"This mission itself is not complicated. According to Clan Head Shui Yuan's sensing, the targets should only be a small number of survivors hiding in towns in the southeastern Land of Hot Water.
The preliminary danger assessment is C-rank. The main difficulties lie in finding them, confirming their identities, and bringing them back safely."
Hiruzen quickly scanned the brief intelligence report on the scroll, his brows slightly furrowed.
"The Land of Hot Water... it isn't exactly close, but the environment is relatively peaceful.
It really is suitable as a first mission outside the village for novices.
It's just..."
"It's just that you think it may be too hasty to have them undertake an actual mission so soon?"
Kumoi picked up the thread, as though he had seen through Hiruzen's concerns.
Hiruzen nodded.
"They only trained as a team for the first time yesterday. Actual combat is not the same as training."
"That is why you need to lead them."
Kumoi returned to the sofa and sat down, looking calmly at Hiruzen.
"Senior Brother, I understand your concerns.
But precisely because you will be leading them, I am at ease.
This mission has three core purposes."
He raised one finger.
"First, naturally, is to receive the Uzumaki clansmen. It is the village's promise, and an act of goodwill that will unite people's hearts.
The mission itself is merely the vehicle."
He raised a second finger.
"Second, the Land of Hot Water intends to conduct some small-scale cooperation with us in developing specialty medicinal herbs and the hot spring recuperation industry. We need someone with enough standing to conduct preliminary discussions.
You can use that as the reason for going there, making the mission's public justification more convincing and avoiding alerting anyone."
His third finger rose.
"Third, and most importantly, Team 7