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"Kakashi Sensei, isn't this mission way too boring?"
"I'm a genin now! Tasks like this are for kids!"
In an artificial canal, Naruto grumbled while picking up trash, glaring at Kakashi, who was relaxing on the riverbank with a book in hand.
Kakashi didn't even bother to lift his eyes. He was already used to it.
Sakura, equally unwilling to pick up trash, exploded with anger at Naruto's constant whining. Standing up with hands on her hips, her hair fluttered as she yelled, "Idiot Naruto, hurry up and get to work! Stop slacking off! Do you want to die?"
Naruto's bravado instantly evaporated, and he sulkily bowed his head, resuming his task without further complaint.
Meanwhile, Sasuke silently continued working, though he occasionally glanced toward Kakashi. Despite Naruto's complaints annoying him, he perked up his ears to listen.
With Naruto subdued by Sakura, Kakashi finally looked up at his three students, a hint of a smile in his eyes.
The scene brought back memories of his own days in a squad with Obito.
"That guy… I wonder where he is now…" Kakashi mused.
It had been two years since Uchiha Obito last returned to Konoha.
As a protector of the ninja world from the shadows, Obito and Nagato spent most of their time wandering from place to place.
A few years ago, they had been the first to uncover the resurgence of the Jashin Cult.
Kakashi, the Hokage has summoned you."
Suddenly, an ANBU operative appeared.
Kakashi immediately closed his book and nodded seriously. "Understood."
The masked Yugao Uzuki nodded slightly before vanishing in an instant.
This scene caught the attention of Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke.
As soon as the ANBU left, Naruto couldn't hold back his excitement. "Kakashi-sensei, is Yugao-san giving us a special mission?"
As the son of the Fourth Hokage, Naruto was familiar with the ANBU who often accompanied his father.
Both Sasuke and Sakura looked at Kakashi with eager anticipation.
Kakashi lazily replied, "No idea. You three, finish the mission. I'm off to see the Fourth."
And with that, he disappeared.
Naruto's mind was already racing with possibilities. "What kind of mission could it be? Bandits? Or rogue ninjas?"
Sakura scoffed, "Rogue ninjas wouldn't be assigned to rookies like us who just graduated."
She turned to Sasuke and asked, "Sasuke, did your brother ever do missions like this when he was our age?"
Naruto perked up. "Didn't Itachi graduate early?"
Sasuke nodded, pride evident in his voice. "My brother graduated early and joined the Root training program. It's different from us."
"Everything there is stricter, and I heard they have actual combat training. He probably started taking real missions way earlier than we do."
Naruto's eyes sparkled with envy.
Unfortunately for him, even as the Hokage's son, he wasn't allowed to graduate early without merit.
---
Hokage's Office
Kakashi stood with his hands in his pockets in front of Minato's desk.
Minato handed him a document with a smile. "This is a joint mission. Prepare yourselves and head to the Alliance Headquarters for assembly."
Kakashi accepted the file. "Island Exploration Plan…"
Minato explained, "It's a preliminary operation for island development.
"Currently, the primary focus is an island where past experiments with summoning creatures were conducted. Initial reconnaissance indicates the presence of many powerful summons there."
Kakashi nodded. "Understood."
As Kakashi left, an ANBU ninja appeared in the office.
"Hokage-sama, intel from the Daimyō's estate."
Minato took the report and scanned it, his expression becoming serious.
The Daimyō's Guardian Ninja were planning a rebellion!
It seemed that with the growing strength of the Ninja Alliance, the Daimyō had realized the promises Shūichi had made years ago were unlikely to materialize.
Whether the rebellion was directly sanctioned by the Daimyō or initiated independently by the Guardian Ninja, the result was the same: treason was brewing.
This was not unexpected.
Minato remained calm. "The mind-controlling secret technique—has it been confirmed?"
The ANBU operative nodded. "Preliminary investigations confirm its existence.
"The leader of the rogue ninja is using it to control some of the Guardian Ninja who were unwilling to join the rebellion. Only a few, such as Sarutobi Asuma and Chiriku, remain untouched due to their strength, but the rebels haven't made a move yet.
"Additionally, they are targeting Shūichi-sama's experimental base at the Daimyō's estate. They aim to acquire tailed beast power.
"If the rebellion begins, their first move will likely be to eliminate Asuma and the others, securing complete control of the Daimyō. From there, they'll leverage his authority to rally ministers and nobles."
Minato nodded. "Yugao."
Yugao Uzuki appeared instantly in the office.
Minato issued his orders. "Immediately dispatch the teams of Sarutobi Shinnosuke, Uchiha Itachi, and Hayate Gekkō to the Daimyō's estate. Coordinate with Asuma and his group to suppress the rebellion, eliminate its leaders, free the controlled ninjas, and protect the Daimyō."
"Understood!"
Yugao nodded and vanished in a flash.
Minato continued instructing the remaining ANBU operatives, "Immediately contact the Communications Division and notify Uchiha Obito and Nagato to head to the Daimyō's estate."
He decided to proceed cautiously, as his instincts told him this rebellion wasn't as simple as it seemed.
Besides, certain tasks would be better handled by Obito and Nagato.
The ANBU ninja promptly accepted the order and left.
Minato walked to the window and gazed down at the increasingly prosperous Konoha. "The new world Shūichi created is thriving. The children no longer need to step onto dangerous battlefields, and I will not allow anyone to destroy this world."
He hadn't informed Shūichi of the situation. For one, Shūichi wasn't in the village at the moment. Secondly, this level of trouble didn't warrant mobilizing their ultimate trump card.
If even minor issues required the involvement of the strongest ninja in the world, it would make everyone else seem incompetent.
"Others need their chance to shine, too."
Minato smiled faintly.
And Naruto… that child was probably growing quite impatient by now.
---
Elsewhere
Upon hearing they were assigned a C-rank mission, Naruto cheered excitedly, and even Sasuke couldn't help but smile.
Sakura, relieved, asked, "Kakashi-sensei, if we're heading out to sea, we'll be gone for several days, won't we?"
Kakashi nodded. "The exact duration isn't clear yet. Go back and prepare for now."
"Meet at the teleportation chamber in thirty minutes."
With that, Kakashi disappeared.
---
At Root Headquarters
Having received his orders, Sarutobi Shinnosuke arrived at the training grounds, calling out to the group practicing there. "Haku, Kimimaro, Kurotsuchi, Suigetsu—come with me!"
The four immediately followed Shinnosuke out of the Root base, meeting up with two ANBU squads in a forest.
Uchiha Itachi and Hayate Gekkō removed their masks simultaneously. "Shinnosuke-senpai!"
Shinnosuke waved a hand casually, smiling. "No need to be so formal. For this mission, ANBU will take the lead. Root is here for combat training, as you all understand."
Itachi and Hayate nodded. They had undergone similar experiences under Shinnosuke's leadership before.
Putting his mask back on, Itachi said, "Let's move out."
With that, the three squads—thirteen members in total—leapt into action, heading toward the Daimyō's estate.
On the way, Suigetsu couldn't resist asking, "Captain, what's our mission this time?"
Shinnosuke replied, "I was going to explain after we took a break, but since you've asked, I'll tell you now."
Haku, Kimimaro, and Kurotsuchi perked up their ears, eager to hear.
Shinnosuke explained, "The Guardian Ninja at the Daimyō's estate are planning a rebellion."
"What?"
Suigetsu was shocked. "A rebellion?"
"The Daimyō's Guardian Ninja… those guys… they were once trained by Lord Shūichi! Don't they know how terrifying he is? Are they out of their minds?"
Having studied at the ninja academy near the Daimyō's estate and spent time under Pakura's mentorship, Suigetsu, Kimimaro, and Haku were well-informed about such matters.
Kimimaro's eyes filled with killing intent as he listened to Shinnosuke's words. Even Uchiha Itachi and the others ahead couldn't help but glance back at him.
Kimimaro said coldly, "To betray Lord Shūichi is an unforgivable crime."
Shinnosuke nodded. "Their aim is to gain control of the Daimyō."
Kurotsuchi scoffed. "They really must be brainless. Even if they control the Daimyō, it won't accomplish much."
The world had changed.
The Ninja Alliance now commanded the strongest military force in the ninja world, rendering the Daimyō powerless to enact significant changes.
Economically, the Ninja Alliance had been steadily infiltrating and gradually integrating the noble and ministerial classes tied to the Daimyō into the ninja system.
Step by step, the forces surrounding the Daimyō were being absorbed into the Ninja Alliance.
As the powerful successor to the Fourth Tsuchikage, Kurotsuchi had naturally been consciously educated in these matters by Ōnoki.
Haku's mind flashed through several figures, and he said, "Knowing Lord Shūichi's strength and still daring to rebel, they must have some kind of trump card, right?"
Shinnosuke replied, "They've mastered a secret technique that can control people, and they've used it to manipulate a number of the Guardian Ninja."
"In addition, there's the experimental base at the Daimyō's estate. That place holds the power of the tailed beasts, and these rebels aim to seize it."
Haku's eyes widened in shock.
Suigetsu exclaimed, "Doesn't that mean Lady Mizu is in danger?"
Kimimaro immediately interjected, "Captain, should we split into two teams?"
Compared to the renegade ninjas, Kimimaro was more concerned about Mizu.
It wasn't just because of her connection with Haku and Lord Shūichi. Mizu had cared for him for years, treating him like her own child, giving him a maternal love he had never known.
He would never allow anyone to harm Mizu!
Shinnosuke didn't immediately reply. Instead, he looked ahead at Uchiha Itachi.
Although Itachi was the youngest in the team, this mission placed him in command of the three squads.
This was mainly because Shinnosuke had just ceded the authority, a common practice in such operations.
Feeling Shinnosuke's gaze, Itachi spoke, "There's no need to worry about the experimental base. Lady Mizu is not alone. There's also the Immortal White Zetsu there."
"Moreover, Lord Shūichi left a clone behind in that area. Should anything unexpected occur, the clone will awaken and handle it."
"Of course, it would be unnecessary to trouble Lord Shūichi over something this minor."
"Shinnosuke-senpai, I'll leave the experimental base to you."
Itachi was aware of the close relationship between Haku and Lord Shūichi.
Shinnosuke nodded. "In that case, we'll split into two groups."
Hearing this, Haku quietly sighed in relief. He hadn't known about the dormant clone of Lord Shūichi at the experimental base.
---
At the Daimyō's Estate
In a deserted alley, as space distorted, Uchiha Obito and Nagato appeared, both wearing their masks.
"For now, let's split up," Nagato suggested.
Obito nodded. "I'll check in with Sarutobi Asuma to gather information."
"As for the Daimyō, that's your responsibility. If they dare to stage a rebellion, a mere mind-control technique won't be enough."
Nagato nodded and vanished. Obito also teleported away shortly after.
---
A short while later, in a dimly lit room, Sarutobi Asuma frowned at a map before him. Suddenly, he looked up to see Uchiha Obito. He immediately relaxed, a look of relief washing over him.
"I didn't expect even you to show up," Asuma said, surprised.
If Obito was here, Nagato was likely also at the Daimyō's estate.
In Asuma's eyes, aside from Lord Shūichi, these two were the strongest shinobi in the ninja world—existences that surpassed the Five Kage.
Although the rebellion was severe, it didn't seem significant enough to warrant the involvement of Obito and Nagato.
Obito said, "This was Sensei's decision. He probably has other considerations."
"What's the current situation?"
Asuma let out a bitter laugh. "Over the past few years, the number of ninja under the Daimyō has steadily increased. Ordinarily, this wouldn't be an issue since they're all part of the Ninja Alliance."
"But Kazuma and his group have mastered a mind-control secret technique. By the time I and Chiriku noticed it, most of the Daimyō's ninja had already fallen under their control."
"We suspect even the Daimyō has been compromised, as it's become nearly impossible to meet him."
Obito remarked, "Relying solely on the Daimyō's Guardian Ninja isn't enough to oppose the Ninja Alliance."
"These people you mentioned… weren't they also taught by Lord Shūichi?"
Asuma's expression turned bitter.
Once comrades and friends, they had now diverged paths, becoming enemies.
Obito, noticing Asuma's expression, said dryly, "Looks like there are still people who don't take Shūichi seriously."
Asuma sighed. "It's not that they disagree with Shūichi's ideals."
"They just believe the Daimyō is the one who should lead everyone."
Obito scoffed, "Then they clearly weren't paying attention in class."
"Someone more formidable must be backing them."
"Anyone who's been taught by Shūichi should at least have some understanding of his power."
Asuma frowned. "There is one person who seems suspicious."
"Who?" Obito asked.
"A doctor who's been by the Daimyō's side. He appeared at the estate two years ago and gained the Daimyō's favor due to his exceptional medical skills," Asuma explained.
"However, he doesn't seem like a ninja and has never used ninja abilities."
Obito raised an eyebrow. "Not a ninja, or at least not a medical ninja."
After a moment of thought, he said, "For now, I'll leave this to you. Reinforcements from the village should arrive soon."
Asuma understood Obito's intention: one visible force, one hidden.
---
At the same time, Shūichi Hoshita stood at the entrance to Ryūchi Cave, Uchiha Shisui at his side.
(End of Chapter)
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