Showcase (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Faced with Tsunade's eagerness to gamble, Genma cited an upcoming mission as a righteous excuse to firmly refuse, then slipped away in a flash.

However, he soon reappeared on the perimeter wall, shouting at Tsunade, "Lady Tsunade, you must train hard while I'm away, or else you'll lose to me even in your area of expertise."

"Next time I return, let's compete in strength!"

Having issued his provocation, he bolted—this time for real.

Because Tsunade's roar was already shaking the very earth.

That brat is too arrogant!

How dare he claim his strength surpasses her own?

He simply doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth!

Tsunade was furious, her fists clenched tight; if Shizune hadn't been holding her back, she would have surely shattered the corridor pillar with a single punch.

"Bastard, when he gets back, I'm going to teach him a real lesson!"

Tsunade held a grudge, then said to Shizune, "Shizune, I have a mission for you: keep a close eye on him, record all his intelligence, and report it to me!"

Shizune blinked innocently, "Lady Tsunade, isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

Tsunade gave a light huff, stating matter-of-factly, "This is a basic quality required of a ninja."

"It's decided!"

Genma had no idea he had gained a little spy by his side.

Returning home, he ducked into the bathroom and soaked in the tub, focusing his attention on the Setting Collection.

This team assignment hadn't brought him any Setting Value.

In the original timeline, the jonin instructors for Yamashiro Aoba and Shizune certainly weren't Hatake Sakumo.

However, thinking it over, Hatake Sakumo serving as their team leader probably wouldn't change their individual fates much.

Shizune was a medical ninja.

Yamashiro Aoba belonged to a minor ninja clan and had his own unique heritage.

But now that they had graduated, and with the Third Shinobi World War looming, Genma felt a massive wave of Setting Value galloping toward him.

First was the disappearance of the Third Kazekage; was there an opportunity to intervene?

Probably not.

Thinking of the Kazekage, Genma immediately thought of someone else from Sunagakure.

Pakura of the Scorch Release, known for having the most beautiful back.

"Such a beautiful back, it would be a pity not to try cupping therapy..."

"No, that's wrong; it would be a pity if she died."

Genma immediately corrected his inner monologue.

If he saved Pakura and let her return to Sunagakure, would she just be killed again, or would something interesting happen?

Could he rake in more Setting Value?

Then there were the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist; if the chance arose, he would take them out first.

Genma secretly made his plans.

The next day.

At nine in the morning, Team 9 gathered in front of the Hokage Building right on time.

Hatake Sakumo had already accepted a mission before Genma and the others arrived, and as soon as they were assembled, he ordered, "Move out!"

Everyone immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to depart.

Genma's attire today was different from yesterday; he wore a sleeveless, vest-style steel armor, with a large scroll strapped horizontally across his lower back.

Seeing Genma wearing iron armor, Yamashiro Aoba couldn't help but say, "Genma, isn't it a bit exaggerated to dress like this?"

Genma chuckled, "It's a pity there isn't armor that covers a person completely."

Ninjas were too fragile; he needed to protect himself well.

Even though his medical skills were already quite strong, he was still afraid of pain!

"Wearing such heavy armor will affect your agility, though perhaps it has little impact on you, Genma."

Yamashiro Aoba analyzed it seriously, then sighed, "As expected, physical strength is the foundation."

"Genma, I really envy your stamina."

"Is it because you eat so much?"

Genma thought for a moment and answered earnestly, "Eating a lot is only one aspect. The priority is balanced nutrition—meat, vegetables, seafood, soy products... none can be missing, and you must strengthen your training."

Of course, the most important thing was genetics.

Genma did not say this out loud.

He did not inherit his abilities either; he was cheating.

While the two were chatting, Shizune kept an eye on Genma, secretly thinking, I should add an arm guard to protect his upper arm... I'll buy one for Genma once I get the commission from this mission.

Genma was actually already wearing arm guards, but they only protected his forearms.

After leaving Konoha, Hatake Sakumo led the team into the woods before beginning to explain the mission: "The target for this mission is a samurai named Igata Kaito."

"He was originally under the command of a noble at the Land of Fire Daimyo Estate, but he fled after murdering that noble for certain reasons, so the Daimyo Estate has commissioned the village to hunt him down."

"Do not underestimate him; some samurai have mastered chakra, although the intelligence provided by the Daimyo Estate indicates that this Igata Kaito has not."

"However, intelligence shows that this person is currently active in the border region between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain."

Yamashiro Aoba immediately asked, "So, Sensei, is there something special about that place?"

Genma added, "It's because the situation in the Land of Rain is currently quite chaotic, right?"

Hatake Sakumo nodded.

Shizune asked curiously, "Sensei, hasn't the Ninja World war been over for a long time?"

"Besides, the Land of Rain has Amegakure, and its leader is a powerhouse known as a demigod."

Hatake Sakumo smiled. "Shizune's grasp of intelligence is quite good."

"However, the situation in the Land of Rain is rather complex."

His expression grew more solemn as he explained, "Amegakure was defeated in the last war, and Hanzo's influence and prestige were damaged, leaving him unable to control the situation throughout the entire Land of Rain."

"The impact of the war was profound, and the Land of Rain has yet to recover."

"Coupled with its geographical location and the struggles between various factions, it has led to a chaotic situation within the Land of Rain, with all sorts of ninja organizations springing up, along with many wanted criminals and rogue ninjas from various ninja villages operating there."

Shizune and Yamashiro Aoba suddenly realized the truth.

Genma, however, had already been aware of this.

For Konoha, the war was considered completely over by the 41st year of Konoha.

But for the Land of Rain, the war had never truly ended.

Hanzo had revealed great ambition during the last Ninja World war, not to mention Kirigakure, which was far away overseas.

The four great ninja villages surrounding the Land of Rain would never allow Amegakure to become the sixth great ninja village.

Therefore, having failed in its external expansion, Amegakure could only watch as the Land of Rain descended into chaos.

This was the consequence of defeat.

Naturally, Hatake Sakumo would not explain these details to a few fledglings.

But Yamashiro Aoba had already understood the implication: "So, this guy named Igata Kaito might have joined some organization?"

"He might even have mastered chakra."

Hatake Sakumo said, "Anything is possible."

"The intelligence we currently have is limited, so we will need to gather information on the enemy later; everyone must be cautious and take this seriously."

This was a mission that could escalate into a B-rank at any time, which was the reason Hatake Sakumo had accepted it.

There was a certain amount of danger, but not too much.

The next two days were spent on the road.

On the morning of the third day, Genma and his party arrived at the western border of the Land of Fire.

This speed was average, as Hatake Sakumo had intentionally slowed down since it was their first time leaving the village.

Outside a small border town, Hatake Sakumo led Genma and the others to gaze toward the mountain in the direction of the Land of Rain: "According to intelligence, the target was last seen in this town; it is speculated that he is likely hiding in the mountains."

Yamashiro Aoba said, "The area is very large; should we split up to search?"

Just as Hatake Sakumo was about to nod, Genma spoke first: "No need for such trouble."

The three of them looked at him in unison.

Yamashiro Aoba asked, "Are you going to use clones?"

Genma nodded and then shook his head before forming hand seals.

Poof, poof, poof~

Four Shadow Clone appeared, and immediately after, the four Shadow Clone leaped into the air. Smoke burst forth in the sky as four hawks tore through the mist, flapping their wings and kicking up a fierce wind.