No wonder he was his good brother, stepping forward at the critical moment.
"Ah, so that's how it is."
Kushina smiled and added a point beneath Hankuang's name with her pen.
Hankuang: "???"
Obito was dumbfounded. "Why did he get a point?"
Kakashi looked thoughtful. "He bravely took responsibility for his mistake, so he got a point?"
Rin was incredulous. "That counts for a point too?"
Hankuang hadn't expected it either.
Even this M can earn points?
What were the rules for earning points?
Next.
The hellish mission Kushina had mentioned began.
When they learned the contents of the mission, all of Team 9 fell silent.
B-rank mission.
This was the mission Kushina had accepted for Team 9.
Their scores would increase or decrease based on the size of their contributions during the mission.
"For this mission, Kakashi will serve as acting captain!"
"All arrangements during the mission will follow Kakashi's orders."
After looking over the group, Kushina appointed Kakashi as Team 9's acting captain.
However.
The moment she finished speaking, Obito jumped out.
"Senior Kushina! Our squad's captain should be Hankuang!" Obito declared righteously.
"Hm?" Kushina frowned.
"Teacher Minato said before that whoever contributed the most during a B-rank mission would become captain!"
Minato Namikaze had indeed said that, and everyone in Team 9 had witnessed it.
"Is that so?"
Kushina nodded and took out her notebook again.
Then Obito's score dropped by another point.
To be honest.
Hankuang had wanted to jump out too.
But after thinking it over, he held back.
What if I jump out and really become acting captain? Wouldn't I just be screwing myself over again?
Outside Konoha.
After replenishing their ninja tools, Team 9 assembled.
At that moment, an ox cart was parked at the village entrance, with a seventeen-year-old girl sitting inside.
She was the target they had to escort on this mission.
Minako, the owner of Happy Hot Springs.
She was originally the daughter of the owner of the largest bathhouse in the Land of Hot Water. A year ago, she had come to Konoha to open a branch. This time, she had hired ninja because she wanted the journey back to the Land of Hot Water to be safer.
After all, she was quite wealthy.
After clarifying the mission details, Team 9 prepared to set out.
"I thought Senior Kushina would be coming with us too. So she isn't going?"
As soon as they set off, Obito began complaining to Hankuang.
"If Senior Kushina isn't taking part in the mission, why is she wearing combat gear?" Rin was also somewhat puzzled.
Hankuang ignored their questions.
His gaze swept over Minako in the ox cart from time to time, and he looked deep in thought.
Before long.
Kakashi came over.
"Did you notice something?"
Kakashi had some understanding of Hankuang's powers of observation.
So he came directly to ask Hankuang.
"Three suspicious points," Hankuang said quietly.
"First, from the moment we set out until now, Minako hasn't said a word. She looks deeply troubled."
"Second, she's quite wealthy, so why did she hire only an ox cart? It doesn't even have a canopy."
"Lastly, we need to be careful after entering the Land of Hot Water."
After hearing this, Kakashi thought for a moment.
"How did you determine that the Land of Hot Water is unsafe?"
Kakashi had noticed the first two points as well. But the third point!
The Land of Hot Water was unsafe?
How had Hankuang reached that conclusion?
Facing Kakashi's confusion, Hankuang didn't explain.
Because he was analyzing the situation according to the general course of events in the original story.
Based on his judgment, the Third Shinobi World War was already very close.
And the Land of Hot Water, a neutral country, lay between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning.
What did that mean?
It meant that the Land of Hot Water might already have been infiltrated by Kumogakure.
He had no way to explain this to Kakashi.
"Have Rin talk to her and try to draw out some information."
Hankuang changed the subject and offered a suggestion.
Daimyo Palace of the Land of Hot Water.
The rebel leader, Kawashiro, occupied the central seat.
At his feet lay the Daimyo's corpse.
And standing beside Kawashiro were two extremely powerful Lightning Release ninja.
The sky of the Land of Hot Water had changed!
Chapter Ten: Team 9 in Chaos, Jonin-Level Speed!
The ox cart moved very slowly, traveling at roughly walking speed.
After setting out from Konoha, the four members of Team 9 spread out around the ox cart, forming a square formation with Minako protected in the center.
Of course, this formation wasn't unchanging.
Just like now, when it had been missing a corner for quite some time.
"Miss Minako, you look terribly worried. Is there something else you haven't told us?"
"Uh? Miss Minako?"
Rin tried to talk to Minako, but the other party remained silent.
Her first attempt to obtain information had failed.
Noon.
Taking advantage of their brief rest, Team 9 gathered together to eat.
"Rin, keep trying to talk to Minako this afternoon."
Before you continue