"C-rank mission? And it's an escort?"
Genya's eyes narrowed as he stared at the assignment scroll.
A C-rank escort mission—accompanying an old man all the way to the Land of Lightning?
He didn't even try to hide his sneer.
Everyone knew the situation. Ever since the Hyūga incident a few years ago, the relationship between Konoha and the Land of Lightning had been on thin ice.
Tense.
Fragile.
And now, out of nowhere, the mission desk was tossing this at him and pretending it was business as usual?
Ridiculous.
His gaze slowly lifted to the two mission desk shinobi standing across from him. There was no warmth in his eyes—just a cold glint of suspicion.
"U-uh… why are you looking at us like that?" one of them stammered.
The two looked nervous, shifting uncomfortably under his gaze. Still, they forced themselves to maintain a formal front.
"The mission's already been issued," the other said quickly. "If you don't complete this one, you won't be eligible for any more for the time being."
Genya didn't respond. He simply kept staring, and the silence stretched. It was long enough to make both men twitch.
Their expressions told him everything.
So this is how the Third Hokage wants to play now? Using other people's hands to get rid of me?
A bitter chuckle rose in Genya's throat, but he swallowed it back.
"Who said I wasn't taking it?" he replied flatly.
He reached out and took the scroll.
The moment it left their hands, the tension in the air evaporated. Both men let out visible sighs of relief, shoulders sagging with barely hidden satisfaction.
They even exchanged a glance—one of those smug, silent ones. Like they'd just avoided a close call. Or offloaded a curse.
Genya ignored them.
He turned on his heel and walked out of the mission hall, the scroll in hand. Hinata and Shino followed behind, quiet as shadows.
From a balcony above, Kurenai Yuhi had seen everything.
She had watched the entire exchange from start to finish—the moment Genya took the scroll, the way he locked eyes with the two shinobi, the unspoken tension in the room.
And as he exited, she followed.
The sun outside was bright, but Genya's expression didn't lighten. He paused just past the main steps.
Kurenai caught up to them quickly, her voice low and steady.
"Genya," she said. "You do realize there's something wrong with this mission… don't you?"
She didn't need him to answer. She already knew.
From the moment those two men had walked in with that scroll, her instincts had screamed that something was off.
Genya tilted his head, just enough to glance back.
"When does the old man depart for the Land of Lightning?" he asked calmly.
One of the mission desk shinobi, who had followed them out, replied grudgingly, "It's written on the scroll. Departure's at noon tomorrow."
"I see."
That was all Genya said.
He nodded once, adjusted the scroll under his arm, and walked away without another word.
The paper was light—but something in his gut told him this mission would be anything but.
"This?"
Genya narrowed his eyes, the corners of his lips twitching ever so slightly.
This was clearly someone out for revenge.
But who?
Was this a move by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi himself?
Or was it the handiwork of his son, Sarutobi Asuma?
After all, only the high-ranking officials in Konoha had the authority to assign mission grades—especially ones involving foreign nations.
And yet… this mission was classified as C-rank.
There was no way that wasn't deliberate.
It had to be retaliation.
"Heh." Genya let out a quiet chuckle, calm and composed. "Isn't this just revenge? If it didn't come this time, it would've come the next."
"Eh?" Kurenai Yuhi furrowed her brows as she looked at him.
"You only conned them out of a few hundred thousand ryo," she said, tone uncertain. "The Sarutobi clan wouldn't go so far as to kill you for that, right?"
"They wouldn't," Genya replied, shaking his head slowly.
But then, as if remembering something, he suddenly changed his tone.
"Just now… I crippled the arm of Hiruzen Sarutobi's grandson."
"Wha—?"
Kurenai froze.
Her breath hitched, and cold sweat formed on her forehead.
She stared at Genya like she was staring at a lunatic.
"Genya… are you insane?" she finally burst out. "Do you know how precious that grandson is to Hiruzen? Ever since his eldest son died from illness, that boy is all he has left!"
"You actually crippled one of his arms?!"
Her heart was pounding, mind racing with chaotic thoughts.
This… This was madness!
There was no way Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't retaliate.
There would be consequences.
"Sensei, it wasn't Genya's fault!" a soft yet firm voice cut through the tension.
Hinata stepped forward, her small hands clenched tightly.
Seeing the disbelief on her teacher's face, she took a deep breath—and began to explain everything that had happened.
When Konohamaru tried to have his servant cripple Genya's arm — and the way he acted so arrogantly — everything was laid out in full detail.
"Konohamaru definitely went too far!" Kurenai Yuhi frowned. But halfway through her words, she added, "Still, you crippled one of his arms. The Hokage won't let you off for that."
Her expression grew darker. She knew full well — this wasn't something that could be settled peacefully.
Hiruzen Sarutobi would surely retaliate.
"Genya did nothing wrong," Shino Aburame finally spoke up, his voice calm but resolute.
He had witnessed the entire confrontation between Genya and Konohamaru. Konohamaru had clearly crossed the line.
If one of the Uchiha ninjas hadn't shown up in time, it might have been Genya who ended up crippled.
No. With Genya's strength, maybe not crippled — but things definitely would have spiraled out of control.
There would've been chaos.
"No one's saying Genya was wrong, but someone has to take responsibility for what happened." Kurenai's eyes narrowed, her tone growing colder and more rational.
Hiruzen would absolutely pin this on Genya.
"It doesn't matter." Genya chuckled lightly, speaking with a calm that bordered on arrogance. "Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi wants to cause trouble, so what? No one can harm a member of the Uchiha clan within our territory — not even the Hokage."
His voice sharpened, growing firm with every word.
If Hiruzen Sarutobi or Shimura Danzo dared to lay hands on the Uchiha again — then that would be the day war begins. There would be no turning back.
The Uchiha clan would annihilate the Sarutobi clan.
"But what if he retaliates outside the village?" Kurenai pressed, frowning. "You can't defend against everything. Take today's escort mission for example."
"This escort mission... it does seem a little suspicious." Genya rubbed the mission scroll between his fingers before continuing, "How about I go alone? You all can stay here in Konoha."
With his current strength, unless he ran into someone from the Ōtsutsuki clan, no one could touch him — and no one could stop him.
"No." Hinata shook her head firmly before anyone else could speak. Her voice was steady and unwavering. "I'm going with you, no matter what."
She knew going there might be dangerous, but even so, she was determined to stay by Genya's side.
"I'm coming too!" Shino Aburame nodded, pushing up his small glasses. "Although I might not be as strong as you, I can still help out when it really counts!"
Kurenai smiled, clearly pleased with Hinata and Shino's resolve.
"It seems you all understand the meaning of being teammates now. In critical moments, you are partners who rely on each other — comrades, and bonds you cannot abandon. Don't worry, I'll go with you!"
Team bonds.
"Oh, but Sensei," Genya said with a half-smile, "I heard that someone in Konoha once failed a mission because they saved a teammate. In the end, they couldn't bear the village's criticism and took their own life."
To Genya, the importance of bonds, teammates, and missions depended entirely on personal choice.
If it were up to him, no matter the situation, he would always choose family and friends over outsiders and missions.
Only when family and friends were safe would he consider the so-called mission.
Kurenai had no argument for that.
Hokage's Office.
"Hokage-sama!" A servant, holding Konohamaru whose arm hung limply, burst into Sarutobi Hiruzen's room. His face was full of worry.
"What happened?" Sarutobi frowned at first, but then his eyes widened when he saw Konohamaru unconscious in the servant's arms. He sprang to his feet.
"What's wrong with Konohamaru?"
****
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