Uchiha Douyang had also considered becoming a bounty ninja and taking jobs on the black market.
But black-market missions were a tier below those available in Konoha in both pay and danger, offering little training value.
Konoha was the strongest shinobi village, with clients throughout the Shinobi World. The black market could not compare in either the quality or quantity of its missions.
Seeing that Uchiha Douyang had not refused and the other three had no objections either, Torifu Akimichi said helplessly, "All right. From today onward, you are Team One of the Special Operations Department."
"Understood!"
"Kakashi, you will serve as Team One's captain."
That evening, Uchiha Douyang, Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, and Shisui Uchiha gathered at a barbecue restaurant.
"We'll be working together for a long time to come. Cheers!"
Uchiha Douyang raised his cup as he spoke and drained the sake in one gulp.
The sake in the Shinobi World had a very low alcohol content, but it tasted quite sweet.
Then Douyang's gaze fell on Kakashi, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
Kakashi froze under Douyang's stare.
Wait, Douyang, what's that look supposed to mean?
The corners of Douyang's mouth lifted as he rubbed his thumb and index finger together. "Captain Kakashi, as our captain and our Anbu senior, shouldn't you give us a little something?"
"Uh..."
Kakashi pondered for a moment, then reached toward the ninja tool pouch at his waist with a pained expression.
Douyang froze.
I was just saying that, Kakashi. You're actually doing it?
Douyang was both surprised and delighted. If he could get his hands on the Lightning Blade, he would have another powerful trump card in battle.
The Lightning Blade was an S-rank forbidden jutsu capable of cutting through lightning itself. Its power went without saying.
But what Douyang valued most was that the Lightning Blade required no hand seals.
"Honestly, I'm rather reluctant to part with it, but as your senior, I can only... make this painful sacrifice."
With a deeply pained expression, Kakashi took a yellow-covered book from his ninja tool pouch.
Was it a secret jutsu manual containing the Lightning Blade?
Douyang accepted the yellow-covered book and gave it a careful glance.
The words "Icha Icha Paradise Collector's Edition" were emblazoned across the cover.
Pfft!
Shisui Uchiha's wrist jerked, splashing the sake in his cup onto Kakashi's leg. "Senior Kakashi, this is what you're giving him?"
Kakashi pulled out a tissue and wiped his thigh, then said solemnly, "What's wrong with it? I had someone buy this for me. Once I get Lord Jiraiya's autograph on it, it'll make a really valuable keepsake."
Shisui glanced at the petrified Uchiha Douyang and said, "But Douyang has a girlfriend, you know!"
Kakashi: "..."
Early the next morning, Uchiha Douyang arrived at the Special Operations Department, formerly the Anbu assembly warehouse.
Before long, Might Guy arrived as well.
After greeting each other, the two began selecting equipment that suited them.
Beside the mask rack.
Douyang's gaze shifted between a fox mask and an eagle mask before he finally chose the shrewd, cunning-looking fox mask.
Beside him, Might Guy chose an ordinary ox mask.
They donned their armor and strapped standard-issue long swords to their backs...
Uchiha Douyang studied his reflection in the mirror. He had a sturdy build and stood as tall as Kakashi. He nodded in satisfaction. "Looks pretty good. The Special Operations Department's uniform looks cooler and more mysterious than a jonin vest."
Just then, Shisui walked slowly over wearing a cat mask. "Douyang, Guy, are you ready? We have a mission. Lord Hokage wants us to come over."
Beside them, Guy clenched his fists. "My youth is burning!"
Douyang, on the other hand, scratched his head. "Seriously? A mission on our very first day?"
Shisui explained with a smile, "That's how work in the An... Special Operations Department goes. Sometimes there are no missions for days, and sometimes we work for several days straight."
Once their preparations were complete, the three left the warehouse and headed for the Hokage Building.
Inside the office.
Fully equipped, Douyang, Kakashi, and the other two stood straight before the desk.
Torifu Akimichi wasted no words and went straight to the point.
"I originally intended to give you a few days off to adjust to work in the Special Operations Department, but plans can't keep up with changes..."
Torifu Akimichi tapped the desktop with his index finger and said gravely, "Just last night, Priestess Miroku of the Land of Demons sent Konoha a plea for help. She said the seal on Moryo, a demon from another realm, was weakening. For the stability of the entire Shinobi World, she requested Konoha's assistance."
As he spoke, his assistant took out a scroll and undid the sealing formula on it.
As the scroll unfurled, a white light flashed, and a projected image of a woman with long white hair and a golden crown appeared in the office.
"Shinobi of the Five Great Nations, I am Miroku, priestess of the Land of Demons. Moryo, a demon from another realm, possesses tremendous power. If he regains his body and descends upon us at full strength, the Shinobi World will face a catastrophe. I hope the shinobi of the Five Great Nations can help me seal Moryo once more."
Kakashi, Might Guy, and Shisui were immediately startled by her words.
A demon from another realm? A catastrophe for the Shinobi World?
If Priestess Miroku was not exaggerating, this mission would be extremely difficult.
Uchiha Douyang's gaze sharpened slightly.
At this point in the original timeline, Moryo had indeed broken free of his seal, but Priestess Miroku had sacrificed her life to seal him away.
He simply did not know what role the Konoha ninja-or rather, the shinobi of the Five Great Nations-had played in this crisis, or how much they had contributed.
The priestess was a widow with a daughter who looked remarkably like Hinata.
Although the priestess lacked even the strength to truss a chicken, she enjoyed considerable prestige in the Shinobi World.
That much was clear from how seriously Torifu Akimichi took her request for Konoha's help.
If I could save the priestess and build a deeper relationship with her...
Torifu Akimichi rose to his feet and said with a grave expression, "This mission is classified as S-rank. The specific details are unknown. Your task is to reach the Land of Demons Priestess Temple immediately and ensure Priestess Miroku's safety..."
"Yes!"
With no time to lose, the four-man squad immediately left Konoha and hurried toward the Land of Demons without stopping.
As soon as they left the village, Guy shouted excitedly at Kakashi, "Kakashi, just thinking about saving the world with you fills me with energy!"
Looking thoroughly exasperated, Kakashi replied listlessly, "Mm."
Oblivious as ever, Guy completely failed to notice the lack of energy in Kakashi's voice and said enthusiastically, "Kakashi, let's compete again and see who performs better on this mission."
"Mm!"
While responding listlessly to Guy, Kakashi turned to look at Shisui and Douyang at the rear of the team and urged them to keep up.
Meanwhile.
Sensing that Uchiha Douyang had seemed preoccupied ever since receiving the mission, Shisui asked hesitantly, "Douyang, what are you thinking about?"
Uchiha Douyang shook his head and said casually, "It's my first time going somewhere so far away. I'm a little nervous."
At that moment, Uchiha Douyang truly did have a lot on his mind.
Priestess Miroku had sacrificed her life to seal Moryo, which meant Moryo was no weakling and might very well be on the level of a Tailed Beast.
Second, Douyang had suddenly remembered that Miroku's plea for help had been sent to all Five Great Shinobi Villages at the same time.
That meant they were very likely to encounter shinobi from other villages on this mission to the Land of Demons.
Only a few years had passed since the great shinobi war ended, and the hatred between the shinobi of the various nations had yet to fade.
Before you continue