The deer cart took the lead at the front of the merchant caravan. Behind it stretched a narrow yet orderly line, slowly winding its way out of Konoha.
Yamanaka Inoichi, with his exceptional sensory prowess, led Sarutobi Asuma, Yūhi Kurenai, and Taketake Tonbo to scout ahead along the right flank.
Shiranui Genma, Ebisu, and Might Guy patrolled the rear-right, forming a loose but efficient net. At the back, Akimichi Chōza—reliable and built like a wall—guarded the rearguard.
Nine Konoha ninja moved in a strategic formation, surrounding the caravan like an armored shell.
The breeze brushed Nara Shikadan's face as the cart gently rocked along the road. He sighed in satisfaction, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Honestly, he'd expected that leaving the village would mean running on two legs until his calves exploded.
He'd even considered bringing Big Horn just in case.
And yet… here he was, riding in style.
No, the deer cart wasn't as comfortable as a proper carriage, but it beat the hell out of jogging across half the country on foot.
'If I'd known I was getting an A-rank mission today, I'd have prepped more materials for [Super Beast Imitating Drawing]...'
He leaned lazily against the massive scroll beside him—its thick, special material made it a better cushion than the cart's wooden frame.
A flying ink beast would've been useful right about now...
In his gear, he only had the basics: kunai, shuriken, explosive tags, flash bombs, and smoke bombs.
Also, a few hundred soldier pills and grain pills, and two scrolls Shikano-sensei had handed him before departure.
Still, with the elite "Old Generation: Ino–Shika–Chō" team nearby—and his own ace-in-the-hole [Shadow Clone]—Shikadan wasn't feeling particularly nervous.
"Did you understand the entrustment process back in the Hokage's office, Shikadan?"
Nara Shikano's calm voice drifted back from the front of the cart, carried on the cold mountain breeze.
Shikadan, still lounging, perked up. He knew this was the answer to his earlier question.
It had intrigued him: Shikano had simultaneously been the mission's executor and its client.
Shikadan had tried a similar trick before, but his [Lazy Ghost System] didn't allow self-directed missions.
'But maybe when I return from Kyoto, I can copy the old man's operation...'
'If I can't post missions to myself directly, maybe I can plant a middleman… and have them assign it to me.'
The thought passed like a whisper, and Shikadan responded dutifully:
"We're heading to Kyoto for the main mission. The clan leader added a side trip to the Fire Temple. Meanwhile..."
He glanced toward the right flank, where Sarutobi Asuma was gleefully hopping from branch to branch.
"The Hokage quietly attached two additional Chūnin squads to handle their own B-rank missions."
It wasn't hard to understand. If you had the strength, it was only logical to knock out side quests along the way.
"Correct," Shikano replied smoothly. "The right flank team took on a B-rank mission to hunt bounty hunters."
"The left team?"
"They're guarding the caravan itself. If they can't handle it, I, Inoichi, and Chōza will intervene."
Shikadan blinked.
So that speed-run B-rank mission from yesterday went to Asuma's team after all...
Still, a question lingered.
"Then… why don't we take on those B-rank missions too?"
"Under normal circumstances, ninja don't accept more than one mission at a time, no matter how much the client pays," Shikano replied, his tone light but instructional.
"Besides, we've already accepted an A-rank mission. Also, if we assist the other squads, the village will retroactively record our help as part of their missions."
Shikadan perked up.
"Wait—so that means even if I don't officially take the mission, I can still get a B-rank record?"
Shikano chuckled and glanced over his shoulder.
"You? No. You're the client this time, remember? Ninjas acting outside official mission assignments aren't credited with mission records."
Shikadan slumped slightly, a little disappointed.
He'd hoped for two free B-rank mission scrolls at least...
'Still, an A-rank scroll's better anyway...'
'And I got that for free too.'
In Konoha's system, missions were strictly categorized by rank, and ninja could only accept jobs appropriate to their official standing.
As a Genin, Shikadan was only allowed up to C-rank.
His previous access to B-rank missions had been a personal favor from Tsunade.
But A-rank? No chance—unless he gamed the system.
This time, he had.
The Nara clan issued the commission.
Konoha accepted it.
Then Konoha assigned it back to the Nara clan.
A perfect little exploit of the system's loopholes.
"Freeloading on missions... Maybe that's a viable triggering method," Shikadan mused.
"Though not as simple as the middleman method I thought of earlier."
As the conversation faded, the caravan crested the wooded hills that surrounded Konoha and entered a vast, open plain.
The sky above was clear and blue. Clouds drifted lazily. The land rolled green and gold with summer crops.
A peaceful, picturesque scene.
Shikadan scanned the area, drinking it in.
But the novelty faded quickly. He yawned, settling against the scroll once again.
The world outside Konoha struck him as technologically schizophrenic.
Biotech was absurdly advanced. But everyday infrastructure? A joke.
"Wires… rice paddies… farm huts.
It's very ninja-punk."
Just then, Shikano straightened up from the driver's seat.
He glanced back, noting Shikadan's bored expression, then said with a chuckle:
"You'll see, once you've gone on more missions. The ninja world is huge—but in the end, Konoha's the best there is."
Shikadan nodded reflexively.
He'd never thought of Konoha as particularly great. It was, after all, a military town built for combat.
But the rest of the world?
Even worse.
He was about to make a sarcastic reply when he noticed Shikano stiffen subtly, gaze tightening toward the trees.
"Patriarch?"
"Hm. Inoichi just sent me a telepathic message—Yamanaka clan secret technique," Shikano explained calmly.
"He sensed several ninja approaching the caravan. Probably bounty hunters."
Shikadan sat up, alert.
"He's leading the team to intercept—
Oh. It's over."
Shikadan blinked.
"Over? Already? I didn't sense a thing..."
"Shikadan," Shikano said, reverting to his usual relaxed posture, "don't overestimate the strength of your enemies."
"Konoha is the most powerful village in the ninja world. No one disputes that. Bounty hunters may look dangerous, but most aren't even as competent as our academy students."
Shikadan silently absorbed the wisdom.
True, as a time-traveler armed with meta-knowledge, Shikadan might know secrets Shikano didn't...
But in terms of practical experience?
Shikadan wouldn't match Shikano even with ten clones.
"Barring any surprises, we should reach Kyoto by tomorrow morning," Shikano estimated, squinting at the sun.
"We'll go straight to the Daimyo's mansion once we arrive."
Shikadan's brow furrowed.
"Will the Daimyo agree to Konoha's request?"
"Of course."
Shikano didn't hesitate.
"Konoha and the Land of Fire are inseparable.
The Daimyo is the nation's supreme leader—but in wartime, he won't obstruct us."
Shikadan nodded slowly.
"Then… between the Hokage and the Daimyo, who holds more power?"
That brought a sly smile to Shikano's face.
"Ah, power is a tricky word. But 'say'—now that's the right question."
He stroked his beard, his eyes glinting.
"When they agree, the Daimyo has the final say.
When they disagree… we follow the Hokage."
Shikadan stared at him, speechless.
'This is just a domestic power struggle, isn't it?'
But the answer wasn't unexpected.
No matter how prestigious the Daimyo was—in status, title, or treasury—Konoha had the muscle to back up its will.
Shikano's voice turned serious once more.
"Since we're on the subject—Let's talk about the first special reward I mentioned earlier."
Shikadan blinked.
"Special reward?"
Shikano looked over his shoulder, expression faintly amused.
"Shikadan, have you ever heard of the organization known as the Twelve Guardian Ninja?"