When Shisui said we were heading out for a C-rank mission, I expected the usual stop at the mission desk. Stand in line, get handed some scroll with the details, maybe hear a chunin sigh about how late the paperwork was, then get shoved out the door. That was the routine.
But Shisui did not even glance at the desk. He walked right past it, his pace steady and his eyes locked straight ahead. I slowed for a step, frowning, before hurrying to catch up. Kaen noticed too, his scowl deepening as if he smelled something he did not like, while Sena simply adjusted her stride without missing a beat, as though she had known this was coming from the start.
Instead of the ordinary shuffle of bored chunin and mission clerks, we climbed the stairs. The higher we went, the heavier the air became, the kind of quiet that pressed down on your shoulders. The corridor ahead was lined with masked ANBU, silent and watchful, and that was when it hit me where we were heading.
The Hokage's office. The thought alone made my stomach tighten. I had never been inside before.
We stepped past the ANBU stationed at the door, their silence heavier than any words, and entered the room. The door closed behind us with a soft click. The office was quieter than I expected, no rustle of papers or chatter from clerks, only the Third Hokage seated behind his desk. The faint smell of tobacco lingered from the pipe resting nearby, and his sharp eyes fixed on us the moment we walked in. He studied each of us in turn, the weight of that gaze making me stand straighter without even meaning to.
"You performed well in the Kobaru assignment," he said, his voice steady, deliberate. "The client spoke highly of you. Professional, competent, reliable. Not many inexperienced squads earn such praise."
Sena bowed her head gracefully, her tone polished and smooth. "We are honored by his words, Hokage-sama. It was our duty to make the mission successful and ensure the client felt safe."
Her delivery was so flawless it sounded like it belonged in a merchant's hall. I caught the faint glint of approval in Hiruzen's eyes before he gave her a small nod.
Kaen shifted his weight, his scowl refusing to fade. "If the client was satisfied, then the mission is counted a success. Still, praise does not change the fact that we were sent to deal with rabble. Strength is what matters in the end."
The words were polite enough on the surface, but there was an edge to them. He was not challenging Sena, not openly, but the way he spoke felt more like a barb aimed directly at the Hokage.
The air in the room dipped for a moment. I did not have to look at Sena to know that her smile did not even twitch. Shisui's eyes flicked toward Kaen, calm but sharp, a warning to rein himself in.
Hiruzen leaned back slightly, unbothered. "Strength is necessary. But strength without trust from those we protect leads to fear, not respect. A shinobi must be both a blade and a shield. Remember that, Uchiha Kaen."
Kaen's jaw tightened, and although he gave a curt nod, the irritation still burned on his face.
Sena stepped forward slightly, her voice calm and her words deliberate. "That is why teamwork matters. The mission proved that even with different strengths, each of us contributed to success. If the village can rely on us to combine our abilities, then strength will hold meaning beyond the battlefield. True cooperation brings stability, and trust is what builds a future where the village can continue to prosper in peace."
Shisui's and Hiruzen's gaze lingered on her for a moment. Shisui's eyes held a quiet gleam of approval, clearly impressed and pleased with her words. Hiruzen's expression remained unreadable at first, but then it softened ever so slightly. "Well said. The Yamanaka clan has long provided wisdom beyond their years. You carry that well."
Sena bowed her head again, her smile as polished as ever. I could almost see her adding another mark to her invisible tally, stacking up goodwill as if she was building her own private bank of favors.
Hiruzen leaned back, folding his hands together as his tone shifted from praise to business. "Your next assignment is more delicate than the errands you have handled so far. A missing-nin has been raiding settlements in the southern reaches of the Land of Fire. Not close enough to Konoha to justify constant patrols, but still within our borders. She is careful. She never strikes the same place twice in quick succession, and she avoids staying long enough to be cornered. Her gang moves quickly, leaving little trace behind."
His eyes narrowed, the weight of the situation heavy in his voice. "That caution has made it difficult to predict her next move. So instead of waiting for her to choose another target, we prepared one for her. A warehouse on the eastern edge of a settlement has been made to look vulnerable, stocked with supplies that would tempt a kunoichi who believes herself clever. The hint of its location and contents was allowed to slip through the channels we know her people monitor. Not so blatant that it feels staged, not so subtle that it could be ignored. A delicate balance. Enough to stir her greed without triggering her suspicion."
My stomach dipped. Of course, our first C-rank was not going to be safe.
"You will guard the warehouse," Hiruzen continued, his voice steady, "and should the enemy appear, you will release a flare, which will bring reinforcements. Your role is to hold them in place until support arrives. The missing-nin is a chunin. Do not attempt to claim glory. Hold position, keep them occupied, and make sure she cannot escape until our forces arrive."
Sena's voice was measured, curious yet respectful. "With respect, Hokage-sama, will the enemy know how many are stationed in the area? If they believe only our team guards the warehouse, they may commit fully. If they suspect larger forces nearby, they might retreat."
Hiruzen nodded. "That is why we gave the operation to a genin squad. The missing-nin will see it as a sign that it is not a trap. Reinforcements are stationed far away, far enough that their presence cannot be detected. To maintain the illusion that you are alone. Which means your task will not be easy. You must hold for some time before aid can reach you. Still, I trust you for this assignment. Your performance speaks volumes, and I expect you will give her a surprise she will not expect from shinobi so young."
He said the last part with a knowing smile, his eyes landing on me. A chill went down my spine.
Kaen's lips pressed into a thin line. His voice slipped out before he could stop it. "So we are bait."
Shisui's head turned sharply toward him, but Hiruzen did not look offended. Instead, he met Kaen's glare evenly. "Yes. You are bait. That is what shinobi often are. We are sent forward so the enemy shows their true intentions. Your task is not to win glory, but to endure, to hold your ground, and to keep the enemy in place until the right moment. Even bait can decide the outcome of a battle if it does not break."
Kaen broke eye contact first, staring at the floor, his scowl darker than before.
I rubbed the back of my neck, thinking about how bait had better come with hazard pay. My savings were thin enough as it was.
Hiruzen leaned forward again, his gaze returning to Shisui. "This operation is not a simple assignment for them. It is meant to test their readiness. Watch carefully how they handle themselves, and give me a full report when it is done." He picked up a scroll from his desk, the seal pressed firmly across its cover, and handed it to Shisui.
Shisui accepted it with both hands, bowing his head deeply. "Yes, Hokage-sama. We will carry out the mission as ordered."
"Good," Hiruzen said, settling back in his chair. "Then prepare yourselves. This will tell me much about your squad."
We bowed, turned, and followed Shisui out of the office. The ANBU closed the doors behind us, the smell of tobacco fading from the room as quickly as my confidence in my own abilities.
The moment we stepped out of the Hokage building, Shisui urged us to follow. He kept a brisk pace, and before long we reached our usual private training ground. After a quick glance around to make sure it was clear, he finally spoke. His tone was nothing like the cheerfulness he often carried. Instead, it had been replaced by a grim seriousness that immediately drew all of our attention.
"This assignment is not like anything you have done before. This is where your true mettle will be tested. It carries real risk and is designed to push you to give everything you have. Failure will not simply mean the job is incomplete. If you falter, the enemy will grow more cautious, and worse, they may retaliate against civilians. Lives will depend on your performance. That is the weight of what we are about to do."
His gaze swept over each of us, sharp and unyielding.
"So I need you focused. I need you in top shape, and most importantly, I need you prepared mentally. Go home, rest, clear your thoughts, and come back ready. We move at dawn. Is that clear?"
We all nodded at once, startled by the sudden weight in his words. The truth of what lay ahead settled over us, heavy and unavoidable.