Evening.
Hongudo and Shiaotian came to Hyuga Kagami's room to visit him.
As former subordinates of Orochimaru, Hyuga Kagami, Hongdou, and Shiatian were kindred spirits, and coupled with their similar ages and being on the same team, their relationship was quite harmonious.
After chatting for a while, Shiatian suddenly laughed: "Kagami, this time you got sick at a really bad time."
Hyuga Kagami was a bit confused: "Why?"
Shiatian explained: "Just now the captain assigned Hongudo and me a special mission. If we can complete it successfully, maybe we can be transferred back to the village and won't have to endure the sandstorms here anymore!"
"Special mission!?" Startled, Hyuga Kagami immediately said: "I wish you success on your mission."
For some reason, a bad premonition suddenly arose in Hyuga Kagami's heart, but it's a rule among ninja not to inquire about each other's missions. So, despite his suspicion, he didn't say anything more.
Shiaotian patted Hyuga Kagami's shoulder and laughed heartily: "Don't worry, the village won't forget excellent ninja like us who have experienced war. It won't be long before you're transferred back to the village too. For now, just rest and recover."
Hyuga Kagami instructed: "Be careful!"
After chatting for a few more Shiaotian and Hongudo left Hyuga Kagami's room.
---
In the blink of an eye, three days passed.
Hyuga Kagami, who was in his adaptation period, was still occasionally tormented by dizziness and stinging pain, but this torment wasn't bitter, because each time the pain struck, it was accompanied by an increase in strength.
Although he hadn't undergone accurate testing, Hyuga Kagami secretly estimated that his chakra reserves at this time were already more than ten times what they were before injecting the genetic fluid.
The division of ninja ranks doesn't have a strict standard. The assessment of Genin, Chunin, Jonin, and even Kage level changes based on different environments and eras.
For example, Hyuga Kagami, before injecting the genetic fluid, was actually just a veteran Genin. Apart from the most basic Three Body Technique, Gentle Fist, and rudimentary Summoning and Sealing Jutsus, he hardly knew any other ninjutsu.
Even so, he was still promoted to Chunin by the village and led several reconnaissance missions.
But regardless, a vague, generally accepted standard for assessment still exists.
For example:
A ninja who can perform E-rank ninjutsu, or use their bloodline limit, can be considered to have met the Genin standard.
A ninja who can perform C-rank ninjutsu multiple times can be considered a Chunin.
A ninja who can perform B-rank ninjutsu multiple times, and is proficient in one of Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, or Taijutsu, or possesses a powerful bloodline limit, can be considered a Jonin.
As for Kage level, it's essentially just picking an outstanding individual from among the strongest ninja in the village. Therefore, the concept of Kage level also differs in different eras.
For this reason, chakra reserves have become one of the important bases for evaluating a ninja's strength.
If Hyuga Kagami's strength could only be considered Genin level before, then now, his chakra reserves have clearly surpassed the level of an average Chunin and are rapidly surging towards the level of an average Jonin.
Three days of adaptation also allowed Hyuga Kagami to barely use his eyes.
Through careful observation, he found that his eyes had become like transparent, sky-blue gems, shining with captivating brilliance, making people involuntarily immerse themselves and find it hard to look away.
At the same time, he discovered that the Cage Bird Seal on his forehead still existed, but it seemed to have lost its effectiveness.
This was understandable. The Cage Bird Seal targets the Byakugan and all brain nerves connected to the Byakugan, but now what was in Hyuga Kagami's eye sockets was no longer the Byakugan but the Tenseigan. So, although the Jutsu formula of the Cage Bird Seal hadn't been destroyed, it had effectively self-dissolved due to being unable to target the new eyes.
Just as Hyuga Kagami was estimating how much longer the Tenseigan's adaptation period would last, he suddenly felt a familiar chakra rapidly approaching the outpost.
Without thinking much, Hyuga Kagami quickly held onto the wall and walked out of his room.
Before long, a small, thin figure rushed into the outpost.
This figure was none other than Anko Mitarashi, who had gone out a few days ago with Shiaotian to perform the special mission!
At this moment, Hongudo's complexion was extremely poor, almost bloodless, covered in wounds all over her body, and her breathing was very chaotic. It seemed she had gone through a series of life-or-death battles.
Relying on the alertness honed during the war, as soon as Hyuga Kagami identified the arrival as Hongudo, his hand was already reaching into his waist pouch to take out a kunai. His Tenseigan under the goggles also shone with magnificent light, searching for potential pursuers following Hongudo.
However, after just a quick scan, Hyuga Kagami found that there were no pursuers behind Hongudo, so he breathed a sigh of relief.
At this time, the other ninja in the outpost also gathered around, either bandaging Hongdou's wounds or asking for details about the attack she suffered.
Hyuga Kagami, who was on full alert nearby, used the unparalleled insight of his Tenseigan to notice that the squad leader beside him, Mitsui Chuichi, showed a strangely inexplicable expression on his face when he saw Hongudo. It seemed to be a complex expression mixed with surprise and anxiety.
In just an instant, a bad guess surfaced in Hyuga Kagami's heart.
In reality, he had thought of this possibility before, but he had never dared to confirm it, or rather, he had always been unwilling and didn't want to confirm it.
Subconsciously, Hyuga Kagami put a little distance between himself and Mitsui Chuichi.
Mitsui Chuichi's attention was completely on Hongudo at this moment, and he didn't notice Hyuga Kagami's unusual behavior. He just asked Hongdou with a serious face: "Was the mission completed?"
Hongudo looked at Mitsui Chuichi coldly: "We were ambushed as soon as we arrived at the agreed location. It was a trap. Shiaotian died on the spot. I hid in the desert for two days and barely managed to escape back!"
Upon hearing this, Mitsui Chuichi's expression became slightly unnatural: "Perhaps our mole planted among the Sand Ninja was exposed, which is why you were ambushed. I will report this to the village."
After speaking, Mitsui Chuichi left in a hurry. Hyuga Kagami didn't say anything either, and silently helped Hongdou up.
After returning to Hongudo room, Hongudo suddenly asked Hyuga Kagami: "Have we been abandoned by the village?"
Being taken as a disciple by Orochimaru, Hongudo was clearly not stupid. This so-called special mission was strange in every way, and being sharp, she naturally noticed it.
Hyuga Kagami said while bandaging Hongudo wounds: "Don't overthink it. Missions going wrong is a common occurrence. You just haven't experienced it enough."
Seeming convinced by Hyuga Kagami, Hongudo didn't say anything more, and her expression returned to its usual numb state.
After treating Hongudo's wounds and confirming that no enemies were approaching the outpost, Hyuga Kagami returned to his own room.
As soon as he lay down on the bed, Hyuga Kagami's expression turned uncontrollably grim. He gritted his teeth and muttered inwardly: "How could they do this! How dare they do this!?"
(End of this chapter)