Team

The next day, Ryōken packed his belongings. The moment he opened the door, he found Hiwa waiting prettily outside.

Ryōken smiled faintly. "Let's go."

He had known when they said goodbye yesterday that Hiwa would definitely come to see him off today.

"Mm."

Hiwa lowered her head, seeming reluctant to move her feet.

While Ryōken had been in Konoha, he had spent nearly every day focused on training, but he always had time to play with her at night. Now that he was leaving the village for a mission, she could not help feeling a sense of loss.

Ryōken took out the mask his teacher had given him and put it on. The silver-white mask covered half his face, and its patterns made him seem somewhat mysterious.

Hiwa stretched out her little hand and curiously touched the mask. The handsome metal mask successfully drew the little girl's attention, and she could not stop touching it.

Ryōken stood there, torn between laughter and tears. Helplessly, he said, "Hiwa, how are we supposed to leave if you keep doing this?"

"Oh."

Hiwa reluctantly withdrew her mischievous little hand and lowered her head again, as though pondering something.

After a long while, she suddenly raised her head, pulled a warm amulet from her clothes, and silently handed it to Ryōken, her eyes blazing as she looked at him.

Without a word, Ryōken took it and hung it around his neck. He smiled lightly at Hiwa's increasingly flushed little face.

"Let's go."

The two walked quietly together. As they neared the village entrance, Ryōken said with a smile, "All right, this is far enough. I'm leaving."

Hiwa looked toward the distant figures and nodded, a trace of reluctance showing in her beautiful eyes.

"Mm, you have to come back."

"I will."

Ryōken smiled and affectionately patted her little head before turning toward the village entrance.

At the village entrance.

Several figures stood there. Tetsuki stood off to the side, her pretty face cold.

"Tetsuki, you should sit inside the carriage. Leave the outside to us."

A young man dressed as a samurai spoke cheerfully, a hint of admiration in his gaze as he looked at Tetsuki.

Tetsuki did not refuse. However, a nearly imperceptible disgust was hidden in her eyes. Just as she was about to board the carriage, she spotted Ryōken in the distance. Her beautiful eyes immediately lit up, and she came up with an idea.

Beside the carriage stood an elderly man who looked like a steward, directing several workers as they loaded items onto the carriage.

There was also a Konoha genin squad.

"Hm?"

Ryōken narrowed his eyes slightly and discovered two familiar faces.

One was Kouichi Uchiha, whom he had defeated in the practical examination. Kouichi stood there with a cold, arrogant expression, looking as though he thought he was very cool.

The other made Ryōken feel somewhat strange. It was Nawaki Senju, Tsunade's younger brother.

If Ryōken had not appeared, Nawaki would have been the undisputed dead last at the Ninja Academy.

After studying him a few more times, Ryōken made up his mind that he absolutely could not offend this guy.

This world was strange. Nearly everyone with a younger brother doted on him immensely.

Just like Madara and Izuna, Itachi and Sasuke. Ryōken had no desire to provoke a violent woman like Tsunade.

A fist carrying Super Strength was no joke.

Still, this squad really had been formed to balance their strengths.

While he was thinking, Ryōken had already reached the carriage. A gentle smile unexpectedly appeared on Tetsuki's cold, pretty face as she walked up to him and slowly said, "What took you so long?"

There was even a hint of coquettishness in her tone.

Ryōken instantly broke out in goosebumps. He stared at her in horror and retreated several steps.

Seeing his exaggerated reaction, Tetsuki's expression stiffened. She secretly fumed, then stepped forward, grabbed Ryōken's arm, and pulled him toward the carriage.

"Since you're here, sit inside the carriage with me."

"Uh..."

Ryōken could not help finding it strange. Women might be fickle, but not to this extent, right?

He glanced at Tetsuki's eyes. Sure enough, her black eyes were still as calm as water, without the slightest ripple. Then he turned to look at the young samurai and seemed to understand something.

Still, he had no intention of refusing. Since he knew he was being used, he naturally accepted it without any qualms and moved to board the carriage.

"Tetsuki, who is this?"

Qing Zang strode to a spot not far from Ryōken and looked at him with arrogant indifference.

Tetsuki had no intention of acknowledging him at all. Supporting Ryōken by the arm, she continued forward. Her pretty face was flushed, her head lowered. In that instant, she appeared remarkably charming, enough to leave even Ryōken a little dazzled.

However, this only made the young samurai's gaze colder.

"Tetsuki, who is he?"

At that moment, Tian Jing, the old steward directing the workers, asked.

"He's a friend I knew before. He's also going to the Land of Iron, so he'll travel with us. His strength is decent too, so he can serve as a guard."

"Oh."

Tian Jing nodded slightly at Ryōken.

From afar, Kouichi Uchiha watched Ryōken's silhouette and build, confusion appearing in his eyes. It felt so familiar.

After thinking for a while without recalling anyone, he returned to his cold expression and stood there stiffly, rather dissatisfied with the client for this mission. Since they had already hired Konoha ninja, they had actually brought in someone else. This was clearly looking down on them.

Still, since he had accepted the mission, he would not voice those complaints. He merely felt somewhat displeased.

Nawaki Senju, however, did not see it that way. Just as he was about to start shouting, a ninja with markings painted on her face suddenly covered his mouth.

This was their other teammate, Nai Inuzuka.

Nai said helplessly, "That's the client's freedom. We're Konoha ninja. Since we've been hired, we just need to honestly complete this mission."

Only after quite some time did Nawaki Senju calm down. He snorted twice, still indignant.

As Qing Zang watched Ryōken and Tetsuki board the carriage, a flash of jealousy crossed his eyes. Although Ryōken still looked like a teenager, Qing Zang had never seen Tetsuki show any favor toward another man. That left his dark heart feeling unbalanced.

In the distance, Hiwa Hyuga watched Ryōken board the carriage and clenched her delicate fists. The sorrow of parting vanished in an instant.

Though she was somewhat unhappy with Ryōken and that woman's behavior, she could not help praying in her heart. At that moment, all she wanted was for Ryōken to return sooner.

The Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi held a smoking pipe between his lips. After taking a puff, he looked at the scene displayed in the crystal ball in his hand and shook his head helplessly.

"I didn't expect the squad taking the mission to be this one. I really didn't think it through."

"Let him go."

Hatake Sakumo smiled. "You know Ryōken's strength. Nothing will go wrong."

"Besides, a ninja who has never experienced killing cannot be considered a true genius."

"A fledgling spreading its wings must undergo true hardship before it can become an eagle soaring through the skies."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded thoughtfully.

"That's right. With Ryōken's skill in the sword, participating in that samurai tournament should not be a problem."

"The hidden threats will naturally be handled by ANBU ninja."