Leaving the Village

"We're escorting a merchant to the Land of Waterfalls."

Kushina softly read the C-rank mission Sarutobi Hiruzen had given her.

The Land of Fire had the best geography of all the countries. Everyday goods and local specialties were cheap there, but cost a lot more in other countries.

So plenty of merchants crossed the borders to buy goods in the Land of Fire and sell them elsewhere.

People would do anything for money. Traveling through a few countries for business was nothing, especially since the nations in Naruto weren't all that large. It took only a few days or a couple of weeks to reach another country.

"This is a C-rank mission?"

Kushina looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"That's right. Don't underestimate it. C-rank missions aren't supposed to involve other ninja, but you still shouldn't let your guard down. Besides, this gives you a chance to get out of the village and see the world, doesn't it?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled.

As the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki, Kushina wasn't someone Sarutobi Hiruzen could simply let leave the village. That remained true even though only a small number of people in Konoha knew about it.

So there was a simple reason he was allowing her to go.

Jiraiya's strength. Jiraiya was one of the Sannin, a Kage Level ninja, and Sarutobi Hiruzen's own student. Naturally, he trusted Jiraiya's abilities.

What's more, the lady from the Uzumaki Clan had also agreed to let Kushina leave the village, so there was nothing left to worry about.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was in his prime. He wasn't yet as powerless or ineffectual as he was in the original story, and he wasn't so indecisive that he couldn't act. He was still capable of living up to the title of Third Hokage.

"Sounds fine. When do we start?"

At the mention of leaving the village, the light in Kushina's eyes brightened, and her face practically said she couldn't wait to go out and have fun.

"You little rascal."

Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed in exasperation. There weren't many people in all of Konoha who dared to talk to him like that.

"Then we'll call it a day. Meet at the village gate at nine tomorrow morning."

Jiraiya spoke, and the members of Jiraiya Squad went their separate ways.

Tomorrow would be Jiraiya Squad's first mission outside the village.

That night, none of the squad members could sleep.

Even Minato Namikaze, who had already been a Genin for some time, was no exception. Although he'd graduated a month before Yueshu and the others, Jiraiya hadn't taken him on any difficult missions. He'd still been doing the usual menial D-rank jobs.

Now that he finally had the chance to leave the village, Minato Namikaze was more excited than the other three, even if he didn't show it.

Kushina was the second most excited, followed by Mikoto. Yueshu came last.

For Yueshu, leaving the village wasn't all that tempting. The Earth from his previous life was several times larger than the Ninja World, and he'd seen plenty of scenery.

Even if most of it had been online.

Besides, if a homebody left the house, could he still call himself a homebody?

Yueshu was as lazy as ever that day.

Then the voice in his head rang out again.

"Mission triggered: Complete your first C-rank mission. Mission reward: one draw."

Yueshu was dumbfounded.

Something didn't seem right.

The missions had been getting harder and harder lately. Yueshu could feel it clearly, as though the beginner phase had ended and the system's tasks had become more difficult.

A C-rank mission shouldn't be a problem for a new Genin.

After all, it was a C-rank mission. They said there wouldn't be any ninja involved, and the gap between ninja and ordinary people was enormous.

So what could possibly make things difficult for a ninja squad?

Other ninja were the only answer, weren't they?

Thinking it over, Yueshu couldn't help feeling speechless.

Konoha's C-rank missions really were—

one of a kind.

His mission was like that, and so was Naruto's decades later.

Konoha's C-rank missions really were one of a kind.

"Whatever. I'll deal with it when it happens. We've still got the Perverted Hermit with us. He may look sleazy, but at least he's reliable."

Yueshu rolled over, not bothering to think about it anymore.

If the sky fell, the tall ones would hold it up, wouldn't they?

The night grew darker, and Yueshu's steady breathing filled the room.

The moon shone alone in the night sky, with no other stars in sight.

Soon, the next day arrived.

"Morning."

Yueshu yawned as he came to the village gate. The other members of Jiraiya Squad were already waiting there, along with a carriage and a man and a woman.

"Morning, my foot! Look at the time!"

"Huh? Isn't it exactly nine? I checked before I came."

Yueshu showed no sign of shame as he casually revealed that he'd arrived right on the dot.

"You!"

A few vein marks appeared on Kushina's forehead as anger blazed above her head.

"Ahem."

Jiraiya coughed, stopping Kushina. Yueshu thus escaped a beating, though he had no idea.

"These are the people we're escorting: Mr. Kuchiki Kuroi and his daughter, Miss Kuchiki Kei."

Jiraiya introduced the man and woman standing beside him to Yueshu and the others.

Yueshu looked over at them.

The man was older than Jiraiya and dressed like an ordinary civilian. He didn't look like a merchant at all.

His daughter, on the other hand, was striking. Her long black hair was tied in a ponytail behind her head, and her delicate features were easy on the eyes. A beauty mark beneath the corner of one eye added the perfect finishing touch.

There was no denying she was beautiful, and her gentle manner made her all the more charming.

"Hello, I'm Himeshima Tsuki."

Yueshu's voice was calm. No matter how beautiful she was, it had nothing to do with him. He wasn't the kind of guy who lost his head at the sight of a woman. Come on—weren't sleeping, eating, and watching anime much better?

After greeting their clients and introducing themselves to one another, Jiraiya Squad officially set out on its first mission outside the village.

As the carriage slowly passed beyond Konoha, Yueshu and the others walked alongside it. The village gradually faded into the distance behind them.

Yueshu and the others had really left the village—and they'd be gone for several days.

Apart from Jiraiya and Yueshu, the others couldn't help feeling a little excited.

After all, they'd lived in Konoha since birth. It was no wonder they were thrilled to finally have a chance to go out.

Yueshu, though, felt the opposite. More than anything, he was worried.

After the system mission had triggered the previous night, Yueshu was almost certain this C-rank mission wouldn't be as simple as it seemed.

He had no idea what lay ahead. Even with the Perverted Hermit by his side, he still had to stay alert.

After all, there was only one Jiraiya. Yueshu wasn't sure he could protect all six of them.

"Man, I hope everything goes smoothly."

Yueshu glanced at Minato Namikaze, Kushina, and Mikoto, whose excitement was plain on their faces, and murmured softly.