This Buck-Passing Was Really Decisive! [Please Bookmark and Send Flowers~]

Cough, cough!!!

While feeling speechless, the Third Hokage was badly choked by his own smoke. He looked helplessly at Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru, then shook his head. "These are your Headbands, and this is your mission as well, Uchiha Hikaru."

"This disciple is here." Hikaru stepped forward.

With a solemn expression, the Third Hokage handed the Headbands and the Mission Scroll to Hikaru, leaving him completely confused. Shouldn't the Mission Scroll be kept with the Third Hokage?

Even if he could not lead the team around at all times, it still needed to stay with him.

Why give it to him?

"When carrying out missions, you'll need to lead the team. As Konoha's Third Hokage, I cannot easily leave the Hokage Office Building, nor can I leave the village for too long. From now on, the team's heavy responsibility will rest on your shoulders."

"Huh?!"

Hikaru froze for a moment. What was going on? I'm still a student. Why are you dumping everything on me? Teacher, aren't you being a little too shameless? This blame-shifting is really decisive!!!

You want me to lead the team around, but I'm not the team's teacher—I'm one of its members!!!

Hikaru stared at the Third Hokage with a resentful expression, as if asking, Teacher, is this really appropriate?

Cough, cough!!!

Under Hikaru's gaze, the Third Hokage coughed and changed the subject.

"Right. After you've completed these current missions, I'll personally take you on other missions. Although it won't happen often, I'll still need to teach you."

"You should go make your preparations first."

Because the previous class of students had graduated, the Third Hokage was quite busy, so he threw everything to Hikaru.

It looked like he had been given a great deal of authority, but Hikaru would rather not have it. This was practically being both father and mother—it was absolutely bullshit.

"Yes."

Since the Third Hokage had already said so, what else could Hikaru say? Looking at Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru, Hikaru got a headache. All three were visibly excited. No one wanted someone hanging over their heads. Given the choice, they would rather follow Hikaru around than follow the Third Hokage.

"Mm. You may leave now. Remember, you must work hard to complete your missions. Otherwise, it will affect the team's reputation. If you want to obtain important missions in the future, it will become difficult."

The Third Hokage reminded the four of them.

Aside from those temporary ragtag teams, permanent teams accumulated reputation. If a team's mission failure rate was too high, then when important or better missions came up in the future, they would basically have no part in them.

Do not underestimate even the lowest-level D-rank missions. Only by doing them well and satisfying the clients could the team's reputation slowly accumulate bit by bit.

"This disciple will keep that in mind. Please rest assured, Teacher."

Nodding, Hikaru led Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya out of the Hokage Office Building.

"Child, don't disappoint me."

After the team left, the Third Hokage muttered to himself and picked up another Mission Scroll to read. He was practically swamped with work now. Having Hikaru lead the team on missions really did reduce a lot of his trouble. As for teaching them, that could only wait until he had free time.

This was also a major drawback. The Third Hokage wanted to know whether Hikaru had the ability to shoulder the banner. If he did, then the Third Hokage would gradually let go. If he did not, it would not be too late for him to take over again.

They were only the simplest missions, after all. And with him, the Third Hokage, around, was there really any need to worry about something like team reputation?

It was just that he could not say such things in front of the students.

Hikaru also knew that although it seemed rather absurd, this counted as the Third Hokage's test for him. No matter what, he needed to lead the team well. If anyone refused to behave, heh heh~~~~ Hikaru had more ways than he could count to torment people. He simply had never used them before.

"Put on your Headbands properly, everyone. Let me see what mission Teacher gave us."

After distributing the Headbands to the others, Hikaru opened the Mission Scroll in his hand. After reading it twice, his expression turned strange.

Hikaru held the scroll with an odd expression and said nothing as they happily put on the Headbands that symbolized their ninja identities.

Seeing Hikaru's expression, Tsunade curiously leaned closer. "What is it? Is the mission something strange?"

"You... see for yourselves."

Hikaru did not know how to explain it. He stuffed the scroll into Tsunade's hands, then raised both hands to cover his ears so they would not be damaged.

"How is this possible?! What does that Third Elder mean?! Isn't he just messing with us?!"

Sure enough, Tsunade took the scroll and read its contents. Her roar immediately erupted like a lioness's. Hikaru had been prepared and escaped harm, while Jiraiya and Orochimaru were startled. Jiraiya in particular exaggeratedly jumped far away and shouted, "What happened? What happened? What's going on?"

"This is too much!!!" Tsunade clutched the Mission Scroll, her fair little face flushed red with anger. She had the urge to tear the scroll apart.

"Uh..."

Orochimaru and Jiraiya leaned over to look at the Mission Scroll. They were instantly dumbfounded. What kind of mission was this?

Wasn't catching cats and walking dogs supposed to be the lowest-level missions? How could this be one?

Cough, cough!!!

Hikaru knew it was time for him to step in. Although the mission was somewhat bizarre—or, more accurately, rather screwy—it still had to be done. Even if the others were unwilling, Hikaru had to find a way to get them to cooperate, if only so he would not disappoint the Third Hokage.

More importantly, if they did not start doing missions soon, Hikaru would go hungry.

In the past, he could still rely on subsidies from the village and his clan. From now on, he could only earn money himself, and if he wanted money, he had to do missions.