Chapter 12

On the second day, Jason woke up early. For the past few days, Sakumo had been on missions and was not at home. So, Jason had to prepare breakfast himself.

Meanwhile, Jason had tasks of his own over the past two days. After returning yesterday, he had treated Kakashi, and now so much had happened.

He gave Kakashi a few instructions and tidied up his belongings before heading to the rendezvous point.

"Hey, Jason, you're here," Hyuga Hinako said gently. Her codename was "Sun," which was fitting given her surname "Hyuga."

"Yeah, you all came early," Jason responded.

"There's not much to do, so we came early," Hyuga Hinako, a gentle young girl, replied.

"This mission is quite dangerous, Jason, you need to be careful. After all, it's your first mission, and you're still so young. Stick with us and don't act alone," Konda Takashi advised. He had a very easygoing personality, much like the original character Kurenai.

"Don't worry, Kaiyo, I will," Hatake Jason smiled faintly. Just as the three were engaged in conversation, the team leader arrived.

"Alright, get ready to set off," the team leader said solemnly.

"Yes, Captain," the four replied. Wait, isn't it three people? Jason looked around and realized that the bug's presence was barely noticeable. It was similar to Yamanaka Inoichi.

They arrived at the Fire Country border. "We'll rest here today," Captain Kuroinu said. Unlike regular ninja squads, the ANBU didn't stay in hotels. Their missions were different. ANBU missions were often personally assigned by the Hokage and involved tasks like village retaliation, gathering intelligence, and assassination. In contrast, regular ninja squads were hired by smaller nations or wealthy individuals. One was primarily focused on internal matters, while the other handled external missions.

"According to the intelligence, we won't reach our destination until tomorrow. This mission involves one elite Chunin, two Chunin, and five Genin. Our objective is to gather information and eliminate them if necessary. Remember, the team leader for this mission is Chong, so listen carefully. I won't intervene unless absolutely necessary," Captain Kuroinu instructed.

"Yes, Captain," they replied in unison.

"Alright, everyone rest up. This is not only a test for you but also a learning experience."

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The next day

"Get ready, let's go," Captain Kuroinu said.

After a half-day journey, they finally arrived.

"Alright, let's discuss the plan. I'll be watching over you all in the shadows," Captain Kuroinu said.

"First, I'll use my bugs to gather information. Tonight, we'll eliminate them when their guard is down," the bug strategist suggested.

"Agreed," the three concurred.

"Next, let's assign roles. I'll handle the elite Chunin," Hatake Jason said.

"No, Jason, it's too risky," Hyuga Hinako hurriedly objected.

"Yes, you're still too young and even if you're powerful, you can't take on an elite Chunin. Leave it to me," Konda Takashi added.

"Leave it to me, Kaiyo. My bugs can restrain him," the bug expert said. Though he rarely spoke, being selected by Kuroinu meant he had extraordinary abilities.

"Rest assured, I have a plan for this, and since we're teammates, we should trust each other," Jason said. Seeing everyone's concern, he felt warmed.

"Alright, but don't show off," the bug added. He wasn't good at expressing himself, but he was observant. He could see the confidence in Jason's eyes and his bugs told him that this seemingly four-year-old child was dangerous.

"But..." Hyuga Hinako started.

"Alright, Sun, trust me. And as long as you two eliminate those Genin quickly, it'll be fine," Jason interrupted before she could finish. Hearing this, they felt reassured.

"I'll take care of the Chunin," Koekyū Shizuka said.

"You two quickly deal with those five Genin."

"Yes," the two women agreed.

...

"Let's begin."

Secret Technique: Bug Jade. Countless bugs took flight and attacked the sleeping ninjas.

"Not good, enemies! Wake up!" a burly man instantly realized, and with his incredible speed, managed to dodge. Despite the warning, a few were still caught off guard. Even the elite Chunin got slightly injured, although not severely.

"Darn it, it's Konoha's ANBU," the burly man cursed, then added, "So it's just a few kids. Kill them!" Before he could finish speaking, his body suddenly shot forward, aiming for Koekyū Shizuka.

"Ha! (So fast)" Watching the incoming figure, Koekyū Shizuka was secretly amazed. Just as she was about to counterattack, a shadow appeared in front of her, effortlessly blocking the burly man's strike. Immediately, the newcomer declared, "Your opponent is me."

"Quite impressive." Koekyū Shizuka and the two women sighed. While he could also have blocked the attack, it wouldn't have been as easy. The burly man's speed was almost faster than when he used "Shave," and he couldn't completely defend against it in such a short time. He would likely be injured. At that moment, they realized that Hatake Jason was powerful, but they didn't necessarily think he was stronger than them. After all, their abilities were different – he was like a mage while they were akin to warriors.

"Leave those Genin to us," Jason said.

"You brat, don't think that blocking one of my attacks means you can defeat me. I'm an elite Chunin!" the burly man shouted.

"Hmph, don't be so talkative. Whether or not I can defeat you isn't determined by words," Jason taunted.

"You'll die, brat!" With his words, lightning crackled around the burly man.

"Iron Defense." Jason swiftly activated his Iron Defense. The burly man's speed was even faster than when he used "Shave," making it impossible to evade.

Blocking the attack, Jason quickly distanced himself from the man and drew the short knife on his back. He charged at the man with a swift strike. The man swiftly dodged the attack and immediately formed hand seals. "Tiger-Snake-Boar."

"Lightning Release: Lightning Cloud Burst."

"Youngster, this is my most powerful jutsu. Prepare to die. This move can even kill a Jonin," the man grinned menacingly.

A white light quickly approached Jason.

"Sky Splitter." Jason nimbly dodged the attack. Although the man's speed was impressive, Jason was able to react in time. After dodging, he swiftly blocked the man's punch with the knife, using the momentum to create distance. All of this happened in a moment.

The man didn't give Jason any time to react and quickly pressed on. They engaged in close combat. Due to the Basic Swordmaster Inheritance, Jason's skills became more proficient with each exchange. As the battle continued, his understanding deepened. The man also