Genin "Ritsu" Squad

Hayate Gekko did not quite understand his father's sudden decision.

They were so close to the village. At a ninja's speed, they could have returned in no time, so why walk back slowly?

Was there anything worth seeing along the way? It was all forest, no different from the large Training Grounds inside Konoha.

Still, Jonin always had their reasons for what they did. Hayate Gekko was merely curious and did not question it aloud. Higashino Makoto likewise did not ask, but quietly sensed the surrounding area.

Because of his fusion with White Natural Energy, his sensing was unusual, divided into Active Mode and Passive Mode.

When he was not concentrating and actively using it, it remained in Passive Mode. It only provided the most basic vigilance, with a limited range, but it was enough to ensure that no one could approach him silently.

Ninjas excelled at sneak attacks. For anyone hoping to eliminate him through the methods of a schemer, this was truly a terrible ability.

If he actively opened his senses and searched, it became Active Mode, greatly increasing both its range and precision.

Sure enough, he sensed someone rapidly approaching from behind them. It was the three-man Konoha Genin Squad they had encountered that morning. Higashino Makoto remembered their Chakra Signatures.

They were merely traveling normally, not following them. Their missions had been similar to begin with, so it was perfectly normal to run into each other on the way back.

What was unusual was their teacher's decision to lead them back so slowly. It seemed as though he was deliberately waiting for them, yet judging from that morning's encounter, this Genin squad was not made up of people he knew.

Before long, the three traveling at full speed caught up with Yun Jian Squad, who were slowly making their way back to the village.

They jumped down from the trees and respectfully bowed to Yugao Gekko.

This was the basic etiquette for Genin who encountered a higher-ranking ninja from the same village outside.

Meeting twice in a single day could be considered fate. After exchanging names, both sides became acquainted. They were all Konoha comrades, so Higashino Makoto and the others did not look down on them for being older Genin.

That would have been extremely rude. What if they provoked someone into shouting something like, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—do not mock a poor youth"?

What? Higashino Makoto's squad was made up of even younger youths? Then it was fine.

As for why Genin like these were still in the village during the War Period? Sending them to the Frontline would be useless. Other than wasting Kunai and Shuriken, it would be no different from sending them to their deaths.

Perhaps the three had already been to the Frontline and had simply been scared out of their wits.

A ninja who had lost their courage would only add to the enemy's achievements on the Frontline and might even hold back their own side. They were better off being kept in the village as laborers; at least they could create a little economic value for Konoha.

How did that saying go again? Better a godlike opponent than a pig-like teammate.

Hadn't Might Duy remained in the village during the war, doing low-level missions as well? His situation was different, though. No one understood his true strength, so naturally no one would take him to the battlefield.

When he learned from ninjas returning to the village to rest that Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen were carrying out a frenzied slaughter of Konoha Ninja on the Frontline, he immediately fought his way to the scene. While earning earth-shattering merits, he also fortunately saved his son's life.

But not every ninja was Duy.

The Genin squad's captain was a young man in his early twenties named Ritsu. The other two members were Yuta and Yuto, biological brothers. Not only were their talents similar, but their personalities were also extremely alike.

They timidly followed behind their captain, not daring to look at Yugao Gekko, a Jonin, throughout the entire exchange. They did not seem particularly brave.

All three were ordinary commoners without surnames, just like the Higashino Family had once been.

However, because the Higashino Family's ancestors had lived through the founding of the Ninja Village, become ninjas, and achieved something meaningful, they had specially chosen a surname.

That surname might have been the name of a place, an object, or something else related to their achievements.

Many commoner surnames in the Shinobi World had come about this way.

Clearly, none of the three had any accomplished ancestors in their families. Perhaps they were all the first generation of ninjas in their respective households.

As for what had happened to them, everyone tacitly avoided asking too much, lest things become awkward.

Ritsu seemed very interested in Higashino Makoto and the others. "Senior Yun Jian, judging by your disciples' ages, are they this year's graduates?"

"Ah, yes. They just graduated and still don't understand anything."

"I see. Then they really should take on more D-Rank Missions to build up experience. Still, with such a powerful Jonin as you guiding them, they must all be excellent juniors."

"Ahahaha!" Yugao Gekko seemed delighted to hear someone praise his disciples. "Their strength is indeed not bad, but their biggest problem is that they've never seen blood. So after one more day of D-Rank Missions tomorrow, I plan to let them take on higher-ranked missions and see what real combat is like."

"Oh, how enviable. They're already starting to come into contact with higher-level missions so soon. Unlike us, our talent and strength are both limited, so we can only do insignificant things in the village."

"Don't say that. Everyone is contributing to the village. There is no distinction between high and low."

"Thank you for your comfort, Senior." Ritsu sincerely thanked Yugao Gekko, because those words had helped him retain a little dignity in front of the younger generation.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "As a senior to these junior students, I have undoubtedly failed. But I can still offer a little advice based on my own experiences.

"For example, facing a bloody and cruel scene for the first time may cause serious psychological problems. Perhaps we can ease them into it through another method first."

Yugao Gekko became interested. "Oh? Such as?"

"The Village Outer Farm releases missions every spring and autumn to clear out Fierce Beasts. The spring missions should be issued around these days. Though they are D-Rank Missions, they carry a certain degree of risk, so not many Genin are willing to take them. Perhaps they could give one a try and adapt to the feeling of bloody killing in advance."

"That really is a good idea. Your suggestion has been a tremendous help."

"Not at all. I'm simply glad you find it useful, Senior."

Higashino Makoto and Hayate Gekko exchanged a glance, understanding where the problem lay.

There was nothing wrong with Ritsu asking a few extra questions after seeing excellent juniors, but he had been a little too enthusiastic.

And their own teacher had been talking a bit too much today. He had even inadvertently revealed quite a bit of information about their squad.

This wasn't to say that the fellow village ninja in front of them necessarily had ulterior motives; it was simply that doing so violated the Ninja Code.

In theory, ninjas could only discuss their mission plans—regardless of the mission's rank—with teammates or superiors. They would not casually tell others about them, even if the other party was an insignificant Genin.

Likewise, they had to adhere to the principle of confidentiality and refrain from prying into the details of others' missions.

Only when two people were extremely close would they occasionally mention unimportant matters as casual conversation. Clearly, Yugao Gekko and Ritsu were not close enough for that.

Uzuki Yugao and the Two Brothers merely felt that their Captain was having a great time chatting.

Higashino Makoto and Hayate temporarily kept their suspicions to themselves.

Yugao Gekko was a mature Jonin; he would not speak carelessly. If he was doing this, he surely had his reasons.

Thus, the two teams returned to Konoha together amid an atmosphere that was both harmonious and strange.