Assignments

Looking at Yuehua Ai's serious, contemplative expression, Shizune didn't dare disturb him for a moment. Just as Yuehua Ai was quietly thinking about how to improve his strength more effectively, the classroom door opened again.

Tsunade entered first, as confident and beautiful as ever. Many people followed behind her, including Dan Katō. Each of them carried a cardboard box in both hands. After Tsunade had them set the boxes beside the podium, the others left, while Dan Katō went to sit in an empty seat in the front row.

Once Dan Katō was seated, Tsunade began.

"All right, I think you all understand why I've called you here. Normally, an important matter like this would be presided over by Lord Hokage himself, but the Third is currently dealing with another urgent matter, so he asked me to take charge today."

Standing at the front of the room, Tsunade saw that every student she had summoned had arrived. The jonin had also taken their seats, and she was pleased with how things had gone.

"Let me go over the Medical Corps Diversion Plan again. This is the first pilot program since the medical reforms. The situation in the Ninja World has been strange lately, so this is also a way to prepare for the worst. We want our Medical Corps graduates to become qualified battlefield medic-nin as quickly as possible, so they can make better use of their skills on the battlefield. That's why I proposed this plan, and Lord Hokage approved it."

"The ten students here are the best of this year's Medical Corps. By being here, you've agreed to join the cross-rank Vanguard Team program. As vanguard members, you'll bear a heavy responsibility. You'll face more dangers and challenges than the other students, who will follow the usual path, but I've always believed you can overcome them one by one."

"Combat and missions are the fastest ways for a ninja to hone their skills. To help you grow more quickly while keeping you as safe as possible, Lord Hokage has made an exception to the traditional three-person team format. You'll join mission squads led by jonin and form four-person teams."

"Everyone here is an outstanding jonin. I believe that under their leadership, you brats will grow as quickly as possible."

"Vanguard members will face greater dangers, so the village has prepared extra resources to keep you safe, in addition to assigning a jonin to lead each team. These resources include standard ninja tools, as well as a larger supply of ninjutsu scrolls."

Tsunade opened one of the boxes beside her, took out a dark-colored scroll nearly a foot long, and addressed Yuehua Ai and the other rookies.

"Compared to last year, this time we've prepared a more comprehensive selection of ninjutsu scrolls. There are defensive and restraining techniques, and, to give you some firepower when it matters, offensive ninjutsu scrolls as well. In addition to these one-use scrolls, the village has also prepared a Storage Scroll for each of you."

A Storage Scroll?!

Yuehua Ai, who usually hated listening to such speeches, couldn't help looking over. The inconspicuous scroll in Tsunade's hand was a Storage Scroll.

It seemed the village's support for the Medical Corps wasn't just talk. They weren't merely providing ordinary ninjutsu sealing scrolls; they were even handing out Storage Scrolls!

Looking at the boxes, Yuehua Ai couldn't help but be amazed. He knew how valuable Storage Scrolls were. In the Naruto World, they were practically the equivalent of storage rings. They were much bigger than rings, but nothing else could match their usefulness.

At the moment, an ordinary Storage Scroll cost four million ryo in Konoha's ninja tool shops. What did that mean? It meant a Chunin would have to work missions around the clock for a year, assuming he didn't die or get injured. It meant even a jonin would have to risk his life on several missions to earn that much. And the price of a single scroll was almost enough to buy Ichiraku Ramen!

Yet the village was generously giving such valuable items to a group of rookies. There were ten standard boxes in front of them, and the scrolls alone, including the Storage Scrolls, were worth nearly fifty million ryo!

What did fifty million ryo mean? Among the missions posted by the Bounty Guild, the price for assassinating an elite jonin from a hidden village was only around ten million ryo. Even assassinating one of the Sannin, who had just made a name for themselves in the Second Ninja War, would cost only thirty million!

After Tsunade's explanation, only the jonin shared Yuehua Ai's reaction. Of his fellow students, only Shizune understood a little of how valuable the supplies were. The rest looked bewildered. Without a proper sense of money, it was hard for them to grasp the value.

"All right, I've covered the supplies and just about everything else. When I call your name, come up, sign the agreement, and take a box!"

"First up, Yuehua Ai!"

Hearing his name called first, Yuehua Ai promptly stood and walked over to Tsunade.

Tsunade handed him a file and a pen. Yuehua Ai skimmed the document. It was just an agreement to join the diversion program and a waiver absolving the village of responsibility if something went wrong during a mission. He signed it without a second thought, took a box, and went back to his seat.

The terms didn't mean much to him. He had no family and no parents; if he died on a mission, there'd be no relatives to demand answers. As for Jiraiya, his guardian, if Yuehua Ai were killed by an enemy on a mission, he could only blame his student for not being strong enough. Was he going to pick a fight with the village over it?

"Good. Next, Shizune!"

Shizune stood and walked up to the podium.

"Next, Hyuga Himei!"

"..."

"Next, Takeda Shin!"

"..."

After all ten Medical Corps students had signed and collected their boxes, Tsunade checked the forms, put them away, and took out a new list.

"The vanguard medics have all received their supplies. Next, we'll assign the teams."

Tsunade came down from the platform and walked to the row where the jonin were seated. Starting from the left, she introduced them one by one.

"This is Jonin Kurama Unzan. He's the instructor for Team Three, and Takeda Shin will be assigned to his team."

As Tsunade introduced him, Kurama Unzan stood and nodded to the students. When she named Takeda Shin, he stood up excitedly as well.

After Takeda Shin bowed to Kurama Unzan, they both sat down. Tsunade checked the list and continued.

"This is Jonin Yuhi Shinku. He has extensive experience training and educating ninja. He's currently in charge of Team Six, and he'll lead Kaiya Kawana."

When Tsunade finished, Yuhi Shinku stood. A girl sitting three or four seats away from Yuehua Ai rose and bowed to him in greeting.

"..."

"This is Instructor Sarutobi Shinnosuke. He's the homeroom teacher for Team One, and he'll be leading Shizune!"

Shizune, seated beside Yuehua Ai, stood somewhat awkwardly and bowed to her instructor before quickly sitting back down. The attention of everyone present made her uneasy. She was relaxed around people she knew, like Yuehua Ai, but when faced with strangers or people she barely knew, her naturally shy and introverted side came out.

Tsunade smiled at Shizune and nodded. Once Shizune had sat down, she continued.

"This is Jonin Aburame Shibi. The team he leads, Team Five, is exceptionally strong. Yuehua Ai will be under his guidance."

Aburame Shibi?!

Yuehua Ai stood and nodded to him. Only now did he finally learn who the man was. He hadn't expected his team leader to be Shino Aburame's father!

Still, at least Shibi was a ninja who would be remembered in the future, not one of those fallen heroes. The Aburame Clan kept a low profile, but its ninja were more reliable than ordinary jonin!