Chapter 58

Chapter 58

"Exactly, exactly!"

Asuma nodded repeatedly, agreeing.

"Sensei Orochimaru from Team Three has already led Guy and the others to kill over a hundred people, and they're at least taking C-rank missions."

"Sakumo-sensei, it's time for some danger to test the results of our training these past days."

Afraid that Sakumo-sensei might still refuse, Asuma tried to provoke him further:

"Sakumo-sensei, you're known throughout the shinobi world as the White Fang of Konoha. Surely, your students can't be inferior to those trained by the Sannin, right?"

Sakumo glanced at Asuma, then at Haneda. Over the past days, he'd taken Haneda and the others on numerous D-rank missions to train them. Cleaning sewers, for instance, was meant to build patience and overcome their usual aversion to dirt. Hunting wild boars in the mountains trained their scouting and survival skills.

Now that they had completed the basics, it was time to take on a more dangerous task.

"Alright, aside from Haneda, none of you have ever seen bloodshed. Let's start with a C-rank mission."

Sakumo began to flip through the mission list, taking his time before finally selecting one from the thick pile of mission scrolls.

"This one looks good. We're to protect a wealthy merchant who does business with the daimyo's palace. According to the information he's provided, within the next half month, bandits are likely to target him for a robbery when he enters the city."

"Our mission is to escort him back to the Land of Waves and deal with any bandits there. The mission takes place near the Land of Water, so we might encounter shinobi from Kirigakure."

"Overall, the danger level is low, and I can guide you during the mission."

After securing the mission scroll from the staff, Sakumo led Haneda and the others to a hidden chamber.

The chamber had various sized compartments, with many shinobi in the process of applying disguises.

"What's this about, Sakumo-uncle? Do we need to go undercover for this mission?" Haneda asked, looking around curiously.

"No, it's because the name 'Konoha's White Fang' is too well-known. I don't want to draw unnecessary attention and disrupt your mission."

Sakumo replied as he began to disguise himself. First, he dyed his silver hair black and trimmed it to a shorter, more tousled style. Just from his appearance, he now exuded a much lazier and more relaxed vibe. He then put on a pair of sunglasses, completing the transformation.

He now looked like he was on vacation, entirely devoid of his previous sharp and commanding presence.

"For this mission, Haneda, you'll be leading the team. I'll correct any mistakes you make along the way."

After giving these instructions, Sakumo led Team Nine out of the chamber and to the mission dispatch room.

By then, their client had arrived.

He appeared young, probably around thirty, though the information provided indicated that this merchant was already in his forties and had a seventeen-year-old son.

The man, Sakamoto, wore glasses and a black suit, with a professional smile on his face at all times.

He quickly walked up and shook hands with Sakumo, introducing himself:

"Hello, I'm Sakamoto Yamano, your client for this mission. You can call me Sakamoto."

"Konoha Team Nine's instructor, Yota Kobato," Sakumo introduced himself with a calm expression, then gestured toward Haneda and the others.

"These are my three students, all top graduates of the ninja academy."

Sakamoto smiled apologetically:

"I must thank you in advance for your help. A few days ago, I signed a large contract with the daimyo's palace, and it's likely that some competitors will send people to attack me. The mission could escalate to a B-rank or even an A-rank mission."

"However, I will compensate you according to Konoha's standard rates."

"Mr. Kobato, are you still willing to accept this mission?"

Sakumo nodded. "The sooner we leave, the better."

Reassured, Sakamoto didn't seem worried. Any instructor leading a team was typically a jōnin. A single jōnin could handle over a hundred regular bandits, and with Konoha's reputation, the quality of their jōnin was beyond doubt.

…

Sakamoto's caravan waited at Konoha's gate, just a short walk away. The convoy carried many goods from the Land of Fire, with most being food supplies.

In addition to hiring Konoha's shinobi, Sakamoto had twelve samurai as guards.

Team Nine, tasked with escorting them, had their own carriage. Though it wasn't large, it was enough to fit four or five people.

Having done some D-rank missions before, Haneda and the others didn't complain about the cramped space. At least, being inside the carriage, they didn't have to suffer under the sun or deal with the stench of sewage.

Inside the carriage, Sakumo pulled the curtains closed and asked quietly:

"What do you think about this mission? The people, the situation?"

"It seems pretty easy, feels like we won't even need to get involved," Asuma replied quickly.

Kurenai thought for a moment and said, "I don't know, but the way the client smiles while wearing those glasses... He looks a bit like a wolf in sheep's clothing."

"And you, Haneda?" Sakumo turned his gaze toward the silent Haneda.

Haneda analyzed the situation:

"The client emphasized his dealings with the daimyo's palace and mentioned the possibility of assassins sent by competitors. He's clearly trying to make us take this mission more seriously."

"And by saying the mission could escalate to B-rank or even A-rank, he's preparing us for the possibility of encountering shinobi attacks."

"Considering he brought twelve samurai and specifically came to Konoha for ninja support, it seems his enemies are quite formidable."

After hearing their thoughts, Sakumo merely smiled and said:

"Let's keep observing. There's still a long way to go, and we can only deduce so much from the information we have."

…

The carriage moved swiftly, and five days later, they reached the coastal region of the Land of Fire.

To get to the Land of Waves, they needed to take a boat.

Their client, Sakamoto, planned to rest at the port for the night and depart in the morning.

That night, under a pitch-black sky and strong winds, Sakumo stayed in a room at an inn, right next to Sakamoto's, for easy protection.

Meanwhile, Haneda and his team were tasked by the client with guarding the warehouse.

"Why does Sakumo-sensei get to rest in a room while we're stuck guarding this creepy old warehouse?" Asuma grumbled, slumping onto a sack of rice.

"This wasn't the teacher's arrangement," Kurenai replied. "Maybe the client doesn't trust anyone and is worried someone might try to steal from him tonight."

"I've heard there are a lot of bandits around here. It might be that," she continued.

Looking toward their team leader, Kurenai asked, "Haneda, are we standing watch all night?"

Asuma, clearly bored, hoped to slack off, but didn't have the courage to say it outright. After all, they'd been traveling for several days straight, practicing tree climbing and water walking, and hadn't encountered any real danger yet.

Instead of standing guard diligently, Asuma would much prefer playing cards or sneaking in some sleep.

"There are people approaching, masked."

Haneda, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke, startling Asuma, who quickly drew his chakra blade.

"Haneda, where are they?" Asuma asked in a hushed voice.

"By the left window. They're just regular people."

As soon as Haneda finished speaking, seven masked men with large machetes climbed through the window.

Seeing the ferocious-looking intruders, Asuma froze.

"These guys are supposed to be regular people!?"

***

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