A Seemingly Ordinary Escort Mission

The four of them walked out of the Hokage Building. Orochimaru stopped at the entrance, turned to face the other three, and tossed the mission scroll to Tsukimi.

"This is your first mission. From now on, you'll handle everything yourselves: meeting the client, dealing with any trouble along the way, and completing the handoff when we arrive."

Orochimaru's golden, slit-pupiled eyes rested on the three of them, scrutiny and curiosity in his gaze.

"I'll only make sure you don't lose your lives. Beyond that, you'll bear the consequences yourselves."

"Is that clear?"

The mood froze.

Asuma's breath caught. He had thought their first mission would be little more than tagging along with their Jonin instructor to gain experience. He hadn't expected to be thrown straight into the real thing. His restless excitement died at once.

That's not what my big brother told me!

Kurenai's expression grew solemn too. She nodded lightly to show she understood.

Tsukimi caught the scroll. His expression remained gentle, but he understood.

During the Second Shinobi World War, Nawaki's death had changed more than the course of Orochimaru's life. It had drastically changed the way he did things as well.

The Orochimaru of today would not babysit his students. Only geniuses who survived the brutal Shinobi World would have a chance to fulfill their potential.

"Yes, Orochimaru-sensei!"

The three answered in unison. Scroll in hand, Tsukimi looked at Asuma and Kurenai.

"In that case, I'll take the captain's position."

When they both nodded, Tsukimi said no more. He slowly unfurled the scroll. The mission details were simple and clear.

[Mission Rank: C-Rank]

[Client: Kawata Genji, a native medicinal herb merchant from the Land of Rivers. Holds official Konoha trade credentials, has supplied Konoha with rare medicinal herbs for years, and has a good reputation.]

[Mission: Escort the medicinal herb merchant safely back to Bluestone Town in the eastern Land of Rivers.]

[Objective: Ensure the client and all goods reach the destination undamaged.]

[Route: The first half follows official roads through the Land of Fire; the second half passes through forests in the Land of Rivers.]

[Time Limit: Complete the round trip within ten days.]

Tsukimi quickly read through the mission scroll, then passed it to Kurenai and Asuma.

Once they had both finished, Tsukimi spoke first. "The Land of Rivers is a buffer between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire. It has no ninja village of its own, which means it doesn't restrict entry by ninja from elsewhere. All kinds of people end up there."

"So the second half of the journey, after we enter the Land of Rivers, will be the riskiest part of this mission. That's where trouble is most likely."

Asuma replied gravely, "Then I'll scout ahead."

Tsukimi smiled at Asuma's eagerness to volunteer. "What's got the future master of Wind Release and Fire Release, the man destined to surpass the Third Hokage, so wound up?"

Asuma flushed and said stubbornly, "Who's wound up? This is our first C-Rank Mission. I'm just being careful. What do you know?"

Why does he sound so much like Idiot Two?

"Then I suppose we have Orochimaru-sensei to thank. He certainly got you to take the mission seriously."

Watching Tsukimi tease Asuma, Kurenai, who was waiting for her assignment, laughed too. Some of the tension she had felt about their first mission gradually faded.

When he was done teasing him, Tsukimi shook his head. "You and Kurenai can watch our flanks. I'll scout ahead and keep watch to the front. It'll be easier for me to search with the Shadowkhan."

Both nodded in agreement.

Tsukimi added one last thing. "This may be our first C-Rank Mission, but don't stay too tense. If something happens, protect the client first and the goods second."

Orochimaru had watched Tsukimi assign their roles with interest. Once the three had finished discussing them, his raspy voice rang out.

"If you're ready, let's go."

A short while later, the four reached Konoha's gate, where someone was already waiting quietly.

He was a man in his early forties. Perhaps from years spent traveling, his skin was dark and rough. He carried a medicine case on his back, and a cart loaded with goods stood beside him. When he saw Tsukimi and the others approaching, he immediately hurried over with his head lowered.

So this is our client—the medicinal herb merchant Kawata Genji.

Kawata Genji reached the four and bowed, speaking with utmost respect.

"My name is Kawata Genji. Thank you for taking the trouble to escort me on this mission, honored ninja."

Tsukimi smiled gently and began confirming the details with the client as required.

"Hello, Mr. Kawata. I need to confirm the mission first. You want us to escort you and all your goods safely to Bluestone Town in the Land of Rivers within ten days. During the return journey, you must follow our team's instructions. You can't leave the group or change the route on your own. Understood?"

"Absolutely. I'll follow every instruction you give, honored ninja!"

Kawata Genji instinctively pulled his robe tighter, his right hand discreetly shielding his chest. Then he nodded repeatedly, every bit as polite as before.

The procedure was in order, and his identity checked out. It looked like an ordinary C-Rank escort mission, but Kawata Genji's little gesture had not escaped Tsukimi's notice.

Tsukimi glanced at the loaded cart. A faint smile appeared on his face as he asked, "Mr. Kawata, you've been traveling between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers for years. You must be a successful merchant by now. Why are you traveling alone? Haven't you hired any help?"

At Tsukimi's question, Kawata Genji's humble, deferential expression stiffened. Anxiety and panic flickered through his shifting eyes.

"Uh, well... I... I do travel between the two countries often, but I'm really... really just a small-time merchant. I can't compare with the big trading houses, so I haven't hired anyone."

After two awkward laughs, Kawata Genji hurriedly brushed off the question.

Even Kurenai and Asuma sensed something was wrong with his reaction. They stepped over to Tsukimi.

Asuma spoke quietly from behind him. "Tsukimi, there's something off about Mr. Kawata's reaction."

Tsukimi glanced back at them, signaling that they needn't worry yet. Then he turned to Kawata Genji, his smile unchanged.

"Is that so?"

Tsukimi glanced at Kawata Genji's chest but did not press him further.

"The mission details check out. Let's get going."

That old fox isn't being honest. Let's see what he's hiding.

Kawata Genji climbed into the cart. Orochimaru's figure blurred, and he was already on its roof.

After registering the mission at the gate, Tsukimi and the other two sat together at the front of the cart.

Only then did he quietly tell them, "I'm afraid our client has concealed something. Keep an eye on him along the way and see what he's up to."

"Understood!"

Kurenai and Asuma nodded solemnly, their eyes now alert.

The group passed through Konoha's gates and set off toward the Land of Rivers.