Chapter 73 Catching the Cat.

They arrived at the Hokage Office Building to submit their mission completion report. At this moment, Uchiha Zhe was holding a fat orange cat in his arms, with a look of disdain on his face. You couldn't blame him; this fat cat was incredibly mischievous. The process of catching it had been a tough ordeal for Uchiha Zhe. 

Cats are among the most agile of all small animals. Their lazy daytime habits make them hard to locate. Even when found, their nimble bodies and swift movements, along with their small sizes, allow them to squeeze through places humans can't. When Uchiha Zhe finally caught it and held it in his arms, the cat fiercely resisted, leaving four scratch marks on his face. 

Both Toshiro and Yan, standing nearby, burst into laughter and mocked him, causing Uchiha Zhe to lose face. The person they were handing the mission report to was not the Third Hokage but a clerical worker from the Sarutobi clan inside the Hokage Office Building. 

[Looks like not everyone gets to meet the Hokage when completing such low-level tasks!] 

This was understandable. With so many registered ninjas in Konoha Village and a large number of low-level tasks issued each year to train these young ninjas, not every one of them could merit the Hokage's attention. Delegating these tasks to clerks to handle was entirely reasonable. 

Speaking of these low-level tasks, Toshiro couldn't help but complain about their variety. It completely shattered his idea of ninja missions involving thrilling sword fights and exciting adventures. These D-level tasks ranged from finding lost cats and dogs, babysitting, and repairing rooftops for the elderly to farming, logging, and gathering medicinal herbs. The rewards for each mission were also meager, ranging from 3,000 to 20,000 ryō. On top of that, the village would deduct 30%, their team captain another 30%, leaving very little for the three of them. When it finally reached them, it was truly pitiful. Sometimes, Toshiro couldn't help but think it would be better to have an easy job and get paid for doing nothing. 

Such boring and trivial tasks had made Toshiro, Yan, and Zhe extremely tired in just one month. 

"Teacher Jūsei, when can we take on some higher-level missions?" Uchiha Zhe asked as he handed the fat cat to a waiting middle-aged woman who hugged and petted it. Not wanting to witness the scene, he turned to his teacher and inquired. 

"Zhe, if you want to do higher-level missions, that's fine, but first, take care of those scratches on your face," His teacher replied. As Uchiha Zhe turned his head, the four clear scratch marks on his face looked even more ridiculous, causing Uchiha Yan to laugh out loud. This childhood friend loved teasing him relentlessly. 

She covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes squinting in delight. Her slightly chubby, baby-like face radiated joy. Zhe's angry demeanor only made Yan laugh even harder. 

[These two are indeed a perfect match—one naive and somewhat awkward, the other mischievous and delighted in teasing!] 

Watching this little love drama unfold, Toshiro couldn't help but feel that only at the purest of ages do mutual feelings remain this genuine and beautiful. As people grow older and more mature, these wonderful childhood memories drift further away, turning into mundane worries about daily life. 

"But, you know, Zhe is right, Teacher Jūsei! When can we start doing some higher-level missions?" Yan asked, also showing a hopeful expression. She had clearly lost interest in these low-level tasks. 

"Yes, Teacher Jūsei! We can't keep taking on these low-level tasks; I can barely support myself!" Toshiro added, unable to hold back. After graduating from ninja school, he no longer received a monthly allowance from Konoha. The 1,000 ryō monthly stipend from his clan had also stopped, and the imagined monthly subsidies from the police force were nowhere to be found. 

"Jūsei-sensei said it would be fortunate just to get recognized by the Uchiha Police Force. Without participating in patrol duties, expecting a salary or official position was unrealistic," he lamented. 

In these days of financial strain, he was finding it increasingly difficult to afford daily necessities, let alone train. [The daily maintenance of three shadow clones is indeed a huge expense!] With his training in Yin-Yang Release finally on track, his food consumption had also skyrocketed. 

Toshiro couldn't help but sigh. Every time he went to the grocery store, he felt like his wallet was being drained dry. Crossing worlds was easy, but surviving was not—every step had to be treasured. 

Seeing his three students grumbling, Uchiha Jūsei was not surprised. He, too, had gone through this phase. Back then, he had similar conversations with his peers and teachers. Now, in the blink of an eye, he was the teacher, and his mentors... 

Lost in memories, Uchiha Jūsei's expression turned sorrowful without him realizing it. 

"Taking on higher-level missions isn't impossible, but I'll have to put you through several weeks of special training. Only if you pass my training will I take you on C-rank missions or above." 

Lost in thought only momentarily, Uchiha Jūsei said this while resolving within himself to protect his students with his life if need be. 

(End of chapter)