The sky had started to darken as the group traversed the dense forest that served as a shortcut to the next village.
Hiro, the chatty guard, had run out of stories and fallen asleep atop the cart carrying the tax box.
Mr. Genza was also asleep, his mouth open, snoring softly.
The atmosphere became calm... too calm. Kushina, walking leisurely beside her students, suddenly stopped.
Her steps were light, but her gaze was sharp.
"You three, on guard." Izumo and Kotetsu immediately grabbed their kunai, while Natsu activated her Byakugan without saying a word.
Soon after, the sound of a breaking branch was heard from behind the trees.
"—Quick! Get the money!" Three rough-faced bandits jumped out from the bushes. They wore shabby clothes and carried simple weapons—a pair of rusty swords and one large club.
They weren't shinobi, but their malicious intent was palpable.
Izumo stepped forward. "Looks like it's time for a field test, Sensei?"
Kushina crossed her arms and leaned against a tree. "Exactly. I won't help. Show me what you've learned."
Kotetsu swallowed hard but nodded. Natsu was already in a fighting stance. The bandits, unaware they were facing ninja, immediately charged recklessly.
"ATTACK!!" But the battle was over as soon as it began.
Izumo threw a small smoke bomb to create a diversion. Natsu slid in from the right and struck vital points with her Gentle Fist, causing the first bandit to collapse without a sound.
Kotetsu moved from another direction, taking down the second bandit with a well-trained kick.
The last bandit with the large club managed to swing his weapon towards Izumo, but with a neat parry and a small, prepared metal wire trap, the man stumbled to the ground.
In less than a minute, the three bandits lay on the ground, groaning and unable to move.
Kushina clapped slowly. "Good. Your teamwork is getting more solid, and you can accurately assess the opponent's strength. But..."
The three immediately straightened up as Kushina approached. "...don't get too confident. I saw two blind spots in your formation just now. Next time, the opponent might not be ordinary bandits, but hired assassins or—worse—missing-nin."
Natsu, Izumo, and Kotetsu nodded with full awareness.
Meanwhile, Hiro the guard had just woken up and exclaimed in panic, "EH?! WHAT HAPPENED?! WAS THERE A FIGHT?! DID I MISS IT?!"
"Relax," Kotetsu said casually. "There's still one left you can hit if you want."
They all chuckled softly. Kushina smiled slightly, but her heart remained vigilant.
This was only a C-rank mission... but the battlefield in the shinobi world could change at any moment.
Who could guarantee they wouldn't be as unlucky as Naruto in the future, who met a Zabuza-level ninja on his first C-rank mission?
—-----------------
Two days after the forest incident, Kushina's group finally arrived back at the Konoha gate. The golden evening sky marked the end of a long but successful journey.
Mr. Genza got down from his cart with a wide smile, while Hiro—who had become quieter since the bandit attack—hugged the tax box as if it were his beloved baby.
"Thank you very much, young ninjas... and also Lady Kushina," Mr. Genza said, bowing respectfully.
Kushina replied with a nod and a warm smile. "It's our duty. Hopefully, the next journey will be calmer."
After ensuring the guards left safely for the administration office, Kushina led her students towards the Hokage's office to report the mission's success.
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen was enjoying a cup of tea when Kushina and her three genin entered. "We're back from the tax escort mission," Kushina said, handing over the written report.
Hiruzen accepted the document and began reading it. Slowly, his eyebrows raised slightly when he read the 'bandit attack' section.
"Hm... you three handled this?"
"Yes, Lord Hokage!" Izumo said proudly.
"We worked together," Natsu added calmly.
"Kotetsu slipped," Izumo teased playfully.
"Hey!" Kotetsu retorted, greeted by Kushina's soft laughter.
Hiruzen smiled as he closed the report scroll. "Good. This mission is indeed C-rank, but experience in such fields is very valuable. Your analytical skills, teamwork, and response have improved."
He then looked at Kushina. "And as always, you guided them with great trust. Thank you."
Kushina just smiled, not replying with words.
Hiruzen continued, "This mission will be recorded as a complete success. You can rest for two days before the next mission."
"Yattaaa!" Kotetsu and Izumo exclaimed simultaneously.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage," Natsu said, bowing.
After paying their respects, the three left the room with high spirits, debating the food they would eat that night.
Kushina lingered for a moment, then said softly, "They're starting to grow."
Hiruzen nodded. "Yes... and with hands like yours shaping them, I'm not worried."
Kushina smiled, then followed her students who had already run off towards Konoha's commercial district.
Her steps were light, but her heart was warm.