Decision

[There should only be three enemies in total. The traces we found in the forest showed that two people had attacked Mori Squad, and they were quite powerful. Mori Squad hadn't been able to fight back at all.]

Haku also told Hyuga Riko what they had learned from investigating the forest.

[Given the situation, we're no match for three Jonin. This has gone beyond the scope of a B-Rank Mission and meets the standard for an A-Rank Mission.]

[Besides, Mori Squad, who were carrying out the mission with us, have been wiped out. We can choose to abandon the mission and return to the village to report what happened. The situation is still too dangerous for us.]

Taking advantage of Haku's remark that the mission had exceeded its rank, Uchiha Yu directly proposed abandoning it.

[Abandon the mission...?] Hearing Uchiha Yu suggest giving up, Hyuga Riko hesitated, then offered a different idea.

[The most important part of our mission is actually dealing with the bandits in the Land of Grass, not the enemies hiding in the stronghold. Couldn't we at least check out the original objective?]

[Those bandits were probably stirred up by these Jonin. I don't think we need to go.]

Uchiha Yu still didn't want to take the risk. A while ago, during Orochimaru's tests of their abilities, her Sharingan had developed Two Tomoe. Her ocular powers were still growing, so she wanted to play it safe.

[Um, didn't we also pick up a scroll from Nobi O? Let's see what it says before deciding whether to abandon the mission. It wouldn't look good to go straight back without doing anything, especially since this is our first mission. And our teacher is Orochimaru, after all.]

When Haku mentioned Orochimaru, he distinctly felt a chill run down his back. Time was short, so he didn't dwell on it. He pulled the scroll from his clothes.

[What?!] When Haku unrolled the scroll and saw what was written on it, he was stunned.

[This scroll is meant for Hanzo of the Land of Rain—the man who's now known as the Demigod. This isn't something we can get involved in. Let's go back and give it to Teacher Orochimaru. He can worry about it.]

[Even though the scroll's main contents have nothing to do with this mission, it's supposed to be delivered to the very place where the bandits we're tasked with eliminating are located. I think we may still need to take a look.]

[Let's be careful and go around this stronghold to the mission site in the Land of Grass. We'll observe from a distance and avoid getting too close. Once we understand the situation, we can decide what to do. There's too much going on here—we may not be able to handle it. But I'm still not quite willing to give up just like that.]

In the end, Haku decided to go and check out the mission site.

[All right. We'll take a look from far away. If anything happens, we'll abandon the mission.]

Uchiha Yu finally agreed to go and take a look at the mission site.

After making their decision, the three of them quickly packed up and covered their tracks. Then they set off along a route that bypassed the stronghold.

Not long after they left, a small white snake slithered out of the bushes. It flicked its tongue twice, then followed the direction the three had gone.

Orochimaru, not far away, considered the information he'd received from the snake he'd summoned and raised an eyebrow.

[Three enemies at the Jonin level? That won't be a problem. I can deal with them when Haku and the others return. I'll leave one for them to practice on.]

[And that scroll—is Haku worried about something? He didn't even tell his teammates what was inside. The girls from the Hyuga and Uchiha clans didn't ask, either. Haku certainly has a way with women.]

[That scroll has something to do with Hanzo? Why does Haku want to give it to me instead of the village? Does he think I'd be interested in information about that man just because I can't beat him alone?]

[Heh! Interesting!]

Haku had no idea that Orochimaru already knew he planned to hand over the scroll—and that he'd successfully piqued Orochimaru's interest.

By then, Haku and the other two had crossed the border and entered the Land of Grass.

Looking at the sprawling grasslands before him and the forest behind him, Haku suddenly realized that the countries and villages in the Naruto World had all been named according to their surroundings. No wonder that guy Ōnoki from Iwagakure was always trying to start wars. Their whole territory must be nothing but rocks.

So had Deidara been unable to stomach the earth in Iwagakure because it was full of rocks that crunched between his teeth whenever he ate it, and that was why he defected?

Seeing Haku standing there staring at the grasslands after they emerged from the forest, Hyuga Riko called out to him.