The Belated A-Rank Mission to Leave the Village!

"We'll head to the Hokage Building first to issue and accept an A-Rank Mission to Kyoto."

With his hands held behind his back in a peculiar "ninja run" posture, Nara Shikano raced through Konoha.

"War is about to break out. We need to notify the Daimyo's Mansion and secure material support from them."

To keep up with the clan head's speed, Nara Kaikei had no choice but to use a bit of Chakra to enhance his physical abilities.

"Issue... and... accept?"

Because he was running at high speed, Nara Kaikei spoke in broken fragments. Stamina was not his specialty.

"Kaikei, as a researcher, don't neglect physical training."

The fifty-something Nara Shikano turned his head, his tone exceptionally relaxed.

"We are ninja, after all.

"As for your question just now... desperate times call for desperate measures.

"You'll understand soon enough."

As they spoke, the two swiftly left Kikyo Castle and arrived in Konoha.

Just as Nara Kaikei and Nara Shikano reached the village's central district,

two figures—one fat, one thin—had already been waiting beneath the Hokage Building for quite some time.

"Inoichi, Choza."

Nara Shikano nodded to the pair, and Nara Kaikei followed suit with a respectful bow.

Inoichi Yamanaka.

Choza Akimichi.

The legitimate heirs to the Yamanaka Clan and the Akimichi Clan.

Together with Nara Shikano's son, Nara Shikaku, the two were known as this generation of Konoha's "Pig Deer Butterfly."

"Uncle Shikano, you've worked hard."

Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi bowed respectfully to Nara Shikano.

Their gazes both swept over Nara Kaikei beside him, but neither rashly asked about him.

"Seeing you two reminded me that this mission should have been handled by Shikaku."

Nara Shikano was warm and casual toward the two.

"Once I finish this job, I'll retire from being a ninja for good!"

At those words, Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi naturally offered their polite flattery.

Nara Kaikei, meanwhile, felt his eyelids twitch.

That wasn't a good thing to say, Old Clan Head...

Led by Nara Shikano, the group of four entered the Hokage Building and headed to the Hokage's Office on the top floor.

On his second visit to the Hokage's Office, Nara Kaikei was no longer as curious as before. He kept his eyes lowered and his mouth shut, treating himself as invisible.

Nara Shikano stepped forward and handed a mission scroll to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Lord Hokage, this is the commissioned mission from our Nara Clan."

Hiruzen Sarutobi accepted the mission scroll without surprise, stamped it with the Hokage seal, then handed it back to Nara Shikano.

He had already discussed the mission details with Nara Shikano yesterday.

At the same time, a mission notification appeared on Nara Kaikei's virtual panel.

[An A-Rank ninja commission mission has been detected!]

[A-Rank Mission: "Tribute"]

[Mission Details: 1. Transport precious medicinal herbs such as deer antler to the Capital of the Land of Fire;

2. Obtain wartime support from the Daimyo of the Land of Fire]

[Mission Reward: One A-Rank Ninja Scroll]

What kind of strange A-Rank Mission was this...

Nara Kaikei was deeply puzzled.

The first half was "transporting medicinal herbs," while the latter half was "obtaining support."

If they were offering tribute to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, the two parts ought to have been connected.

Yet viewed as a whole, they were clearly two independent missions.

An A-Rank Mission called "Tribute," and tribute was even put in quotation marks...

Could this mean it wasn't Konoha offering tribute to the Daimyo's Mansion, but the Daimyo's Mansion offering tribute to Konoha?

Just as Nara Kaikei pondered the profound question of who stood above whom—the Hokage or the Daimyo—

the clan head's voice suddenly sounded beside his ear.

"Kaikei, go issue the commission."

Nara Kaikei, who had been prepared for some time, stepped forward and handed the mission scroll the clan head had given him earlier to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"This is?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi opened the scroll in puzzlement, just in time to see a ten-thousand-ryo banknote fall from within.

"C-Rank Mission: 'Escort.'

"Mission Details: 'Protect Nara Kaikei on his journey to the Temple of Fire.'

"Mission Fee: ten thousand ryo."

After merely glancing over the mission scroll, Hiruzen Sarutobi understood what was going on.

Put simply,

Nara Shikano had found another minor loophole within the rules.

The actual mission of Nara Shikano, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Choza Akimichi—the three members of the off-generation Pig Deer Butterfly—was to travel to Kyoto and obtain wartime support from the Daimyo's Mansion.

But directly showing up to ask for money would inevitably be inappropriate.

Thus, they needed the cover of "transporting medicinal herbs."

The Nara Clan sold medicinal herbs to the powerful and influential figures of the Land of Fire nearly every year. On one hand, it was to earn money; on the other, it was to establish covert political ties.

For ordinary ninja, such matters were far too distant from their lives.

But for a Medical Ninja Clan like the Nara Clan, it was perfectly normal.

Using "seeking wartime support" as a pretext while selling medicinal herbs in Kyoto was the first loophole Nara Shikano had exploited.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was not displeased by this. If anything, he welcomed it.

The Nara Clan being on good terms with officials of the Land of Fire was, more or less, equivalent to Konoha being on good terms with those officials.

However...

Why did Nara Shikano want to go to the Temple of Fire? And why was he bringing a child like Nara Kaikei along?

The questions flashed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind without lingering for long.

He took out the ten-thousand-ryo note, casually stamped the scroll with the Hokage seal, then handed it to Nara Shikano at his side.

The one accepting this C-Rank Mission was none other than the Nara Clan's clan head!

"Get moving, Shikano."

Hiruzen Sarutobi waved to the four of them.

"There are still people waiting for you!"

The Nara Clan had plenty of tricks up their sleeves.

But who said the Nara Clan was the only one exploiting loopholes in mission rules this time?

As Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi had also slipped two additional B-Rank Missions into this A-Rank Mission.

With this off-generation Pig Deer Butterfly lineup here, such a powerful ninja team would be wasted if not put to use!

After bidding the Third Hokage farewell, Nara Shikano and the others briskly departed from the Hokage Building and headed for Konoha's gates.

Before the gates of Konoha, the crowd bustled with activity.

Two or three small merchant caravans had gathered together, while the neighing and snorting of horses rang out endlessly.

Among the ordinary people stood six ninja wearing forehead protectors.

Though they wore different clothing and appeared to be only eleven or twelve years old,

their green flak jackets showed that all six were genuine Chunin.

"This is my first B-Rank Mission since becoming a Chunin!"

Asuma Sarutobi frowned, occasionally glancing toward the village.

"Who has such a big shot's airs that they've made us wait this long?

"If I find out, I'm reporting them to the old man!"

"Asuma, don't be like that."

Kurenai Yuhi frowned slightly as she tried to persuade him.

"Didn't Lord Hokage just explain it?

"With the strength of the three of us, it would still be very difficult to complete a B-Rank Mission to eliminate Bounty Hunters along the official road. A special Jonin will be assisting us."

Shibi Aburame looked at his two teammates and silently shook his head.

His gaze shifted to the other side.

Asuma and Kurenai always ignore me whenever they're together, but compared to Might Guy, those two are far better!

A dark-green kappa was charging wildly through the crowd, shouting words no normal person could understand.

"B-Rank Mission: [Merchant Caravan Escort]!"

"Once I complete this mission, I'll run one thousand laps around the village when I get back!"

"If the mission fails, I'll run five thousand laps around the village!"

"If my legs can't run anymore, I'll walk on my hands. If my arms have no strength left, I'll use my fingers... This is youth!!"

Might Guy.

A man who would one day become stronger than anyone else.

But that was only "one day."

In a corner of the crowd far away from Might Guy,

his teammates, Genma Shiranui and Ebisu, looked at one another and sighed in unison.

"I hope Guy doesn't make another mistake during the mission."

"I hope Guy doesn't cause this B-Rank Mission to fail."

Though their words differed, the meaning behind them was nearly identical.

If they had the chance to live their lives over again, Genma Shiranui and Ebisu definitely would not form a three-man team with Might Guy!

Even that "lazy dead-last" who supposedly had not yet graduated from the Ninja Academy

would be better than that green kappa whose energy seemed endless!

At that thought, Genma Shiranui and Ebisu exchanged another look.

"I hope the Jonin can keep Guy in line later."

"Guy should obey the Jonin's orders, right?"

The understanding built through years of teamwork was no joke.

Just as Genma Shiranui and Ebisu were complaining together about their other teammate,

Nara Shikano's group of four finally arrived from within the village.

Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi each flashed into the packed merchant caravans, helping maintain order and move things along.

Meanwhile, Nara Kaikei observed the other ninja traveling with them.

With just a quick glance, he recognized most of the six.

All six had once been Nara Kaikei's "classmates," and each was something of a minor celebrity.

The three-person team on the right: Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yuhi, and Shibi Aburame.

The three-person team on the left: Genma Shiranui, Ebisu, and Might Guy.

Whee—

Nara Shikano somehow produced a whistle and blew it.

As the crisp whistle sounded, a large deer with jet-black eyes and sleek, gleaming fur emerged from the crowd, pulling a small wooden cart.

This deer's build was no less impressive than Big Horn's! What a fine-looking beast!

Nara Kaikei was admiring the deer summoned by the clan head when he suddenly heard him say,

"Kaikei, get on."

Nara Shikano sat in the driver's seat of the deer cart and beckoned to Nara Kaikei.

"We're leaving the village!"

Many thanks to "Fa Ge Bu Shi Fa Ge" for the 500 Qidian Coins donation!!