The Thickest Skin Around!

At the Uchiha Clan Compound, in the Clan Head's home.

"Mm. You may go."

In the corridor, Uchiha Qiongyue waved a hand without expression.

Before the words had even left his mouth, a figure wearing an Anbu Mask vanished from sight.

Clack!

Just then, the water-filled bamboo spout tipped down and struck the smooth pebble beneath it, giving off a pleasant, crisp sound.

Aside from that, not another sound stirred in the entire courtyard.

"..."

After a long while, Qiongyue gazed deeply toward the Hokage Building. Then he turned to the shadow in a corner and said,

"Tell Ao that Senju Tobirama has assigned him his first A-Rank Mission. He leaves tomorrow at dawn. The mission site is the Konoha Village Entrance, where the target will be waiting."

As he spoke, he suddenly tossed a scroll from his robes. "And this, too. Make sure Ao gets it. I'm sure he'll put it to good use."

A hoarse voice came from the shadows. "Understood."

Whoosh!

In the next instant, the shadow flickered and disappeared.

"Heh..."

Qiongyue gave a low, cold laugh, then murmured, "So this is the Anbu? They learned about a member of the Police Force being promoted just two days ago, and they already know.

"Hmph! They think they can snuff out a rising star of my clan with a high-difficulty mission? Not so fast!"

That Cloud Village outpost might be troublesome, but with the trick I prepared for Ao, he should be able to keep himself alive.

After all, the kid does know how to talk.

The sun... loyalty...

I don't know why he compared me to that, but why does that little phrase sound so good? It's been years since I met such an amusing, sensible young man.

Well... he'd better not die.

On the main road of the Uchiha Clan Compound.

"Hey, why're you being so polite to me? That ten thousand ryo... someone gave it to you. Gulp. Why're you giving it to me?"

Uchiha Ao munched on a rice ball and dodged Qingyi Lang's hand as he tried to pass him the money.

"You bought me that rice ball just now. Let's call the ten thousand ryo my meal money."

"..."

Qingyi Lang stood rooted to the spot, deeply moved.

He knew Ao had given him the money because he was struggling to make ends meet while also supporting his younger sister's family, and had deliberately insisted he take it.

But years of experience had taught him that if one friend was always receiving help from the other, their relationship would never be as close as before.

With that in mind, he turned to force the money back into Ao's hands, only for that bastard to come out with another line.

"Mm, then I'll call that ten thousand ryo the bride price for your sister. I'll come pick up my bride one of these days.

"But that little troublemaker, Gongzhu? I don't want him. You can keep him~

"You and your nephew can stay home and amuse yourselves."

Though Qingyi Lang knew the bastard was just running his mouth again, his rough face still flushed red. He cursed, "Go to hell! You think you can marry my sister without three million six hundred thousand ryo? Keep dreaming!

"Here, here, here! Take it back!"

But when he turned around, Ao had already vanished.

"Huh? That punk couldn't even say goodbye before leaving."

He glanced around, then looked down at the money in his hand and let out a silent sigh.

He wasn't stupid. Of course he knew his buddy was giving him a way to save face.

But... he owed him more and more. How was he supposed to pay him back?

The guy was always joking about marrying his sister, but it was all talk. If Feilin really agreed to marry him, that brat would probably run away faster than anyone.

"Ah, I'll owe him for now... Worst comes to worst, I'll pay him back with my life!" A resolute glint flashed in Qingyi Lang's eyes.

Watching Qingyi Lang's back gradually disappear, Ao shook his head with a smile from a shadowy alley nearby.

That guy was as stubborn as ever...

But that was also what Ao admired most about him—he might be down on his luck, but he never lost his pride.

So many people lost their way as they grew older. Wasn't someone who could always hold on to his principles a true strongman?

Gulp!

He swallowed his last rice ball, dusted off his hands, then cast a distant look toward a nearby rooftop.

"You've been following me for ages. What do you want?"

Whoosh!

As soon as he finished speaking, an Anbu Ninja wearing a mask leaped out.

"By order of Lord Tobirama, I'm assigning you an A-Rank Mission."

As he spoke, he tossed over a scroll. "The mission details are inside. After that, you can—"

"Wait!"

Ao smacked the mission scroll aside with a sharp slap and said indignantly, "A ninja is supposed to accept missions voluntarily, right? And I'm not an Anbu Ninja in the village, much less a member of the Hokage's personal guard. I should have the right to refuse."

He'd worked hard to secure a position in the Police Force. For now, aside from dealing with Danzo's challenge and the upcoming Shinobi World War, he planned to lie low in the village and slowly build up his strength.

As for missions, he'd already made up his mind. Until he reached Kage Level, only a fool would take one!

No, even a dog wouldn't!

"..."

Tiger Mask Anbu stared at the mission scroll Ao had smacked aside, remaining silent for a long while. It seemed Lord Tobirama had been right to predict the kid would refuse.

Fortunately, before he left, Lord Tobirama had also told him what to do if this happened.

He'd thought he wouldn't need to use it, but now he really did have to persuade the kid.

"Lord Tobirama said that if you accept this mission, the scroll contains a Wood Release Ninjutsu as your reward. And once you complete the mission, you'll be allowed to choose one of Lord Hashirama's Wood Release techniques as well."

"..."

Ao silently picked up the mission scroll, gave a thumbs-up, and flashed his white teeth.

"Now that's what I call the spirit of youth! I accept the mission!"

A dog wouldn't take it, but he would!

The strength of the Wood Release could wait. This was crucial to whether he could awaken Wood Release Cells, so he had to get his hands on it!

Besides, he was Tobirama's secret spy. Surely Tobirama wouldn't send him on a mission that was certain to get him killed. He could also use this opportunity to practice the Wood Release techniques he'd just acquired outside the village.

"Good. The mission is now in effect. Be sure to arrive at the designated location on time."

With that, Tiger Mask Anbu vanished.

That was how the Anbu operated: swift and efficient.

If the Hokage told them to do something, they did it. If he told them to wipe out someone's entire family, they wiped out the whole family.

"What about you?"

Ao looked away, silently slipped the mission scroll into his robes, but didn't turn to leave. Instead, he gazed toward the shadows nearby.

"What do you want?"

Before he'd finished speaking, a ninja in a black hood and white mask stepped out of the shadows.

"..."

The Black-Clad Ninja slowly emerged. He didn't answer, only silently watching in the direction the Anbu had gone.

He watched for a long time without saying a word.

"Hey, if you don't say something soon, I'm leaving."

Ao gave him a puzzled once-over. He'd never seen this getup in the original story.

At first, he'd thought the guy was another ninja accompanying the Anbu. He hadn't expected him to belong to an organization he'd never seen before.

Could there be another hidden organization in the village?

And was everyone in it mute?

"All right, that Anbu's gone now."

Seeing that Ao was about to leave, the Black-Clad Ninja finally turned his gaze back to him. "I came for the same reason as the Anbu, but I represent Qiongyue Clan Leader."

He tossed over a scroll, then prepared to continue.

Smack!

"Are you people never going to stop?"

Ao slapped the scroll away again and said, clearly annoyed,

"Do you all think I'm a trash bin? You keep dumping missions on me. I remember the Police Force rules: one mission a month. Tell the Clan Head I'm not taking this one. Give it to someone else."

With that, he turned to leave.

"..."

The Black-Clad Ninja stared at the scroll on the ground for a long while before looking back at Ao, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"The Clan Head assigned the same mission as the Anbu.

"As for this scroll... I believe the Clan Head prepared it to help you stay alive. Of course, if you don't want it, I can take it back..."

Ao came to an abrupt stop, then snatched up the scroll from the ground as swiftly as a dragon pouncing on its prey. After carefully putting it away, he said solemnly,

"Don't trouble yourself with taking it back, brother. Carrying it back would be a pain. I wouldn't want to burden you.

"And thank the Clan Head for me!"

"..."

The Black-Clad Ninja seemed moved by Ao's thoughtful words. He remained silent for a long while, then gave Ao a deep look and turned to leave.

Even with all his experience, he couldn't help thinking to himself:

This fellow's shamelessness was the greatest he'd ever seen!