Outwitting Shikaku, the First C-Rank Mission

Noon, at the training ground.

Shikaku leaned against a tree, leisurely reading a book.

"I wonder if those three little guys have come up with anything," Shikaku muttered to himself.

To be honest, he was quite satisfied with these three students.

Hayate was not especially bright, but he made up for it with passion and sincerity.

Jingyue was calm and clever, a promising young talent.

As for Uchiha Rìtiān...

Shikaku shook his head. That kid was unfathomable.

Just then, a delicious aroma drifted over.

Shikaku sniffed.

That smells good...

He turned to look and saw Uchiha Rìtiān and the other two sitting nearby, eating lunch.

And... wasn't their spread a little too lavish?

Grilled meat, sushi, ramen, dumplings... they had everything.

Shikaku's mouth twitched.

Had these three little guys come for a picnic or a test?

"Uchiha Rìtiān, what are you doing?" Shikaku called.

Uchiha Rìtiān looked up and grinned. "Eating, old man. Want to join us?"

Shikaku: "..."

This kid really knows how to work people.

But... I'm not falling for it.

"No thanks. Enjoy your food." Shikaku waved a hand.

"Are you sure?" Uchiha Rìtiān picked up a piece of grilled meat and sniffed it. "Wow, that smells amazing..."

"This is grilled meat made with the Akimichi Clan's secret recipe. Crisp outside, tender inside, and it melts in your mouth..."

Shikaku: "..."

His stomach betrayed him with a growl.

Shikaku's weathered face reddened.

No, I can't give in to temptation!

"Enough chatter. Hurry up and finish eating so we can continue the test!" Shikaku said, forcing himself to hold firm.

Uchiha Rìtiān pouted. "If you don't want any, fine. No need to snap."

He turned to Hayate. "Hayate, eat up. We've got a tough fight this afternoon."

"Yeah!" Hayate nodded vigorously and began shoveling down his food.

Jingyue also ate at an unhurried pace, occasionally stealing a glance toward Shikaku.

Shikaku leaned against the tree, forcing himself not to look at them.

But that aroma... it was simply too tempting.

Shikaku swallowed.

No, I can't lose!

Just then, Uchiha Rìtiān suddenly stood.

"Old man, I'm done eating. Let's continue!" Uchiha Rìtiān said with a smile.

Shikaku paused. "Already?"

"Of course." Uchiha Rìtiān loosened his wrists. "I've already figured out how to beat you."

Shikaku raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Let's hear it."

"That would spoil the fun." Uchiha Rìtiān grinned. "Just wait and see."

Shikaku smiled. "All right. Let's see what you've got."

Uchiha Rìtiān rapidly formed hand seals.

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Ten shadow clones again.

Shikaku shook his head. "The same move won't work on me."

"Really?" Uchiha Rìtiān smiled. "Not necessarily."

He waved a hand. "Go!"

All ten shadow clones charged at once.

Shikaku calmly dodged them one by one.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The shadow clones were smashed apart one after another.

"Is that all you've got?" Shikaku shook his head.

Just as the last shadow clone was smashed apart-

"Look out!" Jingyue's voice rang out.

Shikaku instinctively looked up.

A large net dropped from above, falling over him.

"What?!"

Shikaku tried to dodge, but it was too late.

The net trapped him securely inside.

"This is..." Shikaku tugged at the net. "A Chakra Net?"

"That's right!" Uchiha Rìtiān's voice came from nearby. "This is my specially made Chakra Net. The more you struggle, the tighter it gets."

Shikaku looked up to see Uchiha Rìtiān standing a short distance away, grinning at him.

"When... did you set this up?" Shikaku asked with a frown.

"While you were watching us eat." Uchiha Rìtiān smiled. "I had Hayate set up the Chakra Net around here. You were so busy watching us eat that of course you didn't notice."

Shikaku: "..."

So those three little guys did all that on purpose?

Distracting me with the smell of food while secretly setting a trap?

"You little... you're pretty crafty." Shikaku did not know whether to laugh or cry.

"Heh, all's fair in war," Uchiha Rìtiān said smugly. "Old man, you lost!"

He walked over and reached out to take the bells.

Just as his hand was about to touch the bells-

"Did I?"

Shikaku's body suddenly went limp and slipped out of the net like a puddle of mud.

"Is that... Soft Body Modification?!" Uchiha Rìtiān's eyes widened.

Wait, doesn't the Nara Clan only know the Shadow Imitation Technique? How does he know Soft Body Modification too?

"Who said the Nara Clan only knows the Shadow Imitation Technique?" Shikaku smiled. "I know plenty of things."

He reached out to grab Uchiha Rìtiān's bells.

Wait, no, those bells are his!

Uchiha Rìtiān reacted extremely quickly and immediately backed away.

But Shikaku was faster, appearing in front of him in an instant.

"Kid, you lo-"

Shikaku stopped before he could finish.

Because he saw two bells in Uchiha Rìtiān's hand.

His very own bells!

"When..." Shikaku froze.

"While you were coming out of the net." Uchiha Rìtiān grinned and shook the bells in his hand. "Old man, you let your guard down."

As it turned out, when Shikaku came out of the net, Uchiha Rìtiān had taken advantage of his inattention to pluck off the bells.

Shikaku: "..."

An eight-year-old kid actually stole my bells?

Who would believe it?

"Ding! Successfully outwitted Shikaku!"

"Rewards: Teamwork +20, Show-Off Points +200!"

Uchiha Rìtiān was inwardly delighted.

Hayate ran over and exclaimed excitedly, "Uchiha Rìtiān! You're amazing!"

Jingyue came over too, looking at Uchiha Rìtiān with a little more admiration.

"That was... not bad," Jingyue said coolly.

Uchiha Rìtiān raised an eyebrow. Not bad?

That was obviously amazing!

Shikaku got up off the ground and dusted himself off.

He looked at Uchiha Rìtiān, his eyes full of appreciation.

"You little... you really have a knack for this."

"Heh, just the basics." Uchiha Rìtiān tossed his hair.

Shikaku's mouth twitched. This kid really was not modest.

"All right, you've passed the test." Shikaku waved a hand. "Starting today, you're officially Genin."

"Yeah!" Hayate jumped with excitement.

A faint smile appeared on Jingyue's face as well.

Uchiha Rìtiān remained quite calm. After all, this had all been expected.

"All right, don't celebrate too soon," Shikaku said. "Becoming Genin is only the beginning."

"Next, you'll take on missions, gain experience, and improve your strength."

"Tomorrow, you'll have your first mission."

"What mission?" Hayate asked curiously.

"A C-rank mission, escorting a caravan," Shikaku said evenly. "You'll protect the caravan all the way from Konoha to Sunagakure."

Uchiha Rìtiān's eyes lit up.

Sunagakure?

Perfect! I'd been wondering how to get to Sunagakure.

Talk about getting a pillow just when you're feeling sleepy!

"Ding! First C-rank mission detected: escort a caravan to Sunagakure."

"Option one: complete the mission by the book. Reward: experience +100."

"Option two: resolve Sunagakure's One-Tail problem along the way. Rewards: Sunagakure favorability +50, Show-Off Points +500."

Without a second thought, Uchiha Rìtiān said, "Option two!"

Since I'm going to Sunagakure, I might as well take care of it.

Two birds with one stone.

"All right! We accept the mission!" Uchiha Rìtiān said loudly.

Shikaku nodded. "All right, go home and prepare. We leave early tomorrow morning."

"Yes!"

The three answered in unison.

Looking at the lively trio, Shikaku's lips curved slightly upward.

These three little guys...

Maybe they really could accomplish something extraordinary.

That evening, Uchiha Rìtiān returned home and began packing.

The trip to Sunagakure definitely won't be peaceful.

Akatsuki is watching the One-Tail too. I might run into them on the road.

I need to be fully prepared.

Uchiha Rìtiān pulled a large pile of things from his Storage Scroll.

Kunai, shuriken, smoke bombs, flash bombs, and all sorts of specially made ninja tools...

He had everything.

"Hmm... that should about do it." Uchiha Rìtiān nodded in satisfaction.

Just then, the system notification sounded.

"Ding! Warning: two Akatsuki members detected in the direction of Sunagakure."

"Members: Deidara, Sasori of the Red Sands."

Uchiha Rìtiān's pupils constricted.

Deidara and Sasori?!

Those two are both full-fledged Akatsuki members, and they're powerful.

Especially Sasori, Sunagakure's genius puppeteer.

This is trouble.

Uchiha Rìtiān's expression grew grave.

It seemed this trip to Sunagakure would not go so smoothly.

But...

The corners of Uchiha Rìtiān's mouth lifted in an excited smile.

The more challenging it is, the more interesting it gets, doesn't it?

Deidara, Sasori...

Let's see just how strong you really are.