Chapter 35: Konoha Office in the Sand
"Hei Hong."
The Sharingan was both black and red.
A tall, curvaceous woman with fair skin and an impressive figure stood formally beside the blackboard, holding a pointer.
She had blue-green eyes, straight silver hair that reached her shoulders, and a slightly tanned complexion.
A cat-shaped mask concealed her face.
If she removed it, she would probably be a beautiful and alluring mature kunoichi.
Asuka was quite satisfied with his sketching skills.
Looking down at the character he had drawn on the paper, he secretly gave himself a thumbs-up.
A very accurate drawing.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
"Hei Hong!"
The sharp tapping of the pointer against the blackboard pulled Asuka back to reality.
Looking up at the platoon leader standing at the front of the room, he immediately replied with a serious expression,
"Captain, you're absolutely right!"
"Hmph!"
After a cold snort, the platoon leader continued pointing at the blackboard.
Her gaze swept across the newly recruited Anbu members as she spoke slowly,
"Everything I'm teaching you today is something you'll use in the future."
"These are lessons our predecessors paid for with their lives."
"Don't let today's distraction lead you down the same path tomorrow."
"Mm! Mm!"
Asuka nodded repeatedly.
Looking at his newly assigned platoon leader, he couldn't help feeling emotional.
I wonder if her shoulders ache from standing so long.
She has to be even bigger than Tsunade... right?
Come to think of it...
When did Konoha get someone like her?
Thinking this, Asuka tore off a small strip of paper, scribbled a few words on it, and quietly passed it to the person beside him.
Quite a few people had joined the Anbu this time.
There were five people in his squad alone.
So far, he knew the captain's codename was Night, his own codename was Hei Hong, and the person beside him was Wan Hong.
This captain really is a genius when it comes to naming people.
Everything revolves around "black."
Turning toward his teammate, Asuka saw that the other person was listening intently with a serious expression.
Lowering his voice, he whispered,
"Yūhi."
"Did you read the note I passed you?"
"I threw it away."
"...?"
Looking at those crimson eyes and hearing the calm reply, Asuka's mouth twitched.
Is Yūhi Kurenai really that bad-tempered?
We're going to be teammates from now on.
Out on missions, my back will be in your hands.
"Alright."
At that moment, the platoon leader tapped the blackboard again with her pointer.
Taking a mission scroll from her vest, she said coldly,
"As negotiations between Sunagakure and Konoha draw to a close, the Hidden Sand Village has once again become our ally."
"This morning, we received orders from the higher-ups."
"Konoha will send representatives to Sunagakure for friendly exchanges."
"However..."
"The friendly exchange itself is not the true objective."
"Our real mission is to prevent Sunagakure from betraying the village again."
"The exchange representatives will remain stationed in Sunagakure for an extended period."
"By living there long-term, they will observe subtle changes within the village and regularly report their findings back to Konoha."
"The assignment will last approximately three months."
"To prevent unexpected incidents—or the exchange personnel from falling under genjutsu—the village will rotate them every three months."
Hearing this, Asuka raised an eyebrow.
Isn't this just being a spy?
A completely public spy.
If one of the "exchange representatives" suddenly died...
Konoha would naturally begin preparing for war.
Thinking this, Asuka raised his hand.
"So..."
"Our mission is to protect the exchange representative?"
"No."
Shaking her head, the captain looked directly at Asuka.
"Our mission is to choose one person to become Konoha's exchange representative and travel to Sunagakure."
"The shinobi world is not yet truly peaceful."
"War may break out again at any time."
"If that happens, the representative's situation will become extremely dangerous."
"They must possess exceptional abilities and be capable of transmitting critical intelligence in a short amount of time."
"Therefore..."
"The village has decided to send a jōnin."
"A jōnin who possesses a summoning beast capable of delivering information."
"Hei Hong."
"Your ninja cat summoning has only two contractors."
"One of them is the Cat Granny."
"You are the most suitable candidate for this assignment."
"You will be stationed in Sunagakure under the guise of a medical exchange."
"Oh..."
Asuka instantly understood.
He would be serving as an openly acknowledged spy.
Through the ninja cats, he would regularly relay intelligence back to Konoha.
If he ever disappeared...
It would mean Sunagakure had betrayed Konoha once again.
This mission is quite interesting.
"An S-rank mission?"
"Mm."
The platoon leader nodded.
Rubbing her slightly sore shoulders, she folded her arms across her chest and spoke clearly,
"After arriving in Sunagakure..."
"Remember not to strike lightly."
"Violence leads to bloodshed."
"Bloodshed leads to hatred."
"Hatred leads to death."
"And death will plunge the shinobi world back into chaos."
"The shinobi world has only just regained peace."
"Peace is hard-won."
"Every shinobi should treasure it."
"So..."
"Do not strike."
"Because Sunagakure's shinobi lost loved ones during the war..."
"They may insult you."
"Humiliate you."
"Bully you."
"Or even beat you."
"Oh."
Asuka slowly drew out the word.
"So..."
"That's when I can fight back."
"No."
"If you retaliate, there will be bloodshed."
"Bloodshed creates hatred."
"Hatred creates death."
"And death may once again ignite war."
"We cannot give the Hidden Sand Village an excuse to start another conflict."
Hearing this, Asuka blinked.
Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, he looked at the captain and asked in surprise,
"Captain..."
"You wouldn't happen to be a Sarutobi, would you?"
"I am indeed a Sarutobi."
Looking at Asuka in confusion, the female shinobi frowned slightly.
"What does that have to do with anything I've been saying?"
"No."
"The Sarutobi Clan loves peace."
"Please continue."
By now, Asuka had more or less guessed her identity.
She was probably Hiruzen Sarutobi's daughter-in-law.
There were only a handful of important positions within the Anbu.
Yet the Sarutobi Clan occupied at least two of them.
The woman before him commanded sixteen subordinates, himself included.
The Anbu seemed to have only four platoon leaders in total.
Which meant...
This S-rank mission had likely been assigned to all four platoons, with each sending one representative to one of the four great villages—Wind, Lightning, Earth, and Mist.
PS: According to the Book of Military Formations, Konoha's Anbu numbers roughly seventy members.
"Let others be as cruel or unreasonable as they wish."
The Sarutobi kunoichi fixed Asuka with a steady gaze and instructed,
"As long as you don't take it to heart and continue acting as usual..."
"That will be enough."
"Even if they beat me to death..."
"I still can't fight back?"
"Is anyone hitting you right now?"
"No."
"Then wait until someone actually hits you before worrying about that."
"But..."
"You just hit me."
Seeing Asuka's bewildered expression, the kunoichi took a deep breath before crooking a finger at him.
"Come."
"Hit me."
"You'll understand after you do it once."
"Oh?"
Asuka immediately jumped out of his chair and stood before his captain.
Looking at her striking figure, he hesitated.
"You really want me to hit you?"
"Stop hesitating."
The platoon leader nodded.
She naturally spread her feet shoulder-width apart, straightened her knees, puffed out her chest, and signaled with her eyes for him to begin.
It was the first time in his life someone had voluntarily asked him to punch them.
After reaching out and squeezing the muscles around his captain's abdomen, Asuka confirmed that she was genuinely prepared.
He immediately clenched his right fist and swung it through the air twice.
Then...
His right foot slammed heavily into the ground.
Spiderweb-like cracks spread outward from beneath his foot.
But that wasn't the important part.
The moment the platoon leader heard the whistle of his fist cutting through the air, her pupils contracted.
Her instincts screamed for her to dodge.
Unfortunately...
They were standing far too close.
Although her brain had already issued the command...
Her body barely managed to react before a sharp pain erupted in her lower abdomen.
Boom!
With a dull impact, the newly recruited Anbu watched as their platoon leader's feet left the ground.
Her body curled into the shape of a shrimp as she shot backward at incredible speed.
Crash!
A wall collapsed.
Dust instantly filled the room, causing everyone to cough.
They all stared blankly at Asuka.
His fist was still suspended in midair.
Everyone silently swallowed.
"Cough... cough..."
"Where's Captain?"
"I don't know."
"I think she flew outside."
"Why did he hit so hard?"
"..."
"Silence!"
At that moment, the captain's calm voice came from outside.
Dusting off her clothes, she slowly walked back to Asuka's side and said evenly,
"Just like now."
"When you arrive in Sunagakure..."
"Even if they hit you..."
"Do not retaliate."
After saying that, she waved to everyone and casually added,
"Class dismissed."
"I'm a little tired."
"I'm going back to the lounge to rest."
"...?"
Watching the captain's retreating figure, Asuka couldn't help muttering inwardly,
As expected of the Anbu.
These platoon leaders are truly tough.
Their resilience alone far surpasses ordinary people.
And...
Now I finally understand why the captain seems even bigger than Tsunade.
With a chest that broad...
No ordinary person could have endured that punch.
Such a captain deserves to be impressive.
After returning to the lounge, the platoon leader casually picked up a sanitary pad from the table and walked toward the restroom with an expressionless face.
She closed the door and turned on the faucet in one smooth motion.
As the sound of running water filled the room...
A miserable wail suddenly echoed from inside.
Mixed in with it were several curses about her period arriving at the worst possible time.