Departure

[Haku, is it really okay for us to do this? Aren't we going to meet them?] Hyuga Riko asked in a low voice.

[There's nothing wrong with it. We're just letting the other squad get a preview of our strength.] Before Haku could reply, Uchiha Yu answered Hyuga Riko's question first.

[It's not that we must show them our strength, but after all, this is our first mission. If we can't quickly demonstrate our strength and value, we won't have a say in the mission, and it will put us in a more dangerous situation.]

Haku continued to explain to Hyuga Riko, picking up where Uchiha Yu left off.

[Besides, we also need to understand our teammates' abilities!]

A sharp glint appeared in Haku's eyes.

In front of the Konoha gates.

[We're ten minutes late.] Morino No frowned.

[Newcomers are just newcomers. They don't understand the rules at all. Captain, why don't we just leave without them? We can set off directly.]

Nobi O said directly to Morino No.

[Yeah, Captain. Nobi O is right. Let's set off directly. This time, we'll just teach them a lesson. Hopefully, they'll understand that a ninja's top priority is the mission, and punctuality is the most important thing when carrying out a mission.]

Another team member echoed Nobi O's words.

[Alright! Then we'll set off directly and won't wait for them. I'll inform the gate guard ninja, and we can explain to the Hokage when we return from the mission.]

Morino No didn't object to his teammates' words and agreed directly, walking towards the Konoha gates first.

Seeing this, Haku didn't hesitate. He waved his hand, signaling Uchiha Yu and Hyuga Riko to get ready to follow.

What the three of them didn't know was that Orochimaru was watching them with a smile.

[Good, good. As expected of my disciple. What a great idea. Heh heh!]

Morino No stopped in an open space after leaping over another branch.

[Something's not right!] Morino No said to his two teammates.

[Huh? What's wrong, Captain?]

The two teammates stopped in their tracks, following Morino No's lead, and asked in confusion. They hadn't noticed anything wrong either.

Morino No hadn't actually pinpointed anything specific, but his years as a ninja had honed his intuition, telling him he had overlooked something.

[Captain, when we left the village just now, did you feel that the expression of the gate guard Chunin was a bit off?]

The gate guard Chunin's expression? Wasn't that the expression of someone gloating because the other squad was late for their mission? No!

[Careful! Alert!]

As Morino No's words fell, the three formed a defensive formation, backs against each other.

[Come out! Friends!]

Morino No shouted to the surroundings.

[Thump!]

[Thump!]

[Thump!]

With three sounds of landing, Morino No found three young ninjas in front of him. Seeing the Konoha forehead protectors on their bodies, Morino No breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time, he knew these were the newcomers from the other squad assigned to the mission.

[You've been following us all along?]

Hearing Morino No's question, Haku knew this was the crucial moment for gaining influence.

[Captain Morino No, this is our first mission as ninjas. I don't want any accidents to happen to me or my teammates for reasons I don't understand. I hope you can understand!]

[Hmph! Laggards! So rude!] Nobi grumbled discontentedly.

[Nobi, say less!]

Morino interrupted Nobi's complaint and looked at the three of them again, or rather, at Hyuga Riko behind Haku.

At this moment, Riko, with his Byakugan activated, stood behind Haku and looked towards Morino's squad.

Seeing this, Morino No understood that his squad had been followed by the newcomer squad when they left the village, and the gate guard ninja's expression was for his squad.

As the captain of a Chunin squad, his experience was extremely rich. He also understood that this was Haku's squad showing them dominance or demanding a say in the mission.

Originally, the plan was to use this squad as cannon fodder, but that wouldn't work now. Being able to follow a squad of three Chunin without being detected meant they had Chunin-level strength, perhaps even stronger than his own squad.

[No, Captain, their lateness is their own problem. Teachers of ninjas who are late for missions must also have problems!]

Before Morino No could fully process this, he heard another of his teammates say the same thing.

As soon as the words fell, Haku's face, which had been wearing a slightly embarrassed smile, instantly turned cold. He placed one hand behind his back, Uchiha Yu lowered her head, and Hyuga Riko stood still, but his fists were clenched.

Morino No instantly sensed something was wrong. He shifted sideways, blocking in front of his teammate and cutting off the line of sight between the two squads.