A few hundred meters ahead, a large, gray-furred wolf lay sprawled on a pile of rocks, its ears twitching slightly.
Team 8 — Hinata, Kiba, and Shino — crouched downwind in the bushes, observing silently.
Hinata unrolled a scroll, drew out several masks, and handed them to Kiba, Shino, and Akamaru.
"What's this about?" Kiba asked, puzzled.
Hinata pointed toward the wolf.
"Wolves are social animals. A lone male like that is rare. It's probably one that lost a fight for dominance and was exiled from the pack."
Kiba blinked in confusion.
"...And the point is?"
"A lone wolf struggles to survive. Judging by the drool at its mouth, it's been feeding on carrion. That means it might carry disease. During the fight, don't let it bite you — even its breath could be toxic within close range."
Both Kiba and Shino glanced at each other, surprised. From this distance, they could barely make out its outline, yet Hinata had already analyzed so much.
Kiba's face twitched; he quietly asked for two extra masks and stacked them over his face, making it hard to breathe.
"This wolf isn't normal," Hinata murmured. "Should we attack together, just to be safe?"
Kiba shook his head sharply.
"No way! We agreed — this mission's ours. You're not allowed to interfere! Akamaru, Shino, let's go!"
Before Hinata could argue, Kiba leapt from the bushes, with Shino and Akamaru following reluctantly.
Hinata smiled faintly as she watched them go. She set up a few safety barriers around the area, then lay down and entered her home space.
Inside, daylight filled the vast, unfinished territory. Since her warehouse wasn't yet stocked with enough materials, she didn't begin construction. Instead, she took advantage of the ten-to-one time ratio to continue studying sealing techniques in depth.
After about ten hours in the home space — roughly one hour in the real world — Hinata withdrew her consciousness and activated her Byakugan.
From her vantage point, she could see Kiba, Shino, Akamaru, and the wolf still locked in combat.
She calmly took out a small scroll from her thigh pouch, opened it, and summoned a collection of snacks, pills, and dried jerky. Eating leisurely while watching the battle unfold through her Byakugan, she looked for all the world as though she were watching an old black-and-white movie.
After much effort, Kiba and Shino finally brought the giant wolf down.
Hinata clapped her hands lightly in approval, resealed the empty containers into the scroll, and jogged over. Even through her mask, the stench was overwhelming.
Kiba and Akamaru had already run off to the side to vomit. Their keen noses, so useful in combat, had turned into a curse in this situation.
"Alright," Hinata said softly. "The frenzied wolf is dead. Mission complete."
They took one of its limbs as proof, burned the rest of the carcass, and returned to the nearby village to report the success. After a brief meal there, they immediately began the journey back to Konoha.
…
"Hinata! How about that? Did you see it? A C-rank mission — piece of cake! No problem at all!" Kiba declared proudly, his chest puffed up.
"Huh? What?" Hinata blinked, tilting her head in confusion.
"The mission! The C-rank mission I just finished!" Kiba exclaimed, waiting for praise.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Hinata said, blushing in embarrassment. "I was so sleepy I accidentally fell asleep… I didn't see anything."
Kiba froze, staring at her blankly.
Sleeping during a mission? Really, Hinata? "So the mission's done, right?" he asked uncertainly.
"Yes," Hinata nodded after a pause. "At least… judging by the result, it seems so."
"What do you mean, 'judging by the result'? That is the result!" Kiba protested. "Shino and I worked really hard to finish it!"
"Very tough, then?" Hinata asked softly. "Does that mean a C-rank mission is still a bit too much?"
"No, no, no! Not tough at all!" Kiba waved his hands frantically. "It was super easy! That dumb wolf went down after just a few punches and kicks!"
Hinata fidgeted with her fingers, her tone thoughtful and gentle.
"I think the process is more important than the result. What matters is what we learn and master along the way. Simply focusing on the result is too shallow. I'll personally teach you next time, during our next mission."
"Damn it!" Kiba threw down his mask, glaring. "You think I'll lose again? Fine! Next mission, we'll handle everything ourselves — perfectly! Process and result!"
Shino adjusted his collar silently. He could already see Kiba walking straight into another one of Hinata's quiet traps — or perhaps, as always, jumping in headfirst of his own accord. It was almost painful to watch.
…
Back in the village, they reported to the mission desk and collected their payment: 50,000 ryō.
Ten thousand went to the village, twenty thousand to Hinata as the team leader and Chunin, and the remaining twenty thousand was split between Kiba and Shino.
Hinata blinked as she stared at the crisp bills in her hand. She hadn't really done anything — just walked around and observed. It was practically like getting paid for taking a stroll. She hadn't expected to earn twenty thousand so easily. Looking at Kiba, then at Shino, she said quietly,
"Let's take a three- or six-month break before accepting another mission."
Kiba, who was just about to run home and brag about his success, froze mid-step. He grabbed Shino by the sleeve before he could escape and turned back toward Hinata.
"Wait, what did you just say?"
Hinata repeated calmly, "Take a three- to six-month break before the next mission."
"Why?!" Kiba blurted out. He had been gearing up to prove himself on the next assignment, but a break that long? Who could stand waiting around for months?
The realization hit him like a punch — no C-rank missions meant returning to D-rank ones: cleaning up trash, chasing stray pets, collecting weeds, and helping old ladies find their cats. His enthusiasm deflated instantly.
Hinata smiled gently.
"The food and accommodations outside aren't great. Nothing beats the comfort of home. Besides… I miss my sister. I'd like to spend more time with her."
Kiba opened his mouth, then shut it again. There was no arguing with that. He glanced at Akamaru, then thought about his warm doghouse and the delicious meals waiting at home. For a moment, he couldn't find the strength to refute her.
Then he clenched his fists.
"No! We're ninjas! Ninjas must endure all of that!"
Hinata lowered her eyes.
"But…"
…
Several months passed before Hinata's idea of a "short break" ended — but Kiba didn't last that long.
Impatient, he took another C-rank mission on his own initiative and dragged Shino along, forcing Hinata to follow. With a resigned sigh, Hinata allowed herself to be pushed out of the village once more.
Shino remained silent, though he saw right through her quiet reluctance. He knew that despite her protests, Hinata valued experience — and that every mission benefited her far more than she let on.
…
Two Days Later
After two days of travel, the team reached their destination.
This C-rank mission was a personal protection assignment. Their client, a wealthy merchant, had received a threatening letter claiming his family would be harmed. He had already hired several civilian bodyguards, but for added safety, he requested Konoha's assistance.
Kiba Inuzuka — loud, impulsive, with a dog and the instincts of one.
Shino Aburame — quiet, composed, and unsettlingly mysterious with his swarm of insects.
And Hinata Hyuga — polite and soft-spoken, but with eyes so pale and penetrating that they made the client uneasy.
Altogether, they made for an unusual team.
The merchant had second thoughts the moment he saw them.
"Can I… get a refund?" he whispered nervously to the mission officer.
But Konoha didn't offer refunds. He had no choice but to accept his fate.
Kiba immediately took the initiative, asking for the threatening letter. Using Akamaru's keen nose, he tracked the lingering scent of ink and paper back to its source — catching the culprit within a single day.
Hinata mentally calculated their reward.
The mission fee was 70,000 ryō.
After deducting the standard twenty percent for the village (14,000), there would be 56,000 left. As team leader, she'd receive 30,000, leaving 26,000 to be split between Kiba and Shino.
It wasn't much, but it was honest work — and profit nonetheless.