Chapter 16: C-Rank Mission

And they changed their training schedule from that day on. On three of the four afternoon training sessions, they would focus on their specializations. On one of these days, Hana would visit the hospital to receive lessons on medical Ninjutsu, while Haruto would spend the evening with a Lightning Style expert. Tekku, meanwhile, stayed with Inoichi during these days and started his training in the Earth element instead of directly jumping to weak Earth Style jutsu and learning them while wasting a lot of chakra while using them. Tekku had to follow a similar training to Naruto when he learned the Wind element, just without a ton of Shadow Clones accelerating the progress.

The first level of learning the Earth element was to turn a leaf into dirt, similar to what would happen with the Chakra Paper when he focused his chakra on it. Even with it being his natural affinity, it was quite a bit harder than learning all three standard chakra exercises combined. Mastering the Earth element would definitely take months, but it was good that it was an exercise he could do casually while he had time. Leaves were abundant while in Konoha.

On the days they would spend the afternoon together, but still practice their specializations, they would train by themselves with the guidance of Inoichi sensei while also trying to apply what they learned in spars or tests with each other. Tekku also used the opportunity to copy all of Hana's scrolls on Medical Ninjutsu she received from Inoichi and the hospital, so he could study them himself when he had the time.

During the one day where they didn't train their specialization or do a mission, they would keep doing team exercises.

In his free time, Tekku would do more research as he had a bit more money or study the information on puppets and the puppet parts he received from Konoha. The greatest treasure from these parts was something Tsunade brought back from a fight against Suna where she fought with Chiyo during the Second Great Ninja War. It was the broken red head of a puppet from the Chikamatsu Collection of Ten Puppets. This head's original purpose was to release deadly chakra blades while spinning, injuring anything it cut. But it was unfortunately irreparably broken. However, it wasn't broken enough for Tekku to study the mechanics behind it. It gave him great insights into how to combine engineering with chakra.

In that manner, another four weeks passed. It had been over 2 months since they became a Genin team. They completed eight D-Rank missions overall (AN: 7-8 D-Ranks was what the Konoha 12 had before the Chunin Exam, according to the Naruto Databook). And another day came, and the team began their morning routine like usual. After two hours of practice and spars, Inoichi gathered his three genin.

"Okay, team, we'll now go to the Hokage for a mission. I believe the three of you are ready for our first C-Rank mission!" announced Inoichi with a smile. They had made significant progress in the last two months and should be ready to be thrown into a real-life situation.

- Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi -

- Hokage Office -

The last time the three of them were in front of the Hokage was when they received their first D-Rank mission. It was a tradition in Konoha that genin would receive their first mission from the Third Hokage personally. Normally, shinobi had to visit the Mission Desk on the Ground Floor of the Administrative Building, where usually a Chunin from the Administrative Branch was managing the missions, as the Hokage usually only handles important missions like A and S Ranks. This same tradition also applies to the first C-Rank mission a team receives.

"Team 10 reporting for duty," Inoichi politely announced, earning a nod from the Third Hokage sitting behind his desk working on a pile of documents.

"Well, I was wondering when you'd appear, Inoichi. Your team usually comes much sooner. Okay, now Team 10, we have a long list of D-ranked missions here for you to choose from," said the Hokage while pulling his pipe out, while observing the expressions of the three genin with a smirk.

"Please, Hokage-sama, don't tease them. I believe that my team is ready for C-ranked missions," said Inoichi proudly as he was confident in the progress of his team.

"Hmm, I see. You wouldn't be here if they weren't. I trust your judgment, Inoichi. Even if they are a freshly graduated team, I will give them a chance," nodded the Third Hokage in thought as he watched them. "I believe I have the perfect mission for your team. A good first C-Rank mission and a decent fit for your team. A simple intelligence gathering mission outside of the village."

"Oh, nice! Who will we be spying on? A noble? A criminal organization? Maybe another country?" asked Haruto, excited, even though it didn't sound like there would be much fighting. It sounded important.

"Uh, it's a C-Rank mission, Haruto. Any of your ideas should be at least A-Rank," replied Tekku dryly, calming his excited teammate down.

"Tch, spoilsport..." muttered Haruto, disappointed.

The Hokage laughed heartily at that scene. "As Tekku already correctly guessed, it's a C-Rank mission. These are unrelated to other shinobi usually and would get ranked up if there were any. No, the mission itself is pretty simple. A wife needs you to spy on her husband, as she believes he is in some kind of trouble. She wants you to find the truth," explained the Third Hokage as he handed the mission scroll over to Inoichi before adding, "This will be a good way for the three of you to practice your spying skills."

After looking over the mission for a moment, Inoichi nodded towards the Hokage. "Team 10 accepts this mission, Hokage-sama."

"Good, Team 10. I have high expectations of you. Dismissed, all of you!" announced the Hokage with a smile.

"I will meet you outside. There is something I have to talk with the Hokage about," said Tekku politely, as he looked at the Hokage, who looked at him with curiosity before he nodded. Inoichi also looked at Tekku before he nodded, as he had an idea of what was going on. "We will be waiting in front of the building. Don't take too long."

After the others were outside, Hiruzen asked the boy with a grandfatherly smile, "What else can I do for you, Tekku-kun?"

Tekku stood straight and requested formally, "Hokage-sama, I would like to be certified as a Fuinjutsu expert!" he said without hesitation. There were two official ranks for Fuinjutsu in Konoha. Of course, you only needed them if you wanted to apply your sealing skills in an official capacity. The first rank is the Fuinjutsu expert, which certifies that you have the skill required to officially sell your sealing works to Konoha, seals like Paperbombs and similar. It also gives you the qualification to join the Barrier Squad once you become a Chunin. To join that squad, you either need the certificate or the necessary skill in Barrier Ninjutsu.

Tekku's goal was to sell his Paperbombs to earn some extra money. There was another level, the Sealing Master. It was a rank that had a standard pay in the village and allowed you to test others to become sealing experts. Tekku also guessed that the rank of Sealing Master was also a requirement to access high-ranking Fuinjutsu techniques like the Reaper Death Seal or the Hiraishin. After all, Minato was allowed to study these before he became a Hokage candidate.

"Hmmm, I see. You are quite young to reach that level, but I have heard of your talent in the field. Did you already complete Jiraiya's intermediate-level books?" asked the Hokage interestedly.

"Yes, Hokage-sama. I am currently working on the last few seals of the last book," nodded Tekku without lying. He had made significant progress in the last month, as Fuinjutsu came quite easily to him with his previous knowledge.

"Okay, I will allow it once you return from the mission. I will test you myself," nodded the Hokage. "Is there something else I can help you with?"

"Well, I would also request permission to study the last three books of Jiraiya-sama," said Tekku as he came to his main purpose. Getting money from selling seals was good and all, but power was more important overall.

"I can't grant you permission for that. While the first seven books are freely available for any shinobi to raise the level of Fuinjutsu users in the village, the last three contain techniques that could threaten the safety of villages and sensitive information. So they are only available for trusted Jonin and Anbu," explained the Hokage seriously.

"You probably mean seals on how to seal Bijuus. This isn't hard to guess, Hokage-sama. It's an open secret that the Fourth Hokage sealed the Kyuubi. The adults don't talk about it openly around the younger children, but as a shinobi, it isn't hard to overhear them. Combined with what we learn in history, it isn't hard to deduce. And I don't ask for it for free. I know a way to solve your paperwork problem," this was the idea Tekku came up with after witnessing how the Hokage struggled with paperwork, a popular idea among fan fictions.

"What!? Okay, if you truly have a way for me to lessen my paperwork, I will give you the books once you become a Sealing expert. And also remember, the Kyuubi is a secret by law. Don't talk about it in public. So what is the way?" asked the Hokage excitedly.

"Shadow Clones." With these two words, the Hokage froze and stared at him with a dazed expression before he allowed Tekku to leave. Once Tekku closed the door, he could swear he heard the Hokage hitting something while yelling, "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" but it may have been his imagination.

- Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi -

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