Yugito: What's your XP?

Half a month later, at the Raikage's office.

"Neji, as a senior, I have a few words I want to say to you."

Yozuki A's face was full of reminiscence.

"It's my honor!"

"After you become a ninja, your life will truly begin, and there will be no more warmth. One day after you become a ninja, you might look back and realize that these past years were the best memories of your life."

Neji closed his eyes, then slowly opened them again.

"Lord Raikage, perhaps I'm an exception, but I'm fully prepared now."

Yozuki A nodded and handed his forehead protector to Neji.

"Then, embrace your new future."

Neji solemnly took the forehead protector with the cloud emblem and tied it to his forehead.

Yozuki A pointed his index finger towards the rooftop. "Go, your Jonin leader is on the rooftop."

Neji nodded slightly and quickly left the office.

The rooftop of the Raikage's building.

Yugito, who had just returned from training in the Cloud Thunder Gorge yesterday, had her arms crossed over her chest, letting the cool breeze caress her face as she calmly gazed over the entire village.

Ever since becoming the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, she had been training diligently in the Cloud Thunder Gorge, hoping that one day she could reconcile with the Tailed Beast like Killer B and become the first perfect Two-Tails Jinchuriki in history.

Her efforts were not in vain.

After years of arduous training, she could now communicate amicably with the Two-Tails, Matatabi, and could utilize the Two-Tails' power to enter a half-Tailed Beast transformation state.

"Five years, a full five years, I've finally made something of myself."

A cute smile appeared on Yugito's lips.

Thump thump thump!

Steady footsteps could be heard.

Yugito's smile faded as she turned her head to look at the approaching Byakugan user.

"Excuse me, are you the Jonin leader assigned by Lord Raikage?" Neji asked, looking around and not seeing anyone else.

This woman was tall, around 1.7 meters, with delicate features like a painting and skin as fair as jade. She was unlike other Cloud ninjas, not like the women of Kumogakure.

She had long, light brown straight hair tied into a long braid that reached her waist.

She exuded an aura of heroism, possessing a queenly presence, yet her bright and spirited eyes gave her a cute appearance.

If she were scored out of one hundred, she'd get ninety points, with the remaining ten deducted for being the sworn enemy of Baldy.

Kumogakure's most beautiful woman, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, Yugito.

Yugito leaped in front of Neji and appraised his eyes with great interest. "If there isn't another Byakugan in Kumogakure, then it must be me."

Neji was quite surprised.

He hadn't expected his team leader to be a Jinchuriki.

Jinchuriki were weapons of war, their importance self-evident.

In Konohagakure, Kushina, let alone leading Genin, was constantly monitored by the Anbu and confined within a barrier, essentially stripped of her freedom by the village.

The treatment of Jinchuriki in Kumogakure was quite good.

However, having a Jinchuriki act as a guiding Jonin was, by any standard, a very risky endeavor.

The Raikage's kindness... he could never repay it fully.

Yugito continued to observe Neji curiously without saying anything.

Neji grew a bit bewildered by the silence and finally probed tentatively, "I heard that when forming a ninja team, introductions are usually made, right?"

Yugito was taken aback and said with some embarrassment, "It's my first time leading a team, what should I introduce?"

Neji pondered for a moment, pinching his chin. "Probably name, specialties, likes, dislikes, future dreams, um, I think that's about it."

"Interesting, you first," Yugito said, blinking her eyes before continuing to stare at Neji.

Neji let out a helpless chuckle.

This Jonin leader was not only inexperienced but also a bit dense.

"My name is Hyuga Neji. I didn't attend the Ninja Academy and am just starting out, but my strength is very, very great. Don't see me as a mere Genin brat.

I like taking hot baths, sleeping in, and occasionally slacking off. I hate it when others impose their will on me.

My future dream..."

Neji's gaze sharpened slightly, then he continued, "Is to destroy the corrupt Hyuga clan, establish a new Hyuga clan in Kumogakure, and then lead Kumogakure to dominate the ninja world, among many other things."

[This kid...]

Hearing this, Yugito looked at Neji with some surprise, then echoed Neji's words:

"My name is Yugito, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki. I've been training for a long time and this is my first time leading a team. I lack experience, I like raising cats, eating papaya, and I hate women who act like 'Bear Big'. My dream is to become the first perfect Two-Tails Jinchuriki."

"Mhm, quite a fine dream."

Neji applauded, offering a polite smile. "Now, Team Yugito..."

"Wait."

Yugito suddenly thought of something and interrupted Neji, a playful smile curving her lips.

"I have one more question."

"Oh!"

Neji looked at Yugito with some curiosity.

It was unheard of for a Jonin leader to question their Genin after introductions.

This was an unexpected turn of events.

Yugito narrowed her eyes. "Tell me, what's your XP?"

"..."

Neji froze completely.

What was Yugito playing at?

"Teacher Yugito, I wouldn't find it strange if this question came from a hostess club owner doing customer research."

Hearing this, Yugito put on a stern face, striking a queenly pose.

"Brat, are you talking back to your teacher?"

"Never."

Neji shook his head, then honestly replied, "Yukiko, slender waist, long legs, stockings, uniform, glasses..."

Before he could finish speaking, Yugito suddenly tapped Neji's forehead with her finger, looking at him with disdain.

For the rest of the day, Neji spent his time under Yugito's gaze, feeling like she could lash out at any moment.

Neji felt incredibly wronged.

I'm still a child, what could I have possibly done wrong?

Didn't you tell me to say it?

And now that I've said it, you're unhappy.

Entrusted missions were divided into five ranks: D, C, B, A, and S.

For the first month, Yugito and Neji only took on D-rank missions.

Many might not realize it, but D-rank missions were a blessing.

The village lost money for every D-rank mission posted.

Moving houses, finding cats, escorting elderly people to visit relatives... these tasks had no difficulty whatsoever and could even be done by ordinary civilians. They were classified as D-rank missions.

Logically, employers wouldn't post such low-level missions.

Village Genin needed time to familiarize themselves with mission procedures, and D-rank missions were perfect for that.

Therefore, employers received a subsidy from the village or the Land of Lightning for each D-rank mission they posted.

One day, after fully familiarizing themselves with the mission procedures, Yugito dragged Neji to the mission hall, ready to accept a C-rank mission.

At the C-rank mission counter, Neji took the mission scroll and flipped through the pages.

Exterminating mountain bandits, driving away wild boars... Neji wasn't particularly satisfied with these missions.

Either the difficulty was too low, or they were located near Kumogakure.

Neji wanted high difficulty, or missions located far from Kumogakure, preferably missions outside the Land of Lightning.

When he saw the last mission, Neji's eyes lit up.

"Escort mission, Land of Grass..."