Dosuke was not a normal ninja school graduate. He did not need to join a standard genin team.
This was good for Dosuke. Working with experienced chunin and even jonin was better than teaming with newly graduated kids. It would help him adapt to the battlefield faster.
Scouting missions were dangerous. They involved reconnaissance and gathering intelligence, often in enemy villages or deep in hostile lands.
At seven-thirty the next morning, Dosuke gathered all his ninja gear, including antidote reagents.
By eight o'clock, Dosuke reached Konoha's gate.
He was the only new genin. Making a good impression on his seniors could save his life later.
Soon, two men and one woman arrived at the meeting point.
A middle-aged man spoke. "I am the leader, Soda Nakajima, a jonin. Introduce yourselves."
"Hello. I am Dosuke Okamoto, a genin. Please guide me," Dosuke said warmly.
Soda looked at the group, his eyes sharp.
"Hello. I am Tatee Hyuga, a chunin. I have done several scouting missions," a girl said. Her white Byakugan eyes, a Hyuga clan trait that enhanced vision, looked hazy. Her fair skin stood out. She was about fifteen, half a head taller than Dosuke.
"I am Takuto Yuyue, a chunin," a hooded man said coldly, then went silent.
"It is late. Let us talk while moving," Soda said, checking the time. He stood and headed for the village gate.
At Konoha's gate, Soda threw a kunai with a pass attached. It stuck in the gate. He ran out first.
Dosuke, Tatee, and Takuto followed Soda closely.
"This mission is to investigate Sunagakure's movements. The village heard they attacked our ninjas," Soda said, glancing at Dosuke, who leaped between tree trunks.
Scout missions were secret. Only the team leader learned the details at the Hokage Building before starting. The others knew they had a mission but not its specifics or location.
"Dosuke is a genin and new to scouting. Tatee and Takuto, watch him," Soda said to the two.
"Captain Soda, why include an inexperienced genin on such an important mission? Without a reason, I cannot accept risky actions later," Takuto said calmly.
"I do not know the reason. Ninjas can question but not refuse. The mission comes first. Dosuke is here as a medical ninja. Understand?" Soda ordered.
"Understood," Dosuke, Tatee, and Takuto replied.
* Dosuke has a background. Maybe Tsunade asked Soda to protect him, * Takuto thought.
Scout teams often faced heavy losses.
No one spoke after that. Since leaving Konoha, apart from Soda's mission brief, the group focused on travel.
The four jumped through Konoha's forest, nearing the Fire Country's border at high speed. Dosuke used Water Style chakra under his feet, moving as fast as a teleportation jutsu. He kept up with the others.
At noon, Soda raised his hand. "Stop. Rest briefly, recover chakra, and continue later."
During the break, Tatee leaned close to Dosuke. "Brother Dosuke, are you not at the hospital? Why join this scout team?"
Her closeness brought a faint milk-like scent. Her breath tickled Dosuke's ear.
"Sister, do you know me?" Dosuke asked, his face slightly red.
"I heard you are well-liked among civilians. You nearly beat Kakashi in the ninja school ranking battle. He graduated at five and became a chunin at six. If not for his low team scores, he might be a jonin. A prodigy," Tatee said.
"Most importantly, Tsunade-sama took you as her disciple," Tatee added, looking at Dosuke with awe.
* So, Tsunade's disciple draws attention from noble families. The future Fourth Hokage's student, * Dosuke thought.
They ate military food pills to regain strength. The group moved on.
At the Wind Country's border, Soda and Dosuke stood on a hillside, eyeing a small town ahead.
"This town sits between the Wind and Fire Countries. Trade brings ninjas from many lands. We stay here tonight, gather information, and plan next," Soda said, staring at the busy town.
"Tatee, use your Byakugan to check for ninjas in the town," Soda said.
"Byakugan, open," Tatee said.
Blue veins bulged around Tatee's eyes, giving her a fierce look.
"I sense four ninja chakra signatures. One in the town's center, two in the northwest, one in the southeast," Tatee said softly.
Soda pulled a map from his ninja pouch and handed it to Tatee. "Mark the chakra locations you saw."
Tatee took the map and marked the spots quickly. "Captain, the two chakras in the northwest are very close. They might be together."
"Noted. Takuto, you take the southeast. Tatee and Dosuke, handle the town's center. I will check the northwest. Find out which villages these ninjas are from. Learn their purpose if possible. If not, report back. Do not alert them. Meet at the town's hotel tonight to discuss," Soda said, pointing to the hotel marked on the map.
"Yes," Dosuke, Tatee, and Takuto replied.
This plan suited Dosuke's inexperience. He was not skilled at gathering intelligence alone. Pairing him with Tatee ensured the mission's success.