Chapter 20: Request for a Jonin Team Leader
The Uzumaki Maple Squad once again accepted a C-rank mission, this time to assassinate a nobleman from a small country.
The difficulty was not very high; noblemen from small countries generally could not even afford rogue ninja, only able to hire some samurai and ordinary thugs as guards.
Therefore, Kaminari Kaede still did not make a move, entrusting this mission to Hyuga Mirai and the other two, and designating Hyuga Mirai to temporarily act as team leader and formulate the plan.
Hyuga Mirai did not decline this and readily accepted it.
Dealing with ordinary people does not require an overly detailed plan; the only thing to pay attention to is not to expose their identity and let the news of Konoha Ninja assassinations spread. Achieving this is considered satisfactory.
So Hyuga Mirai had Hyuga Kiyomi and Kurenai Yuhi use the Transformation Jutsu to transform into Rock Ninja, causing a slight disturbance during the assassination so that the small nobleman's family and guards would see the Rock Ninja headbands.
At the same time, Kurenai Yuhi also cast a genjutsu suggestion on several guards, making them firmly believe that the small nobleman was killed by Rock Ninja.
Although only a nobleman from a small country died, once the news spread, it could damage the reputation of the Rock Ninja in that small country.
After achieving this, Kaminari Kaede praised Hyuga Mirai after the mission ended.
Being able to consider the subsequent impact of the mission indicates that Hyuga Mirai already possesses the qualifications of a Chunin, though his strength is slightly lacking. However, considering his level in Medical Ninjutsu, serving as a Chunin leader is barely sufficient.
In Kaminari Kaede's assessment, Hyuga Mirai is considered a true genius Chunin, completely different from Kakashi, who was promoted exceptionally based on strength.
At this rate, Kaminari Kaede felt that as long as this squad accumulated enough mission counts, he could arrange for the three of them to take the Chunin exam.
After completing the mission, Kaminari Kaede, as usual, trained the three of them, strengthening the team's coordination and pointing out their individual shortcomings during combat.
Fighting against a Jonin can effectively hone the team members' coordination and gradually form a unique combat system within the team.
When the strength of the three reaches the Chunin level, and the team members' cooperation is tacit, that will be the time for Kaminari Kaede to withdraw.
After the combat exercise ended, all three had varying degrees of minor injuries, just like last time; Kaminari Kaede showed no mercy in this regard. As long as he caught the mistakes they made during the fight, Hyuga Mirai and the other two would face a fierce counterattack from a Jonin.
However, in this battle, the three's teamwork improved a lot; sometimes, a single gesture was enough to understand a teammate's next move, which was a significant improvement.
"Hyuga Mirai, come with me!"
After finishing the day's training, Kaminari Kaede did not immediately dismiss the squad but first called Hyuga Mirai and went with him to a slightly more distant place.
"Is there anything you want to tell me?"
Kaminari Kaede gazed at Hyuga Mirai and said. From the morning, Hyuga Mirai had been quite obvious, but by the afternoon, close to dismissal, he still hadn't spoken.
So Kaminari Kaede called Hyuga Mirai aside and asked proactively.
"The captain's insight is truly impressive. I do have a request. If it causes the captain trouble, please pretend I never said it."
Hyuga Mirai scratched his head awkwardly and said to Kaminari Kaede, "I want to learn the Shadow Clone Technique."
"Shadow Clone Technique?"
Kaminari Kaede looked at Hyuga Mirai with a strange gaze, as if to say, with the Hyuga Clan's heritage, would a Ninjutsu of this level still require him, the Jonin team leader, to request it?
As if understanding what Kaminari Kaede was thinking, Hyuga Mirai explained directly, "The Hyuga Main Family elders said that I only need to master the Hyuga Clan's Taijutsu, and they didn't approve my request. But I think the Shadow Clone Technique would greatly improve me."
"So that's how it is."
Kaminari Kaede nodded. He had heard about the rigid etiquette of the Hyuga Main Family, but he didn't expect it to be this rigid.
Although the Shadow Clone Technique is only a B-rank Ninjutsu, it is highly practical; for Hyuga Mirai, who has average Taijutsu talent and is good at devising tactics, this Ninjutsu is indeed the best way to improve his strength.
"Come here tomorrow, and I will give you an answer."
After Kaminari Kaede finished speaking, he directly left the training ground using the Corpse Body Technique.
The Shadow Clone Technique is nothing, but since the Hyuga Main Family elders did not agree to this, Kaminari Kaede still needed to consult the Third Hokage; otherwise, it would be a troublesome matter.
He was just a Jonin team leader and didn't want to cause any extra trouble.
After Kaminari Kaede left, Hyuga Mirai returned to Hyuga Kiyomi and Kurenai Yuhi, preparing to help them with Medical Ninjutsu.
Hyuga Kiyomi felt the coolness spreading from her wound and suddenly asked, "What did the captain just say?" Hearing Hyuga Kiyomi's words, Kurenai Yuhi's ruby-like eyes also looked at Hyuga Mirai with great curiosity.
Too much curiosity.
Hyuga Mirai sighed inwardly, but his expression remained unchanged as he said, "I want to learn the Shadow Clone Technique, and the captain will give me an answer tomorrow."
Hyuga Kiyomi frowned slightly and said, "This kind of thing..."
"Fourth Elder-sama rejected my request. He told me to focus on practicing Gentle Fist, but I still want to practice the Shadow Clone Technique."
Hyuga Mirai interrupted Hyuga Kiyomi and smiled, "Please keep it a secret for me, Kiyomi-sama, otherwise Fourth Elder-sama will surely be displeased."
Hyuga Kiyomi pursed her lips and fell silent after hearing this. She had originally intended to ask her grandfather, but she didn't expect that her grandfather had already refused.
Is it... suppression?
The night before last, she had hidden and overheard some of the conversation between her grandfather and Hyuga Sosuke, but she was soon called away by a maid and didn't hear much after that.
Now it seems that what her grandfather said about taming the branch family that night was not a joke.
Seeing the atmosphere suddenly quiet down, Kurenai Yuhi was not someone lacking in discernment, so she obediently accepted Hyuga Mirai's treatment.
Perhaps Kaminari Kaede knew that there was someone with good medical skills like Hyuga Mirai in the team, so he showed no mercy when striking.
Kurenai Yuhi's arm was so bruised that she could barely move it; if it weren't for Hyuga Mirai's soothing treatment, her ruby-like eyes would probably have been shedding tears.
After the treatment ended, the three bid farewell and dispersed.
Hyuga Mirai and Hyuga Kiyomi returned to the Hyuga clan together, but the atmosphere between them was somewhat heavy.
Hyuga Mirai didn't think much of it; he didn't believe that a Shadow Clone Technique would cause the Main Family to impose the Caged Bird Curse Seal on him. At most, it would lead to a scolding, but if Kaminari Kaede agreed, it would be of great help to him.
As for Hyuga Kiyomi's mood, Hyuga Mirai didn't plan to comfort her; he was truly tired of being a kindergarten teacher.
Upon reaching the separation point at the Hyuga clan, Hyuga Kiyomi suddenly called out to Hyuga Mirai and said,
"Tomorrow, don't come to the Hyuga clan training ground. Take a day off!"