Chapter 16 – Mission D: Baby, Team Photo, and an Unexpected Encounter
That morning, the atmosphere of the Hokage's office felt livelier than usual. Team Kazuki stood in front of the desk of the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, who was reading a scroll report while sipping sake.
Tsunade looked at Kakashi's team with a lazy yet sharp gaze.
"Today, a Mission D for you all… is very special indeed."
Kazuki and his team were full of curiosity....
Tsunade: "The three of you will be taking care of the baby of one of the village officials."
Kazuki immediately stiffened.
"WHAT?! A baby?! But Lady Hokage, we are future ninjas! How can our task just be babysitting?!"
Shikamaru sighed, covering his face with his hand.
"Hhh… I knew it, this will definitely be more troublesome than just a cat."
Hinata smiled nervously.
"I-I think… babies are cute. I… don't mind…"
Kakashi closed his book.
"Yeah, yeah. Just think of it as patience training. The shinobi world isn't always full of battles."
Kazuki still grumbled, but went along anyway.
---
The Baby Who Brought Chaos
The house of the village official was grand, but full of scattered toys. The mother handed over her chubby 8-month-old baby into Kazuki's arms.
The baby stared at Kazuki with round eyes, then—
"WAAAAAAAH!!"
The super loud cry shook the whole house.
Kazuki panicked.
"Eh?! Why is he crying? I haven't even done anything yet!"
Shikamaru covered his ears.
"Hhh… my ears hurt…"
Hinata tried to calm him, rocking the baby gently.
"Ssshh… it's okay… calm down…"
But the baby pulled Hinata's long hair until it got messy. Hinata let out a small jump, her cheeks red.
"Aah… o-ouch…!"
Kazuki tried to take turns. He lifted the baby high.
"Hey! Do you want to fly?!"
SPLAT!
The baby threw up right on Kazuki's face.
Shikamaru held back laughter while shaking his head.
"Just as I thought…"
---
Team 7 Photo
That afternoon, Kakashi took them to the park for the official team photo session.
Kakashi said in a relaxed tone:
"This is a tradition for every team. We must have a picture together, for the memories."
Kazuki, still with vomit stains on his clothes (though already cleaned), posed with enthusiasm.
"Alright! Make sure I look cool, okay!"
Hinata stood beside Kazuki, her face burning red because they were too close.
Shikamaru stood behind, with his usual lazy expression…
Photographer:
"Alright… 1… 2… 3… Smile!"
FLASH!
Kazuki grinned widely, but just then the baby from earlier mission crawled toward Kazuki, and his face got smacked by a falling diaper.
Their first team photo… turned out absurd.
Kazuki:
"EEEHHH?!"
Kakashi covered his mouth with the book, his eyes narrowing as if holding back laughter.
---
At that moment, loud laughter came from behind the bushes.
"Hahaha! How ridiculous that kid is!"
A long white-haired man, wearing a red cloak and with red marks on his face, jumped out while carrying a huge scroll on his back. Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin!
Kazuki widened his eyes.
"Who's this weird old man?!"
Kazuki (in his heart): "If I'm not mistaken, in the anime's story this guy is one of the legendary sannin… but I never really followed the plot that closely…"
Jiraiya proudly pounded his chest.
"I am no ordinary old man! I am Lord Jiraiya, legendary ninja, best-selling author, and a man surrounded by many beautiful women!"
Kazuki sweated nervously.
"Wow… amazing! So… you're some kind of hero, huh?"
Hinata looked at Jiraiya in confusion, while Shikamaru only muttered:
"Hhh… troublesome again…"
Suddenly, Jiraiya took out a little book and crouched near the pond, staring intently at the girls washing clothes from afar with great enthusiasm.
Kazuki gawked.
"Eh? Are you… spying on enemies?"
Jiraiya nodded with full confidence.
"Exactly… I am researching for my new book!"
Kazuki was instantly impressed.
"Research?! Wow, so this is how great ninjas gather secret intel! By sneaking and observing enemies from afar… I never knew!"
Hinata almost choked in embarrassment, her face burning red.
"Ka-Kazuki-kun… t-that's not what he means…"
Shikamaru covered his face with his hand.
"He totally misunderstood…"
Jiraiya struck a heroic pose.
"Hahaha! This kid understands my spirit!"
Kazuki clenched his fist.
"Master Jiraiya! I will join your research!! For the sake of becoming a great ninja!"
Jiraiya immediately cried in joy and hugged Kazuki.
"This child… a true successor!!"
Hinata nearly fainted from shame, while Shikamaru just couldn't take it anymore.
"Hhh… so stupid… this is getting more troublesome."
---
Suddenly, a loud angry voice came from behind them.
"JIRAIYAAA!!"
Tsunade appeared, slamming Jiraiya's head deep into the ground.
"Stop corrupting Konoha's children, you dirty old man!!"
Kazuki gaped, still not understanding.
"Eh? So… that research earlier… wasn't… intel strategy?"
Kazuki (in his heart): "But in the anime's story, isn't he like… the most OP character ever… though his appearance is kinda… questionable…"
Hinata bowed her head deeply, face crimson.
Shikamaru let out a long sigh.
"At least, someone finally set things straight."
Jiraiya, even with a huge lump on his head, still managed to give a thumbs up to Kazuki.
"Don't worry, Kazuki! One day you will understand the true value… of my research!"
Kazuki raised his eyebrow, still full of energy.
"I can't wait to learn it!"
Tsunade immediately threw a sake bottle at his head.
"YOU FOOLISH BRAT!! Don't learn weird things from him!!"
Kazuki collapsed, but laughed awkwardly.
"Hehe… turns out the shinobi world is harder than I thought…"
TO BE CONTINUED…