C-Rank Missions

Qingyun, Minato, and Yoshihime immediately nodded.

"Alright, now let's eat together! Afterward, go home and get some good rest. We'll meet up tomorrow! I'll teach you how to handle missions." White Fang then treated everyone to a meal. It was a simple get-together; perhaps he didn't want the group to feel so tense around one another.

After the meal, everyone followed their teacher's orders and went home. Qingyun did the same and got a good night's rest. Early the next morning, he headed to the meeting point.

Before long, everyone had gathered. Sakumo led them to the mission assignment center for the first time.

Missions weren't assigned and accepted only at the Hokage's office.

D-Rank missions carried virtually no risk, so they could be accepted directly at the mission desk.

At first, everyone had been fired up, eager to make a name for themselves in the Shinobi World. But after seeing these D-Rank missions, they were all filled with despair.

"Find a lost cat. Weed a farmer's field. Catch bugs. Repair damaged furniture."

"Are we really supposed to do these missions?" Yoshihime had never seen this kind of mission before, so she could hardly believe it.

White Fang nodded calmly. "Of course. Don't underestimate D-Rank missions. For every mission you complete, you'll not only receive the appropriate payment, but it'll also be recorded in your ninja file."

"That'll be a great help when you're promoted to Chunin, Jonin, or even higher ranks in the future."

"Besides, you have to complete D-Rank missions to unlock C-Rank missions. You have to complete C-Rank missions before you can take on the higher-ranked B- and A-Rank missions." White Fang's reasoning made perfect sense.

Since White Fang had put it that way, they didn't feel right refusing.

Just then, Qingyun suddenly heard a voice.

"Greetings, host! You've triggered a mission!"

"New mission: Complete 500 D-Rank missions and 100 C-Rank missions within one year! Mission reward: Your body's chakra will be purified once more!"

Qingyun was stunned. System? Purify my chakra again? Complete 500 D-Rank missions and 100 C-Rank missions? Are you kidding me?

The number of low-rank missions available in Konohagakure would never be enough to reach that total.

"Host, I'm not trying to mess with you. You're not even four years old yet, and this is the time for you to gain plenty of experience. Completing missions will also benefit your development!"

"Don't worry! As long as you complete your missions diligently, I'm sure this reward won't disappoint you!" the system declared confidently.

Qingyun had nothing to say. He was already a Genin, and as a ninja, he naturally had to complete missions. The fewer missions he completed, the less he'd earn; the more he completed, the more he'd earn.

As White Fang had said, all completed missions were recorded in their ninja files.

Qingyun didn't dwell on it. Averaged out over the year, he and the others only needed to complete two missions a day.

Missions like finding lost cats or helping farmers plow their fields might take other people some time, but they were quite easy for Qingyun.

Completing two D-Rank missions in a day was no trouble at all. The rest of his time was spent either reviewing the ninjutsu he'd already learned or focusing on his own training.

All in all, Qingyun's days were very fulfilling. As their mission count gradually rose, his team had nearly completed enough D-Rank missions.

At last, one day, Qingyun, Minato, Yoshihime, and the others accepted a somewhat more challenging mission: escort duty.

A merchant caravan was heading from Konoha toward the Land of Hot Water. Qingyun and the others were to protect it from attacks by bandits and robbers.

Since this was their first C-Rank mission, White Fang took it very seriously. He was already waiting for Qingyun at the Konoha Gate early that morning.

Qingyun soon arrived at the gate with his teammates.

"Congratulations. You've completed a lot of D-Rank missions. I specifically applied to the Third Hokage, and he approved letting you try a C-Rank mission under my leadership. If you perform well this time, you'll be able to keep taking C-Rank missions from now on."

"I have a lot of confidence in your abilities, but escorting a caravan means protecting our allies, not defeating the enemy. I want you to keep that in mind."

"I won't step in unless your lives are in danger." After saying this, White Fang asked, "Does anyone have any questions?"

"None." Qingyun and the others shook their heads. After spending so much time together, Qingyun already understood the principles White Fang lived by.

"Then let's go!"

A huge merchant caravan set off from Konohagakure and made its way toward the Land of Hot Water.

At first, nothing happened. Before long, the caravan had safely crossed out of the Land of Fire.

"This area is no longer part of the Land of Fire. Stay alert," White Fang warned them.

The sky gradually darkened. Everyone in the caravan was exhausted, and they had nearly used up all their strength.

They had some food and water with them, but it was important to take a break.

"Alright, let's rest here for a while," the caravan leader said.

Qingyun and Minato were both a little worried. They were in a rugged spot, an ideal place for an ambush.

White Fang immediately spoke up. "Sir, if you want to rest, let's go a little farther. This isn't a suitable place to stop."

"You're being too cautious," the caravan leader said with a laugh. "There's no need to be so careful. The whole day's gone by. I doubt anyone would dare rob us now."

"Besides, you're Konoha's White Fang!" The caravan leader gave a smug smile.

"Sorry, my mission is to escort you. In practice, it's my students who are protecting you. I won't step in." White Fang was rather proud and paid no heed to the client's words.

"If you think it's safe, then rest here. If anything happens, it has nothing to do with us. It was your decision, after all." White Fang shook his head, unwilling to keep arguing with them.

Qingyun nodded. In the Shinobi World, people had to be careful. As the saying went, caution could keep a ship afloat for ten thousand years. No matter how strong you were, you could still be caught off guard by a sneak attack.

"Hahaha! Don't worry!" The caravan leader didn't take his warning to heart.

They hadn't been resting long when a piercing whistle rang out. It was clearly a signal from someone.

The moment it sounded, a gang of ruffians surrounded them in the rugged terrain.

"Not good! Just as I thought—someone's lying in ambush!"