S-Rank Mission

From the moment Karatachi Yagura met his gaze, he had already fallen under the Complete Hypnosis of "Kyoka Suigetsu."

Sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch.

Complete domination over all five senses.

The result was an overwhelming advantage.

However, Sahara Mizu had no intention of killing Karatachi Yagura immediately.

He was currently at a very delicate juncture.

The ongoing Second Great Ninja War was gradually dragging every nation into an endless war of attrition with no end in sight. Whether for Konoha or Mist Village, it was an immensely heavy burden.

Under such circumstances, Konoha needed him, and Mist Village needed him as well.

Yet at the same time, the Hokage Faction did not trust him enough, while Mist Village's upper ranks dared not trust him at all.

Since that was the case, to make his already dangerous situation safer, Sahara Mizu had to give everyone a reason to trust him.

Both Konoha and Mist Village.

At this moment, Karatachi Yagura, who was under the control of "Kyoka Suigetsu," had given him an excellent opportunity.

Sahara Mizu quietly lowered his head and looked into the alley.

Facing a trash can, Karatachi Yagura still wore the arrogant posture of a victor. With his arms folded, he looked down at the overturned bin lid, which exposed household waste and indescribable vomit inside, and spoke coldly.

"A small punishment and a serious warning—that is Mizukage-sama's mercy. Sparing you today is the village's grace."

"However, to ensure that nothing like today happens again, the Sealing Jutsu on your body will need to be updated once more."

"Hah!"

As he spoke, Karatachi Yagura's small hand slammed into the side of the bin, making the beer bottles inside clatter. His five fingers lit up with abundant Sealing Chakra, forcibly burning a hole through the bin.

When he withdrew his hand, Karatachi Yagura admired the trash can before finally nodding in satisfaction. Then, he suddenly held two fingers upright and shouted in a low voice.

"Bind!"

The Fuinjutsu worked remarkably well.

At the very least, the bin containing beer bottles and garbage bags truly did not move at all.

A faint smile finally appeared on Karatachi Yagura's youthful face as he said to himself.

"It seems you now understand the village's majesty."

"Be grateful to Mizukage-sama, Ren."

The youth tapped a finger against the trash can lid and said coldly, "Next time, I don't want to see that look in your eyes again."

"Meow."

A cat cried out from the far end of the alley.

Karatachi Yagura immediately raised his head warily and looked toward the cat.

"Hmph."

"Konoha's Anbu really are painfully slow."

He turned back toward the trash can and continued his cold warning.

"Ren, remember Mizukage-sama's kindness."

"Lord Third's mercy will not come a second time."

"Behave yourself."

Once his words fell, he slowly left the scene.

Only the lonely trash can remained in the alley, standing where it was with several holes burned through it, clattering in the wind.

Watching this scene quietly, Sahara Mizu felt somewhat relieved.

At least, from Mist Village's perspective, he had "returned to their control" and was once again worthy of trust.

However.

Sahara Mizu looked at the several charred holes in the trash can and frowned slightly.

Fuinjutsu was ultimately still a hidden danger.

With that thought in mind, he reached out and opened the reward scroll he had taken from Karatachi Yagura.

"Water Release: Cutting Rain"

"Water Release: Surfing Strike"

Although both Ninjutsu were B-rank in difficulty to learn, one could remove the chakra of all non-Water Release Ninjutsu, while the other allowed high-speed movement across water. Both were highly practical techniques.

Clearly.

After Karatachi Yagura had brought down the stick, they needed to offer him a carrot as well, to placate him and keep him working for the village.

Yet this attitude toward a consumable made the tendencies of Mist Village's upper ranks abundantly clear—Mist Village no longer had any spare energy to play the old game of tugging and exhausting one another with pawns like them. They had to resolve matters quickly and consolidate their strength as soon as possible.

"Mist Village hasn't had any external conflicts putting them under serious pressure lately."

Sahara Mizu looked into the distant night and quietly reasoned, "So... is it internal conflict?"

"The conflict between the Mizugakure Ninja Clan and the Mizukage Faction is even more serious than I imagined."

The entire Ninja World had been reduced to a chaotic battlefield.

He could only hope that the massive bomb called Mist Village, which was ready to implode at any moment, would affect him as little as possible.

"Tch."

"What a luxurious wish."

The next day, at a remote side gate.

After bidding farewell to the reluctant Miss Yukie, Sahara Mizu arrived at the gathering point right on time, carrying a tactical backpack and a full set of standard armor-type equipment.

(Second Great Ninja War uniform as pictured above.)

By the time he arrived, Hatake Sakumo, who was leading the team, and another teammate, Namikaze Minato, were already there.

Besides them, the Hyuga Kurama Reconnaissance Team assigned to support them and a four-man Anbu medical squad were also quietly waiting in place.

"Sorry, I'm late."

Sahara Mizu jogged a few steps closer and greeted them with a smile. "Lord Hatake, Minato-kun."

Hatake Sakumo was usually a gentle and easygoing man. Even when facing juniors, he never put on airs. Instead, he smiled and waved dismissively. "It's fine. There are still three minutes until the meeting time."

"We just arrived early."

"Have you eaten breakfast?" As he spoke, he gestured toward the paper wrapping in his hand. "Traveling will be exhausting later. If you haven't eaten, remember to buy something over there."

With how calm and relaxed he looked, he did not seem to be preparing for an extremely difficult mission at all. He looked more like he was taking elementary school students on an outing.

"Yes! I've already eaten." Sahara Mizu first answered quite seriously.

Then he immediately revealed his true nature and said politely, "Of course, if you don't mind, you could share half with me—cumin beef, right? I could smell it from earlier."

"Is that so?"

As Hatake Sakumo spoke, he suddenly stuffed half the rice ball into his mouth in one go, puffing out his cheeks, before turning to look at him.

"What a shame. It's gone."

"..."

Clearly, this guy had absolutely none of the idol burden of being Konoha's White Fang.

Namikaze Minato, standing beside them, could not help laughing at the sight.

Sahara Mizu was stunned as well.

This man was completely different from his future dead-fish-eyed son.

Namikaze Minato seemed accustomed to it. He patted Sahara Mizu on the shoulder and explained, "Don't take it to heart. Lord Sakumo is still very dependable during missions."

"Not just during missions."

Hatake Sakumo silently squeezed in between them, chewing with puffed cheeks as he added a line in defense of his image.

"I'm also a reliable senior in everyday life."

"Yes, yes~"

Namikaze Minato replied somewhat helplessly.

Sahara Mizu turned to look at him in confusion. "Are we waiting for anyone else?"

Hatake Sakumo swallowed his breakfast and tilted his head toward the distance.

"Yes. She's here."

Almost the instant his words fell.

"Whoosh—"

That tall, slender figure suddenly appeared in the center of the group in a Body Flicker.

The girl straightened up and turned toward Hatake Sakumo. When she spoke, she was as cool and composed as ever before others, utterly serious.

"Special Jonin Uchiha Yayoi."

"Reporting for duty."

Seeing who it was, Sahara Mizu's expression froze. For a moment, he could only stare at her without reacting.

Why are you here?

Miss Yayoi secretly gave him a playful wink.

At once, Sahara Mizu recalled how indifferent the girl had appeared during last night's farewell dinner.

I absolutely won't let you die.

So that was what she meant?

Sahara Mizu looked at Miss Yayoi, his expression turning somewhat complicated and amused.

This girl really was...

Seeing that he did not react, Miss Yayoi grew a little anxious, seemingly thinking he was angry. Her large eyes blinked rapidly at him as she desperately tried to signal him.

Mizu!?

Perhaps noticing the exchange of glances between them, Namikaze Minato looked back and forth between the two with a thoughtful expression.

With everyone present, Hatake Sakumo finally began to announce the mission details.

"This mission is to infiltrate the Land of Lightning and escort Tsunade's Team out of an unformed encirclement."

"The mission was issued by the Third Hokage. Its provisional rank is A, but it may be raised to S at any time should we encounter the Third Raikage or multiple Jonin. The entire route is confidential. I will lead the team."

"Does anyone have any questions about the mission?"

"No."

Everyone answered in unison.

Hatake Sakumo nodded slightly.

"Move out!"

Thanks to reader Eikn for the monthly ticket!