Hyuga Neji (jonin), Nara Shikamaru (jonin), Haruno Sakura (chunin), Rock Lee (chunin), and Uzumaki Naruto (genin)—the five ninja were currently in the Hokage's office, receiving an S-rank mission personally assigned by the Sixth Hokage, Kakashi!
Honestly speaking, S-rank missions should have been entrusted entirely to jonin. Judging purely by appearances, sending chunin and genin to carry one out was practically a joke...
Of course, the strength of these five could not be judged by appearances alone. Naruto in particular already possessed the strength to serve as a Konoha jonin. If he unleashed the Nine-Tails' chakra, even someone at Orochimaru's Kage-level would have to retreat.
As for Nara Shikamaru and Hyuga Neji, after the previous incident, they had automatically been relieved of their duties as members of the Twelve Guardian Ninja and returned to Konoha to serve as jonin. They had also been carrying out missions nonstop lately.
This time, coinciding with the Moryo incident, Shiranui Genma, Might Guy, and the others had been sent to the front lines to intercept the undead army. The mission of protecting the shrine maiden Shion was therefore entrusted to Hyuga Neji and the others.
"This is an S-rank mission. The target is the shrine maiden Shion. You must ensure her safety and escort her safely to the Land of Swamps. Neji will serve as team captain, while Shikamaru will be vice-captain." Kakashi rested his clasped hands beneath his chin and spoke gravely to the five before him.
It was worth mentioning that Jiraiya had already left the village before the five arrived. He was going to investigate Akatsuki's movements. Although intelligence reports claimed this was not an Akatsuki plot, Jiraiya still felt it was necessary to confirm it himself, just in case. Furthermore, matters concerning the tailed beasts needed careful consideration as well.
Only