A-Rank Mission: Eradicate the Jashin Cult

After becoming Orochimaru's assistant, Setsuna's life grew increasingly fulfilling. During the day, he carried out missions and trained; at night, after finishing his workouts, he went to assist Orochimaru with experiments.

And so, the days passed.

In the blink of an eye, ten months went by. During that time, Setsuna's team completed a large number of D-rank missions, occasionally taking on a few C-rank missions as well.

Although those missions were all simple for Setsuna, he did not resist them. Every mission was training. He could not simply keep his eyes fixed on the destination; the scenery along the way mattered too.

That day, Hizashi appeared in the Hokage's office.

After asking about Setsuna and the others' recent progress, the Third nodded approvingly. "I have an A-rank mission here, and I intend to assign it to your team."

"An A-rank mission?" Hizashi did not doubt his team's strength, but he was still puzzled. "Lord Hokage, according to the rules, the highest-level missions Genin can undertake are C-rank missions, aren't they?"

The Third nodded, tapping his pipe against the desk. "In recent years, the competition among our major hidden villages for missions has grown increasingly fierce. It seems they are all preparing funds for war. Although Konoha has no ambition to invade other nations, we must make preparations in advance. We absolutely cannot fall behind in this struggle for missions."

The Third paused before continuing, "Konoha has the highest reputation and receives the most missions. However, there are not many teams in the village capable of handling high-level missions now. It is time to place a heavier burden on you. I believe you can complete this mission perfectly."

Hizashi nodded slightly. Indeed, formal numbered squads led by Jonin like theirs were far stronger than those freelance teams made up of three Chunin.

Especially Setsuna. What he lacked was merely experience fighting ninjas from enemy villages. Once he made up for that, Hizashi had no doubt that Setsuna could complete an S-rank mission alone.

"Yes, we will definitely complete the mission." Hizashi first stated his position before asking, "Lord Hokage, what exactly is the mission?"

The Third said, "It is a request for aid from Hidden Hot Springs Village. An organization called the Jashin Cult has appeared there. That organization kills wantonly, using villagers as sacrifices to Jashin, leaving the locals in constant fear. They have asked us to eradicate the organization."

(PS: The author found quite a bit of information claiming that Hidden Hot Springs Village is in the Land of Rivers, and Hidan's encyclopedia entry also says he is a ninja from Hidden Hot Springs Village in the Land of Rivers. But as is easy to see from the two images above, Hidden Hot Springs Village, like Amegakure, is the kind where the country and village share the same name. As for the Land of Rivers, Chapter 255 of the manga mentions that it lies between Konoha and Hidden Sand Village. Comparing that with the first image, it should correspond to Hidden Valley Village. The author has no idea how the claim that Hidden Hot Springs Village is in the Land of Rivers started.)

"Hidden Hot Springs Village—the village known as the 'Village That Has Forgotten War'?" Hizashi sighed. "It is a good thing to advocate peace, but reducing military strength will not bring peace."

"Indeed. Peace cannot be achieved through wishful thinking alone." The Third shook his head slightly, then said, "The Jashin Cult does not have many ninjas, and they are not especially strong, but you must still be careful. I hear their ninjutsu is quite strange."

"Yes!" Hizashi answered loudly.

Before long, Setsuna and the other two learned about the new mission from Hizashi.

"An A-rank mission! I never expected the village to value us so highly! We must give it everything we have and repay Lord Hokage for his faith in us!" Might Guy was so excited that tears and snot streamed down his face. He felt as though he had already caught fire.

Shizune, however, was somewhat worried. "We have never even taken a B-rank mission before. Can we really handle an A-rank mission?"

Hizashi gave Setsuna a subtle glance, then smiled. "Do not worry. Although it is an A-rank mission, it will not involve the other Four Great Hidden Villages. Those small hidden villages have shallow foundations. Their Jonin may not even be stronger than the Chunin of our Five Great Hidden Villages. In my view, all of you already qualify to become Chunin."

Shizune was indeed much more relieved. "So even missions of the same A-rank can differ vastly in difficulty depending on whether ninjas from the Five Great Hidden Villages are involved."

Setsuna nodded slightly. Judging by the data from twenty years in the future, Orochimaru had completed 491 A-rank missions and 108 S-rank missions, while Jiraiya had completed 614 A-rank missions and 138 S-rank missions. Clearly, not every S-rank mission involved fighting Kage Level experts, nor did every A-rank mission involve Jonin. Otherwise, there would not be enough powerful people in the entire ninja world.

Hizashi nodded. "You do not need to worry too much, but you cannot underestimate them either. The ninjas of those small hidden villages may be weaker than you, but when it comes to poison and traps, their experience far surpasses yours. We will not do any extra training today. I will teach you about the types of ambushes and poisons you may encounter in ninja battles, as well as how to prevent them."

"Yes!" Setsuna took it seriously as well. His frontal combat ability was unquestionably top-tier, and his physical defenses were undeniably formidable, but his mental resistance was far weaker, and his resistance to abnormal conditions was even worse.

In the Dragon Ball World, even Goku, who could transform into a Super Saiyan, died from heart disease. Goku, who could transform into a Super Saiyan God, could also faint from a poisoned needle. This showed that the system of "ki" offered almost no resistance to abnormal conditions.

And in the Naruto World, ninjas had countless ways of using poison. He had to take it seriously.

Seeing that Setsuna had not grown arrogant because of his strength and was instead listening to his explanation with utmost seriousness, Hizashi could not help but sigh inwardly. As expected of the future "Darkness of the Ninja World" chosen by Lord Hokage. His temperament was so steady that he hardly seemed like a newcomer.

The next day, the four of them set out for Hot Water Country.

The Land of Fire bordered Hot Water Country, and the journey was not far. The four arrived within Hot Water Country's borders in only two days.

The moment they entered Hot Water Country, the four immediately felt how different it was from the Land of Fire.

Bandits in the Land of Fire still had to hide all over the place, but the bandits in Hot Water Country practically occupied mountains and declared themselves kings in broad daylight.

Less than half a day after entering Hot Water Country, the four had already encountered three groups of bandits.

"Teacher Hizashi, wasn't Hidden Hot Springs Village supposed to be the Village of Hot Springs? No war, no worries—so why are there so many bandits within its borders?" Shizune was deeply confused, feeling as though her beautiful fantasy had shattered.

"The beauty of Hidden Hot Springs Village does not contradict the harshness of Hot Water Country. In the ninja world, those who can travel abroad to enjoy hot springs are either wealthy merchants, great nobles, or ninjas like us. Samurai and bandits cannot hinder us, but robbing ordinary people is effortless for them," Hizashi explained.

Setsuna was also rather moved. Even Earth in his previous life had failed to quell all wars, and no matter how advanced technology became, it could not eliminate the differences between people.

Shizune still could not understand. "Doesn't the daimyo of Hot Water Country do anything about them?"

Hizashi shook his head helplessly. "Daimyos generally do not concern themselves with such trivial matters."

Setsuna asked, "Teacher Hizashi, I have always had a question. Why do we obey the daimyos' orders?"

Without thinking, Hizashi answered, "That is simply how it has always been."

"Does that mean it is right just because it has always been that way?" Setsuna shook his head slightly. "What special contributions have they made to the ninja world? Or is their leadership particularly wise? When the First Lord founded Konoha, I never heard that the daimyo of the Land of Fire gave Konoha any help. Why should we voluntarily put shackles on ourselves?"

In Setsuna's eyes, the political structure of the Naruto World was even more absurd than that of the One Piece World. Although the Celestial Dragons were trash, they at least had nominal contributions and formidable power in the shadows. What was the deal with the daimyos and nobles of the Naruto World? They had nothing, yet still held power.

Moreover, the daimyos of various nations were not puppets. For example, the daimyo of the Land of Wind reduced Hidden Sand Village's military strength in the original timeline, and even the Kazekage could do nothing about it.

Hizashi was stunned senseless by this string of questions. He wanted to speak but stopped himself. After pondering for a long time, he said, "Perhaps it is because we ninjas do not have time to learn how to govern a country, so we let the nobles govern instead?"

Setsuna had no objection to the first half of that statement. Most ninjas did not possess political wisdom. Letting people like Itachi Uchiha govern a country would undoubtedly be a disaster among disasters. But that was no reason to hand power over to those parasites.

Setsuna said disdainfully, "Rather than nobles, wouldn't it be more accurate to call them vermin?"

Hizashi was shocked by Setsuna's audacity. It was as though those words were even more terrifying than Setsuna killing Elder Danzo. He hurriedly said, "Let us not talk about this anymore. We should hurry to Hidden Hot Springs Village."

Setsuna said nothing more. In truth, he did not care whether the nobles were good or evil. After all, it was difficult to find even a few genuinely good people in the entire ninja world. Ninjas, in particular, were killing machines specially trained for that purpose. Nearly every ninja had blood on their hands.

What truly angered him was that he had already transmigrated into a world where personal strength reigned supreme. If he still had to be constrained by so-called elites and nobles, then would his transmigration not have been for nothing?

This world does not need so many voices. As I climb to the pinnacle of the world, I will fix this world along the way. Setsuna muttered inwardly. First, I will set myself a small goal: become Hokage.