Take Me With You

[Clear out the bandit gangs along the border of the Land of Fire. Approximately fifty ordinary bandits, five wandering samurai, and two rogue ninjas from the Land of Wind. Mission rank: A. Recommended for at least three elite ninja.]

"Cut it out, Hiruzen. This mission is difficult."

Danzo held on to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was still struggling wildly to break free, but Kagami's words gradually calmed him down.

Kagami had always been reliable on the team, and everyone trusted him.

They exchanged glances, then all stepped forward to look over the Mission Log. Just as Kagami had said, it really was difficult!

As everyone wore solemn expressions, Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "The mission is difficult, but the five of us work together seamlessly. As long as we're careful, nothing will go wrong."

Hearing that, the middle-aged ninja who'd just snapped at him couldn't help looking up at the kid before him.

It was as if he'd suddenly become a different person.

That was why, despite Hiruzen Sarutobi's careless and impulsive nature, the others didn't dislike him.

When it came to carrying out missions, Hiruzen Sarutobi was often the most reliable one of them all—and he was also the leader of the team.

Danzo and Hiruzen were equally capable leaders, but Danzo was missing something that only Hiruzen Sarutobi possessed.

"Hiruzen's right. We're already a well-coordinated team. A little mission like this won't trouble us."

Koharu offered some encouragement from the side. As the only kunoichi on the team, she was every bit as capable as the others.

Meanwhile, Torifu Akimichi encouraged his teammates as he ate. He wasn't very good with words, so he could only express his current, sleepy mood by stuffing his face.

Over time, his teammates had learned to understand his food language.

"Big Brother, what are you all doing?"

Chirori's sweet voice came from the crowd behind them. For a moment, Kagami Uchiha thought he was imagining it.

But then he saw his younger sister and Torifu squeeze their way through the crowd.

"Chirori, Torifu, what are you two doing here? We're about to head out on a mission."

Kagami was surprised to see his younger sister here. At this time, they should have been training under Lord Hokage.

Chirori said with a smile, "Hehe, Lord Hokage had something to do today. He only taught us a few moves before letting us go."

Even if Lord Hokage was busy with official business, shouldn't he have sent a clone to teach his students?

But Kagami figured that if Lord Hokage had let them leave, he must have had his reasons, so he didn't think too much of it.

"All right, then. Did you two come looking for me for something?"

Chirori nudged Torifu. "Torifu wanted to come. I just tagged along."

Kagami could only sigh. His little sister was practically Torifu's shadow now.

She'd never acted like this around other kids her age before. All he could do was give Torifu a thumbs-up.

"Big Brother Kagami, are you going on a mission? Can you take me with you?"

At those words, not only Kagami Uchiha, but Chirori and everyone else there were stunned. Did this little kid even know what he was saying?

"Don't be ridiculous. I'd never take you along—and even if I did, if anything happened to you, Lord Hokage would skin me alive!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted at Torifu.

But Torifu hadn't said this on a whim. Last night, after the system notification said a new Chaos Event had been triggered, he'd started thinking about it.

Over the past two days, Torifu had walked all over the village several times, deliberately passing by anyone who seemed suspicious.

But even after he'd searched the entire Konoha, he hadn't triggered a single Chaos Event!

There wasn't a single spy in all of Konoha, but Uchiha Setsuna's threat was looming over him. He had no choice but to find a way to earn Calmness Points.

He wanted to see whether bandits, wandering ninjas, or people like that outside the village might trigger a Chaos Event.

Otherwise, he wouldn't go on a mission even if someone paid him! Wasn't staying home and sleeping comfortably much better?

"What would it take for you to let me come? I'm not joking."

Hiruzen Sarutobi grew serious, too. Torifu didn't sound like he was playing around, and the tension in the air rose sharply.

Chirori tugged at Torifu's sleeve. "Torifu, are you okay? Why do you suddenly want to go on a mission? You'll have to kill people!"

Torifu simply nodded. He'd killed people before. Once you'd done it the first time, it didn't make much difference whether you killed more or fewer.

"Don't worry, Chirori. I just want to get out and train. Big Brother Hiruzen won't hurt me."

At that, Chirori relaxed a little. She hadn't liked the way things had just gotten tense.

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't talk as if we're about to leave already! There's no way I'm agreeing to this!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was adamant. In his eyes, a six-year-old kid like Torifu belonged in the village, where he'd be safe!

Sending children out on missions would go against the First's ideals! It was no different from sending children to war!

"Then how about we spar? If my strength earns your approval, take me with you. If it doesn't, I won't bother you again."

Torifu was determined. If he missed this chance, he had no idea when another one would come.

Most of the bandits had been wiped out recently. The ones who'd escaped had fled to the border of the Land of Fire, where they'd gathered around a few samurai and ninja to form a small group.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi wiped out that group, the Land of Fire would be peaceful for quite some time.

Missions in other countries couldn't trigger Chaos Events, so Torifu had no choice but to shamelessly insist this once.

He couldn't be sure things would go as he hoped, but if he didn't try, he had no chance at all.

Torifu finally understood what people meant when they said money was hard to earn and life was hard. Of course, the "money" here meant Calmness Points.

"Huh?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was a little confused. Why was this kid so stubborn? Why was he so eager to clear out some bandits? Did he have a grudge against them or something?

Chirori had given up. Whatever happened, happened. She didn't want to be shocked anymore.

She figured Torifu was so determined to train because Uchiha Setsuna had ambushed him last night!

Otherwise, how could Kumonaka Torikaze, usually so laid-back that people called him Mr. Calm, act like this?

"Listen, kid. Are you serious?"

"Of course. I'm not joking."

Seeing that Hiruzen really was about to duel Torifu, Utatane Koharu spoke up to stop him.

"Hiruzen, why are you playing along with him? He's still just a child!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled. "Don't worry, Koharu. I won't hurt him."

Unlike Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was brimming with confidence, Kagami had a feeling that one more person really might be joining them on this mission. He couldn't help thinking:

Hiruzen, don't get careless and end up eating your words.