Natsuki wasn't concerned about Asuma and Kurenai Yuhi's matters. He greeted them: "Shino, you guys are here too. How do you feel?"
Shino quickly walked to Natsuki's table, nodded and greeted the others, and said: "Natsuki, you guys are also eating BBQ. I feel alright. Kurenai Yuhi-sensei is a very capable teacher."
"That's good. Our class's Aoba-sensei is also very capable..."
The two of them chatted familiarly. After all, they had been deskmates and good friends for so many years, there was no need to be polite.
Yamashiro Aoba glanced at Natsuki again. It was written in Natsuki's file that this kid had a very good relationship with the children of several ninja families. It seems he is very good at socializing.
Both a genius and good at making friends, it seems Natsuki has a bright future!
The BBQ was quickly finished. Yamashiro Aoba reminded them of the meeting time and place for tomorrow, then flashed away.
Seeing that it was getting late, Natsuki asked Yamashiro Runya to escort Kato Megumi home.
He himself hurried towards the 21 Ninjutsu Shop. As expected, Tenten was already waiting at home. As soon as she saw Natsuki, she excitedly ran over and bumped into his arms.
"Hmm, smells like BBQ. Looks like your sensei also treated you to BBQ," Tenten seemed quite satisfied with this.
After all, BBQ Q isn't cheap, and a sensei who is willing to spend money to treat their students to BBQ on the first day of a new team's formation is generally very generous and definitely a good sensei.
Since her boyfriend had a good sensei, she, as his girlfriend, could naturally feel at ease.
Natsuki first nodded to his convenient Father-in-law, then began his report: "I was assigned to Team Nine. My two teammates are Yamashiro Runya and Kato Megumi, and the sensei is Yamashiro Aoba. Aoba-sensei is a Special Jonin in the Intelligence Division. Although his strength isn't top-tier, he's proficient in many things and is very well-rounded. And his Taijutsu is not weaker than Teacher Kai's..."
Before long, Natsuki recounted the day's events.
It was mainly to put Tenten at ease.
Tenten also nodded after listening. Although she would have preferred Kakashi to be Natsuki's sensei, having witnessed Kakashi's strength, Yamashiro Aoba seemed pretty good too.
Moreover, this was the Hokage's arrangement, and no one could question it.
The Ninjutsu Shop Owner Father-in-law pretended to clean the counter with a feather duster, but in reality, his ears were perked up the whole time. He was more concerned about his future son-in-law's situation than he had imagined.
"Alright, Natsuki, you must be tired. Go take a bath first. Do you need me to help you scrub your back?" Tenten pushed Natsuki towards the bathroom.
"Help me scrub my back? Can I?" Natsuki couldn't help but look forward to it.
"No! You're still young!" The Ninjutsu Shop Owner Father-in-law roared, startling both Natsuki and Tenten, who then playfully stuck their tongues out at the Ninjutsu Shop Owner.
If we're not scrubbing backs, we're not scrubbing backs! Why yell so loudly!
However, they really couldn't. They were indeed still young, and more importantly, they were entering puberty. Going into the bathroom together was simply inappropriate.
But the Ninjutsu Shop Owner didn't know that Tenten would sneak into Natsuki's bed at night.
Natsuki was both doting and helpless: "Tenten, you're a big girl now. You can't keep sneaking into my bed. Don't force me to make a mistake."
Tenten mumbled, "Natsuki, you haven't given me an electric shock in a long time."
Natsuki was momentarily dumbfounded: "Didn't you learn to shock yourself..."
"But I want you to help me! Please!"
"Alright, alright! Don't move around! It's very dangerous!"
The night passed. Natsuki got up feeling refreshed. Fortunately, Tenten returned to her own room after the electric shock, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to sleep and would have likely gone out with dark circles under his eyes the next day.
After breakfast, the young couple tasted the meat buns from each other's mouths and then parted ways at the shop entrance.
Natsuki quickly arrived at the agreed-upon location. Yamashiro Runya and Kato Megumi were already waiting there, but perhaps it was his imagination, there seemed to be a bit of awkwardness between them.
However, Natsuki didn't pay much attention to this. Instead, he distributed some special shuriken to each of them.
This was with Tenten's permission, so it was fine, but the money owed wouldn't be less.
As soon as eight o'clock struck, Yamashiro Aoba immediately appeared, showing great punctuality, not a minute more or a second less. He then immediately took the three of them to the Hokage Building to receive a D-rank mission: harvesting wheat!
Yamashiro Runya was bewildered: "Aoba-nii, isn't this work for farmers? Why is this a ninja's requested mission?"
Kato Megumi also couldn't quite understand: "Yes, Aoba-sensei, can this even be considered a mission?"
Yamashiro Aoba didn't explain, only looked at Natsuki.
Natsuki had no choice but to speak: "Alright, you two, a mission is a mission, don't complain. Seeing you like this, I'll explain a couple of things. D-rank missions are basically odd jobs in the village. First, it's because there aren't that many dangerous missions, and ninja need to earn money to support their families. These D-rank missions are very good jobs. Second, it's to cultivate the camaraderie and bonds among the new team members, to let us rookies get to know each other. Third, and most importantly, it's to teach us how to disguise ourselves."
Learn to disguise?
They seemed to understand, yet not quite.
"You guys need to learn to think!"
Natsuki could only spend more words: "Future dangerous missions may require us to infiltrate enemy territory. We might need to disguise ourselves as local villagers, and villagers have all sorts of professions. Just like harvesting wheat now, it's to teach us how to be a farmer so that when we disguise ourselves in the future, we won't be seen through by the enemy. Understand?"
The two suddenly realized: "So that's how it is! As expected of the leader, you know so much!"
Natsuki twitched the corner of his mouth, unable to smile. He always felt that being praised by these two teammates wasn't something to be happy about.
Yamashiro Aoba, on the other hand, was leisurely enjoying himself. He remembered what Kakashi had said, that having a student like Natsuki would make things much easier. It seemed to be true now.
Many problems didn't require him, the sensei, to handle. He could just leave them to Natsuki.
After all, Natsuki was the leader of this team.
Just then, Natsuki suddenly looked over: "Aoba-sensei, how about we play a game?"
Yamashiro Aoba calmly asked: "What game?"
"It's simple. Sensei, you don't go to the mission point first. The three of us will go first, and after we transform and disguise ourselves, you come and find us. If you can't find any flaws in our disguise, we win. As a penalty, you have to teach us a Ninjutsu. If we lose, you can arrange a punishment, how about that?"
"Hehe, that's quite interesting. Alright, you go first, I'll come find you in twenty minutes."
Yamashiro Aoba felt this was quite good. After all, as Natsuki said, students could learn how to disguise themselves while doing these D-rank missions. And as a sensei, he naturally needed to give guidance. Playing this game now was just right. Not only was it fun, but it also allowed the students to learn something.
Indeed, Natsuki was doing a good job as the leader. From now on, he, the sensei, could relax.
However, these three little guys might have forgotten that he was a Special Jonin in the Intelligence Division. Trying to play disguise in front of him was too naive!