Another Mission

Mission triggered: Join the same team as characters from the story (all members must be characters from the story). Mission completion reward: one draw.

Yueshu lay in his room. He had long since grown used to the Japanese-style tatami mats. They weren't as soft as a bed, but they had a comfort of their own.

It had been quite a while since he'd run into Minato Namikaze and his teacher, Jiraiya.

For once, the Solo System, which had been idle all this time, had actually chimed.

At last, another mission had appeared after a long absence.

Joining the same team as characters from the story—and having every member be a character from the story—was, to be honest, both difficult and not difficult.

According to the setup in Naruto, a team, or squad, had four members: one instructor and three students. That was the standard team arrangement. In other words, Yueshu needed three characters from the story to complete this mission.

As for that, Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya, who had returned to Konoha from Amegakure for some reason earlier than expected, already made two. All things considered, Yueshu only needed one more character from the story.

Yueshu thought it over.

There weren't any characters from the story in the same year as the Fourth Hokage. The only ones he knew of were Kushina and Mikoto. He had no impression of anyone else.

So, looking at it that way, the answer seemed simple. The system's mission had a deeper layer to it.

To complete the mission, he unquestionably needed another character from the story. But the only two he knew of were both just over eight years old, still a long way from graduating.

In other words, Yueshu had to choose either Kushina or Mikoto, then help her graduate early so that he, Minato Namikaze, and she could form a team.

If they waited until graduation, the school would assign the teams itself. By then, Minato Namikaze would probably already be a Chunin or even a Jonin.

At that point, completing the system mission would be all but impossible. And since the Solo System operated entirely offline, if one mission remained unfinished, could it hold up the next one as well?

If so, Yueshu's greatest weapon and trump card would be as good as useless.

After weighing the pros and cons, Yueshu let out a helpless sigh.

It seemed he couldn't keep lounging around at school. He'd have to help Kushina graduate early—and preferably soon. He couldn't afford to put it off for too long.

Minato Namikaze was hailed as the purest genius in Naruto. According to Tsunade and Jiraiya, every other genius paled in comparison to him.

Put simply, all Minato Namikaze needed was time—even a little—and he would soar straight to the top.

Trying to form a Genin team with him by then? He'd be better off dreaming.

That meant Yueshu didn't have much time. And in what little time he had, he needed to help Kushina graduate early. He didn't know how strong she was, but it was probably going to be pretty difficult.

After all, Konoha's Genin were at the most terrifying level in the entire Ninja World. (Laughs)

Just look at Uchiha Sasuke and Naruto, the two powerhouses at the peak of the Ninja World. They were Genin—and still Genin even after the Fourth Shinobi World War.

With another sigh, Yueshu rolled over and decided not to think about it for now.

Tomorrow at school, he'd have to grab Kushina and give her a good training session.

With that thought, Yueshu slowly closed his eyes, and the next day arrived before he knew it.

"Kushina, want to train together after school?"

Yueshu put yesterday's plan into action and asked Kushina as soon as he saw her.

Of course, the first thing he got in response was the classic reply.

"Huh?"

"Training? Why so suddenly?"

Kushina was also baffled. Ever since Minato Namikaze had left, her only friends were Yueshu and Mikoto. Yueshu was usually pretty laid-back, so his sudden invitation to train together caught her off guard.

"It's nothing much."

"What is it, then?"

Kushina grew curious when Yueshu kept her guessing.

"All right."

Yueshu wasn't good at handling this sort of thing.

"I want to train you and help you graduate early."

"Eh?"

Kushina was even more stunned. Yueshu had just dropped a bombshell on her, leaving her completely dazed.

"Why do you suddenly want to do that?"

Kushina asked curiously.

"I want you, Minato Namikaze, and me to graduate early and then be on the same team."

Yueshu didn't hide anything. He wasn't good at making up excuses, so it was better to say what he meant.

Kushina froze. She'd been frozen ever since Yueshu finished speaking.

His words echoed in her mind, stirring up some less-than-innocent thoughts. Before long, her face had turned the color of her old nickname—Red Hot Habanero.

Her cheeks were bright red, and with her red hair, she really did look like a tomato.

"Why all of a sudden?"

Kushina's voice came out timidly, nothing like the usual Red Hot Habanero.

"Just a whim, I guess. Besides, we're just sitting around at school anyway."

"What do you think?"

Yueshu looked at Kushina.

"But I—"

"It's okay. I'll help you."

Yueshu knew what Kushina was about to say: that she wasn't strong enough.

"But—"

Kushina glanced at Mikoto, and Yueshu looked over too.

Mikoto had just been about to come over to see Kushina, and she'd overheard their conversation.

When she saw Yueshu and Kushina looking her way, Mikoto managed a weak smile.

Children's feelings were easy to read; they couldn't hide them at all. Mikoto's sadness was plain to see.

As a member of the Uchiha, Mikoto couldn't mix with the commoners. She was usually all alone, with only Kushina as a friend. If Kushina really did graduate early, Mikoto would spend the rest of her time at school by herself.

"It wouldn't be good if only one of you came."

Yueshu replied at once, and both girls turned to look at him.

"The three of us will train together and graduate early together."

"Is that really possible?"

Kushina couldn't quite believe it. Mikoto beside her felt the same, but there was a hint of longing in both their eyes.

It was no wonder they felt that way. There weren't many people in Konoha's history who had graduated early at just over eight years old. And for girls like them, it seemed even less possible.

"It's possible."

Yueshu's answer was firm. Kushina and Mikoto exchanged a glance.

Then, with a sudden burst of laughter,

the two girls laughed at the same time, their bell-like voices sweet and clear.

"Then..."

Kushina and Mikoto spoke in unison, still unable to believe it.

"We'll trust you this once."

"Yeah, leave it to me!"

Yueshu didn't know why, but looking into Kushina and Mikoto's eyes, feeling their gaze on him, he wanted to firmly say that it was possible—even though it would be incredibly difficult.

Perhaps it was a kind of expectation.

When someone placed their hopes in him, he didn't want to let them down. He didn't want to betray that trust.

Looking at the girls' smiling faces, Yueshu made up his mind.

No matter what, all three of them had to graduate early within this period!

And so, Yueshu's training plan was set and put into action. The trainees were Yueshu, Kushina, and Mikoto.

Their goal was to graduate early!