Chapter 10

Over the following days, Yokokage visits the Asahi and the group on top of the cliff by himself every day, tutoring and playing with the kids. 

Asahi also managed to save the data to his simulator and after a lot of consideration, chose to turn the dummy into one of his, primarily because making one for Keiki would be pointless given his age and most of his techniques are already solidified to his body, making changes harder compared to children like them who lacks a fighting style yet.

Also, his strength had reached a bottleneck and Asahi hoped that the more talented 'Asahi' dummy created from Keiki's data would be able to come up with a way to break this predicament. 

This is a problem the other dummies also fell, after all, they are all just simple civilian children and cannot be considered a genius by any means.

It is only through the hard work and dedication of them and their dummies that they were able to have the strength they possess today. Every single day, they train earnestly without complaining but rather with a smile on their face.

However, today is a special day. 

On top of the cliff, no children can be seen as they are all currently standing in front of the village's entrance.

"Take care out there guys!" Hattori wishes the three children well, and although he wants to come, Yokokage doesn't agree much to his dismay. 

"We will, while I'm gone dude take charge and take care of the others, make sure they don't slack in training," Asahi reassures as the two share a fist bump.

'No one's gonna die'

This is what Asahi had been stating to himself every single day since he learned the details of the mission from Keiki. However, he wasn't confident for that to be the case.

He knew the danger of this mission more than anyone in the village. Even Keiki who thinks that sending one of the five Jonin of the village is too much for the mission underestimates the danger of this mission. 

However, Asahi didn't say anything after hearing the Yokokage's ambition with this mission, which aligns with his previous plan.

Fortunately, among them is Mumashiki Udon, a member of the Mumashiki clan and a Jonin-level ninja, acting as their temporary team leader. Although contrary to Keiki's and Reiki's beautiful appearance, Udon looked more like an easygoing gambling addict uncle.

Udon as a ninja of the Yokogakure is often out in the village which is why Asahi doesn't have much memory of him growing up.

It wasn't until he started wandering around the ninja world that he learned about this person.

And what he learned makes him have high regard for their temporary team leader.

"Here, take this, from now on, you guys are ninjas of the Yokogakure," Udon said as he handed over the village's ninja forehead protector to the three kids under the jealous eyes of the others. 

Engrained in the middle of the forehead protector is the village symbol which was a sun attached to a white cloth.

Holding on to his headband, Asahi tied the headband to his right upper arm as he felt a mix of emotions surging in his chest, happy to achieve one of his biggest regrets in his past life, to be an official ninja of the village.

The other two kids were also happy to be an official ninja as they wore their headbands on their foreheads.

"Let's go kids, time is ticking," Udon called as the children said their goodbyes. 

And so under his lead, the three kids and one adult left the Sunshine Village. To have a little fun and to test the children a little, Udon increased his speed steadily but the three were able to keep up.

'Oh? Interesting' Udon thought as his eyes were fixated on the black-haired boy keeping up with his pace albeit he was only using 50% of his speed.

However, judging by the kid's face, he didn't seem to be having a tough time while the other two were unable to keep up forcing Udon to reduce their traveling speed. 

This meant a longer traveling period as the group had reached their checkpoint, the shore where a little boat was waiting.

The place was hidden and the boat itself was created by Udon alone ahead of time.

"Wow!" The kids marvel as their eyes lay on the vast ocean.

"Have you guys traveled in the sea before?" Udon asked enthusiastically with a smile as the children shook their heads.

"Well today is your lucky day, sail ahoy!"

The four all hold a paddle each as the boat sails the sea, their destination?

The Land of Whirlpools.

************

Back to the village, when Asahi and the others left, Keiki didn't send them off, opting to stay in his office and observe the situation from afar.

"You have something you wanna ask, Aoe?" Keiki asked the ninja sitting in front of him while he was busy doing paperwork.

"There is just something bothering me my lord," Aoe answered as he looked at the busy kage who didn't reply as he continued;

"Why did you send those talented kids to such a dangerous mission, they are the future of our village." 

Hearing this, Keiki stopped what he was doing and shifted his attention to the confused ninja.

"It is precisely because they are the village's future that I sent them on the mission, they will survive if fate willed, if they don't, then maybe they aren't the village's future after all" 

It was cold but the job of the Kage required Keiki to be tough, especially in this era where children were rarely able to go past puberty.

Even if his child was among the three, Keiki must separate personal emotion from his responsibility and treat each of his people equally.

"It sounds harsh, but my point is, I send them on that mission because I know they'll survive," Keiki added with a smile, remembering the image of a certain boy.

Every time he visits the children on the cliff, Keiki often engages in a secret conversation with Asahi, and over time, he learns more about the peculiar boy.

Their conversations were deep as they shared their opinion and plans for the development of the village the two found themselves agreeing with each other ideas making Keiki often question whether Asahi was really just a 10-year-old genius or an old man in a child's body.

Asahi's love for the village and yearning to be a Yokokage is what makes Keiki sure that this boy is the chance of his beloved village, the chance to go toe-to-toe with the five great shinobi nations.

This was Keiki's one and only dream ever since he took the post as the Kage of the village,

He had long since accepted that such a dream might have just been impossible, but the appearance of Asahi gives him a last gleam of hope.

And for that hope, Keiki was willing to gamble everything.

"Besides, Udon is with them and will ensure the children's safety, he's the most capable ninja in the village after all."