The journey to the Land of Rice Fields was a stark departure from the comfortable confines of Konoha's D-rank missions. The air grew heavier with each passing mile, the forests denser, the atmosphere charged with an undercurrent of tension. Our client, a nervous merchant named Old Man Tetsuo, clutched his precious scroll – a deed for a remote ancestral land – as if it were the last piece of gold in the world.
Maito Gai-sensei, however, was oblivious to the growing unease. "YOSH! FEEL THE BURN OF ADVENTURE, MY YOUTHFUL TEAM! EACH STEP IS A STROKE OF THE BRUSH, PAINTING THE MASTERPIECE OF OUR FIRST C-RANK MISSION!" His booming voice echoed through the quiet forest, making Tetsuo jump.
Akio, initially excited, now looked slightly pale, constantly scanning the tree line. Ren, as always, was quietly observant, her movements fluid and efficient as she walked beside the merchant. I walked behind them, my senses on high alert, the whispers of the Evolution System's "Serpent's Deception" mission a constant hum in my mind. Mizuki's cryptic message had hinted at connections in this very land, a place rumored to be a haven for rogue ninja and darker forces.
Gai-sensei, true to form, turned the escort into a series of "youthful challenges." We sprinted up hills, practiced evasion drills around trees, and even had a "silent endurance" competition where we had to maintain perfect stillness for five minutes, a task made excruciating by Gai's dramatic, silent poses. For me, these were invaluable. I used the strenuous exercise to push my Stamina and Taijutsu further, my body responding with greater efficiency.
Skill Progress: Stamina (C- -> C) Skill Progress: Taijutsu (D+ -> C-)
My Sharingan, now stable at One-Tomoe, was my greatest tool for passive reconnaissance. I'd activate it in fleeting, unnoticeable blinks, allowing my vision to sharpen, to pick out details in the undergrowth or detect subtle chakra signatures far off. The crimson flash was now fully under my control, a private enhancement. I constantly scanned for anything out of place: unusual footprints, snapped twigs, faint chakra trails that didn't belong.
On the second day, as we neared the border of the Land of Rice Fields, the air grew thick with a subtle, yet distinct, malicious chakra. It wasn't strong enough to be truly dangerous to a Jonin, but it was undoubtedly hostile.
"Gai-sensei," Ren murmured, her voice barely a whisper, her eyes narrowed. "I sense... something."
Gai-sensei, whose youthful exuberance had momentarily faded into serious ninja mode, nodded, his gaze sweeping the trees. "Indeed, Ren. Sharp senses! A challenge! It seems our youthful escort has become a youthful skirmish! Prepare yourselves, Team 11!"
Suddenly, three figures dropped from the trees, cloaked and masked, each wielding a sharp kunai. Rogue ninja. Not strong, probably low-level C-rank, but dangerous enough for fresh Genin. Tetsuo yelped, trying to hide behind Gai-sensei.
"Protect the client!" Gai-sensei commanded, his posture shifting, radiating power. "Akio, lead the defense! Ren, support! Namekaze, observe and react!"
Akio, despite his initial fear, charged with a brave shout, engaging one of the rogue ninja. He was clumsy but determined. Ren moved with surprising agility, throwing kunai to distract another attacker, protecting Tetsuo. Gai-sensei, a blur of green, engaged the third, his taijutsu a whirlwind of powerful strikes.
I didn't immediately jump into the fray. My role, as Gai had instructed, was to observe and react, a task perfectly suited for my abilities. I activated my Sharingan, my vision instantly sharpening. The rogue ninja's movements became subtly predictable, their chakra flows visible, their intentions clear. I saw the subtle shift of muscle before a strike, the gathering of chakra before a clumsy ninjutsu.
The rogue ninja fighting Akio lunged, aiming for his arm. Akio blocked, but left himself open to a kick. I saw it coming. Without thinking, I threw a kunai. It wasn't aimed at the rogue; it was aimed at a thick vine just above his head. The kunai sliced through the vine, which snapped and swung down, momentarily entangling the rogue's legs, throwing off his balance. Akio seized the opening, delivering a clumsy but effective punch that sent the rogue sprawling.
New Mission Unlocked: Field Combat Experience Objective: Successfully engage in combat situations, utilizing your skills to support your team and achieve mission objectives. (Progress: 1/3 combat engagements) Reward: 25 EP, Combat Awareness (Skill Points), Teamwork (Skill Points). Status: Pending.
My attention shifted to Ren, who was being pushed back by another rogue. She tried a basic ninjutsu, a burst of wind, but it was weak. This rogue, unlike Akio's, had a more refined, almost familiar chakra signature. It felt... off. It was a subtle echo of the signature I'd detected with the chakra tripwire, the one linked to Mizuki. This was one of them.
The rogue moved in for a close-quarters strike on Ren. I couldn't risk a direct fire jutsu, it would be too much. Instead, I channeled chakra to my feet, executing a burst of enhanced speed. I moved like a blur, appearing between Ren and the rogue. I didn't attack; instead, I performed a basic, but perfectly executed, Body Flicker Technique (Shunshin no Jutsu). I appeared behind the rogue, creating a brief, disorienting void in their perception, just enough time for Ren to recover and land a solid kick. The rogue staggered, momentarily confused.
Skill Progress: Speed (E -> D-) Skill Progress: Shunshin no Jutsu (Ninjutsu - Rank E)
The System quickly updated. My intervention, though subtle, had been effective. The fight didn't last long after that. Gai-sensei finished off his opponent with a single, powerful kick, then joined the fray, making short work of the remaining two rogue ninja.
After the skirmish, Gai-sensei praised our teamwork and determination. He debriefed us, analyzing our strengths and weaknesses. He singled me out. "Namekaze, your ability to react and support your teammates was truly impressive for a Genin! You have a keen eye!"
"Thank you, Sensei," I said, a genuine flush of pride on my face. It was rewarding to be acknowledged for skills I usually had to hide.
As we continued our journey, the thought of Mizuki and his network weighed heavily. The rogue ninja Ren and I had faced… that subtle chakra signature. It was almost certainly connected. This C-rank mission was more than just an escort; it was a deeper dive into the underbelly of the shinobi world, and into Mizuki's growing conspiracy.
We finally reached the edge of Tetsuo's ancestral land. It was a small, desolate property, long abandoned. As we helped Tetsuo make his way to the dilapidated farmhouse, I noticed faint, almost imperceptible markings carved into the trees along the perimeter. They weren't Konoha symbols. They were crude, jagged symbols, almost like a twisted version of the Uchiha fan, but with a serpentine twist. My Sharingan picked them out easily, even in the fading light.
Serpent's Deception: Progress 3/3 (Identified network symbols/markers related to Mizuki's organization). Mission Objective Complete: Serpent's Deception. You have been awarded 50 EP. Current EP: 135. You have acquired a Major Stealth Boost and a Minor Intelligence Boost.
The System's completion notification resonated with a sense of urgency. I had completed the information gathering. Mizuki was indeed active in this region, perhaps even using this very isolated land as a temporary base or rendezvous point. The "research material" he gave me, the coded message, wasn't just bait; it was an invitation to a network already established, one that reached even into the remote Land of Rice Fields.
My gaze hardened. I had fulfilled the mission. Now, I knew enough to confirm Mizuki's treachery. The question wasn't if he was plotting against Konoha, but when he would make his move, and how I could stop him without revealing the full extent of my own evolving power. The serpent was casting a long shadow, and I was right in its path.
End of chapter 16