Finally! Aizen collapsed onto the floor, exhausted.
Staring at the walls he'd just finished repainting, he couldn't help but wonder what the hell he'd been thinking in his past life. Wanting to be a painter for fun? Was he out of his mind?
"D-rank missions are way more tiring than they look," he muttered, arms splayed out like a starfish.
He was complaining, sure. But deep down, he knew these low-level missions weren't pointless.
Most new Genin tried to speed through them, dreaming of flashy C-rank or B-rank jobs and eager to fight bandits or go on escort missions. But they didn't realise how important these early assignments were.
Some lessons were obvious. Like learning how your teammates worked—how they moved, what habits they had, how to coordinate without needing to speak. You didn't get that in a classroom.
Then there was skill refinement. Tracking animals helped Inuzuka clan members sharpen their noses. Herding livestock or dealing with loose dogs gave Nara clan members practice using their Shadow Imitation jutsu subtly and efficiently.
Even something as boring as delivering mail helped. It gave you a map of the village in your head. You started understanding how missions were assigned and how money flowed between the mission office, the client, and the team.
There was also the political side, something most young shinobi ignored.
Some rookies, full of themselves after graduation, needed to be humbled. Learning to treat mission clients with respect, especially the wealthy or high-ranking ones from outside the village, was part of that. You couldn't just scare your way through a job. Reputation mattered.
And then there was the bigger picture: public relations.
The average civilian didn't trust shinobi. To many, ninja were killers in the bodies of children. Dangerous tools the village used when words failed.
These little missions like painting walls, catching cats, or running errands were a way to change that. They helped make the common people see ninja as people, not weapons. They softened the fear and maybe, just maybe, inspired a child to follow the same path or let them be guided into it.
It was all part of the system, carefully constructed.
Because outside the Hidden Villages, the world was a mess. Shinobi without regulation, rogue ninjas doing whatever they wanted. Villages torn apart not by war but by unseen consequences. And when ninja fought, it was always the civilians who suffered—lives lost, homes destroyed, savings gone.
That's why the system existed.
And that's why, even if his arms ached and his chakra felt drained from painting a stupid wall, Aizen didn't truly complain.
Because every mission, no matter how small, had a purpose.
Still…
He groaned and rolled onto his side.
"Are you done?"
The voice came from the doorway. Aizen turned his head and saw Kyoki standing there, arms crossed, staring at him with that same unreadable expression.
"Yeah," Aizen nodded. "What about you?"
"I finished my part. So did Nozomi. Sensei was called to a meeting, so he already left. Nozomi went to collect the payment."
"Right…" Aizen sat up slowly, dusting off his clothes.
As he watched Kyoki turn to leave, he couldn't help but think. Are all Hyūga this cold?
Days had passed since their team formed, and he'd started noticing things. Kyoki barely spoke unless it was necessary. No small talk. No smiles. Just silence and observation. Compared to most kids their age, she was a stone wall.
But thinking about it, Aizen didn't find it strange anymore.
She was a branch family member.
Branded with a slave seal, her life already chained to the will of the main family. Forced to serve them without question. Stripped of pride and treated like a tool, no matter how skilled she might be.
No wonder she keeps her distance, Aizen thought grimly. She's not cold. She's just learned not to get too close.
It wasn't right. But it was reality.
And in the shinobi world, reality was rarely fair.
From what I remember, Hinata was part of the main family, technically. Even though she lost her position as heir to Hanabi, who was more talented, she was never branded with the cursed seal.
That's where the issue starts.
When there are two children born, one is supposed to be moved to the branch family. That's the Hyūga tradition. Cruel, rigid, but consistent. And yet, somehow, Hinata escaped it.
Sure, I could say it's because she married Naruto later, but that's years down the line. By that logic, she should've been branded long before her wedding. If they were following the old traditions, she wouldn't have even been allowed to marry outside the clan, especially not someone like Naruto.
So what changed?
Maybe her father used his authority to fight the elders. Made a stand after losing his brother. Maybe he couldn't bear to see his own daughter suffer the same fate. That would make sense.
Still, just because she got lucky doesn't mean the system changed. I doubt the Hyūga clan suddenly became noble and progressive. More likely, Naruto was just too powerful and too influential for them to stop him once he got serious.
Tch. Whatever.
It's not like I care that much. Hyūga politics aren't my problem. I should be focusing on the Uchiha anyway. That's where the real instability lies.
Not that I can do much about it right now. I'm still a Genin.
But when the time comes, if I get the chance—yeah, I'll use everything I can. Every scrap of clan drama, every old rule, every loophole. That's just smart.
For now, though, I need to keep my head down. My name's probably already floating around. Too many eyes on me. No need to make more noise than I have to.
"For now… let's just go home," Aizen muttered, pushing himself up slowly.
"I'm too tired to deal with anything else today."
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