2nd Mission

The next day arrived, and it was a day the siblings had been anticipating—their second mission.

"Hopefully, it'll be as eventful as it seems," Gaara thought as he prepared.

They gathered at the mission hall, where Lady Chiyo awaited them. As their leader, she would be guiding them through this task. It was clear to her that they were mentally unprepared to be sent on solo missions just yet. They paid their respects and took their places as she presented the mission details.

Mission: Assist Kirigakure with their economic and political struggles

Rank: B

Lady Chiyo explained the mission's details, but afterward, she surprised them with an offer to take a break.

To Temari and Kankuro, the idea of taking a break seemed strange. A B-rank mission wasn't something to be taken lightly, and "taking a break" didn't align with their definition of rest.

"I was told a B-rank mission isn't to be taken lightly," Kankuro spoke up.

Lady Chiyo gave him a sidelong glance. "We are there to straighten diplomatic relations and nothing more. Just don't engage in anything unnecessary. Though I doubt you could," she added with a teasing edge.

"Hmm," was all Gaara could mutter, his unease growing. This mission seemed too simple for a B-rank, and it didn't sit well with him.

He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to this than what was being said. 'Chances are, since Lady Chiyo is our sensei, they probably decided this mission for us,' he thought.

Meanwhile, Kankuro was also skeptical. 'Such a simple mission for a B-rank? The word "assistance" keeps bothering me. How far do we have to assist?' he wondered.

After packing their necessities, they set out from the village. But after ten minutes of walking, Lady Chiyo stopped and walked over to someone she knew, engaging in a quiet discussion for several minutes. The siblings exchanged looks, wondering what was going on.

Finally, Lady Chiyo rejoined them and explained, "It turns out we're not the only ones going on this mission. All the neighboring villages are sending teams as well."

"All to express political empathy and secure relationships," Kankuro said, his tone dry.

"I don't really care as long as we get this done and over with," Temari muttered, irritated. She wasn't thrilled about the team participation either, but she saw it as a chance to gain experience.

'Be positive, Temari,' she told herself, brushing off her frustration.

As for Gaara, his steps faltered slightly, his mind racing. The situation had gone from simple to complex, and the possibilities now seemed endless. 'This is bad,' he thought uneasily.

Curiosity gnawed at him, and he finally asked, "By any chance, do you know which teams are participating in this mission? Specifically, which villages are involved?"

Lady Chiyo glanced at him, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Hmm, you seem worried, Gaara," she remarked, her tone thoughtful.

The others immediately noticed Gaara's sudden shift in mood, his face betraying his concern. The air grew tense, and everyone exchanged looks, a mix of bewilderment and cautiousness in the atmosphere. Gaara's usual calm was replaced by a clear unease.

He took the initiative to move forward, eager to proceed quickly, but his mind was overwhelmed with countless scenarios. Each possible outcome seemed worse than the last, and with every new thought, there was another variable to consider. His body moved, but his mind remained trapped in the whirlwind of "what-ifs."

That was when Lady Chiyo intervened, her voice calm and steady. "If it helps, there are currently only two other villages with decent to neutral relationships with Kirigakure that are participating in this mission."

Her words seemed to bring a sense of clarity to Gaara, though the uncertainty still lingered. At least now, he knew there wouldn't be multiple factions with hostile intentions complicating the mission. Still, the quiet tension in the air remained, and Gaara's mind continued to churn as they walked onward, their path uncertain.