Even the Weak Have a Reason to Exist (Third Update)

Half an hour later, Hyuga Senso stopped in a clearing, his legs feeling weak and sore.

He looked at Gong Yi, who stood ahead without a flushed face or labored breath, his expression turning solemn.

This rookie was even stronger than he had imagined; he truly lived up to his reputation as the top student who defeated a Chunin and graduated early!

Even Kakashi, who had been his teammate, did not seem to be any stronger than Gong Yi.

A minute after Hyuga Senso arrived, Ogawara came rushing over, gasping for air and drenched in sweat.

"Captain, why are you running so fast!"

"Huff, huff, I'm exhausted. I'm afraid I'll be run to death before the mission even begins."

Facing Ogawara's complaints, Iga Kawaji smiled, his expression softer than the stiffness he had shown before.

He was gradually adapting to the role of captain.

"We are still in the Land of Fire, but if we continue at this pace, we will reach the border, and it won't be as safe then."

"For now, rest here! Replenish your energy, recover your chakra, and prepare to face any danger!"

Ogawara gulped down a large mouthful of water, lacking the strength to speak, and sat aside to rest.

Hyuga Senso did the same, though as a member of the Hyuga clan skilled in taijutsu, he was in much better shape than Ogawara and did not look nearly as disheveled.

"Gong Yi, since you still have energy, go keep watch in the surrounding area! You know what to do if you encounter an enemy!"

Gong Yi gave a grunt of acknowledgment and vanished into the forest with a swoosh.

Seeing this, Hyuga Senso's pupils constricted.

He really is strong; not only could he keep up with Captain Iga, but he even had energy to spare!

Iga Kawaji leaned against a tree, toying with a Kunai in his hand. Seeing Hyuga Senso's expression, he suddenly smiled.

"Senso, your strength is quite good. After this mission ends, I think you can apply for the Chunin exam."

"Thank you, Captain!"

Hyuga Senso's thanks were not just perfunctory. In the village, the treatment received by ninjas of different ranks was vastly different.

Higher-ranked ninjas received higher base salaries and much better benefits.

Furthermore, they had an advantage when it came to accepting missions.

For instance, Genin were completely unable to apply for missions B-rank or higher; only Chunin were qualified to participate.

Although this was an A-rank intelligence-gathering mission, the actual danger level was only C-rank when broken down, which was just barely within the reach of Genin.

Moreover, this mission was led by Iga Kawaji, a Jonin-level ninja, and the three Genin were merely there to assist.

With the captain affirming his strength, Hyuga Senso felt a sense of direction.

Once he became a Chunin, his status within the clan would rise accordingly, and he would receive more attention.

"Captain, Captain, what about me?"

Ogawara had rested for a while and was feeling much more energetic.

Hearing Iga Kawaji evaluate his team members, he began to look forward to his own assessment.

Iga Kawaji smiled and said, "Ogawara, you are younger than Senso, so you still need to hone your skills for another two years."

"Oh."

Ogawara was not discouraged; instead, he scratched his head and gave a silly grin.

This was the brilliance of Iga Kawaji's way of speaking.

Even though Ogawara was indeed weak, he didn't say it directly, as that would have crushed the boy's confidence.

He simply attributed it to Ogawara's youth, making his lack of strength seem natural.

Seeing Ogawara's silly grin, Hyuga Senso shook his head slightly.

The boy currently keeping watch for them was even younger than Ogawara!

Whoosh.

A breeze blew past, followed by the heavy sound of someone landing.

"Captain, I'm back."

Gong Yi's expression was indifferent, the sunlight filtering through the leaves and casting a dazzling glow upon his face.

"How did it feel, performing guard duty for the first time?"

"I felt nothing."

Iga Kawaji shrugged. "It's good that you felt nothing. If you had felt something, it would mean we weren't safe."

After saying this, Iga Kawaji looked at the three of them.

"Rest is over. Now, let's move out!"

The major ninja villages had enjoyed many years of peace following the Second Shinobi World War.

Even though the situation was tense now and minor frictions kept appearing, on the whole, things remained under control.

Especially for the common folk, they were almost entirely unaware of anything.

The Land of Rain, a nation long ravaged by war, had spent years recuperating and regaining some of its vitality, allowing the commoners to live in peace and contentment, far better than before.

The overcast sky and the continuous drizzle created a somber atmosphere, even giving one the feeling of dark clouds looming over a city.

At this moment, on a street in the Land of Rain, four figures—one large and three small—clad in black raincoats were moving slowly forward.

The four entered a noodle shop, ordered four bowls of noodles, and sat quietly in a corner.

"Ninja squads are generally composed of three or four members, so moving together like this is too conspicuous!"

Iga Kawaji spoke in a low voice, while Gong Yi and the other two listened to him with rapt attention.

"The Land of Rain is not large; it only has one major city protected by three smaller towns."

Ogawara, who had once been to several major cities in the Land of Fire for missions, felt a bit puzzled and asked curiously in a low voice: "It's that small? Then why has it been able to exist all this time?"

Iga frowned, and Gong Yi, sitting to the side, explained softly.

"Precisely because it is small, it is able to exist."

"Uh? I don't get it. Gong Yi, what kind of riddle are you playing at?"

This teammate of mine is a bit slow!

Gong Yi said helplessly: "Once major nations share a border, friction is constant, so they need a buffer zone. The nations in such regions must not be too strong, or they might easily turn the tables. The Land of Rain is small and weak, making it the perfect buffer zone."

Ogawara still didn't quite understand, but he didn't dare ask further and pretended to have grasped it.

Iga Kawaji gave Gong Yi an appreciative look before continuing: "I already scouted this town last night. That leaves the main city and the other two small towns. I will handle the intelligence gathering on the ninja distribution in the major city of the Land of Rain. As for the one to the east..."

At this point, Iga Kawaji looked at Hyuga Senso and Gong Yi with a troubled expression.

With three team members to be divided into two groups, it would naturally result in a pair and a solo operative.

Logically, Hyuga Senso possessed the Byakugan, an eye with exceptional reconnaissance capabilities, so he should be the one to operate alone.

However, Gong Yi's strength was clearly superior—so much so that even Iga couldn't fully gauge it—so having Gong Yi operate alone would certainly yield better results.

But considering that this was Gong Yi's first mission and he was clearly favored by the Naruto, if he were to make such an assignment, then...

Just as Iga Kawaji was struggling with the decision, Gong Yi spoke up.

"I will take responsibility for the small town to the east alone!"

"Uh..."

"Gong Yi, what are you saying, you little rookie? In times like this, it should definitely be us seniors, Senso and I, handling these things."

Ogawara snorted, displaying both the pride of a senior and the intention to look after Gong Yi.

Iga Kawaji shared this sentiment; after all, Gong Yi was still a newcomer.

Gong Yi said calmly: "Senso's Byakugan has excellent reconnaissance effects, but he is still just a Genin; he needs someone to protect him while he activates his eyes to scout. Furthermore..."

At this point, Gong Yi whispered to Iga Kawaji: "Major ninja villages have long coveted Konoha's Byakugan, Captain!"

Iga Kawaji's expression turned solemn in an instant!

He quickly realized the pros and cons of the Byakugan.

While having Hyuga Senso operate alone would be effective, if something were to happen, the trouble would be immense.

Even if Hyuga Senso, who possessed the Byakugan, was only a Genin!

But then, he looked at Gong Yi with concern again.

Gong Yi raised his head confidently, his eyes bright.

"Captain, I am a genius who has defeated a Chunin; please trust me!"