The group raced toward the camp at full speed. Soon, they spotted numerous Konoha Ninja keeping watch nearby.
"The camp is just ahead." The Ninja Blade squad leader pointed at the wooden palisade. Its gates were shut tight, and its guards were on high alert. "The Amegakure Ninja are skilled with poison, so the camp is under lockdown. We can't let you in without notifying them first."
He hurried over to the gate and reported to the guards, "The third outer patrol squad has returned. A ninja claiming to be Tsunade's student, named Bai Lin, has come to join us."
The gate guards gave Bai Lin a wary glance, then turned and went into the camp to report his arrival.
A moment later, the gates slowly opened, and one of Orochimaru's trusted ninja stepped out. His cold eyes swept over Bai Lin. "Lord Orochimaru would like to see you."
Inside a tent at the center of the camp.
Bai Lin stepped into the tent. It was brightly lit, and more than a dozen Konoha Jonin stood in a circle around a border map, discussing the situation with solemn expressions.
Orochimaru stood in the center, wearing a standard ninja combat uniform. His golden, slit-pupiled eyes were as cold as ice. When he saw Bai Lin enter, a hint of amusement flickered in his eyes, followed by a playful smile. "Oh? Bai Lin, you're back."
"Did you finish everything?"
The Jonin in the tent turned to look at him. Their gazes settled on Bai Lin, filled with curiosity, scrutiny, and a hint of disdain.
After all, Bai Lin looked far too young—no more than twelve or thirteen. It was hard to believe he was a ninja who could be useful on the battlefield.
"Lord Orochimaru." Bai Lin inclined his head slightly, his gaze quickly sweeping across the tent.
He saw Tsunade, as well as the red-haired girl Kushina behind her, who waved at him. He also spotted Uchiha Mikoto, who had quietly breathed a sigh of relief at seeing him return safely.
Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze were there, too.
He also saw Nawaki standing behind Orochimaru, smiling at him, and the hot-blooded young man Might Duy beside him, giving him a thumbs-up.
Huh?
Might Duy giving him a thumbs-up?
Had Orochimaru already started treating him like one of his trusted subordinates?
Among the familiar faces, he also noticed a black-haired, black-eyed boy who nodded at him when their gazes met.
"Who's that boy?"
Bai Lin noticed a design of a ping-pong paddle on the sleeve beneath the boy's flak jacket and immediately realized he was from the Uchiha Clan.
Before Bai Lin could think more about it, Orochimaru smiled and said, "Bai Lin, I never expected you to accomplish such a great feat before you even arrived."
"What great feat? I don't even know what happened." Bai Lin raised an eyebrow, bewildered. "I just got here. I haven't done anything."
"A few days ago, you sent Nawaki and Uchiha Mikoto to the camp to report that a Sunagakure force of over a hundred ninja had infiltrated the Land of Fire." Orochimaru lightly tapped the map with his fingertips.
"And then? What were they after?"
Bai Lin remembered. He had learned about the Sunagakure ninja when he parted ways with Uchiha Mikoto and Nawaki.
He had been on his way to Takigakure to steal the Hero Water, so he had told them to meet up with Orochimaru ahead of him.
"I wasn't sure whether to believe it at first. But after sending out a scouting team to verify the report, we found that force on the eastern border. Their target was to ambush the Medical Department and the supply convoy accompanying Tsunade!"
"The healing herbs carried by the medical unit, along with the Military Ration Pills and bandages in the supply convoy, are all strategic resources for the front lines."
"If the enemy had gotten their hands on them, we would have suffered enormous losses."
"Mm." Bai Lin nodded, unconcerned.
Whether it was a great feat or not, making money mattered more to him.
Still, judging by Orochimaru's pleased expression and the fact that Tsunade and Kushina were safe, the Sunagakure force's ambush had failed.
They had most likely paid a steep price.
"We ambushed and wiped out that hundred-strong Sunagakure squad in advance. We not only protected the medical unit and supplies, but also seized a large number of ninja tools and intelligence."
"The intelligence you, Nawaki, and Uchiha Mikoto provided was crucial to the situation on the front lines. I've recorded it as the completion of an A-Rank mission for all three of you."
"Do you have any objections, Bai Lin?"
[Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing an A-rank mission. You've received 1 million taels to spend!]
A system notification rang in Bai Lin's mind, and a flicker of delight passed through his eyes.
He had thought the village's mission system had ground to a halt, and that he could no longer complete the system's requirements by taking on village missions. He hadn't expected that missions recorded in his file would count as completed by him all the same.
That meant he no longer had to worry about running out of ways to earn money.
Killing enemies was the easiest way to make money, so that should be his main method. Next came missions. Since it was wartime, there should be no shortage of B-Rank missions or higher, making them a good secondary option.
Only after that came trading with Kusagakure. After all, they only traded once a month, and the amount he could spend was limited.
"Of course I have no objections, Lord Orochimaru." Bai Lin answered calmly, even volunteering for more. "If you have any A-Rank missions or higher, feel free to assign them to me. I'll see them through without fail."
He was thrilled inside, though he kept his expression perfectly calm.
Tsunade stepped forward, her brows furrowing with concern. "Bai Lin, A-Rank missions are extremely dangerous. You're very likely to face Jonin head-on, and you aren't strong enough to handle that yet. Don't push yourself."
"On the battlefield, staying alive always comes first."
"You're still young. Even if you're a genius, you need time to grow."
Bai Lin tried to take Tsunade's hand, but she immediately shook him off. He could only raise an eyebrow and speak with a tone that was part contempt, part disdain, and part carefree arrogance. "Tsunade, an A-Rank mission is nothing to me."
"Jonin? They're nothing but stepping-stones for me."
"Just watch me climb to the very top!"
"I'll make them tremble with fear when they hear my name!"
The expressions of everyone present instantly turned vivid.
Tsunade's brows knitted even tighter. Angry and anxious, she raised a hand to rap him on the head. "You brat! You're getting more and more arrogant! Jonin aren't that easy to deal with!"
Kushina's eyes widened. Then she pumped her fist, her face full of admiration. "Wow! Big Brother Bai Lin is so cool!"
Might Duy clenched both fists and shouted, his blood boiling. "Good! That's the spirit of a ninja who charges fearlessly ahead! Boss, I'm cheering for you! I'll make sure to keep up with you!"
Minato Namikaze watched Bai Lin, who seemed to shine amid the crowd, and smiled warmly. "As expected of our boss. He'll definitely become a true leader."
Jiraiya rubbed his chin, a playful glint in his eyes. He turned to Minato Namikaze and said with a smile, "That kid's just as arrogant as I was when I was young. Minato, your talent is second to none. I have a feeling you're the child of destiny I've been searching for."
Surprise flickered in the black-haired, black-eyed Uchiha boy's eyes, and he looked at Bai Lin with a hint of fighting spirit.
The Uchiha Clan never lost to anyone.