Inside the Hokage's office in Konoha, the Third was listening to Ibiki Morino and Anko Mitarashi report their findings.
"That's settled then. Proceed according to this plan. Next, we'll need to contact the feudal lords of various countries and other ninja villages. The intelligence division must verify the information regarding genin participating in the exams, along with their team leaders and assistants. We absolutely cannot allow dangerous individuals with unknown identities to sneak in," the Third instructed solemnly.
"Regarding Mizuki's request for assistance, immediately mobilize Chunin Iruka Umino to help clear out the Forest of Death. Meanwhile, Might Guy's genin squad is currently idle since Jonin Might Guy is on a mission. A C-rank mission is now assigned, with Anko Mitarashi acting as temporary squad leader, commanding Neji Hyuga, Tenten, and Rock Lee to assist in clearing the Forest of Death."
"But Lord Third, Might Guy's genin have a strong chance of participating in this year's Chunin Exams. Wouldn't it be unfair to other genin if they enter the exam grounds early? It may raise suspicion or even controversy," Anko raised her concern.
The Third thought for a moment before replying, "This year's graduates are still too inexperienced to be of use. Among last year's genin, only Might Guy's squad can be trusted. We simply don't have enough personnel right now. That's final."
"Yes, sir."
...
It was still that colorful bubble world, and the original Mizuki remained expressionless as ever. Yet this time was different—the entire space was filled with a faint reddish-black mist, making everything look particularly eerie. Especially noticeable was his blank face, which now carried an ominous charm, while his whole figure seemed to be devoured by the strange crimson light. Mizuki raised his hand and looked at himself, only to realize he had the exact same appearance—his arms powerless against the red mist creeping all over him.
"This situation is getting worse. Is this the consequence of the cursed seal becoming active? It didn't even give me time to react. If I don't figure something out soon, unpredictable things will keep increasing. Once troubles pile up, handling them will become even more difficult."
With both mind and body under mortal threat, he couldn't afford to act recklessly until the cursed seal's dual corruption of body and spirit was severed. He also lacked the capacity to deal with sudden disruptions. There simply hadn't been enough time.
...
Early the next morning, Mizuki followed instructions and arrived outside the Forest of Death, where he found Iruka already waiting alongside three genin: Neji Hyuga, Tenten, and Rock Lee.
"Iruka, never thought you'd actually show up."
"Good morning, Mizuki-sensei~" Tenten and Lee greeted politely, and Neji nodded as well.
"Ahh, such wonderful kids—nothing like that certain *disrespectful* Chunin teacher we all know~"
"What an impolite thing to say! If it weren't for that stuck-up Jounin who couldn't finish his mission and had to beg the Third Hokage for help, we wouldn't be here so early in this cursed place."
"That's right! Passing off your own responsibilities onto others—it's absolutely shameful~!"
"You think I'm talking about who you think I am, you idiot!" Iruka snapped back angrily.
"It seems like everyone's finally here!"
"I'm glad to see you all getting along so well. I hope everyone will do their best to complete the mission," suddenly interrupted Anko Mitarashi, with her usual energetic flair. "Since you're all so energetic today, let's get to work right away."
...
With a few extra hands, efficiency improved significantly. Several genin helped lure and distract enemies while Iruka, Mizuki, and Anko handled the real work, noticeably speeding up the cleanup process. Even when encountering some particularly troublesome monsters, they managed to deal with them smoothly.
Around noon, the group found a clean and open spot, tidied it up quickly, and began resting and having lunch on-site.
"Iruka, when did you learn that sealing technique? It seems like you aren't very proficient at it—it almost broke free several times," Mizuki asked Iruka while eating.
"You mean [Binding Seal Formation]? I've known it for quite a while, but I've never really had much opportunity to use it, so my execution isn't great."
"Just as clumsy as ever, Iruka. You always do everything halfway~"
"Well, sorry about that, Mr. High-and-Mighty, who was eagerly waiting for this 'half-baked' guy to help him out."
"Iruka, just stick to your promising career as a Ninja Academy teacher. Why bother learning such complicated sealing techniques? Those kids definitely don't need anything that advanced."
"I appreciate your concern, but believe it or not, I have some dreams too. Maybe one day I'll even become [Hokage]!"
"I can't even imagine what Konoha would be like if Iruka became Hokage," sighed Mizuki.
"Well, keep dreaming, you jerk!" Iruka muttered through gritted teeth.
Beside them, Rock Lee interjected with envy: "How close Rock Lee-sensei and Iruka-sensei are! I'm so jealous~"
Upon hearing Rock Lee's words, Tenten immediately cut in: "Don't talk nonsense, Rock Lee! Which eye of yours saw them getting along so well? I think you should go get your eyes checked."
"Tenten, you just don't understand the friendship between men. True camaraderie is when teachers motivate each other like these two do," Rock Lee countered firmly.
"Rock Lee, I'm rooting for you." With that, Mizuki gave Rock Lee a thumbs-up and flashed a bright smile.
Seeing the conversation shift toward the three genin, Anko also remarked, "Ahaha, speaking of which, thanks for helping with this tough mission. Originally, we weren't going to involve you guys with something so burdensome, but time was really tight, so we had no choice but to call upon the available genin. I'll make sure to give you a good review for this."
"Yeah, come to think of it, watching this new generation of genin makes me feel old already," Iruka chuckled. "If all the genin in Konoha were this outstanding, maybe I should retire early then. Haha~"
"As a teacher at the Ninja Academy, is it really okay for you to look so lazy in front of your former students, Iruka?" Anko teased him playfully.
Mizuki chimed in, "Konoha really needs someone like you to guide the students at the Ninja Academy. I doubt anyone else could patiently train a group of young cadets all day. Truth be told, it's been years since I've seen a Genin this remarkable."
"Is it true we're really that great, Mizuki-sensei?" Rock Lee asked eagerly.
"Yes, Rock Lee," Mizuki continued, "your Taijutsu skills are genuinely impressive. Your talent and dedication are already well known. If you keep this up, you might actually receive Might Guy Jonin's true teachings someday."
"That's awesome! I knew it—youth is the time to pour out your sweat and push forward!" Rock Lee exclaimed excitedly.
"Neji is also truly outstanding," Mizuki added. "Though I'm not very familiar with the Hyuga clan or their Gentle Fist style, I must say honestly that Neji has already reached a level where even average Chunin would struggle to defeat him. A ninja with both talent and dedication is sure to shine brightly—unlike someone like me, who never stood out much."
"As for Tenten…" Mizuki paused.
"What about me, Mizuki-sensei? Am I pretty good too?" Tenten asked expectantly.
"I'm not too familiar with your fighting style, so I can't really comment on your future potential," Mizuki said while taking a sip of water, "but putting that aside… I think you'd make a great wife candidate."
"Huh?" His words left everyone absolutely stunned.
Ignoring their shocked expressions, Mizuki continued, "Judging from how you fight—throwing ninja tools around like they're worthless—it seems your family must be quite wealthy. Marrying you would mean twenty fewer years of struggling through life comfortably. Plus, you're super cute. A beautiful and rich kunoichi like you is rare indeed—if you were open to marriage, you'd definitely draw a lot of eager suitors."
"You pervert! How dare you say things like that in front of students and junior ninjas!" Iruka finally shouted out loud.
"Don't say stuff like 'suitors'—that's embarrassing!" Tenten blushed while stealing a glance toward Neji.
Sighing, Anko cut in, "Mizuki, you're openly harassing female ninjas from our own village—aren't you afraid your fiancée will get angry?"
"How is that harassment? I'm just being honest—this is just a friendly chat between seniors and juniors discussing life and sharing some advice," Mizuki quickly denied. "Besides, Chiharu isn't the type to get jealous easily. We get along great—no need for Lady Anko to worry about us."
"Oh? So sensei already has a fiancée?" Rock Lee curiously asked.
"Yeah, my childhood sweetheart who grew up alongside me~" Mizuki replied. "To tell the truth, I used to seriously worry about my future too—a ninja without special talents like me, maybe just not cut out for this job. Endless missions, pitiful pay, and ridiculous living expenses have made life incredibly tough. Who knows when I'll run out of cash to even support a family? Maybe I should consider changing careers?"
With dreamy eyes, Mizuki then mused, "Maybe I should try becoming a movie star instead?"
"Hey, that movie's been really popular lately, right? The female lead is quite stunning too. I heard she made a fortune and became the center of attention wherever she shows up. Even the Daimyo gave her a warm personal audience! If I could become a big star someday, I wouldn't have to worry about all these annoying problems anymore. If I went back to Konoha to take on missions, do you think the Hokage would personally greet me too? I'd love to see the look on everyone's face then. Of course, I won't forget you guys either. I'll definitely think about hiring you as my bodyguards—no shortage of pay there. Haha~"
"The adult world sure is complicated," Rock Lee said, looking puzzled.
"Okay, okay, put your celebrity dreams aside for now, Mizuki. Let's finish this mission first. Everyone's had enough rest—let's get to work," ordered Anko Mitarashi.
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~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** on the weekend!