The Suddenly Appearing Sound Ninja

Despite Yin Xiang's best efforts to argue his case, he still ended up losing the debate. With no other choice, he began his D-rank missions, though every time he arrived at the mission site, the clients would treat him with such overwhelming hospitality that the actual work ended up falling onto Shikaku instead.

Yin Xiang wasn't entirely unreasonable, however; he used Shadow Clones to help Shikaku out, and by now, Shikaku was well aware that Yin Xiang had mastered the technique.

Yin Xiang could only perform missions during the day and practice ninjutsu at night. However, since there was no sun at night, there were no shadows, leaving him unable to practice the Shadow Possession Jutsu outdoors. Consequently, his research into the technique remained at a standstill.

"Morning, Teacher Shikaku." Finally, after two months of D-rank missions, Yin Xiang was at last able to take on a C-rank mission today.

"Mm. Today, you'll be joining Team 3 for a C-rank escort mission. You'll be protecting a merchant caravan as it leaves the borders of the Land of Fire, where ninjas from a neighboring country will take over," Shikaku said, briefing Yin Xiang on the mission directly.

"Understood. I assume the people we'll encounter will mostly be highway bandits?" Yin Xiang nodded and asked.

"Yes, usually they are just common robbers, but we cannot rule out the possibility of encountering ninjas."

"Understood." Yin Xiang nodded, and the two of them left together.

The pair met up with Team 3 at the gates of Konoha.

Guy, Rock Lee, Neji, and Tenten had just arrived at the gate as well.

"Hi, Yin Xiang!" Tenten greeted him warmly; among those present, she was the one most familiar with him.

"Long time no see, Tenten." Yin Xiang greeted her back, and the two gravitated toward each other.

"Right! Let us begin our mission of burning youth!" Guy shouted as soon as he saw everyone was present.

"Yes! Teacher Guy!" Rock Lee shouted back from the side.

"..." Shikaku and Yin Xiang stood to the side, sweat-dropping as they watched the master-student duo; those two were truly a perfect match.

"Don't go dragging us down, Young Master," Neji said, seemingly filled with hostility toward Yin Xiang.

"Don't worry." Yin Xiang merely smiled lightly at Neji, his calm demeanor standing in stark contrast to Neji's attitude.

Afterward, the five of them set off. They met the caravan in a village, and with two men pulling a cart covered in cloth, they began their journey.

The trip went smoothly, and they soon handed the goods over to the neighboring country, marking the completion of the mission without having encountered a single bandit.

"This mission was so boring," Yin Xiang sighed softly. Although this was his first time leaving the village, there wasn't really anything fun about it—just forest after forest.

"It's still better than catching cats and dogs in the village," Tenten said, walking alongside Yin Xiang the entire way.

"I suppose you're right." Yin Xiang didn't disagree and nodded. "So, how does it feel to be on the same team as the person you like?" Yin Xiang whispered into Tenten's ear.

"Wh-what are you saying!" Tenten's face turned bright red once again.

"Still denying it?" Yin Xiang chuckled, then reached out to drape his arm over Tenten's shoulder, pulling her into his embrace.

Tenten instinctively tried to struggle, but Yin Xiang's grip was firm. Unable to break free, she looked at him in confusion.

"Look at Neji. You're in my arms, yet he doesn't show a hint of emotion. He clearly has no feelings for you at all," Yin Xiang said, leaning his head toward her.

"..." Tenten looked back at Neji and, sure enough, found him following Guy with a blank expression, showing no emotional fluctuation whatsoever.

Tenten couldn't help but feel a bit unhappy, and Yin Xiang released her. "So, it seems you haven't made any progress at all. He doesn't feel anything for you."

"Yeah... you're right. He hasn't even noticed how I feel," Tenten sighed.

"So you need to—who's there!" Yin Xiang's hand suddenly shot up, and a Lightning Style Kunai flew out.

"Boom."

With a loud crash, the tree was pierced through by the Lightning Style Kunai, and the entire trunk toppled over.

Everyone was stunned by Yin Xiang's display, save for Shikaku. Without the aid of Wind Style, a Lightning Style Kunai possessed the power of a C-rank jutsu; felling a tree was a simple feat.

Despite their surprise, everyone immediately went on high alert, staring at the spot where the tree had fallen.

"Truly impressive, Konoha ninja." A figure jumped down from another tree. There was a scorched wound on his cheek—the result of Yin Xiang's kunai.

"Sound Ninja." Seeing the forehead protector, Yin Xiang recognized him as a Sound Ninja from the Land of Grass, which meant he was one of Orochimaru's men.

"What is a Sound Ninja doing here?" Shikaku asked, his eyes locked on the intruder.

"Just passing through," the Sound Ninja replied.

"Passing through? If you were just passing through, why did you reveal killing intent toward me?" Yin Xiang had felt a sudden sense of panic and suffocation, and when he traced the source, it led to that tree, prompting him to throw the kunai.

However, the fact that this Sound Ninja could dodge a surprise Lightning Style Kunai and only suffer a cheek wound meant he was no simple opponent.

Everyone understood this, so no one acted rashly.

"It was nothing, I just mistook you for someone else," the Sound Ninja said.

"Nonsense." Yin Xiang threw another Lightning Style Kunai, but this one was different. Watching the incoming projectile, the Sound Ninja tilted his head slightly to dodge it.

Though he avoided the kunai, his eyes narrowed, and he suddenly panicked—Yin Xiang had vanished, reappearing directly behind him.

"Flying Thunder God!" Guy's eyes widened as he recognized the technique.

"Rasengan!" Yin Xiang appeared where the kunai had landed and gripped it—it was one of Minato's Flying Thunder God kunai. Appearing behind the enemy, Yin Xiang unleashed a Rasengan with blinding speed, striking the Sound Ninja directly.

"Poof!" The body distorted upon impact with the Rasengan and was sent flying off the tree, while Yin Xiang landed in the spot where the ninja had been standing.

"A fake." Yin Xiang frowned. Although he had never used a Rasengan on a person before, he had used it on mud.

Sure enough, the Sound Ninja lying on the ground turned into a puddle of mud.

Yin Xiang quickly jumped back to the group; it would be safer to stay with them.

The five of them remained on guard for a while, but the Sound Ninja never appeared again. After exchanging glances, they finally lowered their guard.

"I didn't expect Yin Xiang to be this strong." Guy looked at Yin Xiang, setting aside his usual lack of seriousness. "As expected of the Fourth Hokage's son! This is what youth is all about!" Guy shouted again. This guy really was never serious.