The Hokage's Hopes for the Team's Journey

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the windows of the Hokage's office, illuminating the mountains of scrolls on the desk.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, took a deep drag from his pipe, slowly exhaling smoke, his gaze fixed on Shibi in front of him.

"Shibi, do you have any reports regarding the new squad you're leading?" His aged voice held a hint of anticipation.

Shibi bowed respectfully. "Reporting to you, Lord Hokage, the new squad members Might Guy, Uchiha Mei, and Haotian have all shown potential beyond expectations. Guy's taijutsu talent is astonishing, Mei's Sharingan has already awakened, and as for Haotian..." He paused, his tone carrying an indescribable nuance. "His abilities are truly astounding."

"Oh? Haotian? Is that the one... the boy with the special Kekkei Genkai?" The Third Hokage's...

"Precisely." Shibi recounted in detail Haotian's various abilities displayed during combat drills, including his exquisite control over chakra and his mysterious toxin attacks.

He even mentioned Haotian's peculiar behavior of seemingly absorbing White Zetsu's chakra.

After hearing Shibi's report, the Third Hokage fell into deep thought.

He tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, his brow furrowed slightly.

Haotian's abilities were undoubtedly a valuable asset to Konohagakure, but they also carried unknown risks.

Especially the toxin that could instantly disintegrate White Zetsu, which left him both amazed and regretful.

"What a shame..." he sighed. "It's a pity we couldn't obtain a sample of that toxin for research."

"Lord Hokage, Haotian's abilities require further observation and guidance," Shibi said cautiously. "After all, he is still young and his control over his own power is not yet mature."

The Third Hokage nodded. "You're right, Haotian is a rare talent, and we must treat him with caution. By the way, regarding Shibi's squad..." He suddenly stopped, gazing deeply out the window as if struck by a thought.

"Guy's passionate youth, Mei's calm decisiveness, and Haotian's steady composure, it's a rare combination," the Third Hokage mused, a hint of relief in his eyes. "A team like this can truly unleash their power on the battlefield. Shibi, you must guide them well and make them understand that the bonds between comrades are the most important weapon for a ninja."

Amidst the swirling smoke, the Third Hokage's tone turned serious. "The future of Konohagakure rests on you young people. I hope you can train them into outstanding ninjas capable of standing on their own, contributing their strength to the village and the Will of Fire!"

"Yes! Lord Hokage!" Shibi felt the heavy responsibility on his shoulders, straightened his back, and spoke with conviction.

He bowed deeply and turned to leave the Hokage's office.

The Third Hokage's gaze shifted to the window, watching the rolling mountains in the distance, his thoughts a whirlwind.

The clouds of war loomed over Konohagakure, and the younger generation of ninjas would be the hope for Konohagakure's future.

"That Kakashi kid should also be ready to take on responsibilities," he muttered to himself. He picked up a document from the desk, which clearly stated: "Minato Namikaze, promoted to Jonin, appointed as Captain of Kakashi's squad."

A few dark clouds had drifted in outside the window, obscuring the sunlight, and the room's light dimmed accordingly.

The Third Hokage put down the document and relit his pipe, taking a deep puff.

"I hope this war can end soon..." he sighed softly, his figure appearing somewhat lonely amidst the swirling smoke.

Suddenly, a hurried knocking at the door broke the office's tranquility. "Knock, knock, knock!"

"Enter," the Third Hokage said in a deep voice.

The door opened, and an ANBU ninja knelt on one knee, speaking urgently, "Lord Hokage! There's an urgent mission!"

After leaving the Hokage's office, Shibi headed directly to the training grounds.

When he arrived, Might Guy was already engaged in fervent taijutsu training, each punch whistling through the air, sweat soaking his green bodysuit.

Uchiha Mei was meditating nearby, her eyes closed, the Uchiha clan crest behind her standing out brilliantly in the sunlight.

Haotian sat quietly in a corner, seemingly lost in thought.

"Assemble!" Shibi's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

The three quickly gathered and stood in a line.

Shibi scanned them, a hint of anticipation in his gaze.

"Lord Hokage has just assigned a mission: escorting a supply team to the front-line camp. The mission rank is B-rank."

"B-rank mission!" Might Guy clenched his fists excitedly, his eyes shining with fervent light. "Fantastic, I can finally unleash my youthful energy!"

Mei also opened her eyes, her red Sharingan rotating slightly, a smile of eagerness playing on her lips. "A mission? How exciting."

Haotian remained relatively calm, asking indifferently, "What are the specific details of the mission?"

"The objective is to escort the supply team safely to the front lines. We may encounter enemy attacks along the way, but the specific situation is unknown," Shibi said sternly. "This is a mission that will test our teamwork, so everyone must be fully prepared." He paused and continued, "Considering our squad's average strength, the difficulty of this mission should not be high. However, we must not underestimate it; any negligence could lead to mission failure."