The Bet That Could Get Someone Killed

At nine in the morning, Genma and the others met outside the photo studio.

They had agreed yesterday to take a group photo as a keepsake.

As they entered the studio and reached the photography area, Genma saw Namikaze Minato pressing down on Kakashi and Uchiha Obito's heads, one hand on each.

Click!

History was captured in a flash.

Would fate change?

Genma's thoughts grew tangled for a moment, then he followed Hatake Sakumo forward to greet Kakashi and the others.

"Senior Sakumo, I'll become a ninja just like you, earn everyone's recognition, and become Hokage!"

After respectfully bowing to Hatake Sakumo, Uchiha Obito loudly declared his goal.

Hatake Sakumo paused briefly, then smiled. "I believe you'll become an incredible ninja. You'll definitely surpass my accomplishments!"

He could see the burning passion and unwavering determination in Uchiha Obito's eyes.

Thrilled to have won Hatake Sakumo's approval, Uchiha Obito turned and gave Kakashi a smug little snort.

Kakashi turned his head away, too lazy to deal with the idiot.

After that brief interlude, Genma and the others took their photo.

Shizune stood to Genma's right, leaning her head slightly toward him. Yamashiro Aoba had taken off his sunglasses and stood on Genma's other side, while Hatake Sakumo stood behind him.

Besides the Storm Fang Short Blade strapped to his back, Genma was also wearing metal bracers.

Click!

Their smiles were captured.

They agreed to come back for the photos the next day, then left the studio.

"Now we'll start on our missions."

Hatake Sakumo announced, "I've already accepted today's missions in advance. Let's head out!"

He set off as he spoke.

The three rookies followed, while Genma felt a little uneasy.

Could their first mission really be something like finding a pet?

Before long, the four of them arrived at a river.

Hatake Sakumo pointed at it. "This is our first mission."

Yamashiro Aoba nudged his sunglasses up. "Sensei, are we picking up trash?"

Hatake Sakumo nodded with a smile. "You've only just graduated, so you have to start with the lowest-level missions."

"After completing ten D-rank missions, you can take on C-rank missions. That's the village's rule, and there's nothing I can do about it."

Genma sighed. "Looks like we'll have to get through these ten missions as quickly as possible!"

Shizune thought starting with easy missions was a good idea too. "Then let's get going!"

Hatake Sakumo immediately pulled several bags from his pocket.

Taking the bags, the three leaped onto the river's surface. Shizune and Yamashiro Aoba immediately bent down and started picking up trash.

Genma, however, raised his hands to form seals. "At a time like this, the more hands, the better!"

Multi Shadow Clone Technique!

Poof! Poof! Poof!

A large number of Shadow Clones appeared on the river. Shizune and Yamashiro Aoba looked up, stunned.

In the blink of an eye, Genmas stood all around them.

"Let's go! We'll finish this in no time!"

Genma shouted, and hundreds of Shadow Clones shouted along with him before scattering to pick up trash.

Hatake Sakumo watched from the riverbank with a smile. None of this surprised him in the slightest.

And so, a mission that would normally have taken half a day was finished in less than an hour.

After Genma and the others returned to shore, Hatake Sakumo smiled. "Well done."

"Now for the second mission: organize the bookshelves at the library. Let's go!"

Genma and the others exchanged glances, then set off together for the next location.

They used the same swarm tactic and finished the job in half an hour.

Then they moved on to the next mission.

They helped people find their pets and helped farmers in the villages near Konoha hunt down wild boars that were destroying their fields...

In just two days, Genma and the others had sped through all ten D-rank missions.

Beneath the evening sun, Hatake Sakumo looked at the three, who were a little tired. "How are you holding up?"

"You can rest tomorrow, then we'll take on a C-rank mission."

Shizune and Yamashiro Aoba both looked at Genma.

They hadn't been very tired over the past two days. Genma, who had been using the swarm tactic, was the one who had worked the hardest.

Facing their gazes, Genma smiled. "I'm completely fine. One good night's sleep and I'll be fully rested."

He had the power of the One-Tail now, after all. Of course he'd be fine.

No, to be precise, he had more chakra than Shukaku, the One-Tail.

Over the past year, he'd grown and developed, and the Wood Release Chakra Mode had also helped increase his chakra reserves.

"Sensei, we're fine too," Shizune and Yamashiro Aoba said.

Hatake Sakumo nodded. "In that case, meet in front of the Hokage Building tomorrow at nine in the morning."

"Be prepared. This time, we're leaving the village."

Genma and the others' eyes lit up, and they immediately felt a thrill of anticipation.

This would be their first time traveling beyond the village.

After the team disbanded, Genma walked Shizune home.

As soon as they entered, they saw Tsunade sitting on the veranda, leaning against a pillar. The setting sun fell across her face, giving her a hazy, ethereal beauty tinged with an inexplicable sadness.

In that moment, Genma's heart stirred fiercely.

Shizune was also briefly stunned, then looked worried. "Lady Tsunade may be thinking about her younger brother, who passed away."

Genma nodded without thinking.

How could someone who had lost all their family not feel sad?

Comfort her?

How?

Had you lost all your family too?

If you hadn't, what could you possibly mean by saying you understood or could relate?

Genma sighed inwardly. He knew that if he tried to talk Tsunade into anything with Talk no Jutsu, he'd sound insincere, presumptuous, and unbearably self-righteous.

"Let's go."

He tugged on Shizune and started forward.

Tsunade was startled out of her reverie, and all her feelings vanished from her face. She put on a lazy expression. "You finished your missions so early today?"

"It's all thanks to Genma's Multi Shadow Clone Technique," Shizune said.

Tsunade glanced at the little brat, Genma, and snorted. "So tomorrow you're taking on a C-rank mission?"

Shizune nodded, then looked at Tsunade with some concern. "Yes, Lady Tsunade. Teacher Sakumo said we'll be leaving the village this time, so..."

Before she could finish, Tsunade waved a hand. "I know, I know. Enough already!"

"You're the ones who need to be careful."

With her arms folded across her chest, Tsunade looked down at the two kids. "Even though it's a C-rank mission and you normally won't run into other ninja..."

"That's not guaranteed, so don't let your guard down."

Genma and Shizune obediently nodded.

Tsunade continued, "And although Senior Sakumo is very strong, don't even think about relying on him completely."

"Anything could happen during a mission. You'll have to depend on yourselves more."

Shizune immediately nodded. "Yes, Lady Tsunade!"

"We'll be fully prepared," Genma added.

Tsunade realized she had made the mood a little too somber, so she smiled. "Let's have one last bet before you leave!"

Genma's mouth twitched.

Hey, that was quite a sudden change!

Shizune was also at a loss for words. She quietly tried to reason with Tsunade. "Lady Tsunade, I don't think you've ever beaten Genma."

"Don't worry. This time I'll definitely win," Tsunade said, unconcerned.

"And don't worry about me being unable to pay."

I'm worried I'll lose!

Genma grumbled inwardly.

If he lost, wouldn't someone end up dead?