"What a busy day."
With a sigh, he picked up the mission report from the desk and read it again.
This Explosive Tags crisis had been uncovered by Hankuang of Team 9 during a D-rank mission.
Only after Minato Namikaze painstakingly pieced together the clues, with Hyuga Hiashi's Byakugan providing assistance, had the village-wide search been carried out.
"Looks like I misunderstood that brat."
"Someone like him should be the village's hope for the future~~"
Thinking this, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to observe him for a while longer.
If the current timeline could connect to the future, then future Hiruzen Sarutobi would definitely jump out and slap his present self several times across the face!
Observe my ass. What the hell was he observing?!
Chapter Twenty-Two: War Begins—Are You Here to Escape the Heat Too?
Dreams in the early morning were always hard to leave behind.
When he opened his eyes, Hankuang wore an exasperated expression.
"Hey, get up already. We have to accept a mission."
Obito shook Hankuang hard, nearly pushing him out of bed.
Kakashi stood beside the bed, waiting as well.
Rin seemed to be holding a lunch box?
Forced out of bed, Hankuang had not even had time to wash his face before Team 9 dragged him off to accept a mission.
"You're being way too enthusiastic, aren't you?"
On the way, Hankuang voiced his dissatisfaction.
"Obito, didn't you say yesterday that my brain had been infected by mung beans?"
"I was wrong. It was my brain that got infected. No, my brain fell into mung bean soup." Obito offered a profound self-critique.
"Kakashi, didn't you say there was no need to do this kind of mission?"
"If you're accepting the mission, then I can do it." Kakashi answered seriously.
"Rin is the most obedient. She's always stood on the side of justice."
"Huh? I've always thought you were right." Rin beamed with joy and shoved the lunch box into Hankuang's hands.
This time, Hankuang accepted a [Clean the Bathhouse] mission.
Team 9 had originally been eager to try, but the moment they saw the mission details, Obito exploded again, as expected.
Because the bathhouse their team had to clean was Happy Hot Springs.
"Hankuang, you've gone too far! You're obviously making us work for you!"
"This is indeed going too far."
Obito and Kakashi felt they had been tricked.
This wasn't a D-rank mission at all. It was clearly an abuse of the mission system to get Team 9 to do your private chores.
"You two are wrong. The mission was issued by Senior Kushina. It has nothing to do with Hankuang." Rin offered a different opinion.
"Rin, that bathhouse belongs to Hankuang. Senior Kushina is merely working for him." Obito saw through Hankuang's scheme at a glance.
Hankuang had known that once he accepted this mission, Team 9 would make a fuss for a while.
They had urged him to accept a mission, only to complain after he did.
Being a team leader was seriously damn difficult.
Bringing up the rear, he checked his Attribute Panel.
Name: Hankuang Age Strength: 114 (112+2) [Kage Level] Physique: 144 (72*2) [Kage Level] Agility: 92 (90+2) [Elite Genin Level] Spirit: 80 [Intermediate Immunity] Chakra: 430 Skills: None Ninjutsu: None Overall Strength Rating: Trainee Genin
"Today's doubled attribute is physique."
After closing the panel, Hankuang was in an excellent mood.
"Physique has the best value for its cost among the four basic attributes. Once this attribute doubles, the others increase accordingly as well."
Happy Hot Springs.
When they arrived at the shop entrance, Team 9 received a warm welcome.
Of course, Kushina welcomed them by sending them to clean the dusty bathhouse.
Under Obito's jealous gaze, Hankuang left with Kushina, leaving the other three staring at one another.
At the reception desk.
Hankuang shoveled food from the lunch box into his mouth while listening to Senior Kushina's introduction.
"I plan to hire a few people. This bathhouse is too large for one person to manage."
"Do whatever you want, Senior!"
"Good. Then I'll call over my best friend as well."
Kushina decided to bring Mikoto in.
Whoosh!
Just then, Minato Namikaze appeared with a Body Flicker.
Unusually, his expression was grave.
"Something happened!"
"Huh?"
Seeing his teacher's expression, Hankuang's heart jolted.
Could it be that war was about to begin?
"The village just received word that the Sand Ninja border forces launched a surprise attack on the Land of Rivers!"
"What?" Kushina cried out.
"The Land of Rivers?" Hankuang murmured.
The Land of Rivers lay between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind. If the Sand Ninja wanted to attack Konoha, they had to advance through the Land of Rivers first. Likewise, if Konoha wanted to attack the Sand Ninja, it would have to advance through the Land of Rivers.
This was a signal. As soon as the Land of Rivers was attacked, it meant war was coming.
"Couldn't this war have waited another month? Did it really have to come now?" Hankuang felt terribly flustered.
Once war began, the village would activate wartime regulations.
At that time, every ninja team would be placed under the Hokage's direct command.
"I'm going to be one of the village's pillars in the future. If I crash and burn on the battlefield now, the village will suffer the greatest loss."
From the village's perspective, Hankuang felt that he had to play it safe.
After all, his own death would be a minor matter. The greatest loss would be the village losing one of its strongest fighters.
"Hankuang, Kushina and I are going to the Hokage's office. Prepare yourself to go to war at any moment!"
Minato Namikaze gave him a reminder before hurriedly leaving with Kushina.
"Understood, Sensei!"
Hankuang answered.
Once their figures vanished, Hankuang dashed home.
Go to war? You've got to be kidding!
Rear Mountain.
Holding a shovel and carrying a backpack, Hankuang stopped in a shady spot.
"The woods are dense, and there's even a stream nearby. What an excellent place to take shelter..."
Before you continue