Chapter 49: First C-Mission

Author Note: Nothing of importance, just enjoy the chapter, and if you have any questions, make sure to comment!

And like always, remember if you want to read up to 13-15 chapters ahead go to https://www.patreón.com/cornbringer

I'm currently updating the novel 2-8 chapters a day in patreeeeon. On chapter 62 so far, though by the end of today it will be chapter 65-67

Discord invite: https://discord.gg/XHduApz

Enjoy you sexy bastards.

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[Arata Takeshi - POV.]

After almost two months of doing next to nothing, my team was finally back in action, ready to do more ninja stuff. This meant doing more chores, which gave me mixed feelings. While I was happy to be active again, I was also annoyed. Nonetheless, I was mostly relieved because I was finally free to take a bath without feeling the Anbu behind my door.

I discovered that I didn't particularly enjoy being watched 24/7. In fact, I found it rather annoying.

"So, how many houses are we going to paint today?" I asked, a faint smile on my face, as Mr. Yamato, Shisui, Itachi, and I walked through the village, making our way towards the Hokage's office to take our first mission of the day.

"We are not painting houses today," Mr. Yamato replied, his tone even, but I could tell there was a hint of amusement in his voice. "I think it's about time we take a C-ranked mission."

Did my ears deceive me, or was our wonderful sensei telling us we were finally getting off chore duty? Could it be that we were finally free?

"Ahhh," Shisui said with a mock pout, dragging his feet dramatically. "I was starting to like painting houses and cutting grass. It was fun, relaxing, very Zen. I even had a name for our company: Shisui and the rest, painting and landscaping company."

Itachi gave Shisui a sidelong glance, his lips hinting at a rare smile. "Too bad, it seems you missed your true calling, Shisui."

"Don't pay attention to him, Shisui. There's still time," I added, smiling. "You can still be the landscaper of the Hidden Leaf. No village with grass will ever wrong you, lest they want a messy yard."

Shisui chuckled, before turning his gaze to the horizon, his eyes taking a subtle tone of longing. "Oh, that would be the dream. I could even open a branch in every ninja village. But alas, without me, your lives would be dull and colorless. That's the sacrifice I'm willing to make for your sake."

"You can talk about your gardening dreams later," Mr. Yamato interjected, the sternness in his voice not quite masking his amusement. "We are about to request a mission, our first C-ranked mission as a team, so act accordingly."

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We arrived at the Hokage's office, which was bustling with activity as usual. As we approached the greeting desk, the receptionist glanced up and nodded. "Good morning, Mr. Yamato. The Hokage is expecting you."

"Morning, Aiko," Mr. Yamato replied, offering her a curt nod. We followed silently as he led the way up a winding staircase, down a narrow corridor, and into the Hokage's office, where our sensei knocked on the door. After a moment, we heard the Third Hokage's voice from within. "Come in."

We stepped inside, and the Hokage looked up from his paperwork, a calm and knowing smile on his face. "Ah, Team Yamato. What brings you here today? Ready for a new mission? We have some fences that need a new coat of paint, and I think Tora escaped again."

I could feel my eye twitch at that.

"As tempting as that sounds, Lord Hokage," Mr. Yamato began, bowing slightly. "I would like to request a C-ranked mission for my team."

The Hokage raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting to us for a moment before returning to Mr. Yamato. "Do you believe they are ready for it?"

"Without a doubt," Mr. Yamato replied confidently. "They have trained hard and are more than capable of handling a C-ranked mission."

The Hokage leaned back in his chair, contemplating for a moment before nodding. "Very well. I trust your judgment, Yamato. Let's see what missions are available." He reached for a scroll on his desk, unrolling it to scan the contents. "Ah, here's one. A simple escort mission to Hachō Village. You are to ensure the safe passage of a merchant and his goods."

A merchant escort mission? Well, I have to say, I am more than happy with this. It was a big step up from painting fences, babysitting, doing landscaping, and catching runaway pets which somehow were almost always Tora.

I glanced at Itachi and Shisui, both of whom seemed just as eager as I was.

"Thank you, Lord Hokage," Mr. Yamato said, accepting the scroll. "We will depart as soon as possible."

"Your client's name is Suzuki Kenji. He will be waiting for you at the East gate in two hours, so get everything you need," the Hokage added, dismissing us with a nod.

"We will, Lord Hokage," Mr. Yamato replied.

"And remember, be cautious," the Hokage advised, his tone more serious. "Even the simplest missions can have unexpected dangers. Keep your wits about you."

That warning wasn't for our sensei, it was for us. Considering Naruto's first C-ranked mission turned out to be an A-ranked mission, it was understandable. Though I had to say, I was kind of crossing my fingers for this mission to turn out to be more difficult than its intended designation. Difficult enough to make me work for it, at least.

Though if that didn't happen, I wouldn't complain. Getting a C-ranked mission was already a win on its own.

"Understood," Mr. Yamato replied, bowing again before leading us out of the office.

As we exited the Hokage Tower and began walking through the village, Shisui couldn't help but grin. "Well, it's not exactly a high-stakes mission, but it's a start. What do you guys think?"

"I think it's a great opportunity to prove ourselves," Itachi said, his voice calm and composed as always.

I nodded in agreement. "Either way, it's better than painting fences."

Anything was better than painting fences… anything.

"And don't you worry about a thing, my sweet little minions. Your awesome and unbelievably handsome big brother will protect you, so there's nothing to fear," Shisui added, puffing out his chest with an exaggeratedly self-assured smirk.

Itachi rolled his eyes at Shisui's display while I stifled a chuckle. If there was one thing we counted on more than our individual battle prowess, our talent, and our tactical skill, it was Shisui's ability to make everything seem like a joke.

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Two hours later, we had finally finished packing all the necessary gear for our mission. The mission was supposed to take three days to complete, with rests included, so we had quite a bit to pack: food rations, money, kunais, etc.

We also had to wait for Itachi and Shisui to change their attire. Clan members, especially members of the big clans, weren't supposed to wear clan attire with anything that could tell an enemy Shinobi to target them first. It served as a precaution against bloodline theft or targeting.

Once that was done, and everyone was ready, we made our way to the east gate, where we were supposed to meet our client, Suzuki Kenji.

As we approached the gate, we saw a middle-aged man standing there, looking slightly anxious. He had a well-groomed appearance, with a neatly trimmed beard and a pair of glasses perched on his nose. Beside him were two large carts filled with various goods, covered with tarps to protect them from the elements, a few horses to move the carts, and a few employees to move the horses.

"Suzuki Kenji?" Mr. Yamato called out as we got closer.

The man turned and gave us a relieved smile. "Yes, that's me. You must be my escorts. Thank you for taking this job."

He didn't look particularly bothered that three out of his four escorts were kids. I was kind of expecting him to be bothered by that. I'm glad I was wrong. I liked being wrong about stereotypes; it felt refreshing.

Mr. Yamato nodded. "I'm Yamato, and these are my students, Takeshi, Itachi, and Shisui. We will ensure your safe passage to Hachō Village."

Suzuki Kenji smiled, scratching the back of his head as he looked at us. "So young... but I've heard great things about the Konoha shinobi. I'm sure we're in good hands."

Hmm, he made a comment about our age, but I still feel I'm right.

"Don't worry, Mr. Suzuki. We'll get you and your goods to your destination safely," Shisui said, flashing his usual confident grin.

I looked at the carts, mentally noting their size and the potential challenges they could pose during the journey. "What exactly are we transporting?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

"Mostly food, seeds, and some valuable merchandise," Suzuki explained. "Nothing too dangerous, but valuable enough that it might attract the wrong kind of attention. We are under Bandit season, so… it's best to avoid."

Itachi nodded thoughtfully. "We'll be on our guard, sir."

Mr. Yamato glanced at the sky, noting the position of the sun. "We should get moving. The sooner we leave, the better. It's not wise to travel at night with carts or wagons."

If we were dealing only with bandits, yes it was. But there was always the chance of encountering an enemy shinobi once you left the village, and no matter how slim those odds were, once that happened, all bets were off.

It was smart to act with caution, regardless of what was actually expected from this mission.

"That sounds like a good plan," I replied, offering the client and Mr. Yamato a faint smile.