Leaving the Village

For five consecutive days, the Kaminari Kaede Squad completed three D-rank Missions every day. Afterward, they dispersed to train. If Hyuga Mirai and the other two still had the stamina, Kaminari Kaede would give them some guidance on Chakra control techniques, timing in combat, and so on.

The two members of the Hyūga Clan and Yuhi Kurenai, who was skilled in her clan's Illusion Techniques, had little to learn from Kaminari Kaede in terms of ninjutsu. All he could do was improve their combat experience and ability.

With a Konoha Jonin serving as their sparring partner and instructor, Hyuga Mirai and the other two gained a great deal.

When they had first formed the team, their coordination had still been somewhat flawed. But after several days of fighting Kaminari Kaede, their teamwork had improved considerably.

"It's time. Today, we'll take a C-rank Mission."

Kaminari Kaede said calmly.

After he spoke, both Hyuga Kiyomi and Yuhi Kurenai let out deep breaths. Even Hyuga Mirai felt the relief of being set free.

They could finally bid farewell to those trash D-rank Missions. If not for Hyuga Kiyomi's willfulness, he should have been at Konoha Hospital familiarizing himself with Medical Ninjutsu by now.

Although Hyuga Mirai still went to Konoha Hospital after training to work as Nakano's Assistant, he spent far less time there. His time practicing ninjutsu and the pay he earned had both decreased considerably.

If there had not been a Jonin in the mission squad guiding him, Hyuga Mirai truly would have gained nothing at all.

C-rank Missions already involved combat and killing, but since Ninja were not expected to participate, they were assigned to Genin as appropriate.

Hyuga Mirai's squad had a Jonin captain, so taking a C-rank Mission was naturally not a problem. Moreover, all three of them had earned Kaminari Kaede's approval. A C-rank Mission would only serve as training for them.

"Escort a merchant caravan to the Grass Country."

Kaminari Kaede had accepted an escort mission. Konoha had determined that they were unlikely to encounter Ninja along the way, so it was classified as a C-rank Mission.

After showing the Mission Commission to Hyuga Mirai and the other two, Kaminari Kaede said, "Meet at the Konoha Gate at one o'clock. Prepare to leave the village now."

Hyuga Kiyomi needed to inform her clan before leaving the village, but since she had already been permitted to join a mission squad, leaving should not be much of an issue.

Hyuga Mirai had nothing much to pack. He put ninja tools, first-aid medicine, Soldier Pills, and several items needed for the wilderness into a backpack, then quietly waited for the mission time.

Before long, however, there was a knock at the door. Hyuga Mirai got up to answer it and found Hyuga Sosuke outside.

"Mirai-kun, I heard your squad is leaving the village to carry out a mission?"

"Yes, Sosuke-sama." Hyuga Mirai nodded. "The captain accepted a C-rank Mission for us. We're escorting a merchant caravan to the Grass Country."

Although missions were supposed to be kept confidential, this was the Hyūga Clan, and Hyuga Mirai bore the Caged Bird Seal on his forehead.

"Mm."

Hyuga Sosuke was very satisfied with Hyuga Mirai's straightforward answer. This was how a Branch Family member should behave.

"Then you should understand the duty you bear. Since ancient times, our Branch Family has served as the Main Family's Guard. The meaning of the Branch Family's existence is to protect the Main Family. On this journey outside the village, you must not allow Miss Kiyomi to suffer even the slightest harm, even if it costs you your life!"

"I understand, Sosuke-sama."

Hyuga Mirai nodded softly in response. His face was utterly calm, like a deep pool untouched by wind, without the slightest ripple.

That calm expression made Hyuga Sosuke feel that something was off, but he immediately assumed that it was simply Hyuga Mirai's first time leaving the village and that he was somewhat uneasy.

"The meaning of the Branch Family's existence is to protect the Main Family!"

Thus, Hyuga Sosuke did not think further on it. After reminding him several more times of the Branch Family's purpose, he left.

"People are people. Living like dogs is racial degeneration. The meaning of my existence is not to die for the Main Family, Hyūga Clan."

Hyuga Mirai muttered to himself for a moment before saying no more. Over the past few years, he had been constantly brainwashed by the so-called meaning of the Branch Family. Those twisted words filled him with instinctive disgust.

But his strength was inferior, and the Caged Bird Seal bound him, leaving Hyuga Mirai no choice but to endure again and again.

Once I return, I'll immediately find a chance to make a system draw!

He wanted to grow stronger. Now that Hyuga Mirai had built a certain foundation, he could take a few shortcuts instead of advancing step by step as he did now.

With that decision made, the Meridians around Hyuga Mirai's eyes bulged. In an instant, he saw every movement within two kilometers in all directions, except for the blind spot behind him unique to the Branch Family.

He could activate the Byakugan without forming hand seals. This was the result of Hyuga Mirai becoming familiar with the Chakra circulation needed to activate it. Only members of the Hyūga Clan, with their proficient Chakra control, could achieve this.

In Hyuga Mirai's vision, Hyuga Kiyomi had prepared her equipment and was walking toward his home step by step. When she was nearly there, Hyuga Mirai slung his backpack over his shoulder and walked out, calling to her.

"Kiyomi-sama, let's go."

"You had your Byakugan activated just now?"

After Hyuga Kiyomi approached, she gave Hyuga Mirai several looks and asked.

Hyuga Mirai answered casually, "I felt that Kiyomi-sama should have arrived, so I took a look."

He had activated his Byakugan at eight years old and was close to learning the Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms. Though that talent was inferior to hers, it was still exceptional among their clan. She just did not understand why he wanted to learn Medical Ninjutsu so badly.

With such talent, he would definitely become a Jonin before twenty. If he devoted himself wholeheartedly to training, becoming a Jonin at fifteen or sixteen would not be impossible either.

"Let's go!"

Hyuga Kiyomi snorted, then turned and headed toward the Konoha Gate.

When the two arrived at the Konoha Gate, Yuhi Kurenai had already come early. It was her first time leaving the village for a mission, so the young girl could not help feeling excited.

There was still some time before the mission began, so the three chatted casually for a while. However, it was mostly Yuhi Kurenai and Hyuga Mirai talking. Bound by the etiquette of the Main Family, Hyuga Kiyomi rarely let loose outside. Only when she was alone with Hyuga Mirai did she speak a little more.

After a while, Kaminari Kaede and the merchant they needed to protect arrived as well. There were ten carriages loaded with goods. Besides the Kaminari Kaede Squad, the merchant had four Guards and four drivers to load cargo.

Kaminari Kaede said flatly, "Let's depart."

"Yes, Ninja-sama." The merchant smiled ingratiatingly. Konoha's Ninja would be protecting him and his property throughout the journey.

Whenever Konoha Ninja Academy students graduated, many Merchants came to Konoha to submit commissions. Only at such times could they hire Jonin at a cheap price. It was practically a Konoha tradition.

What a twisted world!

As Hyuga Mirai watched the scene before him, the thought suddenly arose in his mind.

There were Electrical Appliances and a certain Industrial Foundation, even handguns and the foundations of firearms manufacturing, yet everything felt deeply distorted.

This world had one thing that should not exist. Its existence had warped the entire world. If it disappeared, the world would surely develop better.

It was Ninja!