C-Rank Mission

Thursday dawned bright and sunny, and the Hokage Building was packed with people.

After staring at the D-Rank Mission list for ages, Team 3 reluctantly accepted the last four quick, simple missions on it.

As they left the Hokage Building, the three could not help sighing. Suitable missions were becoming fewer and fewer, and grinding missions was getting slower and slower.

Meanwhile, the other Genin from their class year were on the verge of breaking down.

Seeing a list full of farm labor and cargo-hauling missions, the three members of Team 1 finally exploded.

Hyūga Yō said coldly, "Hauling cargo again and again—am I some kind of laborer? I refuse to take these missions."

Kurama Saki said nothing, but he adjusted his ornate clothes, his eyes filled with disgust.

Yagyū Ichirō did not react quite as strongly. After soothing his teammates, he said, "Sensei, Yō is right. We can't keep doing these missions. We'd even accept catching cats and dogs."

Aizawa Konan frowned at this and asked the receptionist, "Why are the only D-Rank Missions left labor jobs?"

The receptionist said, "Those three brats from Team 3 take seven or eight missions of other types every day. That's why all that remain are these time-consuming labor jobs."

"What?!"

The three members of Team 1 cried out in surprise.

Hokage's Office.

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, exhaled a ring of smoke, his fingers unconsciously tapping the intelligence report he had just read.

The Land of Fire had not been peaceful lately. Many displaced refugees had turned into bandits and outlaws, occupying mountains and plundering passing merchants and nearby villages.

"It's only summer. Why are there so many homeless refugees?"

"Are they truly refugees, or is this the work of other ninja villages?"

Suddenly, a middle-aged ninja entered and said, "Special Jonin Ichikawa Jirō requests an audience."

Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his brow. "Let him in."

Ichikawa Jirō entered the Hokage's Office and, before the Third Hokage could question him, tearfully complained, "Lord Hokage, Aburame Shibi's Team 3 has gone too far."

"Huh?" Sarutobi Hiruzen was utterly bewildered.

"Team 3 deliberately picks missions that can be completed quickly. Now there are no D-Rank Missions like catching cats or delivering letters left—only hard labor like hauling cargo and helping farmers harvest crops. Missions like these offer too little training for Genin."

Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, "Have they violated ninja regulations?"

"No, but they—"

Before Ichikawa Jirō could finish, Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "Then there is no problem. Jirō, you may leave."

Ichikawa Jirō could only leave the Hokage's Office unwillingly.

After dismissing Ichikawa Jirō, Sarutobi Hiruzen was about to properly consider the truth hidden behind the bandits when the middle-aged ninja entered again. "Jonin Aizawa Konan requests an audience."

"Konan?" A smile appeared on Sarutobi Hiruzen's lips. "Let her in quickly."

After Aizawa Konan entered, Sarutobi Hiruzen had her sit down, then asked gently, "Konan, have you encountered any problems recently?"

Aizawa Konan sat down and said, "There is indeed a problem."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes widened. He abruptly rose to his feet, radiating the imposing aura of a legendary ninja. "What is the problem? Speak freely. As Hokage, it is my duty to relieve everyone's troubles."

If she had not noticed the Third Hokage's condescending gaze peering into her cleavage, Aizawa Konan might truly have believed he intended to stand up for the people.

Uncomfortably crossing her arms to block his gaze, Aizawa Konan said, "Lord Hokage, Team 3 specifically chooses quick and easy missions. They are exploiting a loophole in the village's system for profit."

Seeing that there was nothing more to look at, Sarutobi Hiruzen sat back down. "I already know about this. I will handle it."

"Konan, is there anything else? Or perhaps..."

Aizawa Konan immediately shook her head, then turned and quickly left the Hokage's Office.

Regretfully withdrawing his gaze, the Third Hokage was about to resume his thoughts when the middle-aged ninja entered once more.

After sending off yet another Jonin, Sarutobi Hiruzen had his assistant bring over the latest mission list.

Looking at the D-Rank Mission list, which was filled from top to bottom with cargo hauling and farm work, Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned. "When Team 3 finishes their missions later, have them come up."

"Yes!"

That afternoon, Aozora finished clearing another stretch of river channel and came to submit the mission.

The moment he entered the mission hall, he saw that Hayate and Sai were there as well. Aburame Shibi even waved at him, and Aozora instantly knew something had happened.

Sure enough, when he approached, Aburame Shibi said, "Lord Hokage wants to see us."

They followed Aburame Shibi upstairs.

"Why does Lord Hokage want to see us? We didn't get into trouble, did we?"

Sai looked nervous and guilty. With nearly ten thousand ryō coming in every day lately, she felt like she was committing a crime.

Hayate was also a little cautious. "It should be fine, right? We haven't violated any ninja regulations."

Seeing this, Aozora could only reassure them. "The village is short on manpower right now. Each of us is doing the work of several people. Maybe Lord Hokage saw how outstandingly we've performed and wants to reward us."

Hearing Aozora's sophistry, Aburame Shibi could not help rolling his eyes behind his sunglasses.

They knocked and entered the Hokage's Office, where Sarutobi Hiruzen was handling documents.

Team 3 could only wait quietly to the side.

After a few minutes, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up at the four of them and said with a smile that did not reach his eyes, "Team 3, you've performed quite well. Completing seven or eight missions a day—one team is worth several others."

Sai genuinely thought the Third Hokage was praising them. She scratched her head and laughed. "Of course! Our team is an Elite Squad."

"You think that was praise?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen said coldly, "What you have been doing is opportunistic."

"Why does the village establish D-Rank Missions? Do you think it is truly because we lack that little Compensation?"

"Of course not!"

"We established D-Rank Missions primarily to train Genin. Hard labor builds strength and endurance; catching pets trains teamwork..."

"But you have been grinding D-Rank Missions for huge profits. What you are doing completely goes against the original purpose of D-Rank Missions."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was stern. Under the pressure of his imposing presence, Team 3 had no answer and all lowered their heads.

Aburame Shibi stepped forward. "It is my fault. After leading them through missions for two weeks, I discovered that they were already capable of acting independently, so I allowed them to choose their own missions."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded thoughtfully, holding his pipe in one hand while tapping the desk with the other.

After a while, he said, "It seems I have been too conservative. You already possess the ability to accept C-Rank Missions. Continuing to do D-Rank Missions truly would not improve you much."

"Shibi, it seems Team 3 needs to face a new trial."

"Bandits have been appearing everywhere recently, and the village has accumulated quite a few C-Rank Missions. Starting today, Team 3 will carry out C-Rank Missions."

Aburame Shibi said, "Yes!"

After leaving the Hokage Building, Aburame Shibi said, "C-Rank Missions are no longer limited to the village. Most require traveling outside, and the chances of encountering danger are greater. We will dismiss for today. Go back and prepare yourselves properly. Gather at the mission hall tomorrow morning at eight."

"Yes, Sensei!"