Ideology, I'm an Expert in This!

"Asuma, are we really getting a B-rank mission?"

Shisui and Kurenai arrived at the meeting point, and this was the first thing they asked.

"I don't know...I just...just mentioned it casually, hoping we could get a higher ranked mission."

Asuma was also confused.

He had just brought it up with the old man, but that afternoon they received the assembly notice.

"Let's get out of the village first, I'll explain on the way."

Kyōichi didn't say much more. Once everyone was present, they signed out at the village gate, then directly stored away and headed west.

After leaving Konoha, he explained the mission.

Then.

"For this mission, I'm putting you in wartime state, no cooking or resting on the road, food will be soldier pills the whole way,"

"Yes sir!"

"Move out."

The three were excited, but also felt nervous.

Seeing teacher's attitude...

This mission, they may really encounter enemy ninja.

On the road, Kyōichi pondered in his mind.

This was the period when Akatsuki was growing in strength, River Country had no ninja village, this purge was definitely related to them.

It matched perfectly!

However.

If it was the current Akatsuki, they probably wouldn't attack Konoha ninja. Also, their mission was to meet Minato, not to fight, so there wasn't much danger either.

Including the Third, he also didn't think Minato was in much danger.

But.

What if something happened?

In this volatile time, they couldn't afford too many losses. Sending Kyōichi and his team was just an extra precaution, and...

If they could gather intel, that would be best.

Kyōichi knew this very well.

"Sensei, so Kakashi and them also took a C-rank mission?"

After running for a while, Asuma suddenly spoke up.

Kurenai was speechless.

You're just realizing this now?

Kyōichi was too lazy to respond.

Kurenai helplessly explained, "Kakashi is a Chunin, their team's strength is above a normal Genin squad to begin with, taking C-rank missions is normal."

"Gai-senpai's team seems to have taken a C-rank mission too."

"Oh."

Hearing Kurenai and Shisui's words.

Asuma scratched his head, he had thought Team 1 was special, but it turns out the elite squads had basically all started taking C-rank missions already.

His arrogance deflated back down.

"C-rank missions are still mostly escorts, there's less fighting. Our last mission was an exception, this time our mission is rated B because we may encounter ninja, that's why the rank went up."

Kyōichi finally explained.

Generally, C-rank mission pay was between 20,000 to 50,000 ryo, the tasks were more protection-oriented. But their last mission directly locked onto the enemy and carried out an assault.

Simply put, it exceeded the scope!

Of course.

The payment was also more.

The final payment was 60,000 ryo, a full 20,000 ryo more than the original 40,000, because they annihilated the bandits, and also recovered some stolen goods from the villages.

They kept up the pursuit.

Soon, the trails left by Team 7 appeared on the road.

Until they reached the Fire Country border, the trails suddenly vanished - Minato and his team had started intentionally erasing all traces of themselves.

"Head to the mission location."

Kyōichi took out a map, checked the orientation, then headed towards Minato's mission location.

When they got here, there were no more tracks to follow.

Asuma looked around curiously, especially when they passed inhabited areas, but there were so few people here, they wouldn't see more than a few even after walking a long stretch.

"Sensei, there are so few people in River Country."

"It's too chaotic, they can't survive, of course they have to leave."

"Because there's no ninja village? But doesn't the feudal lord also have money to hire ninja?"

Asuma didn't understand.

Kyōichi was silent for a bit, then said, "Because there are too many large countries around it, and the territory is relatively large. Even with a ninja village, they basically can't survive."

"Then the Rain Country..."

Shisui thought of the country sandwiched between the three great nations.

Wasn't Rain Country even more tragic than River Country?

However.

In the Second Shinobi World War, Rain Country was practically alone against the three great nations, yet was unmatched for a time.

"Rain Country has Hanzō."

Kyōichi sighed.

Additionally.

Hanzō was extremely powerful in the early years, he had his own ideals and pursuits, but after the Second Shinobi World War, even Hanzō was beaten down by the three great nations -

Hanzō's prestige was exhausted, it looked like he had won.

However.

The three great nations could recover in just a few years, but Rain Country?

Apart from the anomalies of the Sannin, their education and medical systems were on completely different levels. To produce a second Hanzō relied completely on mutation.

This was the disparity between big and small countries.

Hearing Kyōichi's words, the three fell silent.

For many years, they had stood from Konoha's perspective, believing countries like Rain who started wars were very despicable. But putting themselves in their shoes, if they were ninja from a small village, they would probably feel even more hopeless than Hanzō and the others.

Silence descended.

Asuma, Shisui and Kurenai seemed to be lost in thought.

However.

On Kyōichi's end, a voice rang out.

[Completed 'Sarutobi Asuma' ideology guidance, he sees you as his mentor in life.]

[Evaluation: Excellent]

[Reward: Flying Swallow]

Hmm?

Asuma, you've finally paid me back!

Kyōichi accepted the reward while running.

Flying Swallow wasn't a blade, but Asuma's twin fist blades technique, imbued with Wind Release nature transformation it became extremely formidable.

It could be said.

This was how Asuma made a living!

Of course.

The current Asuma didn't even use blades yet, so naturally Flying Swallow was out of the question.

Kyōichi comprehended it for a bit, and was in a great mood.

The technique itself was secondary.

Because Flying Swallow went with twin blades, it came with some dual wielding weapon expertise. Kyōichi could clearly feel his two hands were more nimble than before.

Especially his left hand.

This was a bonus many Ninjutsu couldn't provide.

Just this alone, he already profited.

Moreover.

Flying Swallow wasn't purely a blade technique, it could also be used with sword techniques, just the methods were slightly different.

"Looks like I'll have to make a second chakra blade soon."

In his delight, Kyōichi couldn't help but sigh emotionally.

One wasn't enough!

After sighing for a bit, he glanced at Asuma.

The brat was contemplating, but quickly snapped out of it, shaking his head and dispelling his thoughts since they were on a mission.

Kyōichi smiled.

Asuma really had matured a lot.

The previous Asuma, though not comparable to young Naruto, wasn't too far off being a troublemaking prince. Otherwise he wouldn't have been able to pull off leaving the village over a minor conflict later on.

Now he was very different.

All thanks to him!

Of course.

While feeling emotional, he was also secretly sensing with chakra, constantly scanning their surroundings for traces of Minato.

Finally...

"Found it! This way."

Kyōichi pointed in a direction.

Asuma and Shisui were startled, while Kurenai didn't react at all.

She matched Kyōichi's pace and grumbled while running: "Don't tell me you guys actually believed sensei was clueless, daring to let us run around Shirokumo Town?"

"I see..."

Shisui instantly understood.

Teacher probably already knew those bandits' location in Shirokumo Town back then, he was just testing them.

No wonder he appeared so timely later.

"I remember now! I heard from father that the Second could use a sensing technique to detect people from very far, even able to sense the strength of chakra."

"Stop spouting nonsense and keep up."

Kyōichi didn't deny it.

He didn't plan on hiding it anyway, if they guessed then they guessed. His identity was already approved by Tsunade, he wasn't afraid of people from the village nitpicking. At most like he told Tsunade, he could just leave the village!

No big deal!