Two more days passed.
Qianye Lan and Kushina finished their vacation and began their "arduous" lives as ninja.
Tsunade had also handed Qianye Lan the Flying Thunder God Kunai she had promised to make for him yesterday.
Kushina's enthusiasm and anticipation for life as a ninja gradually wore away with one boring mission after another.
She went about her missions like a walking corpse, her face expressionless.
Only after finishing the day's missions, at the moment they were dismissed, did she smile.
She already had all the basic traits of a working stiff.
As the two walked home, Kushina lay lazily against Qianye Lan's back.
Her warm breath brushed against Qianye Lan's ear.
Her red hair swayed with his steps, constantly rubbing against his face and neck and making them tingle slightly.
Qianye Lan could not help turning his head, trying to avoid the ticklish sensation.
Noticing what he was doing, Kushina playfully brushed her hair against him.
Qianye Lan helplessly pleaded, "Stop messing around. That tickles."
Only then did Kushina stop and complain, "Lan, being a ninja feels so boring."
Hearing her complaint, Qianye Lan teased, "Wasn't someone really looking forward to life as a ninja?"
Kushina said helplessly, "I didn't know it would be this boring."
Qianye Lan could only comfort her. "Maybe it won't be so boring later."
Kushina pursed her lips and muttered, "You said that before, too."
With his white lie exposed, Qianye Lan could only change the subject to ease his embarrassment.
Feeling Kushina's weight, he teased, "Your appetite's been pretty good lately. You've gotten so fat."
That remark crossed Kushina's red line.
Kushina raised her little fist high and swung it down at Qianye Lan's shoulder.
Just before it struck him, she suddenly held back, and her fist landed on his shoulder as softly as cotton. To Qianye Lan, the force felt more like a coy gesture.
Kushina was torn now. She could not bear to hit him hard, but hitting him gently left her unsatisfied.
Sensing Kushina's dilemma, Qianye Lan took the opportunity to give her a way out. "I was wrong, I was wrong. Stop hitting me."
Kushina took the offered way out, holding up her fist as she said, "Good, as long as you know you were wrong. You won't get off so easily next time."
With that, she wrapped her arms around Qianye Lan's neck again. Feeling how swiftly he strode along, she muttered, "You're walking so easily. How am I heavy?"
Hearing her voice, Qianye Lan thought Kushina was speaking to him, so he asked, "What is it?"
Kushina replied sulkily, "I wasn't talking to you."
Having invited that rebuff, Qianye Lan obediently shut his mouth.
The Hokage Office.
Hatake Sakumo knocked lightly on the door.
"Come in."
He pushed the door open and walked inside, and the Third Hokage's kindly voice greeted him. "Sakumo, these are the rewards for you and Qianye Lan."
He handed over the rewards he had prepared. "This is two million ryo for you to split, plus the chance for each of you to learn one A-rank ninjutsu."
Hatake Sakumo bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you, Lord Hokage."
In all fairness, this was no small reward.
At least, it exceeded Hatake Sakumo's expectations.
Once he left the Hokage Building, he checked the time and said to himself, "I'll give Qianye Lan his reward tomorrow."
Having made his decision, Hatake Sakumo headed home first.
The next day.
They arrived at the meeting point as usual.
When Hatake Sakumo saw Qianye Lan, he greeted him with a smile.
He led Qianye Lan into a corner and said, "The Third Hokage's reward has come through: one million ryo, plus one A-rank ninjutsu."
Qianye Lan said in surprise, "That's quite a generous reward."
Hatake Sakumo patted his shoulder and said, "Once you've decided which ninjutsu you want, tell me. I'll take you to the Third to claim it."
Qianye Lan lowered his head and thought for a moment before asking, "Uncle Sakumo, does the A-rank ninjutsu include techniques in the Scroll of Seals?"
Hatake Sakumo answered cautiously, "I'm not too sure about that either, but it should."
Qianye Lan nodded again after hearing this, and the two returned to where they had been.
By then, Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto had already been waiting for a little while.
Seeing them return, Kushina walked over to Qianye Lan, bumped his shoulder, and asked, "Lan, what did Teacher Sakumo want with you just now?"
Qianye Lan did not hide it. "It was the reward for the last mission."
Kushina asked curiously, "How much money?"
"One million ryo."
Hearing the amount, Kushina could not help widening her eyes. "One million ryo?"
She began counting on her fingers. It had taken her years of saving her allowance and all sorts of miscellaneous money to accumulate just over one million ryo.
Yet Qianye Lan had earned that much from a single mission?
She put her arm around Qianye Lan's neck and said, "Since you earned so much money, shouldn't you..."
With that, she rubbed her fingers together.
Seeing this, Qianye Lan felt a little regret.
It seemed he had led Kushina astray. Feigning confusion, he asked, "What's wrong with you? Are your fingers itchy?"
Kushina gritted her teeth and said, "I've got my eye on another potted flower."
"A flower?" Qianye Lan asked in confusion. "It's not like you can't afford it."
Kushina suddenly shook his arm and said coyly, "But I want you to buy it for me."
That gave Qianye Lan goosebumps all over.
He reached out to feel Kushina's forehead and muttered to himself, "She doesn't have a fever. Why is she acting so strangely today?"
Seeing Qianye Lan act like this, Kushina practically forced the words through her teeth. "Qianye Lan!"
She drew out every syllable.
I finally act cute for once, and this is how Qianye Lan treats me?
Seeing her hair visibly about to stand on end, Qianye Lan reached out with practiced ease to soothe her. "It's just a flower, right? I'll buy it!"
As he spoke, he stroked her long red hair, finally calming the rampaging Kushina down.
Naturally, their little gestures did not escape the other two.
Watching them, Hatake Sakumo sighed inwardly at how wonderful it was to be young.
Uchiha Mikoto watched their interaction with keen interest.
They soon reached the mission site, and after Hatake Sakumo announced the details of the mission,
their expressions grew serious as well.
This mission was to wipe out the bandits in this mountain range.
The intelligence indicated that most of these bandits were wandering samurai.
Their leader's strength was roughly on par with a Chunin.
Seeing that they had finished reading the intelligence, Hatake Sakumo said, "I'll hold their leader in check. You'll need to deal with everyone else."
The three exchanged glances, and Qianye Lan began laying out their tactics.
"I'll use a Shadow Clone to sneak in first and deal with all the hidden sentries and traps inside. Once we have enough intelligence, we'll attack."
It was a very simple tactic, but given their overwhelming advantage in strength, it was adequate.
Qianye Lan summoned a Shadow Clone.
The Shadow Clone vanished before them with a Body Flicker Technique.
As he infiltrated the place, the Shadow Clone muttered under his breath, "Honestly, my original always makes me do these dangerous missions."
Though he complained, his hands did not hesitate.
He casually destroyed the various traps the bandits had left behind.
Before you continue