"We'll head to the Hokage Building first to issue and accept an A-rank mission to Kyoto."
Nara Shikano spoke as he leaned forward into the peculiar ninja run, hands tucked behind his back as he glided swiftly toward Konoha Village.
"War is coming. We need to notify the daimyo and secure material support from his mansion."
Nara Shikadan, forced to burn chakra just to keep up, couldn't help panting between words.
"Issue… and… accept…?"
"Shikadan," Shikano replied easily, not even winded despite being over fifty, "even as a researcher, you can't neglect physical training. We're still ninja, after all. As for your question—special times call for special procedures. You'll understand soon enough."
In a blur of movement, the two left Kikyo Castle and entered the heart of Konoha Village.
Waiting beneath the Hokage Building were two men—one stocky, one lean.
Yamanaka Inoichi. Akimichi Choza.
The heirs to the Yamanaka and Akimichi clans respectively. Together with Nara Shikano's son, Shikaku, they formed the famed "Ino–Shika–Cho" of this generation.
"Inoichi, Choza." Shikano gave a calm nod. Shikadan followed with a respectful bow.
The two men returned the greeting, then glanced at Shikadan, but neither asked questions aloud.
"Seeing you both reminds me—this mission should've gone to Shikaku," Shikano said with a chuckle.
"Once this mission is over, I'm retiring from the shinobi profession!"
Inoichi and Choza gave the kind of extravagant flattery only children of noble clans could master.
Shikadan's eyelid twitched slightly.
Old man… that's a death flag!
The four-man team entered the Hokage Building and made their way to the top floor.
Shikadan, now visiting the office for a second time, was far less curious. He kept his eyes on his nose, his nose on his mouth—doing his best impression of a transparent person.
Shikano stepped forward and handed a scroll to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Hokage-sama. This is our clan's commissioned mission."
Hiruzen accepted the scroll without surprise, stamped it with the Hokage seal, and returned it to Shikano.
They had already finalized the details yesterday.
At the same time, a mission notification appeared on Shikadan's system panel.
[A-Rank Ninja Commission Mission Triggered!]
Mission Name: "Tribute"
Mission Objectives:
Transport precious medicinal materials—e.g., deer antler—to the capital of the Land of Fire
Secure wartime support from the Fire Daimyo
Reward: A-Rank Ninja Secret Scroll
Shikadan frowned.
"What kind of weird A-rank mission is this…?"
The first half sounded like a delivery job.
The second half? Diplomatic negotiations.
If it were simply about "paying tribute," the objectives should've been linked.
But they weren't. They were clearly separate.
'Tribute' in quotation marks…
Wait—could it be that Konoha isn't paying tribute to the Daimyo… but the other way around?!
Shikadan's thoughts spiraled down this path—wondering who held true authority between the Hokage and the Daimyo—when a voice cut into his ear.
"Shikadan, go submit the mission commission."
Prepared in advance, Shikadan stepped forward and handed over the second scroll—the one Shikano gave him earlier—to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Hm? What's this?"
Hiruzen flipped open the scroll. A 10,000-ryō banknote fell out.
Mission Name: "Guardian" (C-Rank)
Mission Objective: Escort Nara Shikadan to the Fire Temple
Mission Fee: 10,000 Ryō
Just a single glance told Hiruzen everything he needed to know.
Nara Shikano was playing a technical game within the rules.
Officially, the team's task—Shikano, Inoichi, and Choza—was to visit the capital and negotiate support.
But it was improper to show up and ask for money outright.
So: they would "escort medicinal herbs." The Nara clan already sold such herbs to the capital annually, partly for income, partly for political networking.
For medical clans like the Nara, this was perfectly normal.
By wrapping their request for aid in the context of "commerce," Shikano had found a clever workaround.
And Hiruzen? Far from upset, he welcomed it.
The Nara clan had close ties to the Daimyo's court. If they played this game well, Konoha's political clout grew by extension.
But… why detour to the Fire Temple?
And why bring a child like Nara Shikadan?
The questions flickered briefly in Hiruzen's mind, but he said nothing aloud.
He retrieved the 10,000-ryō bill, affixed the Hokage seal to the scroll, and handed it back to Shikano.
Even this "C-rank mission" was formally accepted by the Nara patriarch himself.
"Move quickly, Shikano." Hiruzen waved the four away.
"Others are waiting for you!"
Yes… the Nara may be sly, but they weren't the only ones playing games today.
As Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen had quietly tacked on two B-rank missions to this so-called "A-rank" job.
With a rare team like the "wrong generation Ino–Shika–Cho" out in the field, why waste the opportunity?
After leaving the Hokage Building, the four-person team headed for the village gate.
There, a crowd had gathered.
Several small caravans clustered together, horses whinnying, carts loaded with goods.
Among the commoners stood six young shinobi, each wearing a Leaf Village forehead protector.
They looked only eleven or twelve—but their green vests marked them as full-fledged Chūnin.
"This is my first B-rank mission since promotion!" Sarutobi Asuma frowned, glancing irritably toward the village center.
"Who's making us wait this long? If I find out, I'll report them to the old man!"
"Asuma, don't be like that," Yūhi Kurenai scolded gently.
"Didn't the Hokage say it himself?
This mission is too dangerous for the three of us.
We're getting a special jōnin escort."
The boy next to them, Tobitake Tonbo, said nothing.
He shifted his gaze across the road.
'Asuma and Kurenai always ignore me, but at least they're better than… him.'
He looked toward the other trio.
There, clad in garish green, standing in an exaggerated pose and shouting nonsense—
Might Guy.
"B-rank mission: [Caravan Escort]!"
"If I succeed, I'll run a thousand laps around the village!"
"If I fail, I'll run five thousand laps!"
"If my legs give out, I'll run on my hands! If my arms give out, I'll run on my fingers! This is the spirit of YOUTH!!"
Might Guy.
A man who would someday surpass all expectations.
But right now?
Just a noisy green kappa.
Far from him, in the other trio's corner, Shiranui Genma and Ebisu exchanged solemn glances.
"Let's hope Gai doesn't mess up the mission this time…"
"Let's hope we don't fail because of Gai."
Different words, same despair.
If they could go back in time, both Genma and Ebisu agreed: Never. Team up. With Might Guy.
Even that lazy tail-end student who hadn't graduated Ninja Academy…
Better than this.
They glanced at each other again.
"Maybe the incoming jōnin can keep Gai in line."
"Yeah… maybe he'll finally obey someone's orders."
Their synchronized suffering said it all.
As the complaints and prayers continued, Nara Shikano and his group finally arrived.
Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza melted into the crowd, quietly organizing the caravan.
Shikadan, meanwhile, was scanning his new companions.
He recognized them instantly.
Six of his former "classmates."
Each one a "minor celebrity" in their own right.
On the right: Sarutobi Asuma, Yūhi Kurenai, Tobitake Tonbo.
On the left: Shiranui Genma, Ebisu… and Might Guy.
Fweeeee—
A sharp whistle rang out.
From somewhere, Shikano produced a deer—tall, sleek, and majestic, with gleaming black eyes and lustrous fur. It pulled a small wooden cart behind it.
"This deer is just as handsome as Big Horn!"
Shikadan admired the beast—until the clan leader's voice snapped him out of it.
"Shikadan! Get on the cart!"
Shikano had already taken the driver's seat.
"Time to leave the village!"