"C-rank mission." Those were the first four words out of Namiashi Raidō's mouth.
Takuma was in the middle of a yawn, his mouth half open when he froze. Yamada Kenta and Sato Jiro's eyes widened at the same time. They exchanged a glance, unable to hide their excitement.
After three whole months of D-rank missions, they'd finally gotten a C-rank one. No more chasing cats or pulling weeds. This was a real mission beyond the village, the kind that could go on a ninja's record.
"The mission details." Namiashi Raidō unrolled the scroll, his tone as flat as ever, like he was reading a weather report. "Escort a merchant caravan to the Land of Waves. The client is a trader from the Land of Waves. The cargo is medicinal herbs and cloth. The route begins at Konoha's main gate, follows the southern highway, and enters the Land of Waves. Intelligence reports some bandit activity along the way, but no ninja threats. Meet at Konoha's main gate at six tomorrow morning. Bring enough rations and standard equipment. Dismissed."
With that, he left. The smoke from his Body Flicker Technique quickly dispersed in the morning light, leaving three Genin standing on the training ground.
"The Land of Waves! A mission beyond the village!" Yamada Kenta clenched his fist and gave it a pump, his voice brimming with excitement. "Finally, no more chasing cats!"
"The sea." Sato Jiro spoke up of his own accord for once, a hint of longing in his voice. "I've never seen it."
Takuma said nothing. The Land of Waves—the destination of Team 7's first mission beyond the village. How had it ended up going to Team 12?
He instinctively waited for a moment.
This probably wasn't the same Land of Waves mission from the original story. Come to think of it, Team 7 had gotten the mission because Kakashi had requested it, and in this timeline, they were probably still grinding through D-rank missions.
That evening, Takuma pushed open the door to the Tenten Ninja Tool Shop. Tenten poked her head out from behind the shelves, holding a Sealing Scroll. A few loose strands had come free from her bun and stuck to her cheek, and there was a smudge of dust on the tip of her nose.
Takuma sat down at the counter and told her about the mission tomorrow.
After listening, Tenten set down the scroll in her hand, her expression turning more serious. She didn't say anything like "be careful." Instead, she turned and began pulling items off the shelves: lightweight Shuriken, Explosive Tags, and Smoke Bombs.
"These Explosive Tags are an upgraded version. Their blast radius is twenty percent bigger than the standard type, so take three extra steps back when you use one. Don't blow yourself away. I made these Smoke Bombs myself. They last eight seconds longer than the military-issued ones, which should be enough to cover a retreat."
Looking at her earnest face, Takuma couldn't resist teasing her. "This feels like you're putting together my dowry."
"This is so you can come back alive and pay me back."
Early the next morning, Takuma arrived at Konoha's main gate. Yamada Kenta was already there, chatting animatedly with the gate guard, probably bragging about his first mission beyond the village. Sato Jiro arrived soon after, carrying a backpack that was clearly stuffed to the brim. As he walked, the bag made a faint clinking sound from the metal inside.
"Sato, how many Shuriken did you bring?" Yamada asked curiously.
"One hundred and twenty." Sato answered seriously. "Six times the normal amount. Just in case."
Yamada opened his mouth, but in the end could only manage, "Your back must be strong."
Takuma rubbed his temples. Was this teammate really a spy sent by the enemy? If he wasn't, how could he make his Shuriken rattle in his backpack just by walking?
Before long, Namiashi Raidō arrived with the client. He was an old merchant in his fifties named Chubei. His hair was white, and the deep wrinkles on his face resembled the bed of a dried-up river. Behind him were three ox carts piled high with cargo. Wooden crates and straw sacks were neatly stacked on the cart beds and tightly secured with thick hemp rope. Two employees walked beside the carts, one young and sturdy, the other somewhat older, with the seasoned look of someone who had spent years on the road.
Chubei and Namiashi Raidō exchanged a few brief words. Takuma noticed Chubei glance at the three Genin, hesitation plain in his eyes. He pulled Namiashi Raidō aside and said something in a low voice. Takuma caught only a few words—"children" and "value of the goods." Namiashi Raidō's response was brief as ever. Chubei nodded when he heard it, and when he returned, he seemed more at ease.
"Move out," Namiashi Raidō ordered.
The three ox carts rolled out of Konoha's main gate in succession. Their wooden wheels creaked rhythmically over the stone road. Walking beside the last cart, Takuma glanced back. Konoha's main gate looked especially imposing in the morning light, the Leaf insignia on its pillars glowing orange-red in the rising sun. The two Chunin guards yawned, and one of them casually waved at Namiashi Raidō.
Takuma turned around and took a deep breath.
He was leaving the village. In the twelve years since he'd been transported to the Shinobi World, this was his first time stepping beyond the gates of the Hidden Leaf Village.
Yamada walked near the front of the group, his steps light. Every so often, he turned to say a few words to Sato. Sato's replies were usually no longer than five words, but he seemed much more relaxed as he carried his Shuriken. Namiashi Raidō walked at the very back, his stride even. Every few minutes, his gaze swept over the surrounding vegetation.
The first day passed without incident.
When they made camp, Namiashi Raidō chose a high, open spot beside the highway. Gentle slopes surrounded three sides, and a low cliff stood on the fourth. They arranged the ox carts in a semicircle as a barrier and lit a campfire in the middle. Chubei wrapped himself in a blanket and leaned against a cart bed, soon snoring away. Yamada and Sato shared the last box of snacks, then spent ten minutes arguing over the unanswerable question of whether zongzi tasted better sweet or savory. Takuma sat by the fire, sharpening the edge of a Kunai with a whetstone. The scraping mingled with the crackling of the firewood.
Namiashi Raidō sat beside him and took a sip from the canteen Takuma handed him.
"Sensei Namiashi," Takuma said without looking up, continuing to sharpen his Kunai. "Have you been on a lot of C-rank missions?"
"A lot." Namiashi Raidō's answer was matter-of-fact. "Most C-rank missions go off without incident. If the report says there are bandits, there's a ninety percent chance you won't run into any. If it says there are no ninja, then there are no ninja."
Takuma nodded. He understood what Namiashi Raidō meant. The mission rank had been reviewed by the intelligence department, especially when a Genin team was involved. The Hokage wouldn't send a team of freshly graduated Genin straight into the jaws of an A-rank rogue ninja. That would be murder.
"But it's still different," Namiashi Raidō added unexpectedly.
"What's different?"
"Inside the village and outside it." Namiashi Raidō watched the dancing flames. "If you fail a mission in the village, at most you get scratched by a cat or yelled at by the herbalist. If you fail a mission outside the village, you won't be able to bear the price."
Takuma's hand paused for a moment as he sharpened his Kunai, then resumed its scraping. He thought of Team 7's mission to the Land of Waves in the original story—Kakashi trapped in a Water Prison, Naruto and Sasuke fighting together for the first time, and Haku taking a Chidori meant for Zabuza. After that mission, Team 7 were no longer fledglings fresh out of the Academy.
They continued on their way the next day. The midday sun bleached the road white, and heat shimmered above the distant ground. Takuma wiped away his sweat and looked up at the sky. Not a cloud in sight. Another beautiful day.
After they crossed a mountain ridge that afternoon, a faint salty tang crept into the air. It was the scent of the sea breeze, blowing in from the ocean to the east. Even after crossing hill after hill, it still carried the sea's unmistakable briny smell. Chubei stood up on his cart and sniffed the air, smiling. "We're close. Two more days and we'll reach the Land of Waves."
Yamada and Sato both looked excited. They'd been on the road for more than two days, and at last they were approaching their destination. Takuma relaxed, too. Maybe I really was overthinking it.
They made camp near a stream that evening. The water was crystal clear, and the pebbles had been worn smooth and round by the current. Yamada took off his shoes and waded in, while Sato crouched on the bank, carefully washing his canteen. Chubei and his two employees sat around the campfire brewing tea, the aroma of black tea carrying far into the distance. Namiashi Raidō stood beside a large tree across the stream, his figure half hidden by the dusk.
They'd reach the Land of Waves tomorrow. Once they delivered the goods to the recipient, the mission would be complete. Then they'd return to Konoha the way they'd come, collect their reward, pay Tenten back some of what he owed her, and then go to the ninja tool shop to buy more gear on credit. A perfect cycle.
Before you continue