Ninja World: Power through Bonds

Hiruzen explained the mission's details. It was classified as a tentative B-rank intelligence-gathering mission, with the potential to be upgraded to A-rank depending on circumstances.

The intel suggested that there were Kirigakure operatives lurking in Wildfire Town, a small settlement near the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers. Their purpose and activities remained unclear.

The mission's objective was to apprehend these operatives alive and bring them back to Konoha for interrogation by the village's specialists. Initially, it was labeled B-rank because intelligence agents were typically not elite fighters.

They were often trained civilians or low-level operatives rather than seasoned shinobi. A team composed of one jōnin and three chūnin was deemed more than sufficient for such a task, even accounting for potential surprises.

After hearing the details, Hizashi immediately agreed, which brought a smile to the Hokage's face. Sarutobi had selected Hizashi's team not just for the mission but as a test.

He wanted to see how Denji would perform and observe the boy's abilities and temperament under real-world conditions. If Denji was impressed, Hiruzen hoped he might sway him away from Danzō's influence. 

Konoha already had exceptional talent in the Uchiha clan, with shinobi like Shisui and Itachi rising to prominence. But their unique political and social position made them difficult to manage. The village needed other powerhouses to balance the scales, and Shimura Denji represented that potential—despite his ties to Danzō, a figure even more challenging to handle than the Uchiha.

"Old man," Denji said with a frown, "we just took on another mission. Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?"

"That mission isn't important," Hiruzen replied evenly.

Hizashi quickly added, "It's just a merchant assassination. Plenty of other teams in Konoha can handle that. This mission—to capture a Kirigakure spy—takes priority."

Denji sighed, clearly displeased. "Fine, but what about my extra earnings? Ever since I became a ninja, the old man stopped giving me pocket money. And now I'm carrying around thousands of explosive tags. How am I supposed to feel safe?"

Hiruzen lifted his pipe to his lips, hesitating mid-motion. He paused, his gaze momentarily distant, clearly unsure how to respond.

"Thousands of detonating tags… Do you plan to start a small war?" Hiruzen asked, his tone tinged with disbelief.

"Can't we take two missions at once?" Denji shrugged. "The mission we picked up is in Tansho Street—it's right on the way."

"What mission did you choose?" the Hokage asked.

Hyūga Hizashi provided a quick summary. After a moment of consideration, Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned slightly. "There's no precedent for taking on two tasks at the same time in the village."

Denji waved a hand dismissively. "Precedent? It's just a matter of your word. Teacher Hizashi writes the report, you approve the note—it's that simple."

Koharu nodded in agreement. "It's a matter of convenience. It won't take much time, and it's more efficient. I think it's a good idea."

"You should trust in Hizashi's strength," she added. "Even if he's from the branch family, his abilities are well-known."

Homura, ever pragmatic, chimed in, "I agree. Their team configuration is solid, and we can't afford to waste that. With the village shorthanded, it makes sense."

After a moment's pause, Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed. "Fine. But if this mission fails, I'll have Danzō deal with you when you return."

Hizashi fought back a twitch at the corner of his mouth. What kind of punishment was that? Getting scolded or punished by Danzō almost sounded laughable compared to the usual consequences of failure. As expected, connections made all the difference.

...

With two letters of authorization in hand, Hizashi's team left the Hokage's office. Everyone had their gear packed, so they headed directly to Konoha's main gate.

At the gate, they encountered the two current guards, Izumo and Kotetsu. Technically, these two were Denji's former classmates—graduates of the same Academy cohort from a few months back. They were only assigned to gate duty temporarily, working under their team leader's supervision.

After completing the necessary paperwork and registering their departure, Hizashi turned to the group. "The smuggler, Fujimoto Keisuke, is currently holed up in Tansho Street, not too far from Konoha. If we move quickly, we should arrive by afternoon."

Everyone nodded in agreement and followed Hizashi as he led the way out of the village. They soon disappeared into the forest, leaping from branch to branch with practiced ease.

Even though they were moving "at full speed," Hizashi paced the group carefully. Full speed didn't mean pushing themselves to exhaustion. Instead, it meant maintaining a steady, efficient rhythm—one that allowed them to conserve energy and keep their condition at around 80% in case of unexpected situations.

Of course, the group's overall pace was determined by the slowest member. 

Kurenai had the least physical stamina on the team, so her pace set the standard. She knew she was the slowest and kept quiet the entire journey, unwilling to waste any energy on unnecessary chatter.

Determined to improve, she made up her mind to work on her taijutsu once they returned. At the very least, she wanted to increase her travel speed.

Meanwhile, Denji and Yugao moved with ease. Yugao even spent part of the journey asking Denji questions about swordsmanship. Though she still felt she had much to learn, her discussions with him had been enlightening.

Denji's vast theoretical knowledge—gained through training under multiple instructors and studying numerous sword styles provided by Danzo—gave him insights that Yugao found invaluable. If it weren't for their current mission, she would have liked to continue their conversation. But now that they'd arrived at their destination, she had to focus on the task at hand.

The team checked into a modest inn on Tansho Street and then gathered in uHizashi's room to review the mission details. Hizashi laid out what they knew about their target:

"Fujimoto Keisuke resides in the upscale residential district here. It's an area populated by wealthy merchants and minor nobles. Our priority is to avoid drawing attention. If we cause a disturbance, it could damage Konoha's reputation."

Although called a "street," Tansho Street was more akin to a bustling town, brimming with casinos, entertainment venues, and lively taverns. The area truly came alive at night, with bright lights and crowds making an assassination mission considerably more challenging.

"Everyone rest now. We'll make our move after midnight," Hizashi instructed.

After a short discussion, Denji and the others returned to their rooms. As they walked, Denji turned to Yugao, who was heading down another hallway.

"Yugao," he called, stopping her.

She turned back, her expression curious. "What is it?"

"There's something I meant to ask earlier, but I got distracted." Denji paused, then asked, "Do you know someone named Uzuki Daichi?"

Uzuki Yugao's face fell.