Mikoto's Promise

"Thank you."

Uchiha Mikoto said gratefully.

What Natsuki had just suggested was undoubtedly the best solution.

In a proper spar, she was not confident she could win.

If she lost again, Uchiha Fugaku and the Uchiha Clan would surely be even more disappointed in her.

"It's no big deal."

Natsuki smiled. "Consider it payment for helping me obtain a Summoning Beast."

"To me, it's not a small matter."

Uchiha Mikoto shook her head and said seriously, "I owe you a favor."

Seeing her insist, Natsuki found it difficult to refuse.

All he could say was that life was not easy for a normal person in the Uchiha Clan.

He changed the subject and got down to business.

Why wait for another day? Natsuki and Uchiha Mikoto began sparring right where they stood.

After three rounds of sparring, both of them sat on the ground, drenched in sweat as they rested.

"You... during that last spar..."

Uchiha Mikoto had not finished speaking before she was interrupted.

"I didn't hold back."

Natsuki caught his breath and said, "A win is a win, and a loss is a loss."

After four spars, just as he had said, they each won two.

Uchiha Mikoto fell silent.

The result was too perfect, making it difficult for her not to suspect that Natsuki had manipulated things.

Natsuki had actually been telling the truth.

His biggest problem right now was that he did not have enough Chakra.

Fighting three matches in a row consumed a great deal of Chakra.

Uchiha Mikoto was different. She was four years older than Natsuki and had considerably more Chakra than he did.

Of course, Natsuki had gained something as well.

The second and third abilities of his Shippo Template were now one-third unlocked.

Unfortunately, the requirement was to defeat three Ninja, not to defeat one Ninja three times.

"If there's ever anything I can help with, remember to come find me."

Uchiha Mikoto wiped the sweat from her forehead and made her promise.

"Definitely."

Natsuki rose to his feet and said, "It's about time. I need to go see my teacher. See you next time."

"See you next time."

Uchiha Mikoto immediately replied.

Natsuki turned and headed toward Konoha.

Uchiha Mikoto watched his retreating back, only snapping out of it long after he had vanished from sight.

She let out a breath and left the Forest of Death.

After returning to the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Mikoto went straight to see Uchiha Fugaku.

"What is it?"

Uchiha Fugaku asked coolly.

He had only recently become clan head and was extremely busy with work.

Besides, Uchiha Mikoto was only twelve, so naturally he had no interest in romance.

"I went to see Natsuki again today."

Uchiha Mikoto answered, "We fought three times, and I won two. Including yesterday's match, it's two wins and two losses overall."

"I received word today that Natsuki has officially become Orochimaru's student."

Uchiha Fugaku looked at her and said, "Winning two out of three today was well done."

Uchiha Mikoto was instantly somewhat surprised.

She had not expected Natsuki to have already officially become Orochimaru's student.

Even so, he had still been willing to lose two matches to her. That was truly quite a sacrifice.

Perhaps Orochimaru would punish him when he returned.

"Although you won against Natsuki today, you still need to work hard."

Uchiha Fugaku said in a low voice.

At present, the only ones in the Uchiha Clan who could be called geniuses were him and Uchiha Mikoto.

As one of the great Ninja clans, the Uchiha Clan also needed geniuses to uphold its reputation.

Moreover, there had always been an invisible rivalry between the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan.

The Hyuga Clan currently had two geniuses as well: Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga.

"Yes, Clan Head."

Uchiha Mikoto nodded.

"Go train."

Once Uchiha Fugaku saw that the matter was settled, he dismissed her.

Uchiha Mikoto turned and went home.

She took off her shoes, stepped barefoot onto the carpet, and entered the living room.

Uchiha Mikoto leaned against the sofa and looked up at the ceiling.

After a moment of dazed thought, Natsuki appeared in her mind again.

Meanwhile, Natsuki went to see Orochimaru and told him about sparring with Uchiha Mikoto again.

"Being able to draw with Uchiha Mikoto is already quite good."

After listening, Orochimaru said indifferently, "She has only studied four years longer than you. With your talent, you'll surpass her soon enough."

"But I hope to spar more with Ninja who use Genjutsu and Fire Release, to gain combat experience."

Natsuki nodded and revealed his true goal. "It's difficult for me to find opponents like that at the academy."

He had mentioned Uchiha Mikoto precisely so Orochimaru would find suitable opponents for him to unlock the Shippo Template.

"Since you want to gain combat experience, then let's do it thoroughly."

Orochimaru pondered briefly before saying, "I'll find you several missions involving Ninja who use Genjutsu and Fire Release."

Missions?

Although it had not been part of Natsuki's plans, the more he thought about it, the better this suggestion seemed.

After all, it could also unlock the Megumi Fushiguro Template. It was killing two birds with one stone.

"Thank you, Sensei."

Natsuki said at once.

In the blink of an eye, Friday arrived.

"Natsuki, what rank do you think this mission will be?"

Nawaki asked as they walked.

"Most likely B-Rank."

Natsuki replied.

"That's what I thought too."

Nawaki shook his head. "I wonder when we'll finally get to take on an A-Rank Mission."

"An A-Rank Mission involves Special Jonin and Jonin. We aren't strong enough yet."

Natsuki said casually, "Unless we encounter a Special Jonin who isn't good at fighting."

Special Jonin were Ninja who particularly excelled in certain areas. In practice, they were considered Chunin.

For example, Ebisu became a Special Jonin because he excelled at teaching.

Likewise, Mitaraishi Anko became a Special Jonin because she excelled at intelligence gathering and reconnaissance.

Before long, the two arrived at Konoha's entrance.

"Sensei."

Natsuki and Nawaki hurried forward to greet him.

"This mission is A-Rank. The target is Yasuda, an Iwagakure spy who has infiltrated the Land of Fire's metropolis."

Orochimaru began his introduction. "He is a Genjutsu Ninja skilled at gathering intelligence."

"It's actually A-Rank?"

Nawaki asked with delight.

"This mission will test your ability to deal with Genjutsu Ninja."

Orochimaru glanced at him.

"Sensei, we definitely won't disappoint you."

Nawaki immediately promised, "After all, you specifically taught us how to dispel Ninjutsu."

"Although Yasuda has not reached Jonin level, he is stronger than most Chunin."

Orochimaru warned, "If you want to defeat him, you must proceed cautiously."

Natsuki became thoughtful.

The Shippo Template's unlock condition only required defeating someone. It did not require a direct confrontation or an assassination.

The Megumi Fushiguro Template, on the other hand, required an assassination.

He quickly came up with an idea: first, find a way to assassinate Yasuda, perhaps by poisoning him.

If Yasuda did not die, Nawaki and he could finish him off.

After their brief exchange, the three headed toward the Land of Fire's metropolis.