"Izumi, wake up! It's time to eat!" Her mother's voice came from the living room. Uchiha Izumi sat up, checked the time, and then complained, "Mom, don't wake me up so early tomorrow."
Uchiha Hazuki opened the door and said, "How can that be? Aren't you a Ninja? How can you be so lazy! Aren't Ninja all diligent, punctual, and have regular routines?"
"Ninja are people too!" Izumi lay back down on the bed, planning to go back to sleep.
Uchiha Hazuki pulled back the covers and pulled Izumi, who was curled up in them, out of bed.
Izumi watched her mother smiling at her. She could only slowly get up and then eat.
Her mother looked at Izumi's adorable appearance and asked with a smile, "Izumi, do you have someone you like?"
Izumi looked at her mother speechlessly and said, "How old am I? What are you rushing for?"
Uchiha Hazuki said, "You don't know, back in our day, some children would already be cultivating feelings and then get married in a few years. The sparks of love were ignited during missions."
"Your time was a period of war, but this is a time of peace." Izumi knew that the Ninja world had always been plagued by wars, so children matured very early, but things were different now.
"That's true." Uchiha Hazuki nodded, then suddenly leaned closer to Izumi and asked, "So, how are things between you and Itachi? Have you been in contact?"
"Ah? Him." Izumi thought for a moment and said, "When I talk to him, his expression is very serious but very interesting. However, whenever I mention the Uchiha Clan, he always looks very disappointed."
"It's like, 'Izumi, you're just like them, always putting the clan first. So you're all ordinary people, only a genius like me is different from you, thinking more…'"
As she spoke, Izumi even pretended to be Itachi, speaking those words with a disappointed and cold expression, even mimicking his disappointed downward gaze.
Uchiha Hazuki looked at her daughter's adorable appearance and couldn't help but laugh. She said to Izumi, "So he's that kind of person. But geniuses do tend to have strange temperaments. However, your imitation is a bit too exaggerated."
"Absolutely not exaggerated!" Izumi declared confidently, "I'm sure he definitely thinks that way. That expression just looks very disappointed!"
Uchiha Hazuki asked, "Didn't you say before that he had this flaw? If you don't like him, then just interact normally. Why do you keep contacting him?"
Izumi nodded and said, "Hmm, I just find it interesting, and the clan leader also told me to talk to him more, otherwise he'll be very lonely."
"Oh, I see. The clan leader helped you before, so you should indeed repay him well. Hmm, it's up to you. By the way, how are the boys in your team?"
"Oh no! Mom~" Izumi stared intently at her mother.
Uchiha Hazuki laughed awkwardly, "I'm just concerned about you! What if my daughter gets abducted!"
"Ah! You didn't say that just now!"
"I was just testing you just now!"
"Alright, alright, I know. Don't worry, one is a commoner, and one is from the Akimichi Clan. Their talents are both ordinary."
"Oh, I see. By the way, Izumi." Uchiha Hazuki suddenly became serious.
Izumi asked with some surprise, "Hmm? What's wrong?"
Uchiha Hazuki said, "When you're a little older, I'll give you a gift."
Izumi became interested and immediately asked, "A gift? What kind of gift?"
Uchiha Hazuki crossed her arms and said proudly, "Your father has a family fortune, and as a member of the Uchiha Clan, of course I do too!"
Izumi said in surprise, "Oh! Then when will you give it to me, Mom!"
"Hmph hmph! When you're a little older." Uchiha Hazuki said, "Don't ask anymore. A little mystery is best."
"Alright! Then I'll wait for the gift you give me, Mom!"
"Hmm, I'll give you the gift later!"
Izumi looked at her mother like this and also became expectant. What kind of gift would Mom be talking about?
Just as Izumi was practicing talismans at home, she suddenly received a mission notification.
"So fast!" Izumi immediately packed her equipment and then went directly to the Hokage Office to accept the mission with her teacher and companions.
Arriving at the waiting area in front of the Hokage Office, everyone was already there.
"Ah, you're the last one again, Izumi!" Yamamoto Kawa said unhappily, "Hurry up!"
"Hmm." Izumi smiled slightly, thinking to herself, "Sure enough, this guy's attitude is different. He used to order me around, but now he's so much more polite. As expected, having strength is the most important thing."
Everyone arrived at the Hokage Office. The Hokage explained the mission after seeing the four of them.
"A mission to exterminate bandits? Great, finally we can take action!" Yamamoto Kawa shouted, "No more boring missions!"
"Cough cough!" Sarutobi Muraki quickly reminded him where they were.
Yamamoto Kawa immediately realized his mistake. He said awkwardly, "Ah, Hokage-sama, I was too excited!"
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile, "Hmm, it's alright. Many new Ninja are like this. After doing daily missions for a long time, it's normal to get excited when you suddenly have a chance to show off your skills. You all must perform well."
Yamamoto Kawa immediately stood at attention and respectfully shouted, "Yes, Hokage-sama, I will do my best!"
The Third Hokage nodded and said, "Hmm, very good. Muraki, you guide them well and don't let any accidents happen to them!"
Sarutobi Muraki also respectfully replied, "Yes!"
The Third Hokage then looked at Uchiha Izumi, Yamamoto Kawa, and Akido Jiro. He warned them, "You must remember, the mission is extermination, not capture!"
"Yes!" The three replied, "We will perform well!"
"Very good." The Third Hokage said, "The enemies are not troublesome. They are just a group of bandits who have taken over a mountain. I look forward to your performance!"
The client on the side asked, "Can so many children really exterminate the bandits?"
The Third Hokage said with a smile, "Don't worry. Didn't you come precisely because you trusted the Konoha Ninja Village's strength? Although they are all children, they are powerful Ninja trained by Konoha."
The client nodded and said, "Alright then. Anyway, there's still an adult. I heard that a powerful Ninja can defeat hundreds of normal people, so that should be enough. Then I'll trouble you all. You must defeat those bandits!"
Sarutobi Muraki immediately said, "Don't worry, we will defeat them!"
The Third Hokage nodded with satisfaction and said, "Hmm, very good. Then you may go."
"Yes!"