After spending two days sprawled around at home and using up most of the Soldier Pills and recovery medicine from his clan allowance, Shuo felt that his pitiful little supply of light energy had finally more or less recovered.
During that time, he had secretly tried the Yata Mirror Hypothesis a few more times, experimenting with altering the trajectories of fallen leaves and flying insects in his yard.
The success rate was abysmal. Managing one slight adjustment in ten attempts was already good, and the effect was so weak it was practically negligible.
But his vague perception of the paths light traveled seemed to have become just a tiny bit clearer.
[Continued low-intensity conceptual ability practice. Understanding of the Yata Mirror Hypothesis is slowly improving. Imitation points +5.] [Current imitation points: 237/100.]
He was still a little short of the 250 points required for "Physique enhancement: light energy affinity (beginner)."
That afternoon, he was lying on the sofa studying the scroll for the D-rank ninjutsu "Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique"-not because he wanted to learn it, but purely out of curiosity about its principles, to see whether he could borrow any ideas for his own Light Shuriken-when another knock came at the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
Shuo sighed and put down the scroll.
No one had bothered him for the past two days. He had thought he might get a few more days of peace.
He opened the door. Standing outside was not the young Uchiha messenger, but an unfamiliar Chunin wearing a Konoha forehead protector and a gentle smile.
"Chunin Uchiha Saku?" the man asked politely.
"That's me." Shuo nodded.
"Jonin Minato Namikaze asked me to give you this."
The Chunin handed him an ordinary scroll. "He also asked that you visit Training Ground Three whenever it's convenient."
Shuo took the scroll, something stirring in his mind. Here it comes.
"Understood. Thank you." He accepted the scroll.
"You're welcome." The Chunin bowed, turned, and left.
Shuo closed the door, returned to the living room, and untied the thin cord around the scroll.
Its contents were simple, just a few sentences:
"Shuo: If you have some free time, please come to Training Ground Three for a chat. Recently, scattered rogue ninja and small summoning beasts have been harassing border villages southeast of the village. There may be a simple elimination mission suitable for building teamwork. No pressure; come whenever it suits you. -Minato Namikaze"
The tone was as gentle as ever and left him room to choose. But the meaning was clear: I have a mission suitable for some practice. Interested in trying things out with my team?
Eliminating rogue ninja and summoning beasts?
It sounded much safer than the front lines, but also better than lying around doing nothing in the village.
And "building teamwork"... did that mean he might meet the other members of Team Minato?
Holding the scroll, Shuo thought for a few minutes.
Should I go?
If I go, I'll definitely have to work. I might even have to coordinate with teammates. What a hassle.
If I don't... it doesn't seem like I'll lose anything.
He could keep slacking off at home, wait for his imitation points to accumulate slowly, and study his abilities.
But he had already vaguely agreed to consider Minato's offer.
Continuing to put it off without going did not seem quite right.
Besides, he did feel just a little... curiosity as someone who had transmigrated about Team Minato, particularly the younger Kakashi and Obito whom he might meet.
Forget it. I'll go take a look.
I'll treat it as a stroll outside and look at some story characters while I'm at it.
He finally made his decision.
At worst, I can give a mediocre performance and make Minato think I don't have much potential. Then he naturally won't invite me again.
He put away the scroll, changed into dark casual clothes that were easy to move in, checked his ninja tool pouch, packed a few ordinary shuriken and kunai, tucked away two more Soldier Pills, and leisurely headed out.
Training Ground Three was in the eastern part of the village, near the edge of the Forest of Death. Spacious and well equipped, it was generally used by Jonin leading their students or teams of Chunin and above for group training. By the time Shuo arrived, several people were already there.
The most conspicuous was, of course, the blond Minato Namikaze. He was smiling as he spoke to a boy with spiky silver hair and a mask, with only one dead-fish eye showing.
The boy looked a few years younger than Shuo, but his demeanor was cold and stern. He carried a short sword on his back. It was the young Kakashi.
Nearby stood a lively-looking Uchiha boy wearing goggles, Obito, and a girl with short brown hair and a gentle smile, Rin Nohara.
Obito was gesticulating as he said something to Rin, who listened patiently and nodded from time to time.
It was the standard lineup of the future Team Minato, except they all still looked very young. Obito and Rin had probably only recently graduated from the Ninja Academy, and Kakashi had not been a Chunin for long either.
Shuo's arrival caught their attention.
Minato was the first to turn around. He smiled and waved him over. "Shuo, you're here."
Kakashi's dead-fish eye swept over him without much emotion.
Obito studied him curiously, his eyes lighting up when he noticed the Uchiha clan clothing he wore.
Rin also gave him a friendly look.
"Jonin Minato." Shuo walked over and nodded, his manner neither particularly warm nor impolite.
"No need to be so formal." Minato smiled and introduced them. "These three are my current subordinates: Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara. Kakashi, Obito, Rin, this is Uchiha Saku, a Chunin who just returned from the eastern front. He earned merit on the battlefield."
"Hello," Kakashi said succinctly.
"Wow! Another Uchiha! Hello, senior! I'm Obito Uchiha!"
Obito was excited. "Were you on the eastern front too, senior? I heard the fighting there was really intense!"
"Hello, Shuo," Rin greeted him gently, with the respect due a senior.
"Hello, everyone."
Shuo nodded to the three of them, responding blandly to Obito's excitement.
Uchiha? Oh, right, the same clan. But that's about it.
Watching Shuo's reaction, Minato's smile deepened, and he got to the point. "I asked you here to see whether you'd be interested in temporarily joining us for a simple border elimination mission. Our targets are rogue ninja harassing villagers and small summoning beasts that were accidentally summoned and went out of control. It isn't particularly dangerous, and it will give everyone a chance to get used to working together."
Obito immediately raised his hand. "Minato-sensei! I think it's a great idea! Another person means more help!"
Kakashi said nothing, but his eyes conveyed, "Whatever, as long as he doesn't hold us back."
Rin smiled and nodded in agreement as well.
Shuo looked at Minato's expectant gaze, then at the three future celebrities before him. Somehow, his intention of "just taking a look" turned into:
"...All right."
He scratched his head, his tone still as unenthusiastic as ever. "I've got nothing else to do anyway."
[Ding! Accepted a "nonmandatory invitation mission." Attitude matches a laid-back, "go with the flow" decision-making style. Imitation points +5.]
"Wonderful."
Minato clapped his hands. "Then let's briefly go over the situation. The target area is southeast of here, near the border of the Land of Rivers. Two small villages have recently been harassed. According to our intelligence, there are roughly three or four rogue ninja, with strength around Chunin level, skilled in Earth Release and traps. The summoning beasts are mainly large venomous insects and ninja dogs. There aren't many, but they're troublesome. Our mission is to eliminate the threat and ensure the villagers' safety. Capture is an option if necessary. Understood?"
"Understood!" Obito and Rin answered loudly.
Kakashi nodded. Shuo followed with a grunt of acknowledgment.
"Good. Get ready. We leave in ten minutes."
Minato spoke, then looked at Shuo and added, "Shuo, you've only recently returned to the village. This mission will mainly be about observing and getting used to working with the team, so don't feel pressured."
"Got it," Shuo replied.
So he meant I could coast? Just what I wanted.
Ten minutes later, the team set out.
Minato and Kakashi led the way, Obito and Rin stayed in the middle, and Shuo trailed leisurely at the rear.
After passing through the Konoha Gate and entering the forest, the team picked up speed. Minato and Kakashi's speed went without saying. Although Obito and Rin were young, their fundamentals were solid, and keeping up was not difficult.
At first, Shuo tried to maintain the traveling speed of an ordinary Chunin, but he soon discovered that his body, which had undergone light particle activation, seemed to handle straightforward long-distance running a little more easily than he had expected. His stamina consumption was noticeably lower than that of an ordinary ninja.
He did not deliberately accelerate, merely maintaining a steady pace that kept him with the team. He looked relaxed and even had time to observe the scenery along the way and the movement patterns of his teammates ahead.
Minato's Body Flicker Technique was natural and fluid, Kakashi's steps were steady and efficient, Obito was a little impetuous but full of energy, and Rin was attentive, keeping an eye on her teammates' condition.
A typical elite team lineup.
That was Shuo's assessment.
As someone temporarily slotted in, he really did seem a little out of place.
During the journey, Obito tried several times to turn back and talk to Shuo, only for Kakashi to glare coldly at him each time. Rin gave Shuo an apologetic smile.
Shuo did not mind. He was happy to have some peace.
A little over an hour later, the team approached the target area.
Minato signaled them to slow down and move stealthily. The forest around them grew dense, and the terrain began to rise and fall.
"The first village is five hundred meters ahead."
Lowering his voice, Minato made several hand signals.
Kakashi immediately understood. His figure flickered, and he disappeared into the trees on their flank to scout ahead.
Obito and Rin grew tense as well, tightening their grips on their kunai.
Shuo stopped with them and leaned behind a tree, extending his senses-mainly relying on hearing and his faint light energy's vague perception of abnormalities in the surroundings. He detected no obvious chakra fluctuations.
A few minutes later, Kakashi returned soundlessly and said in a low voice, "There are simple traps around the village perimeter. Two guards in the woods to the east. Their chakra signatures are Chunin level.
"There are no signs of large-scale fighting in the village. The villagers are being held together in the central clearing and are frightened. No summoning beasts spotted."
"Two guards..."
Minato considered this. "Obito, Rin, infiltrate from the west. Prioritize rescuing the villagers and create confusion. Kakashi, take out one of the eastern guards. Leave the other to me. Shuo," he looked at Shuo, "please help watch the perimeter, prevent any other enemies or summoning beasts from appearing unexpectedly, and be ready to support either side at any time. Can you do that?"
It was a very reasonable division of duties, giving him, the "newcomer," the relatively safe but important task of keeping watch.
"No problem." Shuo nodded.
"Good. Move out!"
Minato and Kakashi vanished instantly.
Obito and Rin also circled toward the west.
Shuo lightly leaped into a large tree beside him, found a high spot thick with foliage, and crouched there, his gaze sweeping over the quiet forest below and the distant outline of the village.
The wind rustled through the leaves.
He adjusted his breathing, his right hand habitually resting on the ninja tool pouch at the back of his waist.
Keeping watch, huh...
He half closed his eyes, but his gaze became focused and calm.
This kind of work...
Actually suits someone like me who "hates trouble."
From the direction of the distant village came the faint sounds of clashing kunai and erupting ninjutsu.
The battle had begun.
Before you continue