A-Rank Mission

"Are the targets the people from Takigakure and the ones they've recruited from outside?"

The carriage kept rolling, with Yueshu hiding inside as usual.

Just moments ago, Hui had told them about the enemy.

The ambitious, radical faction in Takigakure was led by Kurohane, Kuchiki Kurohane, Heili's younger brother. He hoped to use the Chakra Fruit to raise Takigakure's standing and gain greater strength, becoming someone of higher status in the process.

Of course, Takigakure was a small village, and its strength was meager on its own. Even as a Jonin, Kuchiki Kurohane couldn't take on the entire village by himself.

That was where the idea of cooperation came in.

Using the allure of Hero Water, Kuchiki Kurohane had recruited fellow ninja from outside who were just as ambitious.

The promise of ten times more chakra was irresistible to almost every ninja. Jonin in particular spent their days looking up at those of Kage Level, hoping they might one day rise to that rank.

And ten times more chakra gave them that hope.

No ninja could resist such a temptation.

Kuchiki Kurohane was indeed a clever man. He had managed to form what he called a team using nothing but the side-effect-ridden Hero Water, yet he kept his real target—the Chakra Fruit—a closely guarded secret.

He had used other people's strength to get what he wanted. Kurohane was undeniably a deep thinker.

"Ever since he was young, Kurohane loved to compete. He always wanted to be the best at everything."

That was how Heili described his younger brother.

"He's not the sort to charge in without thinking. On the contrary, he's surprisingly perceptive. He was already one of Takigakure's foremost ninja, but only he knows what he's really like."

Heili certainly had a high opinion of his younger brother.

But the stronger their opponent was, the more pressure Yueshu and the others would be under.

"Not reckless or thoughtless. Surprisingly perceptive."

Yueshu repeated the words to himself.

Perhaps this Kurohane wasn't as simple as he seemed, Yueshu thought.

Just looking at it from Yueshu's perspective:

If their opponent was only as strong as the ones who had just attacked them, then they would hardly be under any pressure.

Jiraiya Squad alone could hold off the enemy. Add the Takigakure ninja to their side, and everything would be resolved easily.

But Yueshu didn't think that was how things would go.

This mission definitely wouldn't be as easy as he imagined.

Want to know why?

It was simple.

Not long ago, the system's electronic voice had sounded again.

Another new mission, and its two objectives were connected.

"Mission triggered: Make contact with the energy within the Chakra Fruit. Mission completion reward: one lottery draw."

It was another mission related to the fruit, and proof that the so-called Small Divine Tree Fruit really existed.

No one in the original story had ever known about the God Tree Fruit, yet now a lesser version had appeared. But with the system telling him so, Yueshu had no choice but to believe this unbelievable truth.

"Himeshima Tsuki?"

Yueshu was lost in thought when Hui's voice came from beside him.

"Hmm?"

Yueshu turned to look at Hui, unsure why she had called out to him.

"Sorry, I just wanted to ask you something."

Hui smiled awkwardly and apologized.

Yueshu didn't mind and continued thinking about his own business, unaware of the light flickering in Hui's eyes.

Her gaze rested on Yueshu, but he didn't notice.

The carriage rolled on slowly. Minato Namikaze, Kushina, and Mikoto took turns guarding it, while Yueshu, as usual, lounged lazily inside. Jiraiya, on the other hand, had the miserable job of keeping watch outside.

After several more days on the road, with the group stopping and starting along the way, they finally arrived at the place called Takigakure.

Takigakure lay behind a waterfall. The torrent cascading down served as the village's entrance, and it was precisely because of this that the village, despite being situated in the middle of four countries, had escaped the ravages of war.

This secluded village reminded Yueshu of the fabled Peach Blossom Spring.

"Let's go in."

Hui spoke up and led Yueshu through the waterfall.

Even Jiraiya, who traveled all over the place, had never noticed—or even known—that there was a ninja village here.

A village hidden behind a waterfall was a sight to behold. Yueshu and Minato Namikaze were one thing, but Kushina and Mikoto looked thrilled.

"That's amazing! There's a village inside the waterfall!"

"Amazing!"

The two girls looked around in amazement. Everything around them was lush and green, with little houses standing in the distance.

It was like stepping into a New World. They passed through the water, and before their eyes lay a cluster of buildings, the signs of human habitation gradually spreading around them.

"Princess, you're back!"

"Welcome back, Princess!"

To Yueshu's surprise, everyone was looking at Hui.

The villagers came out one after another to welcome her. Hui held great prestige among them.

Everyone greeted Hui with smiles, calling her Princess Hui.

Hui had said she was the Guardian of the Chakra Fruit, but her standing in Takigakure was unexpectedly high.

Yueshu and the others followed Hui, and the villagers treated them just as warmly.

Before long, the group had been shown to their lodgings.

"I hope you enjoy your stay here."

After saying this, Hui disappeared on her own, supposedly to take care of something more important. Heili was the one who explained all this to Yueshu and the others.

"All right, you little brats."

Jiraiya Squad gathered together, and Jiraiya began to speak.

"The mission has been upgraded to an A-rank mission. We're helping Kuchiki Kei protect the Chakra Fruit. Miss Kuchiki has agreed to increase the pay, so from here on..."

Jiraiya paused for effect.

"You can go do your own thing. I'm going to take a look around and see if there are any pretty ladies."

Jiraiya suddenly dropped the act, leaving Yueshu and the others pointlessly on edge.

After they got their revenge on Jiraiya, he started acting serious again.

"You all know that Miss Kuchiki is the Guardian of the Chakra Fruit, right? But she's also essentially the Takikage of Takigakure. She manages the whole village. Your job is to keep her safe in your daily routine."

Jiraiya spoke slowly.

"Mr. Heili will take you to see Miss Kuchiki next. I have things to do, so I'll be off."

As soon as he finished speaking, a puff of smoke appeared around Jiraiya, and he vanished in the blink of an eye.

"That guy..."

Yueshu and the others were speechless, but there was nothing they could do. They were stuck with that teacher, after all.

A little while later, just as Jiraiya had said, Heili led Yueshu and the others to meet Hui.

Jiraiya Squad's A-rank mission had officially begun.