At dawn, at the northern exit of Sunagakure, the cold wind was still biting, but the sky was already bright.
Shira arrived at the meeting point ahead of time, tightened his grip on the new sword on his back, and adjusted the position of his Genin tool pouch. He hadn't expected so many people to come to see him off today.
Ameno was already waiting there, carrying a small package wrapped in cloth. When she saw him coming, she ran up to him, her cheeks slightly red from the cold. " Shira, this is for you. It's some dried food and jerky that I made myself that keeps well for the journey."
"Thank you." Shira took the package, feeling a slight warmth emanating from it, which warmed her heart.
Immediately afterward, Gaara appeared not far away, standing quietly beside a wind-eroded rock.
His appearance caused several villagers who were originally active nearby to instinctively distance themselves, their eyes filled with lingering tension, but now showing a more complex sense of awe than pure fear.
Shira smiled and nodded at Gaara, Gaara smiled and nodded slightly in return.
Finally, his parents Shiya and Rira, arrived. His mother, Rira, carefully straightened his collar and kept reminding him to be careful and eat on time. His father, Shiya, gave Shira a thumbs up, and everything was understood without words.
Then, Granny Chiyo strolled over slowly, with Ebizo following behind her. Chiyo merely glanced at Shira and snorted, "Boy, don't die out there. This old woman is waiting for you to come back so I can try out the new medicine." Although her words were unpleasant, Shira could hear the concern in them.
This display of support touched Shira, but also made him feel a little embarrassed. He took a deep breath and solemnly said to everyone who had come to see him off, "Thank you all! I will definitely complete the mission and return safely!"
Just then, a slight tremor came from the ground, accompanied by the clear sound of camel bells.
A sizable caravan slowly approached, consisting of about twenty people and a dozen camels and mules laden with goods. The caravan leader, a shrewd middle-aged man, smiled as he stepped forward to hand over the goods to the Sunagakure Chunin in charge of coordination.
Soon, the members of the escort team for this mission also arrived one after another.
The Chunin leading the team was a man who looked to be around thirty-five or thirty-six years old, with a calm demeanor and piercing eyes, Reppu. He was wearing a standard Sunagakure vest, was highly experienced, and was the absolute core figure of this mission.
The other three Genin, besides Shira, are:
Sada and Sasori, a pair of brothers in their early twenties, were both dressed in dark-colored high-necked clothes and carried long, cloth-wrapped objects on their backs, which were clearly puppets.
The elder brother, Sada, had a serious expression, while the younger brother Sasori, had more agile eyes, occasionally glancing at Shira and the caravan. They were a standard puppeteer duo.
Asuka, a young Genin who looks only twelve or thirteen years old, is small in stature but has bright and energetic eyes. He has several ninja tool pouches hanging from his waist and an eager expression on his face. He is a newcomer to the team.
"Everyone's here." Reppu glanced at his team members, his voice steady. "I'm Chunin, the Reppu leading this mission. We all know the mission details: escorting a caravan to Konoha. The journey is long, and we may encounter various situations. Now, let's get to know each other, give our names and areas of expertise, so we can coordinate better."
" Sada, Genin, skilled in puppet manipulation and trap setting," the older brother Sada said succinctly.
" Sasori, Genin, specializes in close-quarters combat with puppets and poison," his younger brother Sasori, added, his tone tinged with confidence.
"I am Asuka! Genin!" the boy's voice boomed. "I excel at speed reconnaissance and Shurikenjutsu! Nice to meet you!" With that, he looked curiously at Shira.
" Shira, Genin," Shira replied calmly, "Specializing in Taijutsu and direct confrontation."
"The one who does hand -Taijutsu?" Sasori raised an eyebrow, glanced at Shira, and said nothing more, while Sada Tuo remained expressionless.
Asuka's eyes lit up. "Wow! A Taijutsu master! That sounds amazing!"
Reppu nodded, noting down each person's characteristics. "Alright. Sada Sasori, you brothers are responsible for flank surveillance and trap warning. Asuka, you're agile, responsible for forward reconnaissance, keep your distance, and report back regularly. Shira, you'll stay with me in the center to provide support to all sides. Understand?"
"Understood!" the four replied in unison.
"Set off!"
With Reppu Feng's hand moved the caravan slowly. Shira turned back one last time, waved vigorously to the people seeing them off, then turned and strode after the group.
The Sada Sasori brothers spread out to the left and right in perfect unison, subtly protecting the caravan's flanks. The Asuka, like a nimble swallow, disappeared behind the sand dunes ahead in a few leaps and bounds, beginning its reconnaissance mission.
Reppu walked at the front of the caravan, his gaze steadily sweeping over the surroundings. Shira followed slightly behind him, getting used to the weight of her new sword while observing her teammates and the surrounding environment.
The initial view was still the vast Gobi Desert.
" Shira, right?" Reppu, who was walking beside him, suddenly spoke up, his voice not loud. "I heard you're very strong in Taijutsu, and you once intercepted missing-nin on your own, is that right?"
"There was an element of good luck involved," Shira replied modestly.
Reppu glanced at him, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes. "Not arrogant or impatient, very good. This mission may involve unavoidable direct confrontation; we'll have to rely on you then."
"I'll try."
Ahead, the figure of Asuka appeared on a sand dune and gave a reassurance. The caravan continued on in silence, with only the sounds of camel bells and footsteps echoing in the wind.
A new journey begins. Target: Konoha!