Mountain, or whether there were any Rogue Ninja among them, the client had repeatedly guaranteed that they had thoroughly investigated the matter. They were all ordinary fugitives.

Practical combat was, after all, the best way for swordsmen to grow, so all four of them chose this mission.

After accepting it and purchasing some supplies, the four left the village.

The mission site was far from Konohagakure, nearly at the border of the Land of Grass. The four of them traveled at a run, passing countless villages and towns in the Land of Fire before finally reaching the vicinity of Rainbow Mist Mountain.

As they neared the mission site, the four slowed down to recover some stamina in preparation for the coming battle.

While they rested, Genma began thinking about the mission.

"Yushi-sensei, why does the client want to eliminate the mountain bandits? It seems they never specifically mentioned it. They only vaguely said that the bandits had been harming the nearby villages."

The more Genma thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Since when had the administrators of towns cared so deeply about the hardships suffered in the countryside?

This was not a highly democratic world. Its thinking was feudal, and its systems remained feudal as well.

Launching such a large-scale campaign to suppress mountain bandits was entirely thankless work. There was no profit to be made from it at all.

When it came to the principles guiding ordinary people in this world, Genma felt that self-interest was still the most reliable explanation.

"It's good that you can think about these things. I originally thought the same, but after looking into the mission issuer, I learned that this matter is quite reasonable. Those villages are actually under his jurisdiction. Normally, trouble in the villages would not mean much, but he is at a critical juncture right now, so he urgently needs his territory to remain stable."

After hearing Yushi's explanation, Genma understood somewhat.

That so-called critical juncture was nothing more than an upcoming promotion. He had learned the general situation of the Shinobi World as a child and knew that administrators could be promoted or demoted, but he had not expected to encounter such a case himself.

That said, this administrator had some guts. A more timid person might have sent envoys to reach an agreement with the mountain bandits, since they were not easy to eliminate.

But this administrator wanted to remove every possible risk outright, spending a hefty sum to hire ninja like them to assist in wiping out the bandits.

Rainbow Mist Mountain's location was unusual. It lay at the border between nations, making it a very troublesome place.

If the matter was mishandled, it could turn into a dispute between countries. That was one reason why the bandits on the mountain considered themselves safe.

Simply put, if the Land of Fire came to eliminate them, they could flee into the Land of Grass. Pursuing them further would mean crossing the border. Likewise, if the Land of Grass came after them, they could run into the Land of Fire.

Therefore, to eliminate them, an elite force was needed to crush them in a single blow. That was likely why the mission issuer had chosen to hire ninja.

After learning all this, Genma stopped dwelling on other matters and began watching Rainbow Mist Mountain in the distance, still wreathed in clouds and mist even though it was nearly noon.

Kurenai and Namiashi Raidō did not enjoy thinking about troublesome matters, so they had little interest in Genma's question and had started observing the terrain long ago.

To avoid alerting the enemy, they remained in the forest far from the mountain's foot. Their position was also on the shaded side, so if the enemy looked in their direction, their eyes would likely suffer first.

Kurenai and Namiashi Raidō were each looking into the distance from a tree. Genma had originally intended to climb up and observe as well, but when he saw Kurenai straining to look into the distance, he could not help but laugh at himself.

He took out a scroll from his ninja tool pouch and summoned a green metal cylinder.

"Kurenai, catch!"

"Huh? What is—" Before Kurenai could react, the metal cylinder flew before her. Knowing it was from Genma, she reached out and caught it.

"This is... could it be a telescope?"

Kurenai carefully examined the green cylinder, then looked through the end with the glass lens. Finding the image somewhat blurry, she gripped both ends of the cylinder and pulled.

The cylinder extended. When she looked through the round glass eyepiece again, she could clearly see the foot of the mountain.

"Mmm~ It really is useful~"

Kurenai's smiling voice drew the attention of the sharp-eared Raidō.

Seeing Kurenai holding the sleek little green telescope, Namiashi Raidō looked pitifully at Genma.

"Genma, can you get me one too?"

Genma's face twitched speechlessly. "They're expensive. I don't have many myself. Besides, this is strategic equipment that hasn't even entered the market yet. If I gave you one, the Anbu would take you in for tea."

"Wow, Genma, that's really unfair. You gave one to Kurenai the moment she asked, but when I ask, you make all sorts of excuses. That really hurts~" Namiashi Raidō desperately squeezed his eyes, trying to force out a tear.

There was no way such terrible acting could move Genma, but in order to crush Raidō's greedy thoughts, he replied with complete confidence.

"You know what? Kurenai is the daughter-in-law my parents personally picked out. They've never been stingy when it comes to giving things to their daughter-in-law."

"You say that as if your family has lots of daughters-in-law~"

With no other choice, Namiashi Raidō merely curled his lips and gave up.

Raidō's jab made Genma's expression stiffen, and he secretly glanced toward Kurenai.

It was obvious that Kurenai had heard his conversation with Raidō. There was still a faint blush on her pretty face, but she did not seem very happy at the moment.

Seeing this, Genma cleverly jumped onto the tree where Namiashi Raidō was perched and thought to himself, Hey, Raidō, how about I give you one once you become a Chunin?

Namiashi Raidō's face immediately broke into a smug, excited grin. "Really? You can't lie to me, okay? I'm such an honest person~"

Genma really wanted to roast him. This guy was obviously rotten to the core, yet he had the nerve to label himself honest.

"It's true. Not only am I giving you one, it'll be a pair of binoculars~"

"Hehe~"

"Oh? I think I've discovered something rather incredible."

A mature male voice suddenly came from beside them. Turning around, Genma saw Kamise Yushi wearing a wicked grin.

Genma felt even more depressed. Sure enough, sleazy behavior spread between men.

"Um... Sensei, when is your birthday?"

"Oh-ho, my birthday? It seems to be coming up soon~ Hmm, December 8. You'd better remember that. I heard the Shiranui Clan has plenty of business dealings with the Konoha Logistics Department. Looks like the rumors were true after all~"

Under Yushi's seemingly soul-piercing gaze, Genma felt utterly miserable and hurriedly nodded. "I guarantee I'll remember your birthday, Sensei. And Raidō will come too!"

Namiashi Raidō really wanted to refuse, but when Yushi's gaze swept over him, he could only obediently nod as well.

"What about Kurenai? She'll be coming too, right~"

"Ah, Team 8 is celebrating Sensei's birthday. Of course no one will be left out."

"Good. This is the first time so many people will be celebrating my birthday with me~" Leaving those words behind, Kamise Yushi climbed down the tree alone.

Genma suddenly felt that Yushi's back looked somewhat lonely. Thinking of his final words, he understood a little more.

"Hey, hey, Genma! You're the one who wants to celebrate Sensei's birthday. Why did you have to drag me into it!?" Once Kamise Yushi had gone far enough, Namiashi Raidō could no longer hold back his anger.

As expected, a straight-laced guy like Namiashi Raidō had noticed nothing. Genma simply rolled his eyes at him. "Didn't I say Team 8 was celebrating Sensei's birthday? Isn't that only natural? December 8—remember it. You'd better bring a gift too!"

With that, Genma flickered away from Raidō's treetop and headed over to where Kurenai was.

"Uh, well... Kurenai, I just made a decision about a group activity..."

"A group activity? A dinner?" Kurenai had already forgotten Raidō's teasing. She licked her pink lips, looking as though she was hungry.

"Ahem, more or less... Sensei's birthday is coming up. Calling it a dinner isn't too far off..."

Ever since graduating and getting more spending money, Kurenai had grown increasingly fond of good food.

Though common knowledge said that women had two stomachs, that referred to the difference between regular meals and desserts.

But Kurenai's tastes... seemed to lean toward salty and spicy foods...

"Ooh, if it's a birthday, can we not prepare a cake~"

"A cake..." Shiranui Genma thought it over carefully and quickly made up his mind. "No problem. The important thing on a birthday is enjoying the food. Cakes aren't for everyone anyway."

"Mmm~ Is there really food like that? It sounds so amazing~"

"Yeah, don't worry. Just leave it to my parents. But hehe, do you want to meet your future father- and mother-in-law~"

"N-No. I... I'm not ready yet~"

"Uh, I've already met your dad. It'd be nice for you to meet my parents too, right? They hear me talk about you every day, and they really like you."

"Really~?" Kurenai lowered her head shyly, not daring to look at Genma's innocent smile.

"Hah, they were the ones who supported me chasing you, and they were also the ones who helped me win you over. What do you think?"

Just as Kurenai fell into endless daydreams, a cough broke the sweet atmosphere between them.

"Pay close attention, Kurenai and Genma. You two have binoculars, so it's best if you observe separately!"

Perhaps because he would soon receive a gift that was hard to come by, Yushi's tone was not entirely stern even as he reminded them.

"Kurenai, there's still plenty of delicious food at my house. Think about it carefully~"

Leaving behind words that tormented Kurenai, Genma leaped away from the treetop with a wicked grin.

"Jerk, all you know is how to bully me!"

Kurenai glared angrily at Genma's retreating figure before returning to observe Rainbow Mist Mountain.

The sunlight shifted slightly, and the mist-shrouded Rainbow Mist Mountain was no longer a vast expanse of white. Instead, multicolored light wound around it, like ribbons dropped by celestial maidens.