Departure

When Fugaku said that, Yan remembered the skill called "If I Don't Carry You, What Am I Supposed to Play?"

"I guess I've made a contract too, haven't I?"

Fugaku was surprised. The kid hadn't even been to Cat Granny's place. How had he contracted a Ninja Cat?

"Ahem." Yan bit his finger, formed Hand Seals, and slapped his palm against the ground, using the Summoning Technique.

Poof!

A cloud of White Smoke cleared, revealing a pure white cat.

Watching the white cat lick its paws, Yan and Fugaku both had the inexplicable urge to smack it.

The white cat swept a lazy gaze around and spoke. "The name's Haosheng. Make sure you've got cat food ready for me."

"Uh..." Fugaku hesitated. "This cat..."

White Ninja Cats were rare. Ninja Cats needed to gather intelligence, and white stood out in any environment.

"You sour-faced old geezer, think I'm useless? If I don't carry this brat, what am I supposed to play?"

One sentence from Haosheng left Fugaku red in the face. Before Fugaku decided to put cat on the menu, Yan hurriedly dismissed the summoning.

With his target gone, Fugaku turned toward Yan. The kid's cat was just as infuriating as he was.

"Dinner's ready."

Yan hurried to the kitchen to help Mikoto carry out the dishes, leaving Fugaku without a target again.

A few days later, the day the Third Hokage had specified arrived.

As usual, Yan practiced empty swings in the courtyard. Once he'd finished his daily task for ten Gold Coins and eaten breakfast, he checked his equipment.

Shuriken, packed.

Kunai, packed.

Explosive Tags, genuine ones, not the fake tags he'd drawn himself. Good.

Crimson Sky, packed.

Yan touched his neck and felt a small red jade pendant.

Most important of all, the protective charm Mikoto had given him last night. Packed.

With everything ready, Yan put on his ninja sandals and stepped out of the house.

"Yan." Mikoto came over and hugged him. "Remember to eat on time, get enough sleep, and..."

Yan patiently listened to Mikoto's fussing. "Don't worry. I'm really strong now."

After a long while, Mikoto finally finished. She wiped away her tears and let Yan go. Yan looked at Fugaku behind her.

Fugaku watched the siblings say goodbye with a stern face. Sensing Yan's gaze, he said, "Be careful in everything you do."

Yan nodded and walked to the door, then paused.

"Take care of my sister, Brother-in-Law."

Sunlight fell across the streets of the clan compound as Yan headed for the Konoha Gate.

"Is that Yan? Is he going to the battlefield?"

"Great. I'm having an extra helping tonight."

At two, Uchiha Demon Pill had thrown tantrums. At three, he'd punched children, kicked old men, stuck fake talismans on the door of the Military Police Station, and accused Fugaku of burning his backside with a cigarette butt. Naturally, his reputation among the clan was terrible.

Of course, people differed. Some hated Yan, while some foolish Uchiha chose to hang around him.

"Yan, wait for me!"

One such fool was Obito Uchiha, who had nearly overslept and missed meeting his Jonin leader today, during the Third Shinobi World War.

"Hey, Obito. You're going to be late."

"So are you."

Yan smiled. "I could guess with my toes that my Jonin leader will be Orochimaru's Sensei. He's at the front fighting Kumogakure right now, so they'll definitely just tell me to make my own way there."

Obito's face stiffened. That meant he was the only one running late.

At that thought, Obito quickened his pace. Yan followed at an easy stride.

The Konoha Gate, once bustling with merchants and carts, looked somewhat deserted because of the war.

Konoha's strongest young generation yet was meeting their supervising Jonin here.

"Obito, you almost came late."

Kakashi and Rin were already waiting.

"Kakashi! Rin!"

Obito lit up. He was actually on the same team as Rin. Thank you, Third Hokage!

Yan shot Obito a disdainful look. The guy completely missed how Rin kept glancing at Kakashi. Yan had told him long ago to confess, but Obito was too scared.

"Yan!" Anko bounced over and patted his shoulder. "I can't believe we're on the same team. Looks like Lord Orochimaru really will be leading us. This is great."

Yan couldn't bring himself to shatter Anko's hopes. Being led by Orochimaru was no blessing. Orochimaru was commanding the Kumogakure front and had a mountain of work every day. As his students, they were bound to be worked like draft animals without rest.

"Am I late?"

Minato, who had already earned the name Yellow Flash on the Iwagakure front, appeared before Team Kakashi.

After the four briefly introduced themselves, Minato skipped the classic Bell-snatching exercise. The war was urgent, and he'd heard about the Night Organization's special training.

"Yan, Anko, Lord Orochimaru asked me to bring you along too. Let's go."

Minato explained the situation succinctly, and Yan and Anko nodded.

The two teams quickly joined forces and shot into Konoha Forest like arrows loosed from a bow.

Glancing at the five keeping close behind him, Minato marveled to himself:

This generation is strong. They can keep up at this speed. Let's go a little faster.

As Minato accelerated, the five gradually separated into three groups. Yan stayed close behind Minato, Kakashi fell a little back, and Anko, Rin, and Obito ran roughly shoulder to shoulder.

They raced on until dusk. By then, Minato had a general sense of their abilities and stopped in a clearing to rest.

Yan wasn't even breathing hard. Kakashi's breathing was a little uneven, while the other three braced their hands on their knees and panted.

After taking Soldier Pills, the six stayed there to rest.

Minato handed out four specially made Kunai, then took out a Scroll and began:

"Normally, you'd start with D-rank missions, but you're clearly stronger than most. So let's begin your first mission now."

"Our target is the Kumogakure scouts who've infiltrated a nearby town. Split into your two teams. Kakashi, you'll command Obito and Rin. Yan, take charge of Anko. Learn to see through the enemy's disguises. I'll only step in if your lives are in danger."

"Yan, you should still have the Kunai I gave you before. Everyone else, keep yours safe too."

"Then the mission begins!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the five scattered, each entering the town from a different direction.

Minato gave a wry smile. Their discipline was nothing like that of freshly graduated ninja.

Yan and Anko used the Transformation Technique to disguise themselves as a married couple before entering town. As for why they chose a married couple, Anko said it looked more natural for a man and woman.

Yan agreed wholeheartedly.

Team Kakashi chose the most direct approach, hiding themselves in the corners of various alleys.

Lights gradually came on in the town as darkness settled. Anko linked her arm through Yan's, her ears faintly red, and the two entered an inn.

"Man, that last one was young and tender. Still couldn't compare to the ones in Tanzaku Town, though."

"You're right, boss. Once we finish this job, let's go have some fun in Tanzaku Town."

"Yeah, yeah."

As Yan and Anko checked in, three drunk men entered the inn. They staggered up to the innkeeper.

"Boss, is our wagon all right?"

"Rest easy, sir. Our service has an excellent reputation around here."

Yan gently pressed Anko's finger, and she understood at once.

"Oh, hurry up. I'm tired."

Looking bashful in her transformed guise, Anko tugged Yan upstairs. Once the door shut, they exchanged a glance and split up. Anko went to inspect the wagons, while Yan went to listen in on the three men and find out where they kept the intelligence they'd gathered.

Anko slipped into the wagon storage area and searched them one by one, using a Kunai to part the curtains and look inside. She didn't dare openly unpack any cargo, so she climbed in to get a sense of its weight.

When she reached the third wagon, before Anko could make a move, a Kunai pierced the curtain from inside and shot straight at her.