Time passed, and several days had gone by.
Several days had already passed since the gathering with Kurenai Yuhi and Asuma Sarutobi.
Early that morning, Hyuga Setsuna arrived at the Anbu base ahead of time, dressed in Anbu attire and wearing a rabbit mask.
Before long, Kakashi, wearing a dog mask, and an Anbu member wearing a bird mask approached him.
Seeing that Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi had already arrived,
the Anbu member in the bird mask began briefing them on the mission.
After hearing the details of the mission, both Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi were stunned.
It turned out that this special mission had been issued because Akishinomiya Yuri, the daughter of the Land of Fire's daimyo, wanted to witness the power of ninjas. The daimyo had issued the mission to Konoha in order to fulfill his daughter's wish.
Moreover, since this special mission was meant to fulfill Lady Akishinomiya Yuri's wish, they naturally had to find ninjas around her age.
They could not possibly send elderly ninjas. Not only did those people have important missions of their own, but their ages were far too different from that young lady's.
So, once the mission reached Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen had already planned to send Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi to carry it out.
Both of their abilities had been recognized, and they had joined the Anbu. Besides, they were about the same age as Lady Akishinomiya Yuri.
Of course, most importantly, Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi were both rather good-looking—perhaps even handsome. As long as they made that young lady happy,
the daimyo's future attitude toward and support of Konoha would become much easier to secure.
Besides showing Lady Akishinomiya Yuri the power of ninjas, their mission also required them to protect her personal safety.
"That concludes the mission. Once you two arrive at the Royal Capital, someone there will receive you."
After explaining the mission in detail, the Anbu member in the bird mask turned and left.
Hyuga Setsuna stood where he was, his brows knitting slightly beneath his mask.
Although he had guessed it might be a mission involving the protection of the daimyo's child, he had not expected they would be sent to serve as Lady Akishinomiya Yuri's companions and playmates.
This kind of mission was truly boring. He would rather be training.
After hearing the mission, Kakashi's entire demeanor turned cold. Clearly, he also felt this mission was a waste of time.
With this time, he would rather ask his father to teach him swordsmanship.
Afterward, Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi stopped wasting time and set off for the Royal Capital of the Land of Fire.
Elsewhere.
Royal Capital of the Land of Fire.
In the rear courtyard of a magnificent palace, one could pass through a vermilion torii gate and enter an ornate shrine.
Inside the shrine, a delicate seven- or eight-year-old girl was struggling to remove her elaborate, luxurious court attire and change into the clothes she usually liked to wear.
A juban, white robe, scarlet hakama, sash, and tabi socks.
Finally, she wrapped her glossy black hair in white mulberry paper and slowly tied it up with hemp cord.
The girl rose and walked to the mirror. Looking at her reflection, she wore a sweet smile, clearly delighted and satisfied with her current outfit.
If Hyuga Setsuna had appeared here at that moment, he would definitely have recognized what the girl was wearing as the distinctive shrine maiden outfit from Japan in his previous life—and it was red and white!
Once she put on this ancient-looking shrine maiden attire, the girl appeared even more adorable, with features as lovely as a painting.
Her features were already exquisitely refined. Though she was young, she had an excellent figure, and her skin was smooth and snow-white.
Just then, the shrine doors opened, and a maid slowly walked in.
Seeing that the young lady, whom the daimyo usually doted on, had secretly changed into this shrine maiden outfit again, the maid spoke with helplessness on her face.
"Your Highness, why have you secretly changed into it again? You only need to give the order for such little things, and we servants can handle them."
At the same time, the maid hurriedly picked up a clean towel from the nearby table and wiped away the fine sweat on the girl's forehead from changing clothes.
Looking at the maid wiping her face, the girl smiled gently and said softly,
"It's all right. I can handle little things like this myself. There's no need to trouble you."
Her voice was sweet and soft, deeply captivating.
Seeing that the maid seemed about to object again, the girl hurriedly changed the subject.
"Have the Leaf Village ninjas Father arranged arrived yet? I can't wait to see them!"
The maid gently set down the towel, tidied the girl's slightly messy hair, and said softly,
"Lady Yuri, the Leaf Village ninjas should arrive soon. Please wait a little more patiently."
Upon receiving the answer, anticipation lit up Akishinomiya Yuri's eyes. She dearly wanted to meet those ninjas; she had so many questions she wanted to ask them.
At that moment, on the road to the Royal Capital of the Land of Fire,
Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi continued onward at high speed.
Kakashi, wearing his dog mask, suddenly spoke, his voice somewhat muffled.
"Setsuna, when we get to the Royal Capital, how do you think we should show that lady the power of ninjas?"
After hearing Kakashi's question, Hyuga Setsuna did not answer. Instead, he corrected him.
"White Wolf, you should call me Captain Yagokoro now, not Setsuna!"
Indeed, before they had departed on the mission, the Anbu member in the bird mask had announced that Hyuga Setsuna would serve as the team captain for this mission.
Kakashi, who was moving alongside him, rolled his eyes beneath his mask, looking thoroughly helpless as he could only repeat himself.
"Captain Yagokoro, when we get to the Royal Capital, how should we show that lady the power of ninjas?"
Hearing that Kakashi had finally corrected his form of address, Hyuga Setsuna replied,
"Hmm, as for how to show her... we'll see what that lady wants us to do."
"We can only do our best."
As soon as he finished speaking, a prosperous city appeared at the far end of the forest in the distance.
Looking at the city ahead, Hyuga Setsuna said quietly,
"We're finally almost there. White Wolf, let's move faster. The sooner we reach the Royal Capital, the easier it will be to carry out our mission!"
With that, Hyuga Setsuna increased his speed once more and headed toward the Royal Capital.
Kakashi had been about to continue questioning him, but after looking at the Royal Capital in the distance, he could only follow.
First update!
This part of the plot had me a little stuck. I sat blankly in front of the computer for two hours this morning and did not write a single word. It was truly painful. Damn it! o(T_T)o
Before you continue