Escorting the Grain and Fodder Mission

"Eri, Mikoto is here."

Upon returning home, Uchiha Nagi called out into the house.

Uchiha Eri quickly ran out, her eyes lighting up the moment she saw Uchiha Mikoto.

"Eri-nee."

Mikoto had barely finished her greeting when Eri walked straight over, grabbed her hands, and said affectionately.

"Mikoto, it's been so long."

Uchiha Eri pulled Mikoto by the hand toward the inside of the house.

"Come in and sit." She turned her head to Nagi, "Go pour two glasses of water."

Uchiha Nagi looked at the happy Eri and could only respond with a nod.

Mikoto followed Eri to sit by the low table, glancing around the room.

The room was not large, but it was kept very clean.

Eri looked at Mikoto: "I heard you and Nagi were placed in the same class? That's wonderful. Please take care of him from now on. This kid is always such a handful."

Mikoto hurriedly waved her hands: "You're too kind, Eri-nee. Nagi-kun and Minato-kun are both very impressive; they performed excellently during the test today. If anything, it's me who..."

She looked a bit embarrassed.

At this moment, Nagi brought over the water glasses and placed them in front of the two.

He pulled over a cushion and sat down at the table as well, looking somewhat lethargic.

Eri picked up her glass and took a sip, saying to Mikoto: "Don't say that, you are a team. Knowing Nagi is on the same squad as you puts my mind at ease."

Eri then looked toward Nagi: "Did you pass the test?"

"Yeah." Nagi responded simply, picking up his own glass.

A smile appeared on Eri's face: "That's great! I knew you two would have no problem. Mikoto, why don't you stay for dinner? It's nothing special, but it's a perfect reason to celebrate."

Mikoto hesitated for a moment: "Would that be too much of an intrusion?"

"Not at all, not at all," Eri said enthusiastically, "I'll go prepare it right now."

She stood up and walked quickly toward the kitchen.

Nagi watched Eri's retreating figure, then looked at the slightly restless Mikoto, and spoke up: "Don't mind her, she's just like that. Just make yourself at home."

The faint sound of pots and pans clinking came from the kitchen.

Mikoto picked up her glass and took small sips.

The room fell quiet for a moment.

Uchiha Mikoto was now curiously stealing glances at Uchiha Nagi.

While the environment was warm and cozy, how had he managed to become so strong?

Was it talent?

But if he had such talent, why had she never heard of a genius named Uchiha Nagi among their clan?

So, was Uchiha Nagi hiding his true strength? And why would he do such a thing?

Mikoto was curious, but she felt it wasn't something she could easily ask, so she would have to discover the reason through her own observations.

Inside Konoha.

"Nagi, one o'clock position. Mikoto, ten o'clock position," Namikaze Minato called out.

"Received!"

Uchiha Mikoto responded, then quickly arrived at her designated spot.

Uchiha Nagi also strolled leisurely to his position, blocking the path of a cat that looked quite chubby yet moved with surprising agility.

Upon discovering that the path ahead was blocked, the kitten had no choice but to turn back and charge toward Namikaze Minato, who was the only one left.

Its instincts told it that one person was always easier to deal with than two.

It would use its nimble movements to toy with the opponent and then make a graceful escape.

It had always done this in the past, and this time would surely be no different.

The kitten dashed out with a look of "confidence," its speed incredibly fast.

As it darted past Namikaze Minato, a hint of human-like disdain appeared on its feline face.

However, the next moment, it found that it couldn't move.

Namikaze Minato had grabbed the scruff of the kitten's neck from behind; it wasn't that he couldn't have grabbed it from the front, but that would have made it easy to get scratched.

"Mission accomplished." Namikaze Minato held the cat, looked at Uchiha Nagi and Mikoto, and said with a smile.

"Minato's reflexes really are faster than a cat's," Uchiha Nagi remarked, watching the scene.

Mikoto nodded in agreement upon hearing this; she had also tried catching cats herself, only to find that the cats in the village were not so easily captured.

"Hahaha, well done." Jiraiya laughed heartily as he arrived on the scene.

He looked at Namikaze Minato, a look of confirmation in his eyes; he had sensed the boy's lightning-fast reflexes before, and seeing this confirmed his suspicions.

"Sensei, what is our next mission?" Namikaze Minato asked.

For the past few days, their missions had consisted mostly of menial tasks, such as catching stray cats or helping people weed their gardens.

However, none of them particularly minded.

Namikaze Minato's personality meant he would never oppose Jiraiya's arrangements, and Uchiha Mikoto felt much the same.

As for Uchiha Nagi, he had even fewer objections.

Getting paid—and paid quite well—just to pull weeds and catch cats? Only a fool would turn that down.

If it were possible, Uchiha Nagi would have been happy to take such missions for the rest of his life.

But he knew that was impossible; these tasks were designed specifically for newly graduated Genin.

Furthermore, in these extraordinary times, such missions were even scarcer, and the only reason Jiraiya could secure them was because he was the disciple of the Third Hokage.

"Um, Jiraiya-sensei, are there any more missions like this? Let's take a few more." Uchiha Nagi added.

Jiraiya looked at Uchiha Nagi with a strange expression. Setting aside the pride of the Uchiha Clan, even ordinary people were usually brimming with excitement after becoming Genin.

After doing a few of these chores, most would usually start complaining and clamoring for higher-difficulty missions.

Yet, how was it that Uchiha Nagi not only didn't complain but seemed to be enjoying himself?

At that moment, he recalled Uchiha Nagi's stated ambition, and wondered if it could actually be true.

This... was it not a bit too strange for an Uchiha?

Jiraiya cleared his throat.

"Well, although Nagi wants to keep doing these kinds of missions, it's a pity that all the tasks of this type have already been completed."

Jiraiya felt a headache coming on. Because of the war, the number of graduates was simply too high, and the fact that he had managed to snatch up this many missions was already quite an achievement.

"What a pity."

Uchiha Nagi sighed. As expected, safe and simple missions with decent pay were becoming a dying breed.

"Don't be discouraged. I've managed to secure a pretty good mission for you all," Jiraiya said with a mysterious air.

"Oh?"

Hearing this, the three of them couldn't help but fix their gazes on Jiraiya.

"It is to escort supplies to the front lines," Jiraiya explained. "Since it is just an escort mission with no other requirements, it should be relatively safe."

Uchiha Nagi sensed something off about Jiraiya's words.

"Sensei, are you not coming with us?"

If Jiraiya were to accompany them, there wouldn't be any danger in such a mission, provided they didn't do anything reckless.

Jiraiya nodded with a helpless expression.

"As a ninja of my standing, I must follow the orders of the Hokage and cannot simply appear on the battlefield as I please."