Bring Her Back

That morning, just after finishing his Wood Release Chakra Mode training, Genma discovered that he had gained 2 Setting Values.

After checking the log, he realized they had come from Tsunade.

Looks like the method worked!

Genma beamed.

A reinvigorated Tsunade would have a profound impact on Konoha.

If he could also cure her Hemophobia, then the Fourth Hokage might not necessarily be Namikaze Minato after all.

"Resurrecting the dead must be incredibly difficult. Even the Rinnegan's Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique exacts a life as its price."

"But... summoning a dead person's soul with the Summoning Technique probably wouldn't take too many Setting Values, right?"

Genma thought it over and tried modifying the Summoning Technique.

He had learned the technique from Tsunade so he could summon a Wood Release Chakra clone to replenish his main body's Wood Release chakra.

"Hm?"

"Failed. Two Setting Values aren't enough!"

Genma felt a little disappointed.

"Then I'll save up some more."

Genma put the matter aside, created a Shadow Clone, and continued his training.

He had the Strength of a Hundred for power, the Substitution Technique for evading danger, Seal-less Healing for recovery, the Transformation Technique for flight, and Hatake Kenjutsu.

Speed and reflexes were his weak points now. And Hatake Kenjutsu needed to be paired with an advanced Body Flicker Technique to truly shine.

Once he had made some progress developing Lightning Flicker, he'd have two Setting Values, which would be enough for his first modification.

His day off passed in a flash.

After breakfast, Genma said goodbye to his parents and headed to the Hokage Building.

Yamashiro Aoba and Shizune were already there.

"Good morning, everyone!"

Genma waved in greeting, then asked, "Has our teacher gone to pick up the mission?"

Shizune glanced at the Hokage Building. "I think so. We didn't see him when we arrived."

"Knowing our teacher, he's probably already gone," Yamashiro Aoba said. "I wonder what kind of mission it'll be this time. Could it be a B-Rank Mission?"

Genma shook his head. "Probably not. Last time was an exception."

"Even if our teacher is willing to take a risk, the village won't allow it."

As they were talking, Hatake Sakumo suddenly appeared. "Everyone's here. Let's go!"

They immediately used the Body Flicker Technique and headed out of the village.

On the way, Hatake Sakumo explained the mission. As expected, it was a C-rank mission.

They were to deliver a fairly unimportant piece of intelligence to Yugakure. They probably wouldn't encounter any ninja.

Hearing they were going to Yugakure, Shizune asked, "I've heard the hot springs in the Land of Hot Water are the best in the Ninja World. Is that true, sensei?"

Hatake Sakumo smiled. "That's right."

"Once we've delivered the intelligence, we can go try them out."

Everyone agreed enthusiastically.

After leaving the village, the team still avoided the main road. They plunged straight into the woods and headed north.

Compared with their last mission, this one really was much simpler and more boring.

They encountered no trouble along the way. After delivering the intelligence without incident, they enjoyed a soak in the hot springs of the Land of Hot Water.

The springs were indeed different from the ones in Konoha.

The mission took four days. When they returned, there was no time off; Hatake Sakumo immediately began the team's training.

It wasn't about teaching them specific techniques. Instead, they practiced working together tactically and learned how to respond when caught in an ambush or hit a trap.

It was more exhausting than going on missions, but Genma liked it better.

He could clearly feel himself growing.

He needed this kind of experience.

Right now, he was just a kid with plenty of power but no idea how to use it skillfully.

Genma needed to grow quickly and learn to apply the power he possessed flexibly in actual combat.

Time flew by amid training and missions.

One afternoon, two months later,

they had just finished a training session when Hatake Sakumo announced, "That's it for today. Meet at the village gate tomorrow. We have a new mission."

"B-Rank!"

Genma and the others were all startled.

For the past two months, they had only taken C-rank missions.

Aside from that first C-rank mission, nothing unexpected had happened, and they hadn't clashed with any other ninja.

It was hard not to feel a little excited.

Still, Hatake Sakumo didn't reveal any details about the mission in advance.

After the team split up, Genma and the others agreed to go to an ice cream shop.

On the way, Yamashiro Aoba asked curiously, "So, what do you think tomorrow's mission will be like?"

"A B-Rank Mission might mean we run into ninja. Do you think they'll be around our level?"

Shizune said, "It shouldn't be too dangerous, right? We're still Genin, after all."

Genma guessed, "Maybe we'll be protecting someone important?"

"Or maybe we'll be sent to the border."

"As for the ninja we might run into, they could be anyone. It depends on how important the mission is."

When the three of them reached the ice cream shop, they spotted quite a few familiar faces.

"Hey, Genma!"

Before he could even enter, Might Guy called out loudly.

Genma looked over and saw Kakashi, Might Guy, Shiranui Genma, and Ebisu gathered together, with Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin sitting nearby.

"Guy, Kakashi, you're here too!"

Genma greeted them with a smile.

Shiranui Genma complained, "It's way too hot today."

After they had said hello, Shizune went over to talk with Nohara Rin. Uchiha Obito felt awkward standing around with two girls, so he got to his feet.

"Genma, did you just get back from a mission?"

Uchiha Obito asked.

Genma shook his head. "No, we just finished training, but we have a mission tomorrow."

"How's everyone been lately?"

Ebisu said, "Missions and training. I used to look forward to missions, but it turns out they aren't all that fun."

Might Guy was full of passion. "Whether they're fun or not doesn't matter! As long as they help us keep growing, then our youth hasn't been wasted!"

Shiranui Genma rolled his eyes. "You've got to stop being so fired up all the time."

Genma had just picked up the ice cream the server brought and taken a sip. Feeling the chill spread through him, he smiled and said, "Life isn't always fun. Missions are just missions to us; they're only a small part of life."

Ebisu laughed when he heard that. "You always have something wise to say."

Genma couldn't help laughing.

Shizune asked, "What about Kurenai and the others? Are they still on a mission?"

"I guess so," Shiranui Genma replied. "I haven't seen them in the village these past few days."

"Kakashi, have you run into them?"

Kakashi shook his head. "No."

"Of course, they could be off together somewhere."

Might Guy looked puzzled. "Together? Who with whom?"

Shiranui Genma held his forehead. "Come on, Guy. Isn't it obvious?"

And so the boys and girls spent a summer afternoon chatting and laughing.

Only Genma knew these were some of the few carefree days they'd have before the war.

That evening,

after dinner, Genma announced that he was going out on a mission.

Yu Fenglan was surprised too. "Oh, what a coincidence! I was just about to say that I have to go on a mission tomorrow."

Genma and his mother, Ritsuka, both found that a little strange.

Yu Fenglan was a codebreaker who deciphered enemy ciphers and analyzed intelligence. Why was he suddenly leaving the village on a mission?

Seeing the questions on his wife and son's faces, Yu Fenglan smiled. "It's unusual, sure. But this mission isn't classified. I'm going to Kusagakure in the Land of Grass for an exchange."

"Don't worry. It's a very safe mission."

Ritsuka reminded him, "You're leaving the village, no matter what. Be careful."

Yu Fenglan readily agreed. "Yes, Mrs. Kazekaze!"

Ritsuka immediately rolled her eyes at her husband, then turned to ask her son, "Genma, what's your mission tomorrow?"

Genma shook his head. "Our teacher didn't say, but it should be another relatively safe C-rank mission."

"Don't worry. I'll be very careful."

Ritsuka smiled and nodded.

She trusted her son, partly because Hatake Sakumo was a powerful shinobi, and partly because her son was extremely cautious.

But when Kusagakure came up, Genma couldn't help thinking of someone.

Karin!

Karin definitely hadn't been born yet, so was her mother already in Kusagakure?

She should be around eighteen or nineteen now, right?

Should he bring her back?