B-Rank Mission

Over the next few days, Konoha remained outwardly relaxed but quietly on guard.

Tsukimi's life was dull and orderly. Ever since he had managed to give his Chakra physical form around his right hand, creating a partial Susanoo, he had spent every day training and refining it in the courtyard.

Drawing on the Ninja Tribe's talent for precise control and the Second Hokage's research notes, Tsukimi progressed step by step. Each day, he repeated the tedious work of compressing and shaping his Chakra, adjusting and stabilizing it again and again.

In just a few days, he made steady progress. The black Chakra that had initially covered only his hand had spread upward to envelop his entire right arm. Its surface gleamed coldly. Made of pure Yin Release Chakra, it greatly strengthened both his offense and defense.

One morning, Asuma and Kurenai came together. They had rested at home since their last mission ended and had only now come to train with Tsukimi.

"Hm?"

The moment they stepped into the courtyard, their eyes fixed on Tsukimi's right arm.

"Tsukimi, your arm... Are you practicing some new Ninjutsu?"

Asuma hurried over, staring at Tsukimi's right arm. He even reached out and touched it lightly, feeling a cool surface beneath his fingertips.

"This is... Chakra!? How did you do it?"

Kurenai Yuhi frowned too, her eyes full of wonder. She had studied Genjutsu under her father since childhood and was thoroughly familiar with Yin Release Chakra. Over the past few days, she had also learned a Sensory Ninjutsu technique from him. She could make out the armor's intricate energy structure, which made it all the more astonishing.

"Just an attempt at shaping Chakra."

Tsukimi withdrew his Chakra, and the black armor vanished from his right arm in an instant. He did not explain Susanoo any further, and Asuma and Kurenai did not press him.

"Tsukimi, don't tell me you've been training this whole time?" Asuma folded his arms, looking suspicious.

"What do you think?"

Tsukimi stretched and slipped back into his lazy demeanor, giving Asuma a disdainful look.

"Don't tell me you've spent the whole time resting at home. Come on, can anyone our age really bear to sit around doing nothing?"

"Uh... What? Of course not! I've been practicing Fire Release hard at home!" Caught out, Asuma looked embarrassed and began to stammer.

One look at Asuma's face told Tsukimi he had probably been enjoying his time off. He gave him a knowing smile.

"Really? You'd better have been. Otherwise, next time we train together, you'll end up at the same table as Obito."

Asuma's face flushed bright red, but he stubbornly shot back.

"No way. How could I be on the same level as Obito? That dead-last loser? I could beat him with one hand."

Kid, you really shouldn't tempt fate like that.

While the three of them were joking, a figure abruptly appeared in the Courtyard. The Anbu Ninja wore an animal mask and carried a cold, lethal air. He delivered his orders in a flat voice:

"Nara Tsukimi, Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yuhi. Lord Hokage has summoned you. Report to the Hokage Building immediately."

Tsukimi understood at once. The higher-ups must have reached a conclusion in their investigation.

"Understood. We'll go right away."

The Anbu Ninja vanished in a flash. Tsukimi and the other two immediately set off for the Hokage Building.

They hurried straight to the Hokage Office and pushed open the door. The atmosphere inside was tense.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk. Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were there too, all three wearing solemn expressions. Orochimaru stood off to one side.

When the three entered, the Two Advisors turned their attention to Tsukimi and silently sized him up. They had heard about him many times, but this was their first time meeting him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up at the three of them. Without wasting time on pleasantries, he got straight to the point.

"I called you here because we have the results of the investigation into the Bluestone Town mission."

Asuma and Kurenai immediately grew serious and listened closely.

"The Medical Department and Orochimaru have finished analyzing the toxin. Based on its properties, they've traced its source."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was grave, his voice steady. "The toxin comes from a poisonous plant found only deep in the mountains of southwestern Land of Rivers. It was refined through a special process to produce this mysterious poison."

"That means whoever is behind this, even if they aren't a local force, must have been based in the Land of Rivers for a long time. They may have left traces of their poison-making there."

Mitokado Homura added, "After compiling the intelligence gathered by Anbu over the past several days, we've decided to send a dedicated team into the mountains of southwestern Land of Rivers. They'll search the plant's native habitat and investigate any possible traces of poison production."

At that, Hiruzen Sarutobi first turned to Orochimaru. "I'm assigning this investigation to your team, Orochimaru."

Then he turned back to Tsukimi and the others. "Get ready at once. Head to southwestern Land of Rivers, trace the poisonous plant to its source, and look for clues about the force behind this."

"This is a B-Rank Mission. Be careful."

"A B-Rank Mission?"

Asuma's eyes lit up, and delight spread across his face. He was secretly pleased, too. The old man's decision was exactly what he wanted. That dead-last Obito would not catch up to him in another ten years.

Right. Next time I go home, I'll argue with the old man a little less.

Tsukimi and Kurenai watched Asuma grinning like an idiot, their mouths twitching as they took two steps back in unison.

He really is a rich family's clueless son.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Asuma with a look of utter exasperation. He began to wonder whether he had made a mistake. Even with Orochimaru leading the team, could this foolish boy really complete a B-Rank Mission?

"Understood, sensei."

Orochimaru ignored their little exchange. He stepped up to the desk, took the mission Scroll, then turned and led Tsukimi and the others out.

Watching the four leave, Utatane Koharu turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi, concern on her face. "Third, is it wise to entrust such an important mission to a Genin team...?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up his pipe again. His expression relaxed as he waved a hand.

"It'll be fine. You both know how strong Tsukimi is. He killed three Root Chunin. That puts him at Elite Chunin level at the very least, perhaps even Tokubetsu Jonin."

"Asuma and Kurenai are nearly at Chunin level too. With Orochimaru leading them, they're no weaker than the elite teams led by Jonin."

At his explanation, Utatane Koharu nodded, her doubts gradually fading.

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned toward the window and slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke.

I hope they find something.