"Ah, really?", Naruto first froze, then his face lit with surprise.
Overall it was still good news. After all, he really liked Gaara.
As for Hinata not being able to go on the mission with them, although it was a bit of a pity, Hinata was still getting special training at home, and that was a good thing.
Rengoku took a mission scroll from his body, "Your mission details are all on this. This is your first time going on a mission independently."
"For this mission, Itachi ordered Sasuke to serve as squad leader. Naruto and Gaara, you must follow Sasuke's commands."
"Hahaha! Don't worry, Sensei! I guarantee we'll complete the mission!"
Sasuke grabbed the scroll, "Naruto, Gaara, I'm the leader this time."
Naruto was very dissatisfied, "Ah, why is Sasuke the leader? I want to be the leader too."
Gaara said nothing; he didn't care much about such things.
Sasuke slightly lifted his head, "Of course Itachi-sensei recognized my excellence."
Rengoku reached out and flicked Sasuke on the forehead.
Flick!
"Ouch! Sensei, that hurts!"
Sasuke's raised head immediately dropped.
Rengoku's face was serious, "What 'excellent'? Being a leader represents responsibility."
"If you make the wrong decision, Naruto or Gaara could risk their lives."
"How many missions have you been on? Don't you understand this logic yet?"
Sasuke felt a bit wronged, but immediately adjusted, "Yes, Sensei, I'll be careful."
Rengoku looked at Sasuke long and hard.
'Little Sasuke, this time I'll give you a bit of setback so you know the ninja world isn't that easy.'
Rengoku said sternly, "At nine o'clock depart from the Konoha main gate."
"You have half an hour now to check the mission, inspect what you need, and make tactical plans."
"I'm leaving. Don't disappoint me."
"Understood, Sensei!"
After Rengoku left, Sasuke immediately opened the scroll and began reading.
Because they had known in advance it was an escort mission, they had already prepared things to go out.
The scroll contained details, who the mission person was, from where to where.
And which route they would take.
"Let me see, this person called Kuromu is headed to the Daimyo's mansion."
"But he needs to detour past Gon Peak to collect herbs there."
"Naruto, did you bring the safety rope?", Sasuke looked up and asked.
Naruto shook his head somewhat blankly, "I didn't bring it."
"Go grab one at my clan ground. You two wait at the Konoha gate for me."
———
[Konoha Main Gate]
Itachi, disguised with Transformation Technique as a middle-aged man in his forties, was waiting at the gate.
Sasuke, Naruto, and Gaara all arrived carrying backpacks.
First they had to register the mission scroll at the gate.
Then meet the mission client.
Having done several missions before, Sasuke and the others were familiar with the procedure.
They quickly came to register with Kotetsu Hagane.
Kotetsu Hagane looked at the trio and was also taken aback for a moment.
'The Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki, the One-Tail's Jinchuriki, the heir of the Uchiha.'
'No one leading them? Going on a mission alone?'
Of course that was impossible.
Someone must be secretly guarding these three.
Kotetsu Hagane followed procedure, quickly reviewed the mission, and led Sasuke's three to Kuromu (Itachi)'s side.
"This is your employer, Kuromu."
Kuromu scrutinized the three with a picky look, "Why are they three kids?"
Kotetsu Hagane awkwardly at the side, "Kuromu-san, don't judge by their age. Although they're young, they're already qualified genin."
"Your route isn't particularly dangerous, at most some bandits."
"These three are more than enough to keep you safe."
Kuromu looked half resigned, "Fine, unlucky me. Then let's go."
He carried a very large knapsack, clearly someone used to sleeping outdoors.
Sasuke, on his first mission encountering such an unpleasant person, was also stunned.
He found it completely different from previous missions.
He caught up with Naruto and Gaara.
"Hello, I'm Sasuke. These are Naruto and Gaara."
Kuromu looked indifferent, "Got it. Let's go."
Sasuke clenched his teeth in displeasure but arranged the formation: he walked in front, Naruto at the rear.
Gaara stayed close to protect the client.
Although this area was Konoha territory, Sasuke's arrangement wasn't unreasonable.
After all, Gaara's sand was best at protection.
Now that the scout Hinata was not in the team, and Sasuke had the Sharingan, he should be at the very front to observe dangers.
Naruto's current strength was not weak, but he could be careless sometimes, so he was placed at the back.
Not long after they set off, Rengoku also arrived at the Konoha main gate and, after confirming with Kotetsu Hagane that Sasuke and the others had indeed departed from there, leisurely followed behind.
Nearby, Anbu reported this information back to the Third Hokage.
Such an outing mission usually lasted ten days to half a month. After all, a normal person couldn't travel too far in a day without needing rest.
Escort ninjas could only rest too.
So there was plenty of time; at least they should get well away from Konoha before making a move.
The Third Hokage collected the mission, its route, the number of people, and the fact Rengoku was following behind, and handed all the information to Sarutobi Ishishu.
Ishishu took the scroll and hurried to the rendezvous point to meet with the Akatsuki person.
———
That rendezvous point was in a small town nearest to Konoha.
Inside the small town's old grocery shop.
Sarutobi Ishishu, long unused to hiding his figure, instead dressed as a wandering ninja and arrived at the shop's door.
As soon as he arrived, he saw Monk Senku.
With that look and bearing, trying to impersonate him would be difficult.
"Tonight heavy rain will fall."
Ishishu and Senku exchanged a secret signal.
Senku, who had been sitting cross-legged, stood up holding his nine-ringed staff on his knee after hearing the signal.
"Let's go. This poor monk is already prepared."
Ishishu was a bit curious why this old monk carried nothing else. Could he really not need food or drink?
"Master, please follow me."
Saying that, Ishishu led the way; Senku followed at a slow, unhurried pace.
Ishishu, wanting to test Senku's speed, quickened his pace and leapt from tree to tree.
No matter how fast he went, Senku remained unhurried.
Besides coming to pick him up, Ishishu also wanted to observe this recently sudden-appearing Senku.
"Master, where do you come from?"
By the man's clothing, Ishishu easily noticed he wasn't from the shinobi world.
Senku shook his staff, "This poor monk comes from the far eastern lands."
Ishishu asked the key question, "Master, do you have a method to extract the Tailed Beast while leaving the Jinchuriki alive?"
Senku saluted with one hand, "Of course. If one had no such ability, wouldn't one be endangering the detention?"
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