Chapter 132: Going on a Mission
Sasuko and Naruko continued their playful tussling for quite a while until both were breathing slightly hard and finally stopped.
Sasuko unconsciously savored the sensation from moments before, her fingertips curling lightly—she hadn't expected Naruko to have developed so well, full and springy.
Naruko shot Sasuko a slightly reproachful glance, thinking she really had no sense of humor, getting handsy after just two sentences.
Just as she was about to speak, her peripheral vision suddenly caught a familiar figure standing by the door.
"Yu?" Naruko froze immediately, greeting him awkwardly. "You—when did you arrive?"
Hearing this, Sasuko looked over to see Yu standing in the corridor, his lips curved in a barely perceptible smile.
Her cheeks flushed as she asked quietly, "Yu... how long have you been here?"
"Just arrived." Yu answered gently.
"When exactly is 'just arrived'?" Sasuko pressed, uneasy.
"From when Naruko said she'd have your back."
So he'd been there from the very beginning! Why didn't he stop them...
Both girls' faces immediately turned bright red. Despite having grown up, they'd been playing around like when they were children, and he'd seen everything.
Naruko buried her face in her palms in shame while Sasuko uncomfortably straightened her disheveled clothing.
A faint awkwardness permeated the air.
Yu walked slowly into the room, looking at the two red-faced young women with gentle amusement in his eyes.
"You seem to be getting along wonderfully." He sat down beside them.
Naruko secretly peeked at him through her fingers, muttering softly, "Yu saw everything..."
"Saw what?" Yu raised an eyebrow with feigned ignorance. "Saw Team Seven's jonin instructor bonding with her team member?"
This statement made Naruko even more mortified. Sasuko recovered her composure more quickly, though her ear tips still carried a faint pink tinge.
"So," Yu naturally shifted the topic, "what are your plans for the new team?"
Naruko immediately perked up. "I've already thought of our first mission! It's a D-rank task helping villagers find lost animals, so Sasuko can quickly familiarize herself with the workflow..."
Sasuko couldn't help pressing her hand to her forehead. "Couldn't you pick something more substantial?"
"This is what I carefully selected!" Naruko said righteously. "For a first mission, we naturally start with something simple."
"That kind of task can be handled by sending a few shadow clones." Sasuko dismissed it. "Plus it barely adds any points. Boring."
Naruko extended her index finger to poke Sasuko's chest. "Team member Sasuko, in the distant East there's an idiom called 'aiming too high.'"
Sasuko hadn't expected the academically-challenged Naruko to suddenly spout idioms. What made it worse was that her own cultural studies were equally poor—Konoha didn't emphasize basic knowledge education; being literate was enough.
So she didn't fully understand the idiom's meaning but refused to show weakness before Naruko, only vaguely guessing it meant she was being too impatient.
"At minimum it should be an A-rank mission." Sasuko insisted.
"A-rank missions involve real combat with weapons." Naruko looked at her seriously. "Sasuko hasn't had any experience in life-or-death battles with enemies, right?"
This question stumped Sasuko.
Thinking carefully, she'd indeed never experienced real combat—at the academy, no one dared actually fight her during sparring, so she could only spar with Naruko. After Naruko's early graduation, she could only practice jutsu alone.
In such an environment, where would combat experience come from?
Unable to refute this, Sasuko retreated to a compromise. "What about B-rank missions?"
"B-rank missions have much lower combat intensity." Naruko explained. "They're mostly escort assignments."
"Then let's take a B-rank mission." Sasuko decided immediately. "These missions are efficient. After completion, I can use Flying Thunder God to return directly."
Naruko considered this seriously. For those who'd mastered Flying Thunder God, such missions could indeed save considerable time.
However, while escorting documents was fine, escorting people inevitably consumed significant time.
Naruko added, "It depends on the mission distance. But overall, B-rank missions are relatively safe."
"Isn't that perfect?" Sasuko turned to look at Yu. "What do you think, Yu?"
Yu also felt this choice was appropriate. He'd never wanted Sasuko exposed to slaughter and bloodshed.
Yu nodded gently. "Since you both think it's suitable, go ahead."
Receiving his approval, Sasuko's confidence immediately surged. Naruko also showed a delighted smile, full of anticipation for the upcoming mission. This would be her first time executing a mission together with Sasuko—surely it would be a memorable experience.
Two mornings later, five women of distinctly different temperaments gathered in the Hokage's office.
Standing at the front was Naruko in standard ninja attire, her golden twin-tails swaying lightly with her movements, azure eyes brimming with eagerness.
As jonin instructor, she'd deliberately straightened her posture today, wanting to project some authority.
Beside her, Sasuko wore a simple dark outfit, her black hair neatly bound behind her. She stood there quietly, her refined features carrying both the anticipation of a newcomer and the cool temperament characteristic of the Uchiha clan.
Kaguya stood at a slight distance, her silver-white hair flowing like moonlight. She wore elegant white robes, her pure white eyes calm and undisturbed, as though maintaining an invisible distance from her surroundings. That innate cold aura made her particularly striking even in a crowd.
Most surprising was Yoya's presence. This seven-or-eight-year-old girl clutched her mother's hand tightly, her silver hair and jade horns creating an adorable image that drew extra glances.
Originally Tsunade hadn't arranged for her to accompany them, but the little loli insisted on staying with her mother. Naruko thought having a cute companion on the road wasn't bad, and Sasuko adored the obedient, well-mannered Yoya even more. Even the usually shy Hinata gently expressed she didn't mind.
The eldest daughter of the Hyuga family stood quietly in the corner, her long black hair making her skin appear even more fair. She kept her head slightly lowered, and whenever she glanced at Naruko, a faint blush always spread across her face.
Tsunade looked at the team before her and couldn't help rubbing her temples.
This lineup was certainly beautiful but gave the impression of a noble ladies' excursion group. However, remembering Uchiha Yu's instructions, she decided to turn a blind eye.
"For this mission," Tsunade withdrew an elegant letter from her drawer, "you'll deliver this birthday congratulations letter and monetary gift to Iwagakure, placing it directly in the Tsuchikage's hands."
She handed the letter to Naruko. "The deadline is one week, but safety is paramount."
That last statement carried particular weight.
Naruko accepted the letter, keenly sensing this mission's special nature—normally such tasks could be completed within three days. This was clearly an easy assignment Granny Tsunade had specifically selected.
Glancing at this gorgeous team around her, Naruko couldn't help smiling wryly. Those in the know would say they were delivering a letter; those who didn't might think they were escorting the Uchiha clan's young lady.
As a first-time mission participant, Sasuko found it quite novel.
So this is what being a ninja feels like.
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