At Shikkotsu Forest, on a giant green leaf, Shimizu sat in meditation.
Hū~ inhale~ exhale~ inhale~
In his self-induced trance, Shimizu seemed to forget all worries. Each breath he took was in perfect sync with the cool breeze, as if he had seamlessly merged with nature itself.
After a while, faint traces of eye markings appeared at the corners of his eyes.
"Shimizu-sama is incredible!"
"Wow! He entered Sage Mode on his first try!"
Amid the warm and excited cheers, Shimizu slowly opened his eyes.
"The first stage of Sage Mode wasn't difficult for me. But to use senjutsu effectively in battle, I need to reach at least the second stage."
Shimizu silently assessed his progress. This "Stage 2" was a classification he had come up with based on his own understanding.
Stage 1: Entering Sage Mode after meditating for some time in a still state.
Stage 2: Entering Sage Mode while in motion.
Originally, even in Sage Mode, the two elder toad sages had to sit on Jiraiya's shoulders and help refine senjutsu chakra. But they weren't completely immobile; they could still form hand seals and use jutsu.
From Shimizu's experience, the "stillness" required for Sage Mode was more about inner tranquility. Minimal movement was still acceptable.
If he could maintain a calm mind even in battle, he might be able to achieve Stage 2 Sage Mode.
As for Stage 3—where the First Hokage could enter Sage Mode instantly—it still felt like a distant goal.
Thinking about this, Shimizu dispersed his Sage Mode, stood up, and bowed respectfully to the giant slug at the center.
"Slug Sage, thank you for guiding my training."
The massive, mountain-like slug shifted slightly, speaking in a gentle and harmonious tone.
"Shimizu, your success in Sage Mode is the result of your own efforts. If you ever need assistance, feel free to ask."
In part, Shimizu had chosen the Shikkotsu Forest for this reason.
Compared to the enigmatic predictions of the Great Toad Sage and the dangerous nature of Ryuchi Cave's White Snake Sage, the Slug Sage, who lived in peaceful solitude, seemed the least threatening.
"I understand. Thank you, Slug Sage!"
After expressing his gratitude, Junichi began forming hand seals.
Summoning Jutsu!
A small slug appeared before him.
Meanwhile, in the Hidden Leaf Village—
The large slug that Shimizu had summoned earlier watched as the smaller slug suddenly vanished.
"Looks like it's ready. I should begin!"
With effort, it extended its antennae and lightly tapped them together.
Reverse Summoning Jutsu!
The next moment, Shimizu reappeared in the Hidden Leaf Village.
Looking at the familiar surroundings, he smiled.
"Thank you, Slug Sage."
The large slug wiggled its antennae happily.
"This is my duty!"
After dispelling the summoning jutsu and sending the large slug back to the Shikkotsu Forest, Shimizu headed toward the mission center.
…
In front of the mission center, Asuma leaned against a pillar with his arms crossed.
"Shimizu, you're late today."
"Sorry, I just finished training."
At that moment, Asuma noticed the fresh, dewy aura Shimizu carried, and his lips twitched.
"…Have you been living like a monk?"
Shimizu chuckled.
"That's just how Sage Mode training works. After all, the calm state of meditation is pretty similar to sleep."
At that moment, Junichi walked out of the mission center.
"See the difference now? Talent isn't scary. What's scary is when someone talented works harder than you."
Asuma shrugged nonchalantly.
"I learned that lesson when I was five."
Junichi shook his head with a helpless smile.
"Well, that must've been rough for you."
Meanwhile, Kurenai excitedly asked, "Junichi-sensei, what rank mission are we getting?"
Shimizu also chimed in.
"Hopefully, not a D-rank mission."
Even he didn't want to waste time chasing lost pets or picking up trash.
Seeing their eager faces, Junichi smiled.
"Normally, genin teams can only take D-rank and C-rank missions. However, since we have no prior experience, getting a C-rank mission won't be easy."
Junichi led them toward the mission board, continuing his explanation.
"First, let's eliminate escort missions."
Asuma asked, "Because they take too long and reduce efficiency?"
"No. The real reason is that clients value their safety. Even if you're talented, without any mission experience, many employers won't trust you."
Junichi pointed at the C-rank mission list.
"This one requires taming a large wild animal… Too bad it's not a hunt; that would've been easier."
Kurenai tilted her head.
"What's the difference?"
Shimizu smiled.
"It's about risk management. If a taming mission fails, the target gets startled and escapes. That's why these missions tend to have stricter requirements than hunting missions."
Junichi nodded approvingly.
"That's right. Pay attention to these small details. A true ninja should be able to analyze a mission's key points even before accepting it."
"C-rank missions usually pay between 30,000 and 102,000 ryo. High-risk, time-consuming missions pay more, but since we're not in high demand yet, most of our options have a lower reward-to-risk ratio."
"Which is why… this mission suits us best."
Junichi's hand stopped over a specific scroll.
[Eliminate Mountain Bandits – Reward: 62,000 Ryo]
Seeing the mission details, Asuma suddenly perked up.
"Will there be enemy shinobi?"
Junichi gave a wry smile.
"Not likely. There's a high chance they won't even have a single rogue ninja."
Asuma's excitement instantly faded.
"Lame."
However, Junichi's expression remained serious.
"Ninjas are still human. Whether you die by a kunai or a regular blade, death is the same."
"There were rookies like you before, thinking ordinary people were harmless. They got arrogant, got surrounded, couldn't form hand seals in time… and in the end, were cut down by the very people they underestimated."
Asuma, reminded of his teacher's warning, let go of his earlier arrogance.
"I understand, Junichi-sensei."
Seeing his students' serious expressions, Junichi hesitated.
"…Did I scare them too much? Given their talent, they might've benefited from experiencing a real fight firsthand. If they had been a bit overconfident, it could've made for good training…"
He sighed inwardly.
"Oh well… Poor mountain bandits. I almost feel bad for them."