Chapter 84: Captain

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"Uh! Teacher isn't joining us on this mission?"

Fuyu Shirou, upon receiving the scroll, was momentarily surprised. He hadn't expected that for their first C-Rank Mission, their teacher wouldn't be participating.

To leave them, a group of 'Rookies,' to complete this mission alone.

"So! Who will be the captain for this mission?"

Seeing that Teacher Shigemasa's decision was firm and unlikely to change, Fuyu Shirou couldn't help but ask. It was an incredibly important matter to decide who among the three of them would take charge and become the temporary captain.

A poor choice could lead to disharmony among them. If things got out of hand, it would be a miracle if they didn't start fighting each other, let alone complete the mission!

"You three will have to decide that yourselves!"

Teacher Shigemasa's lips curled into a playful smile as he left the trio to their own devices. With that, he vanished, leaving the three of them staring at each other.

Fuyu Shirou, holding the mission scroll, looked at Flame and Satoshi, who were both gazing at him. He rolled his eyes in exasperation. He was utterly speechless about his teacher's mischievous nature.

It felt like the sun would rise in the west if he didn't stir up some trouble.

"How about you, Flame, take the captain's role?"

Fuyu Shirou had no interest in being the temporary captain of this team. He thought it would be better to leave such responsibilities to the two ambitious and driven young men. Why not let them handle it while he took a backseat and enjoyed himself?

He wasn't one of those 'hot-blooded fools' influenced by the 'Will of Fire,' so there was no need for him to be so proactive.

As for why he chose Flame, wasn't it obvious? Why choose Satoshi, who was often clueless, over Flame, who was more resourceful?

Just thinking about Satoshi's usual behavior—

Wouldn't that just be asking for trouble? If something went wrong, they'd all end up in the same boat...

"Really? Is it okay for me to be the captain?"

Flame, upon hearing this, became unexpectedly modest.

"Why don't you, Fuyu Shirou, take the captain's role? You're the strongest among us, and it would be fitting for you to lead."

If it weren't for the slight curve of her eyes and the grin on her lips, Fuyu Shirou might have believed her. Teacher Shigemasa was really up to no good! Not only did he leave them to their own devices, but he also didn't appoint a captain, clearly intending to see how they would handle it.

[Well! These three brats didn't start fighting! What a pity!] 

Teacher Shigemasa, observing his 'beloved students' silently, stroked his small mustache.

In his original 'script,' the three brats would likely split into two camps and fight. Flame and Satoshi on one side, and Fuyu Shirou on the other. They would have a big argument, allowing him to appear just in time to teach them a lesson.

But Fuyu Shirou's willingness to step back had thrown a wrench into his plans.

[Oh well, it's fine! This way is good too!]

Fuyu Shirou handed the mission scroll, which Teacher Shigemasa had left behind, to Flame, who was happily appointed as the temporary captain. She didn't think too much about it and found herself unexpectedly pleased with the 'annoying' Fuyu Shirou's unexpected cooperation.

Flame, eager to check the mission details, quickly unrolled the scroll. Instead of focusing on the scroll, she turned to look at the treetop of a nearby tree.

[Just now, I had the feeling of being watched. Is Teacher Shigemasa still around, observing us?]

Fuyu Shirou stared at the common tree for a while but found nothing. He shook his head, dismissing the 'illusion' from his mind. How could an Elite Jōnin's surveillance be detected by a mere Genin like him? It must have been an illusion!

[Was I discovered just now?]

At that moment, in the treetop of a nearby tree, Uchiha Jūsai was recalling his actions with uncertainty.

In theory, the chances of being discovered were almost zero. He hadn't deliberately hidden his movements, but an eight-year-old child shouldn't have been able to notice him.

[It must have been a slight discovery, which explains why he didn't compete with Flame and Satoshi for the captain's role!]

Even so, it had given Uchiha Jūsai a shock. When it came to sensing abilities, the Uchiha clan was an extreme case. Thanks to the clan's bloodline limit, the Sharingan, every Uchiha who activated it could be considered a half-decent sensor within the range of their vision.

Yes, only within the range of the Sharingan's vision. Once the target was out of sight, they were no different from ordinary ninja.

Therefore, the Uchiha clan lacked long-range sensors, especially those with abilities like the Uzumaki clan.

Fuyu Shirou's displayed sensing talent was worth cultivating within the clan. However, such a well-rounded ninja, skilled in ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, medical techniques, and sensing, often ended up being mediocre.

As teamwork among ninja increased, it became more important for each ninja to excel in a specific area, with their weaknesses covered by teammates.

Only at the level of Elite Jōnin would such considerations be relevant. He would have to carefully plan Fuyu Shirou's future development.

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"So! Do you have any plans?"

While Flame was carefully examining the mission scroll, Satoshi, unable to contain his curiosity, asked impatiently. He was a mix of nervousness and excitement, eager to get started.

Ignoring Flame's slightly furrowed brows and puzzled expression after reading the scroll, he pressed on.

Her brows furrowed because the scroll only briefly mentioned recent bandit attacks on passing merchants and nearby villages. The number of bandits was only an estimate, and their strength was vague and unreliable.

For a moment, she felt at a loss.

Not answering Satoshi's question, she snapped out of her daze after a moment. Her bright eyes twinkled as she handed the scroll to Satoshi, declaring with a sense of righteousness:

"The mission scroll is here. If you have any plans, feel free to share them, and we can discuss them together!"

(End of Chapter)