C-Rank Mission

"I have no objections!"

Before Uchiha Yue could open his mouth to respond, Hatake Kakashi answered expressionlessly, even casting a provocative glance at Uchiha Yue once he finished.

Seeing Hatake Kakashi's challenging gaze, Uchiha Yue naturally had no objections either, and he nodded immediately, saying, "Since Kakashi has no issues, I certainly have even fewer."

"Very well!"

Hearing the responses from Uchiha Yue and Hatake Kakashi, Kushina Uzumaki's lips curled into a faint, cold smirk. "Minato, since the new members of our squad have no objections, you, as the captain, certainly can't let us down, right? Let's go accept our missions now, Captain Minato!"

With Kushina Uzumaki putting it that way, Minato Namikaze could only rub his nose awkwardly and offer an apologetic smile to Uchiha Yue.

Afterward, once Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki had consulted briefly, they led Uchiha Yue and Hatake Kakashi toward the Hokage's office to accept their missions. On the way, Uchiha Yue kept observing Kushina Uzumaki's expression; he had a nagging feeling that her insistence on taking C-rank missions was born of ill intent.

Even during the war, genin who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy were not qualified to accept C-rank missions, as these missions typically involved actual combat. After graduating, ordinary genin were required to complete at least ten D-rank missions—trivial chores meant to help squad members build a certain level of synergy—before they were deemed eligible for C-rank assignments.

However, by having Uchiha Yue and Hatake Kakashi jump straight into C-rank missions, Kushina Uzumaki was undoubtedly looking to test their combat proficiency. It was not as if she didn't harbor a desire to see them make fools of themselves; after all, both Uchiha Yue and Hatake Kakashi were genin who had only recently graduated. While their performance in the Ninja Academy might have been impressive, they could easily fall apart when facing real enemies.

It was much like the original story's Uzumaki Naruto, who showed no fear even when facing a jounin like Hatake Kakashi. Yet, when Uzumaki Naruto finally left Konoha to execute a mission, he was so terrified by two low-level chunin that he couldn't even fight back. Kushina Uzumaki clearly wanted to see Uchiha Yue and Hatake Kakashi suffer a similar humiliation.

Unfortunately, Uchiha Yue was destined not to display the incompetence Kushina Uzumaki imagined during actual combat.

Inside the Hokage's office, Minato Namikaze had already arrived with Uchiha Yue and the others, intending to accept missions on the very first day of the squad's formation.

Of course, the process of accepting missions was not like in the original story, where the Third Hokage was present for every interaction.

The Hokage's office building was divided into three floors; the third floor was where the Hokage worked, while the other two floors were for administrative staff. To accept D-rank missions, one only needed to visit the first floor. For missions of C-rank or higher, like those Uchiha Yue and his team were seeking, one had to go to the second floor.

Upon arriving at the second floor, the administrative ninja looked up with a flash of surprise in his eyes. It was clear he knew that Uchiha Yue and Hatake Kakashi were both genin who had only recently graduated from the Ninja Academy. Even this official had never seen such fresh graduates attempting to take on missions of C-rank or higher.

Seeing the official's surprised gaze, Minato Namikaze, as the captain, scratched his hair in embarrassment and shifted his eyes toward Kushina Uzumaki.

To everyone's surprise, Kushina Uzumaki looked at the scroll listing the missions, raised her right hand, and pointed at a whole row of them. "I've decided. We'll take all of these C-rank missions!"

Hearing Kushina Uzumaki's words, not only was the administrative ninja stunned, but even Minato Namikaze was left speechless for a moment.

Kushina Uzumaki had pointed out at least eight C-rank missions. The idea that Uchiha Yue and Hatake Kakashi, two genin who had just graduated, would be expected to execute eight C-rank missions in one go was unprecedented in all of Konoha. It was no wonder the official and Minato Namikaze were so shocked.

Minato Namikaze prepared to persuade Kushina Uzumaki to start with one or two C-rank missions to let Uchiha Yue and Hatake Kakashi get their bearings. Unfortunately, even Minato Namikaze had no way to sway her. Ultimately, under Kushina Uzumaki's dictatorial decision, the two genin were saddled with eight C-rank missions—all of which involved actual combat!

Immediately following...

Once Kushina Uzumaki officially accepted the missions, she told Uchiha Yue and Hatake Kakashi to go home and prepare, as these missions required them to leave the village. Having anticipated this development, Uchiha Yue and Hatake Kakashi returned to their respective homes to pack their ninja pouches and gear, ready to follow Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki to complete the tasks.

Uchiha Yue had very little to prepare; he only needed to replenish the hidden weapons in his pouch.

However, Uchiha Yue never expected that when he arrived at the main gate of Konoha to assemble, he would be the last one to arrive.

Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, and even Hatake Kakashi had all arrived at the gate before him.

As soon as Kushina Uzumaki saw Uchiha Yue hurrying toward them, a mocking smile curled at the corner of her lips. She sneered, "Hmph, Uchiha Yue, don't tell me you were so afraid of the difficulty of these C-rank missions that you deliberately dragged your feet! Don't worry, as long as I, Kushina Uzumaki, am here, I won't let you get hurt! The youngest genin in Konoha, the genius of the Uchiha Clan!"

Kushina Uzumaki's words were dripping with sarcasm, and Uchiha Yue's expression naturally soured.

However, Uchiha Yue had no intention of bickering with a woman, especially since Minato Namikaze was standing by, offering apologetic smiles; he didn't want to make things awkward for him. As Minato Namikaze led the team out to begin the missions, Uchiha Yue, who was at the front of the formation, suddenly turned his head and looked at Minato Namikaze. "Minato-kun, may I see the missions we are to execute?"

"Of course!"

As soon as Uchiha Yue finished speaking, Minato Namikaze handed over a scroll and said with a smile, "Yue-kun, Kushina might be acting a bit reckless, but please don't mind her. That's just her personality; she's always like a child. Once you get to know her, you'll realize she isn't a bad person." Minato paused for a moment before continuing, "Besides, the missions Kushina chose weren't random. I believe you'll be able to see the deeper meaning behind them, Yue-kun!"

"Hmm!"

Hearing Minato Namikaze's words, Uchiha Yue quickly scanned the mission list and shifted his gaze toward Kushina Uzumaki. Kushina Uzumaki is truly worthy of being an elite jounin of Konoha. Even these seemingly random missions have such profound intent behind them. But, what is the deal with that familiar aura she carries?

Why.

Why does the chakra aura she possesses feel so similar to Mother's?