A big girl and a little girl knelt before a grave, weeping.
The older girl was named Kanae Kocho, and the little one was named Shinobu Kocho.
A letter told the story of the little girl and her sister.
Beside the grave, a monk was also crying.
Baiyu stood beside the little girl, quietly watching the events of her life.
After she lost her family, a swordswoman with little talent grew into a powerful Hashira.
Hashira was the title given in the world Shinobu Kocho lived in to the strongest demon-slaying swordsmen.
In the end, as she fell, she bloomed like a dazzling firework.
The girl had once been lively and active, but after her sister died, she gradually became more reserved. Even at the moment of her own death, she wore a quiet, gentle smile.
With the girl's death, the scene came to an abrupt end.
Before Baiyu could even reflect on the girl's tragic life, he suddenly heard the system prompt ring out beside his ear.
"Experience Shinobu Kocho's life—tragic! Acquired passive skill: Poison Mastery."
"Poison Mastery (Demon): Master the secrets of poisons that counter demons and spirits, making battles against demons much easier. Note: If you can destroy me, I would gladly accept death—Shinobu Kocho."
"Ding-dong! Comprehension of Flower Breathing Style and Insect Breathing Style failed. Item destroyed!"
As the system prompt sounded, the illusion shattered, and Baiyu returned to reality.
His mind was suddenly filled with extensive knowledge of toxins from plants and animals.
"Flower Breathing, Insect Breathing... Did I miss my chance? No wonder it was rated A-rank. If I'd comprehended a Breathing Style, maybe I could've inherited the sisters' lifelong swordsmanship!"
Only after the item shattered did Baiyu react to the faint pain in his chest. He had watched Shinobu Kocho study her family's medicine and alter her potions before finally learning Poison Mastery... Breathing Styles were something one had to comprehend on their own. They just weren't meant for him!
He hadn't obtained the most precious Breathing Style!
Every kind of swordsmanship came with its corresponding Breathing Style.
Mastering a Breathing Style was the beginning of swordsmanship training.
That was how the system described Breathing Styles.
And he'd gained Poison Mastery, which countered demons and spirits? What the hell was he supposed to do with that in the Naruto World?!
He'd traded an A-rank item for a useless skill.
His first five thousand Draw-Sword Techniques had been painful enough.
When he converted that into two and a half years of training, it hurt even more.
"I still can't rely on outside help! I'll just keep practicing my Draw-Sword Technique, day in and day out! I'll become the strongest in the world with it!"
Baiyu rallied his spirits and resumed training. By then, the sun had risen.
He didn't finish his training and pack up to head back until the sun was directly overhead.
He still remembered at first that he had a mission at noon.
But once he started practicing the Draw-Sword Technique, he cleared his mind and focused on training, forgetting all about it.
He completed nearly two thousand Draw-Sword Techniques that morning.
Draw-Sword Technique progress: 16910/100000.
As he returned to the clan's street, he thought of the million he'd earn from the mission and decided to treat himself.
He'd eat at a restaurant!
After his meal, he returned home and found two gatekeepers standing outside.
"You're finally back!"
Uchiha Itachi said with a dark expression.
A full hour had passed since the time they were supposed to meet.
Shisui still had a smile on his face, though it looked stiff. He forced a gentle tone. "Now that we're all here, let's get started right away. We can't waste any more time."
"I'll change first. These are my training clothes, and I'm not wearing my Forehead Protector!"
Baiyu gestured at his clothes, then pointed to his forehead.
"Hurry up!"
Shisui's brow twitched. His awkward smile faded, and he spoke without expression.
After getting ready, Baiyu left home and followed Shisui out of the village.
"What's the mission?"
Baiyu asked.
At first, he'd thought Shisui would explain the mission requirements to them. That was what he'd done last time.
But after half a day of traveling, Shisui still hadn't said a word.
"It's confidential for now. I'll explain once we're out of the village."
Shisui replied.
Even Uchiha Itachi was surprised to hear that. Missions rarely came with such conditions.
"Is it an S-rank mission?"
Itachi asked.
Compared to the bumpkin Baiyu, Itachi, the son of the Uchiha Clan Head, knew more about the village.
He'd never taken an S-rank mission himself, but he knew at least one thing.
"S-rank?"
Baiyu raised an eyebrow and looked at Uchiha Shisui and the short Uchiha Itachi.
Had these two cheaters both awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan?
One Jonin was taking two Chunin on an S-rank mission.
That was some serious overconfidence!
Baiyu never dared to get carried away, especially in a world where human lives were as worthless as grass.
Without a protagonist's halo, recklessness and hot-bloodedness were a fast track to death.
Shisui looked back at Itachi, then saw the suspicion in Baiyu's eyes. With no choice, he nodded. "That's right."
"You have to explain the mission details. Otherwise, I refuse to carry it out!"
Baiyu came to a stop as he spoke.
As he remembered it, when Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi teamed up, there hadn't been another Uchiha on their team.
If Baiyu's predecessor had indeed joined Shisui's team around this time, would he die in the next battle?
Could I be the teammate who triggers Shisui's Mangekyō awakening?
The thought suddenly occurred to Baiyu.
Who knew whether Uchiha Shisui had already been pushed to the brink and awakened his eyes?
After spending two days together, Baiyu had clearly felt that Shisui was closer to Itachi than to him.
When they'd just met, Itachi had still been carrying the one million ryo from the last mission. A familiar corner of the envelope had been sticking out.
The day before, Itachi had brought the money to Baiyu in person and even stayed for a meal.
But he'd only handed the money over today, when he came to fetch Baiyu for the meeting.
The difference was plain as day.
Baiyu's suspicions weren't unfounded.
Seeing that both Itachi and Baiyu had stopped, Shisui realized he had to explain.
"Follow orders!"
Shisui put away his smile and spoke coldly, trying to assert his authority.
"Captain, this may be the first and last time I call you that. You can't disregard our safety and send us on a mission far beyond our current abilities. Not only could we fail, but the consequences could be disastrous. I don't think you're qualified to be a squad captain!"
Baiyu shot back.
Uchiha Itachi partly agreed with him.
Making mission completion the top priority was one of a ninja's ironclad rules.
But that came with a condition: the mission had to be within the ninja team's capabilities. If it exceeded them, they could choose to abandon it.
S-rank missions involved the secrets of nations and villages, and their danger level rose sharply.
In missions like these, Chunin had another name: cannon fodder.
"This mission is very important. I'm telling you that in the name of the clan's safety!"
Shisui's expression softened as he spoke helplessly.
"But..."
Uchiha Itachi hesitated. His clan still mattered to him.
"That doesn't stop you from telling us the details of the S-rank mission."
Baiyu refused to give ground and pressed him further.
After they stood at an impasse for a while, Shisui finally gave in at the sight of Baiyu's firm resolve and explained the S-rank mission.
"The mission is called: Capture Orochimaru! The Anbu have designated Orochimaru an S-rank rogue ninja. The Third Hokage has ordered us to capture him alive and bring him back to Konoha, where Lord Hokage will decide his fate."
"But that's the Anbu's responsibility. Our mission is to go to the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water and stop Orochimaru from escaping into the Land of Water!"
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