Twelve Guardian Shinobi! (Please Read On, Please Vote)

The deer cart traveled at the very front of the merchant convoy, followed by a long, narrow line like a dragon's tail as it gradually moved away from Konoha.

Inoichi Yamanaka, possessing powerful sensory abilities, led Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yuhi, and Shibi Aburame as they sped through the forest ahead and to the right of the convoy.

Genma Shiranui, Ebisu, and Might Guy were spread out behind the convoy on its right side, while the more defensively capable Choza Akimichi held down the rear of the merchant caravan.

The nine shinobi from Konoha formed a special formation around the merchant convoy, protecting it in the middle.

Feeling the cool breeze blowing toward him, Nara Kaikei comfortably narrowed his eyes.

At first, he had thought that once it was time to carry out a mission outside the village, he would have to rely on his own two legs to run back and forth along the roads.

He had even considered making use of Big Horn for that reason.

But now?

The deer cart was nowhere near as comfortable as a horse-drawn carriage, but it was still infinitely better than running on foot!

I just hadn't expected yesterday that today's mission would be one outside the village.

Nara Kaikei leaned against the enormous scroll beside him. Made from special materials, the huge scroll was even softer than the wooden frame of the deer cart.

Otherwise, I would've prepared some ink materials for [Super Beast Imitation Painting] last night. At the very least, I could've made a flying Ink Beast.

He was somewhat underprepared for the A-Rank Mission that had triggered this morning.

Aside from standard ninja tools like kunai, shuriken, Explosive Tags, Flashbangs, and smoke bombs, all he carried with him was a tiny, tiny amount of Soldier Pills.

Beyond that, there were only the two small scrolls Nara Shikano had given him.

But with the "Cross-Generation Pig Deer Butterfly" team serving as protection and a [Shadow Clone] trump card hidden up his sleeve, Nara Kaikei did not feel particularly nervous.

"Did you understand the mission commission process back in the Hokage's Office, Kaikei?"

Nara Shikano's aged voice drifted over on the chilly mountain wind.

Seated behind him, Nara Kaikei knew that the clan head was answering his earlier question.

Nara Shikano was clearly the one carrying out the mission, yet he had also become its client.

Nara Kaikei wanted to do the same, but the [Lazy Ghost System] would not allow him that kind of "self-entertainment."

Maybe after we return from Kyoto, I can try replicating the clan head's method...

Though I can't be the one who initiates the mission, I can insert a middleman and guide that middleman into issuing me a mission...

The thought flashed through Nara Kaikei's mind and vanished just as quickly, but he did not forget to answer the clan head's question.

"Mm. Our mission is to head to Kyoto. Clan Head added an extra mission to go to the Temple of Fire, and at the same time..."

Nara Kaikei turned to look ahead and to the right, where the excited Asuma Sarutobi was leaping between the trunks of the forest trees.

"Lord Hokage also added two chunin teams carrying out other missions."

This arrangement was not difficult for Nara Kaikei to understand.

As long as they were capable of it, accepting every mission that happened to be along the way was the most sensible choice.

That was common sense.

"That's right. The ninja team on the right accepted the B-Rank Mission [Bounty Hunter]."

Nara Shikano openly revealed the name of his teammates' mission.

"As for the ninja team on the left, they accepted the B-Rank Mission [Merchant Convoy Escort].

"In the event that those six are unable to handle things, Inoichi, Choza, and I will step in to assist them in completing their missions."

So that B-Rank Mission that could be speedrun yesterday had been taken by Asuma Sarutobi's ninja team...

Nara Kaikei immediately understood, though he still had a small doubt.

"But in that case, couldn't we accept those two B-Rank Missions as well?"

"Unless there are special circumstances, shinobi do not accept two missions at once, no matter how much money the client offers."

Nara Shikano knew that there was a little money grubber sitting behind him. As he explained, his words carried a teasing reminder.

"Besides, haven't we already accepted an A-Rank Mission?

"And if we truly intervene during those shinobi's missions, once we return to the village, the village will add a B-Rank Mission record to each of our mission histories."

Nara Kaikei asked curiously, "Does that include me?"

"You?"

Nara Shikano turned around with an amused smile.

"Kaikei, your current identity is that of the mission client.

"Outside the ninja village, a shinobi's free activities are not entered into their official mission records."

Nara Kaikei nodded with some regret.

He had originally wanted to freeload two B-Rank Missions. At the very least, they could have yielded two B-Rank [Ninja Scrolls]!

An A-Rank Mission is good too, isn't it?

Nara Kaikei consoled himself.

Besides, I freeloaded this A-Rank Mission too.

Konoha had clear classifications for mission commissions. Shinobi of different ranks could accept missions of different ranks.

For a "genin" like Nara Kaikei, at least in terms of official rank, the highest-level missions he could accept were only C-Rank.

The reason he had been able to accept a B-Rank Mission before was because he had ridden Tsunade's coattails.

But no matter how much he freeloaded, he could not reach an A-Rank Mission.

Nara Kaikei guessed that the main reason he had been able to freeload this A-Rank Mission ["Tribute"] was his identity as a member of the Nara Clan.

The Nara Clan initiated the mission commission, Konoha accepted it, then issued the mission back to the Nara Clan.

What he had exploited was this "identity loophole."

But come to think of it, freeloading missions also seems like a direction worth trying for triggering missions.

Nara Kaikei's thoughts began to drift.

It's just that putting this mission-freeloading method into practice would be much more difficult than the guidance method I just thought of...

Amid Nara Kaikei's casual conversation with the clan head,

the merchant convoy slowly crossed the mountains surrounding Konoha and entered a broad, open plain.

All around them were blue skies, white clouds, lush fields, and beautiful natural scenery.

The deer cart rolled leisurely onward.

Nara Kaikei looked around at the surrounding sights with great curiosity.

But after watching for a while, he grew tired of it and withdrew his gaze, half reclining against the enormous scroll beside him.

The development of science in the ninja world was extremely strange, even distorted.

Biotechnology had raced ahead so wildly that it had nearly left every other branch of scientific research without even a shadow in sight.

Power lines, fields, thatched huts... what kind of ninja-punk is this?

Just then, Nara Shikano, who was driving the deer cart in front, suddenly straightened his back.

He turned around, intending to say something to Nara Kaikei, only to see the latter wearing an utterly bored expression.

"Once you carry out more missions outside the village, you'll realize something."

Nara Shikano abruptly changed the subject and smiled as he stroked his beard.

"The ninja world is vast, but Konoha is still the best."

Nara Kaikei nodded instinctively.

In his eyes, Konoha, a semi-militarized gathering place for shinobi, was certainly not a good place.

But everything was relative.

Konoha was indeed not much.

But the rest of the ninja world was even worse!

Nara Kaikei was about to say something when he noticed the clan head's tightly stiffened back and frowned.

"Clan Head, did something happen?"

"Yes. Inoichi just used Mind Transmission Jutsu—the advanced inherited secret technique of the Yamanaka Clan—to notify me."

Nara Shikano turned his head toward the side ahead.

"He sensed several shinobi stealthily approaching the merchant convoy. They're probably Bounty Hunters.

"Inoichi is leading the others against them... Oh, it's over."

The nervousness that had just risen in Nara Kaikei was wiped away by that brief statement.

"It's already over? I didn't feel anything at all..."

"Kaikei, don't overestimate the strength of those Bounty Hunters."

Nara Shikano returned to his relaxed, easygoing old man posture.

"Konoha is the ninja village with the strongest overall strength in the ninja world! No one can deny that.

"There may be the occasional especially powerful rogue shinobi among Bounty Hunters, but their average level may not even compare to the students of our Konoha Ninja Academy."

Nara Kaikei silently listened to the clan head's earnest instruction.

As a highly experienced Elite Ninja,

Nara Shikano might not know as much as Nara Kaikei when it came to the "great secrets of the ninja world."

But when it came to overall knowledge of the ninja world, even ten Nara Kaikeis could not compare to the clan head!

"Assuming nothing unexpected happens, we should reach Kyoto tomorrow morning."

Nara Shikano looked up at the sky, estimating their travel time.

"When we arrive, we'll go together to the Daimyo's Mansion and meet the daimyo."

"The daimyo..."

Nara Kaikei recalled the question of "who ranks above whom" that he had asked in the Hokage's Office.

"Clan Head, will the daimyo accept Konoha's request?"

"He will."

Nara Shikano answered with complete certainty.

"Konoha and the Land of Fire are one entity. The daimyo is the highest leader of the Land of Fire, and he will not hold Konoha back on a crucial matter like war."

"Then I have another question."

Nara Kaikei pressed on.

"Between the Hokage and the daimyo, whose status—or rather, whose say carries more weight?"

"Whose say carries more weight? That's a fine phrase."

Nara Shikano nodded with a smile.

"As for that question, all I can say is:

"When our opinions align, we listen to the daimyo;

"When our opinions differ, we listen to the Hokage."

Was this some kind of battle for authority within the household?

Nara Kaikei felt a little speechless.

But Nara Shikano's answer had not exceeded his expectations.

No matter how great an advantage the Land of Fire's daimyo held in identity, status, title, funding, and so on,

Konoha's strength could always grind the daimyo into the dirt!

"Since we're on this subject, let's discuss the first special reward I mentioned earlier.

"Kaikei, do you know of the organization called the 'Twelve Guardian Shinobi'?"

The Twelve Guardian Shinobi were a ninja organization from the original work.

They were not covered much in the manga, but the anime had created an arc about internal conflict and division among the Twelve Guardian Shinobi.