First Meeting with Teammates

In the early morning in the Hidden Leaf Village, the thin mist had yet to fully disperse, but a small figure was already standing beneath the old locust tree at the village gate.

After a week of studying the Eight Gates Released Formation, he could already successfully open up to the second gate, the Gate of Rest. He had also learned the method to open the third gate, the Gate of Life. Once he returned from this mission, he would continue learning under Might Duy.

Uchiha Arashi raised his head and glanced at the sun that had not risen long ago. Golden sunlight passed through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled light and shadow across his face.

Today, he was wearing a new set of dark-blue ninja clothing. Fugaku had had someone send it over. The size was just right, though the sleeves and pant legs were slightly long. After all, he was only six years old, one meter twenty tall, and among ninjas he looked like a little child who had not grown up yet.

This was his first day after officially becoming a ninja. According to the notice from the Hokage's office, he had been assigned to a temporary squad. Today, they would gather here and set out together for the border to carry out a mission.

"That should be them."

Arashi's gaze fell on the three ninjas walking toward him.

The one walking at the front was a chunin with short brown hair and a somewhat tired look on his face. He looked to be in his early twenties, had a ninja sword hanging at his waist, and his eyes were sharp. He was the captain mentioned in the files, Yamashiro Aoba.

Beside him followed two genin, one male and one female.

The girl had the distinctive traits of the Inuzuka Clan. Her hair was tied into two buns, red whisker-like markings were painted on her face, and she held a small white dog in her arms. They were Inuzuka Tsume and her ninja dog, Kinmaru.

As for the boy, he was wrapped up tightly from head to toe, with only his eyes showing. There was no need to ask—he had to be Aburame Shibi. Everyone from the Aburame Clan dressed like that.

The two genin were talking.

"We only got back to the village a few days ago, and now we have to go on another mission. It's really been exhausting lately."

"Forget it. Having missions is still better than having none."

As they spoke, the three quickly arrived in front of Arashi. When their gazes landed on him, they all visibly froze.

"Hey, Captain Aoba," Inuzuka Tsume said, holding the little yellow dog as she looked Arashi up and down. Her brows immediately knit together.

"This is the 'new teammate' Lord Hokage added to our squad?"

"You've got to be kidding! How old is this brat? Five? Or six? Is the Uchiha family's young master here to experience life? Don't drag us down when the time comes!"

The little yellow dog also chimed in with two "woofs," full of vigilance.

Aburame Shibi's cold voice came from beneath his face covering, impossible to read. "The mission comes first. Whether he lives or dies has nothing to do with us."

Yamashiro Aoba frowned and also carefully sized Arashi up.

This child did indeed look far too young. Aside from those bright black eyes, which carried a calmness that did not match his age, no matter how one looked at him, he did not seem like a ninja capable of going to the battlefield.

But this had been personally arranged by the Hokage, so he could not say much.

"You are Uchiha Arashi?" Yamashiro Aoba asked in a low voice.

"Yes." Arashi nodded, his voice calm.

"This mission is an escort mission. The target is a supply station at the border," Yamashiro Aoba briefly explained. "The journey isn't short, and we may encounter harassment and sabotage from enemy nations. Stay close the entire time. You are not allowed to act on your own. Understood?"

Arashi spat inwardly.

He had thought the Hokage would be at least somewhat reliable, directly assigning him an A-rank mission right away. In the end, it was a genin squad led by a chunin, carrying out an escort mission.

That old man, the Third, really was a sly old fox. On the surface, he had agreed to give him a chance, but in secret, he still treated him like a child, coaxing and deceiving him.

He deliberately lowered his head, putting on an obedient and well-behaved look. "I understand, Mr. Aoba. I'll listen."

But in his heart, he had already quietly activated his perception.

The chakra fluctuations of the three were clearly presented within his senses.

Yamashiro Aoba's chakra volume was medium, and its flow was fairly steady, but there were faint abnormal fluctuations near his temples. That was the trait of someone skilled in genjutsu.

Inuzuka Tsume's chakra volume was ordinary, but there was an obvious chakra link between her and the little yellow dog.

Aburame Shibi's chakra was the most special. Inside his body were large numbers of tiny, independent chakra sources. They should be the Aburame family's unique Parasitic Destruction Insects.

Overall, all three were standard lower-to-mid-level Hidden Leaf ninjas.

To him, they were all existences with a combat power of only 5.

The journey to the border was duller than expected.

From the start, the atmosphere was not very good.

Inuzuka Tsume seemed determined to give this "young master" a show of force. Along the way, she deliberately sped up, occasionally darting into the woods beside them with Kinmaru, then quickly turning back and looking at Arashi, who had fallen behind, as if provoking him.

Arashi merely followed at an unhurried pace, his ki perception locking onto them at all times. Their every move was within his grasp.

Aburame Shibi was even more insidious. He silently walked behind Arashi, and from time to time a few tiny Parasitic Destruction Insects would fly soundlessly toward Arashi, trying to land on him.

But Arashi only casually shook his hand, or exerted just a little force underfoot, and a faint wave of air sent those insects flying, even shattering them outright.

After Aburame Shibi noticed it, his gaze became even colder, but he made no more petty moves.

Yamashiro Aoba walked at the very front, seemingly turning a blind eye to the undercurrents behind him. He only turned back occasionally to confirm the number of people.

At dusk, they made camp at an abandoned relay station.

After they simply ate some dry rations, Yamashiro Aoba began assigning the night watch.

"I'll take the first half of the night," Yamashiro Aoba said, pointing at Inuzuka Tsume. "You take midnight to dawn." Then he looked at Arashi. "Uchiha Arashi, you take the last shift until daybreak."

The last shift was usually the most dangerous, and also the most exhausting.

Inuzuka Tsume immediately sneered. "Captain Aoba is wise! Kids should get more training, so they don't piss their pants once they're on the battlefield!"

Arashi raised his head, and his always-calm eyes abruptly turned cold.

He slowly stood up. Though he was short, the aura emanating from him made all three people present faintly pause.

"Hey, you three dead extras," Arashi said. His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable tone of command. "We're already far from the village now. Come at me together. I'm in a hurry."

[Ding! System mission triggered: establish absolute authority within the squad. (Vegeta possesses absolute authority in a Saiyan squad.)]

The three were first stunned. Then anger appeared on all of their faces.

"What did you say?!" Inuzuka Tsume looked as though she had heard the funniest joke in the world. "Brat, do you know who you're talking to?"

Aburame Shibi also took a step forward, and the Parasitic Destruction Insects around him began to wriggle restlessly.

Yamashiro Aoba frowned deeply. "Uchiha Arashi, do you know what you're saying? This isn't a Ninja Academy game!"

The corners of Arashi's mouth curved into a playful arc, and his gaze swept over the three of them.

"A game? Very soon, you'll know whether this is a game or not."

"I don't have much time to waste with you. Hurry up. Let me see whether your skills are as useless as your brains."

"You're asking to die!" Inuzuka Tsume was thoroughly enraged. She set the little yellow dog on the ground. "Kinmaru, let's go! Let this brat know how strong we are!"

"Woof!" Kinmaru let out a low bark, his fur standing on end as he assumed a fighting stance together with Inuzuka Tsume.

Aburame Shibi no longer hid anything either. His hands rapidly formed seals, and countless Parasitic Destruction Insects surged out from his sleeves and collar, pouncing toward Arashi like a black tide.

Yamashiro Aoba's expression darkened. Though he also felt that Arashi was far too arrogant, he was still hesitating over whether to make a move when he saw Arashi move.