After Yin Xiang argued his case as best he could, he still lost. With no other choice, he began taking D-rank missions. But whenever he arrived at a mission site, the person who had assigned it would warmly welcome him, and the missions would end up falling to Shikaku instead.
Yin Xiang wasn't quite that unreasonable, though. He used Shadow Clones to help Shikaku, who had also learned that Yin Xiang could use the jutsu.
Yin Xiang could only do missions during the day now. At night, he went home to practice ninjutsu. But with no sun, there were no shadows, so he couldn't practice Shadow Possession Jutsu outdoors. His studies of the jutsu had been at a standstill ever since.
"Morning, Teacher Shikaku." At last, after two months of D-rank missions, Yin Xiang was finally able to take a C-rank mission.
"Mm. You'll be going with Team 3 today on a C-rank escort mission. You'll protect a merchant caravan as it leaves the Land of Fire and crosses the border. A ninja from the neighboring country will meet you there to take over," Shikaku told Yin Xiang directly.
"Okay. So the people this caravan might run into are probably just bandits along the road, right?" Yin Xiang asked with a nod.
"Usually, yes. They're just ordinary bandits, but there's always a chance you could run into ninja."
"Okay." Yin Xiang nodded, then left with Shikaku.
The two of them met up with Team 3 at Konoha's main gate.
Guy, Rock Lee, Neji, and Tenten had just arrived as well.
"Hey, Yin Xiang!" Tenten greeted him enthusiastically. Of everyone there, she was the one who knew him best.
"Long time no see, Tenten." Yin Xiang greeted her too, and the two of them stuck close together.
"All right! Let's set off on a mission to make our youth burn!" Guy shouted once everyone had arrived.
"Yes, Teacher Guy!" Rock Lee shouted from beside him.
"..." Shikaku and Yin Xiang, the two teacher-and-student pairs, stared at Guy and Rock Lee with speechless expressions. Those two were really made for each other.
"Try not to hold us back, young master," Neji said, seemingly hostile toward Yin Xiang.
"Don't worry." Yin Xiang simply smiled at Neji, a stark contrast to his attitude.
The five of them set off. They met the caravan in a village, where two people were leading a cart covered with a cloth. Then they continued on their way.
The journey went smoothly enough. They soon delivered the goods to the neighboring country, completing the mission without encountering any bandits.
"This mission was way too boring," Yin Xiang sighed. It was his first time leaving the village, but there wasn't much to see—just forest after forest.
"Still better than catching cats and looking for dogs back in the village." Tenten had walked alongside Yin Xiang the whole way.
"True." Yin Xiang nodded. "So, how is it, being on the same team as the person you like?" he whispered into Tenten's ear.
"W-what are you talking about!" Tenten's face turned bright red again.
"Still refusing to admit it?" Yin Xiang chuckled, then put an arm around Tenten's shoulders and pulled her close.
Tenten instinctively tried to pull away, but Yin Xiang tightened his grip. Unable to wriggle free, she looked at him in confusion.
"Look at Neji. I've got you in my arms, and he hasn't reacted at all. He doesn't have the slightest interest in you," Yin Xiang said, leaning his head against hers.
"..." Tenten turned to look at Neji. Sure enough, he was following Guy with the same indifferent expression, without the slightest emotional response.
Tenten couldn't help feeling a little unhappy. Yin Xiang let her go. "Looks like you haven't made any progress at all. He doesn't seem to feel anything for you, either."
"Yeah... You're right. He's never even noticed how I feel about him," Tenten sighed.
"So you should just... Who's there?!" Yin Xiang suddenly raised his hand and hurled a Lightning Style Kunai.
"Boom!"
The kunai pierced a tree, which toppled to the ground with a crash.
Everyone was stunned by the move, except Shikaku. Even without Wind Release enhancing it, a Lightning Style Kunai had the power of a C-rank jutsu. Knocking down a tree was easy.
Though surprised, they immediately went on guard and watched the spot where the tree had fallen.
"Impressive, Konoha Ninja." A figure jumped down from another tree. There was a burn mark on his cheek, caused by Yin Xiang's kunai.
"A Sound Ninja." Yin Xiang recognized the Forehead Protector on his head. He was a Sound Ninja from the Land of Grass—which meant he was one of Orochimaru's men.
"What's a Sound Ninja doing here?" Shikaku asked, keeping his eyes on him.
"Just taking a look around the area," the Sound Ninja replied.
"Taking a look around? Then why were you giving off killing intent?" Yin Xiang had suddenly felt a sense of dread and even a little short of breath. He had followed that suffocating feeling to the tree and thrown his Lightning Style Kunai.
But anyone who could dodge a surprise attack with a Lightning Style Kunai and only get a wound on his cheek couldn't be ordinary.
Everyone realized that, so no one acted rashly.
"Nothing. I mistook you for someone else," the Sound Ninja said.
"Don't give me that." Yin Xiang hurled another Lightning Style Kunai. This one was different. As it came at him, the Sound Ninja simply tilted his head and dodged it.
Although he evaded the kunai, his expression tightened and he panicked. Yin Xiang had vanished—and reappeared behind him.
"Flying Thunder God!" Guy's eyes widened as he recognized the jutsu.
"Rasengan!" Yin Xiang appeared beside the Lightning Style Kunai and grabbed it. It was none other than Minato's Flying Thunder God Kunai. Appearing behind the Sound Ninja, Yin Xiang struck him with a Rasengan at blinding speed.
"Bang!" The body twisted under the impact of the Rasengan, then was knocked off the tree. Yin Xiang remained where it had been standing.
"A fake." Yin Xiang frowned. He had never hit a person with a Rasengan before, but he had used one on dirt.
Sure enough, when the Sound Ninja hit the ground, he turned into a pile of mud.
Yin Xiang quickly jumped down from the tree and returned to the others. He would be safer with them.
The five of them stayed on guard for a while, but the Sound Ninja never showed up again. They exchanged glances, then relaxed.
"I didn't realize Yin Xiang had gotten so strong." Guy looked at him, dropping his usual clowning around. "As expected of the Fourth Hokage's son! This is what youth is all about!" Guy shouted again. He really couldn't help himself.
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