A C-Rank Mission?

Konoha's sunshine had always been just right. It was perfect for sleeping in, but perhaps not so perfect for sweeping the streets.

Scorching sunlight beat down on their faces as the members of Jiraiya Squad spread out along the street, brooms in hand.

"This is so boring! Why does it have to be so hot today?"

Kushina swept listlessly, complaining in a weak voice.

Minato Namikaze and Mikoto beside her had no complaints. They quietly swept the street.

The one who really made her blood boil was Jiraiya, taking a break nearby as he excitedly read a book with a dust jacket.

His eyes were glued to it, and every now and then he let out a lecherous grin. It was enough to drive Kushina absolutely crazy.

Kushina glanced at Jiraiya, her little fists clenched tight. In the end, she forced herself to turn away and look elsewhere.

If she didn't look at him, she wouldn't get so angry.

Speaking of which...

Kushina suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Yueshu, who was quietly sweeping nearby.

She was stunned.

Everyone knew Yueshu was the laziest person around. If he could lie down, he wouldn't sit up. Yet here he was, diligently sweeping. By all rights, he should have already found somewhere to slack off.

"Yueshu, do you have a fever?"

"Huh?"

Yueshu looked completely baffled by Kushina's sudden question.

"You're actually working so diligently?"

After spending so much time together, Kushina knew Yueshu's personality inside out.

"Sigh..."

Yueshu let out a sigh.

"It's not like I want to do this. Why does that guy get to do nothing while I have to work? Don't clones have rights?"

Yueshu started complaining.

Kushina didn't pay attention to the second half. She thought he was talking about Jiraiya, so she nodded along in agreement.

"Forget it, let's just finish early."

Yueshu sighed again and dutifully got back to work.

Watching Yueshu, Kushina sighed too, then pouted and continued sweeping.

Konoha's streets weren't dirty, but sweeping such a large area with only three people was still a lot of work.

The sunshine in Konoha was warm and pleasant for someone elsewhere.

In a small grove in Konoha, not far from the street Jiraiya Squad was sweeping, a sight that would have left Kushina and the others stunned could be found.

That's right. Under one of the trees, Yueshu was lying down fast asleep.

Yueshu had been sweeping just moments ago, but now he was here. Any experienced ninja would know what had happened.

He'd used the Shadow Clone Technique to handle the mission so he could slack off himself. Plenty of people had done the same.

They were both himself, so what difference did it make whether it was the real one or a clone?

He had to admit, even the heavens were helping him. Yueshu wondered if his luck had finally turned around. He'd happened to learn the Shadow Clone Technique at just the right time. It could not have been more convenient.

Whatever the case, Yueshu kept using his Shadow Clone to handle missions over the following days, while he stayed home, too lazy even to get out of bed.

Kushina and the others found it rather strange. Yueshu always showed up early for every mission and worked diligently, even if he looked unhappy and put-upon.

As for Jiraiya? He continued resting off to the side as usual. He was one of the Sannin and had plenty of savings. There was no need for him to take on these D-rank missions. Those missions were meant to give new Genin some experience.

For a ninja, the most important thing was the word "endure." Mental fortitude and patience were essential. Only a ninja who embodied that word could be considered a proper ninja.

That was the test Jiraiya Squad was going through now. It left Minato Namikaze in a bit of a bind: he had to accompany the others through another stretch of D-rank missions. Still, Minato wasn't the sort to mind.

Time passed, and Yueshu used his Shadow Clone to handle missions for two weeks.

This time, the memories his Shadow Clone sent back included something interesting.

Kushina finally couldn't stand the boring missions anymore. She went straight to Jiraiya to complain, and the matter even reached the Third Hokage.

As the little princess of the Uzumaki Clan, with Mito Uzumaki backing her, Kushina naturally had that kind of influence.

Jiraiya and Sarutobi Hiruzen had to humor the little princess, so they agreed to give Jiraiya Squad a C-rank mission.

They didn't call her the Red Hot Habanero for nothing.

"A C-rank mission?"

Yueshu murmured, recalling Naruto's first C-rank mission in the original story.

That had been an A-rank mission wearing a C-rank disguise.

But that was decades from now. How could that possibly happen?

Yueshu thought about it and smiled. The original story was the original story, and this was decades earlier. How could the same thing happen?

"Shizune, what's for dinner tonight?"

Yueshu put those thoughts aside and called loudly into the house.

That's right, it was Shizune's turn to cook tonight. As for Tsunade, she was, as usual, only interested in eating.

Yueshu didn't know how the woman managed not to gain weight. All she did was eat, and she was just as lazy as he was.

Maybe that's just how old ladies are.

"Are you thinking something rude about me?"

The smell of food had already filled the air. Tsunade, sprawled out in the living room, looked over at Yueshu as he waited for dinner.

"Of course not. Do I look like that kind of person?"

Yueshu answered righteously, looking like a perfectly respectable person.

Lying through his teeth was one of Yueshu's many talents.

"Hmph."

Tsunade snorted at his response. After all, she couldn't hear what he was thinking.

"Come to think of it, you've been staying home all the time lately. Don't you have missions to do?"

"I have a Shadow Clone."

"Cheeky brat."

"It's not that bad."

"I wasn't complimenting you. When did you learn the Shadow Clone Technique, anyway?"

"I just suddenly learned it."

"You..."

Tsunade gave him a helpless smile.

"What kind of answer is that?"

"Dinner's ready."

Shizune's voice came from the kitchen. Yueshu got up to help carry the dishes.

Tsunade watched Yueshu leave, then, as usual, took a gentle sip of tea.

The tea was still hot, steam drifting softly upward.

Without her noticing, the Senju home had gone from having one person to having three. It had become so lively, too.

It was almost like a dream.

"Careful."

"Don't worry."

Tsunade watched Shizune and Yueshu bring the dishes over, a faint smile quietly appearing on her face.

"Himegami?"

"Yes."

"If that's true, then our plan can be simplified."

Somewhere underground, Madara Uchiha, his white hair and face aged with time, looked at Black Zetsu before him. A sinister smile appeared on his withered face.

"Let's keep watching for now. We'll see..."

"Whether Himegami, hailed as a direct descendant of the Sage of Six Paths, has anything special about him."

"As you command."

Night fell, and the wind followed, cooling the world in an instant.

Meanwhile, Yueshu was tucked under his blankets, sleeping like a log.