[No need to ask. Whatever the circumstances, escort Tazuna back to the Land of Waves, and make sure the client stays safe until the bridge is built.]
[Wherever the leaves dance...]
Cangwu closed the scroll with a dark expression.
In an instant, golden light blazed.
Countless beams of light shredded the scroll.
Apart from that one line, the rest of the Will of Fire made no sense at all.
If the technology tree here weren't so warped,
and the education system so closed off,
could brainwashing "tools" this utterly worthless really work?
"Looks like this mission is pretty unusual."
A voice came from outside Cangwu's window.
"If you don't have anything important to say, come near here again and I'll make sure you don't live to see another day."
Cangwu's voice held no emotion.
Kakashi rolled his eyes.
"I did give you the sword techniques my father left behind. You don't have to be so cold."
As he spoke, Kakashi leaped inside.
"I came to warn you to keep an eye on Naruto. The Nine-Tails is sealed inside him, after all."
Cangwu glanced at him. "Speaking of your father... you really aren't fit to be mentioned in the same breath as him."
Kakashi froze for a moment, then gave a rueful laugh.
"That's probably true."
Hearing his tone, Cangwu merely smiled faintly. "If that's all, get lost."
"I can't be bothered with your mess. Just don't come bothering me."
"Since you gave me White Fang's swordsmanship, I'll offer you a word of advice."
"Go back and think carefully about why your father died."
"Was it really because he didn't save his comrades?"
"Think about whose interests were affected, and whose will he defied."
As he finished speaking, Cangwu appeared behind Kakashi in an instant.
Kakashi's pupils contracted sharply.
The first thing that stunned him was Cangwu's words.
The next was the strength Cangwu had just displayed.
By the time he reacted,
he had already followed in the footsteps of the three little ones.
His butt felt like it was about to split apart.
Whoosh—
A figure streaked across the sky.
"Did something happen?"
Just then, the door opened, revealing a beautiful figure.
"It's nothing. I'll be away for a while. I'm counting on you to look after the house."
Cangwu smiled as he picked up his backpack.
"How long will you be gone...? I only heard that Team 7 took a C-rank mission."
Yūhi Kurenai came over to him and gently straightened his collar with her small hands.
Her pretty face was full of reluctance.
"I don't know. Probably no more than two months."
"By the time I get back, it'll be time for the Chunin Ninja Exams, so I'll need to start preparing."
"Is it really that soon?" Yūhi Kurenai asked, surprised.
"They only graduated recently... Isn't the Chunin Ninja Exams coming up too fast?"
"It's fine. Don't underestimate this year's kids. They're all very talented." Cangwu raised his hand, about to give her a familiar head-pat.
But the moment he lifted his hand, Yūhi Kurenai leaned forward and nestled into his arms.
Cangwu paused, then rested his hand on the back of her head.
"I'll do as you say... Anko gets to go first, so I want to be second~!"
Yūhi Kurenai buried her face in Cangwu's chest, too embarrassed to look up.
Cangwu looked down and could just make out the older sister Red's flushed ears.
"Okay."
Yūhi Kurenai's body trembled.
"I have a task for you while I'm gone."
"What task?" Yūhi Kurenai asked, raising her head in confusion.
Her rosy cheeks looked lovely, her natural allure undeniable.
Cangwu's lips curled slightly, but he didn't explain right away.
He couldn't keep making empty promises, could he?
He had to take some real action.
Mwah—
A while later, Cangwu slowly lifted his head.
Yūhi Kurenai could barely stand.
"I'm counting on you to take care of this."
After quietly giving her his instructions, Cangwu slung on his backpack and headed for the door.
"Be careful on the way... I... I'll be waiting at home."
Cangwu waved without turning around and left.
Once the door closed, Cangwu felt a headache coming on.
Uzuki Yugao was standing outside. He had no idea when she'd arrived.
Though she wore a mask, Cangwu could still make out the resentment on her face.
"Can we talk when I get back?"
Yugao said nothing.
With no other choice, Cangwu took off her mask.
Mwah—
A few minutes later, under Yugao's dazed, reluctant gaze, he finally left.
If he didn't go now, he'd be late again.
Yugao instinctively raised a hand, her slender fingers touching her red lips.
Watching Cangwu hurry away, she smiled faintly.
"Hmph, naughty little brother... You don't want to let any of us go... Are you planning to become the daimyō someday?"
At Konoha's gate.
The two gatekeepers yawned lazily.
"Hey, hey... Sasuke, give me a hand!"
"Idiot."
Naruto dragged along a mountain of luggage, glaring unhappily at Sasuke.
Sasuke carried a small backpack with some clothes inside.
He only had to glance at Naruto to guess how this would end.
"Teacher Cangwu isn't here yet. Naruto, have a clone take the extra luggage home."
Sakura pressed a hand to her forehead in exasperation and spoke to Naruto.
"But... everything in here is important..."
"Shut up. Get a clone to take it home. Just keep a change of clothes!"
"We're going on a mission, not a vacation!"
Thump—
Sakura punched him.
That punch cleared Naruto's head a little. He obediently made a Shadow Clone and sent it home with the extra luggage.
Tazuna watched everything.
After taking a couple of big gulps of liquor, he grumbled:
"The little ones are unreliable, and so is the grown-up. You're already several minutes past the agreed time!"
"Can you really guarantee my safety?!"
Sasuke closed his eyes and waited patiently.
He couldn't see anything amiss, so he simply ignored Tazuna's words.
Sakura thought it over, then said, "Sorry, Mr. Tazuna. Teacher Cangwu must have been held up by something."
"Hmph!"
"What else could he possibly be doing?"
"Look at him. I bet you're just as useless as he is!"
As he spoke, Tazuna arrogantly raised his drink and gulped it down.
"Damn it!"
"That old man's so full of himself! Sakura, he's just picking on you because you're nice. I've had enough. I have to teach him a lesson..."
"Don't do anything rash!"
Sakura's eye twitched. Tazuna's attitude annoyed her, but Teacher Cangwu had said he would handle it, so she decided to let it go for now.
There was clearly something wrong with this man.
She wanted to see how long he could keep up the act.
Sakura held Naruto back, so all he could do was glare viciously at Tazuna.
Seeing that, Tazuna only got bolder.
"What?"
"Am I wrong?"
"A bunch of useless brats and an unreliable jōnin..."
"If I remember correctly, this is a C-rank escort mission, right?" a voice suddenly asked from behind Tazuna.
Naruto and Sakura immediately brightened.
Sasuke slowly opened his eyes as well.
"For this little bit of money, escorting you back should only involve running into some bandits."
"I wouldn't even need to step in. My three adorable students could take care of them."
"But if we encounter enemies beyond the scope of a C-rank mission... ninjas, for example—even a single Genin would raise the mission's rank."
"So, has this escort mission already gone beyond C-rank?"
At that, Tazuna's face turned ashen.
Big beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
"If that's really the case, there's still a way to work this out."
Cangwu smiled at Tazuna and said, one word at a time:
"You... have... to... pay... more!"
Before you continue