Hokage's Office
Rinjin stood confidently before the Hokage's desk, with three young boys carrying large bags lined up behind him.
"Uncle Hiruzen, I want to take these kids out on a mission."
The familiar tone, the familiar content, and of course, the familiar rolling of eyes.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, made no effort to hide his exasperation. He rolled his eyes dramatically, his face long and full of displeasure.
"Hmph! Let me guess, you're planning to use your title as the Daimyō of the Land of Rain to issue another mission, aren't you?"
Hiruzen's sarcastic tone filled the room, his words dripping with mockery.
Hearing this, Rinjin grinned sheepishly and scratched the back of his head.
"You're as sharp as ever, Uncle Hiruzen. Truly, the village is blessed to have someone like you."
Shameless flattery!
The moment the words left his mouth, everyone in the office instinctively rolled their eyes. The only exception was the Hyūga clan head, who simply glanced at the others in silence—after all, his eyes were already rolled by nature.
Hiruzen sighed inwardly as he regarded the carefree and grinning Rinjin.
It was like watching a mother-in-law evaluating her son-in-law—when you like someone, everything they do seems pleasing.
Hiruzen genuinely hoped that his successor could possess a thick skin like Rinjin.
For an excellent politician, shamelessness wasn't just a virtue; it was an indispensable trait.
After a moment of thought, Hiruzen spoke calmly.
"So, what's the excuse... I mean, the mission this time?"
Hearing this, Rinjin's grin faded. He pulled a small map from his ninja pouch and spread it across the desk.
Pointing to the southeastern region of the map, towards the Land of Water, he said:
"An A-rank mission. A new grudge between Amegakure and Kirigakure."
"Mission objective: infiltrate the Land of Water, gain access to Kirigakure's upper echelons, and steal classified information."
The room fell silent, the initial hum of conversation replaced by stunned expressions.
However, both Hiruzen Sarutobi and Nara Shikazuru, standing beside him, couldn't hide the glint of approval in their eyes.
The others, on the other hand, showed varying degrees of concern.
They worried that Rinjin and the three children might be exposed, potentially triggering a war.
But Hiruzen, who knew Rinjin well, understood one thing:
Rinjin never liked owing anyone anything. If the mission failed, he would ensure that the fallout had nothing to do with Konoha.
While this was reassuring, it also meant that Rinjin avoided forming deeper bonds with the village.
For now, though, such minor concerns were far from Hiruzen's mind.
What truly mattered was that Rinjin was willing to pass on his infiltration skills.
The previous students—Rii, Teuchi, and Fugaku—though unreliable in some ways, were undeniably powerful.
Now, with the next generation of the Ino-Shika-Chō trio under his care, Hiruzen's expectations were modest: as long as young Nara Shikaku succeeded, it would be enough.
Nara Shikazuru, standing behind his sweat-drenched son, felt a mix of pride and reluctance.
There was no need to think too hard about it—following Rinjin meant three beatings every two days. Just look at Fugaku Uchiha—even his Sharingan had evolved under the pressure!
But once they endured, they'd be unstoppable in Konoha.
Take that Uchiha kid, for example. He was always "persuading" people to get along—ahem—and yet lived a carefree life. Who dared to touch him?
Even the Uchiha clan members avoided him. Just the other day, he beat up two Hyūga heirs, and nothing came of it!
Rinjin was like a twisted tree that had grown for two hundred years—providing shade for his own people while hanging outsiders.
Clearing his throat, Shikazuru looked at Hiruzen and suggested:
"Hokage-sama, I think we should give Team Eleven some..."
Hearing this, Rinjin's eyes lit up, and his grin widened.
Good old Shikazuru! Always knowing how to play the game! No wonder you'll end up as the Hokage's advisor!
Hiruzen, pretending to ponder, slowly lit his pipe and took a deep puff.
Shikazuru is still too young...
Does it even matter whether we give them the money or not?
Having dealt with Rinjin countless times, Hiruzen knew:
Rinjin's loyalty was unshakable.
If they gave him money, he'd smile and call Hiruzen an old fossil behind his back.
If they didn't, he'd sulk but still return when another opportunity arose.
In short, giving or withholding funds made no difference.
Taking a few more puffs of his pipe, Hiruzen finally looked up.
"The mission is approved, but not a single coin will be given! The village is on the brink of war; we can't afford to fund your whims! Be grateful we're not taking from you instead!"
As expected, Rinjin's face immediately fell.
"This old fossil! Shameless bastard!"
Rolling his eyes, Rinjin turned to the three sweaty boys behind him and waved.
"Let's go. Since the village won't fund us, we'll just have to walk to the Land of Water on foot."
With that, he herded the kids out of the office like a farmer driving pigs.
[End of Volume Four]
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Discover 10 Amazing Fanfics on My Patreon!Unlock 400+ Advance Chapters and Dive into the Story Early! 👉 [patreon.com/DarkGolds]