Mission

In the Hokage's Office.

Tsunade, seated behind her desk, observed her three students with a serious expression: Chen, Mikoto, and Kushina.

Chen was the first to break the silence. "A task?" he asked, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. He knew Tsunade well enough to know this wasn't a casual meeting.

Tsunade nodded slowly, leaning forward and resting her elbows on the desk. "I've accepted a C-rank mission for you three," she began, "Chen, I know your strength is extraordinary, but there are things that can't be learned from training alone. In a real battle, where life and death hang in the balance, you might not be able to use even half your strength."

The silence that followed her words was heavy.

Chen glanced at Mikoto and Kushina. His wives maintained serious expressions, but he could notice a hint of apprehension in their eyes.

Turning his attention back to Tsunade, he nodded slightly. "See blood? Alright," he said calmly.

Tsunade observed Chen's reaction with relief. She knew that for Mikoto and Kushina, this was a much more serious matter. Despite their considerable strength - Kushina could compete with Jōnin and Mikoto could even face Kage-level ninjas - both lacked the raw experience of real combat and the mental fortitude that came with it.

"This mission is perfect for you to practice and improve your composure," Tsunade continued. "It involves a group of bandits in the Land of Fire. According to our reports, there are no ninjas among them, which makes it ideal for newly graduated shinobi like yourselves."

Chen responded with a confident smile. "No problem. Let's go," he said.

Even if it were the Akatsuki organization, it wouldn't pose a challenge, much less a group of common bandits. Of course, Akatsuki hadn't formed yet and its leader, Yahiko, was probably still wandering around the Rain Country, struggling to survive.

_____

Hours later, the squad found themselves on the outskirts of Konoha.

The forest surrounding the village stretched out before them, a sea of green.

Chen observed the landscape with curiosity. After almost a decade confined to the village, every tree, every rock, every sound seemed new. Mikoto shared Chen's enthusiasm, her dark eyes shining with excitement as she looked at everything.

Tsunade, observing their reactions, couldn't help but smile.

"Actually," she commented with a touch of pride in her voice, "Outside of Konoha, things are very different. Our village is probably the most prosperous place in the entire ninja world."

Kushina nodded, but her expression turned melancholic. "It's true," she said softly. "Konoha is much more prosperous than my old home, the Land of Whirlpools... although it no longer exists."

An uncomfortable silence fell over the group. Chen, sensing the change in Kushina's mood, approached her and gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder. "You have us now, Kushina," he said softly. "You won't be alone in the future."

Chen's words seemed to have an immediate effect. Kushina's face lit up with a smile, the pain of memories fading from her eyes. "Yes!" she responded with renewed enthusiasm.

Now the Whirlpool Country is a thing of the past, why not look ahead? God treats her very well, now she has Chen who loves her, her good friend Mikoto, and her sister Tsunade. She smiled, leaving behind sad memories and turning to chat with Mikoto.

...

The group advanced along the wooded path leading away from Konoha. Tsunade closely observed her students. Her gaze stopped on Chen, noticing his serene behavior.

"Chen," Tsunade said, approaching him as they walked, "I'm surprised at how calm you look. Most rookies would be trembling at the prospect of their first real mission."

Chen, with an enigmatic smile, shrugged. "Why should I be nervous? At the end of the day, our task is simple, isn't it? Eliminate threats. It's not something new for me, Tsunade-sa-." As soon as he finished speaking, Chen realized his slip. His eyes widened and he covered his mouth, but it was too late. The words had already escaped.

Tsunade narrowed her eyes, her penetrating gaze fixed on Chen. "What do you mean it's not new for you? Chen, have you... have you killed someone?"

Mikoto and Kushina, who were walking a bit ahead, slowed their pace, curious about the conversation.

Finally, Chen sighed. "I guess there's no point in hiding it. Yes, I've killed. It was a member of the Uchiha clan. He tried to cause me trouble, and... well, I made sure he couldn't do it again."

The indirect deaths caused by Chen, especially those carried out by Ryo when he was under his control, didn't count.

But that was information Tsunade couldn't know. Unlike Mikoto and Kushina, Tsunade's affection for Konoha was deep and rooted, nurtured by years of family and personal history.

Chen, as a transmigrant who knew Konoha's dark side, didn't share that attachment. In his mind, the village was simply the best place to be... for now.

Although, of course, he would never admit that a large part of his decision to stay had to do with certain kunoichi. NEVER.

Tsunade, processing the information, asked: "You mean Kaiden Uchiha? I remember that incident. It caused a big stir for Sensei."

Chen nodded, his tone surprisingly casual for someone discussing a murder. "Yes, that one. He had intentions of harming Mikoto and me. I didn't give him the chance."

"...Incredible," Tsunade murmured in amazement. "You were barely a child and you faced an experienced Jōnin. Chen, what's the real extent of your power? How do you compare to someone like Madara?"

Mikoto and Kushina, abandoning all pretense of not listening, approached, eager to hear the answer.

Chen looked at Tsunade with a blank expression. "How would I know? It's not like Madara and I had a friendly encounter to measure strengths."

"Come on, Chen," Tsunade insisted. "Make an estimate. We're all curious here."

After a moment of apparent reflection, Chen responded: "I guess my strength could be comparable to your grandfather's." This is a calculated lie on Chen's part.

"That's amazing!" exclaimed Tsunade, her eyes shining with excitement. "If you're at my grandfather's level, that means you're stronger than Madara!"

Chen couldn't help but roll his eyes again at Tsunade's enthusiasm. "Where do you get that conclusion? Things aren't that simple."

"But my grandfather defeated Madara," Tsunade argued. "If you're at his level..."

"Tsunade," Chen interrupted softly, "Madara isn't someone to be underestimated. He has many tricks and abilities that you can't even imagine. If your grandfather were alive today, at best, he'd be evenly matched with Madara."

The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, the Rinnegan (although probably already transferred to Nagato), were factors that made Madara a formidable threat. But those details would have to remain hidden, at least for now.

________

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