Chapter 109: A-Rank Mission, Rushing to the Front Lines!
After a few simple words of instruction to Yakushi Nono'o, Nara Keisuke created a [Shadow Creature], flew out of Kikyo Castle, and arrived in Konoha Village.
He landed at the squad's usual meeting spot. Uchiha Shisui was already waiting there. But compared to the other two team members, Keisuke, the squad leader who lived the farthest away, was the first to arrive.
"Shisui, have you notified Hyūga and Shizune?"
"I've dispatched a crow to each of them," Shisui replied.
"A flying summoning animal is really convenient," Keisuke said with admiration, rubbing his chin.
Shisui's eyes lit up, and he immediately recommended, "Captain, do you want to raise crows together?"
"No need." Keisuke glanced at him. The shadow at his feet stirred slightly, and a "shadow crow," entirely lacquer-black, landed on his shoulder. "Isn't using shadows much more convenient than using crows?"
"...You're amazing." Seeing this, Shisui decisively chose to shut up.
But Keisuke didn't let him off so easily. "Speaking of which, Shisui, how did you receive the Hokage's order this time?"
In Shisui's ears, this question could be transformed into another: Why did you, a squad member, receive a mission message that even the squad leader did not?
"Because a family elder was a companion of the Third Hokage-sama in his youth." After some hesitation, Shisui chose to be frank. "Due to this relationship, Lord Third has taken good care of me."
"No, no, that's not what I mean." Keisuke waved his hand and said bluntly, "What I mean is, since you can receive missions from the Hokage, and I have the utmost trust in your ninja qualities..."
Hearing this, an ominous feeling suddenly arose in Shisui's heart.
"Since that's the case, then from now on, I'll leave the matter of accepting missions to you, Shisui!" Keisuke patted Shisui's shoulder and said with the air of a seasoned veteran, "I have faith in you."
I knew it!
Shisui resisted the urge to roll his eyes—no, to roll his red eyes. He really shouldn't have had any doubts about his squad leader's work ethic! An absolutely pure-blooded Nara!
Having calmly passed off a daily chore, Keisuke's mood was slightly cheerful.
The two of them waited for a while. Hyūga Retsu and Shizune arrived late. Without much idle chat, the four-person squad immediately moved towards the Hokage's Office.
They arrived at the Hokage's Office with great efficiency and reached the top floor. Seeing the four-person squad's arrival, Sarutobi Hiruzen did not engage in idle chat as he had in the past, but directly handed over a piece of intelligence.
"Keisuke, this is war intelligence from the front lines. Pass it around."
Keisuke took two steps forward, took the intelligence scroll, and returned to browse it with his teammates.
'Sunagakure's Puppet Brigade and Iwagakure's Explosion Corps have successively withdrawn from the Land of Fire's territory and have safely returned to their respective countries...'
'After the joint night raid on Konoha, the intensity of the war between Suna and Iwa has dropped sharply...'
'As of now, Suna and Iwa have already formed some kind of implicit alliance...'
"You should have all finished reading the intelligence, right?" Hiruzen knocked on the table, his expression grave. "Although it's not yet to the point where Suna and Iwa will openly join forces to attack Konoha, other intelligence from the front lines shows that the combat pressure is getting greater and greater."
Keisuke and the others listened silently to the Hokage's words, giving no reaction. After briefly introducing the external situation, Hiruzen took out another scroll from his desk drawer.
"This is your mission this time. An A-rank mission to support the front lines and protect your comrades."
Keisuke stepped forward again and accepted the mission scroll. A message suddenly popped up on his panel.
[A-rank Ninja Commissioned Mission Detected!]
[A-rank Mission: Resource Transport]
[Mission Content: 1. Transport supplies to the Land of Grass, which borders the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth; 2. Receive comrades, and safely escort the wounded from the front lines back to Kikyo Castle.]
[Mission Reward: One A-rank Shinobi Secret Scroll]
"For your squad, an A-rank mission is not very difficult, but it can still be considered a considerable test," Hiruzen said, looking at the four of them with a meaningful tone. "Only by passing this test will it mean that you have met the village's requirements. At that time, more difficult and more meaningful missions will be waiting for you. Keisuke, in this mission, you must fulfill your duties as a captain."
Later, Hiruzen had them go to the logistics department to receive the supplies they needed to transport.
One giant space-scroll for storing a large amount of resources; and another smaller "password scroll" for opening it.
Keisuke tied the giant scroll to his lower back and stuffed the small scroll into his personal scroll pouch. "Everyone, do you need half an hour for final preparations before leaving the village?"
Keisuke's question received no response from his teammates. Including Shizune, who was relatively inexperienced, everyone had already made their preparations early on.
"Then let's leave the village together!"
Keisuke, with incomparable skill, created a massive [Shadow Creature], which carried the four-person squad as they flew out of Konoha Village together. "To the front lines, at top speed!"
The strange and novel [Shadow Creature] soared into the sky, attracting a wave of attention within the village. Many ninja had heard of the special technique named [Shadow Shikigami] that the Nara clan had recently researched. But at present, the only ones in the clan who could use this ability, besides Keisuke, were just the two generations of Jonin squad leaders, Nara Shikano and Nara Shikaku.
Considering the former's legendary deeds in defending Kikyo Castle, as well as the special status of the latter two, the influence of the [Shadow Shikigami] (Shadow Beast Scroll) technique had not yet fully spread. As for the more deeply hidden [Lacquer Eye] technique, no one knew about it at all.
People thought that after researching the [Shadow Shikigami] (Shadow Beast Scroll), the Nara clan's comprehensive strength would be greatly enhanced. But probably no one knew that this was just the first small step in the Nara clan's rise!
The [Shadow Creature] flapped its wings and flew high, quickly leaving Konoha Village behind, turning it into a small black dot nestled in the continuous mountain range.
'I didn't expect the golden goose's words to come true.'
Keisuke held the A-rank mission scroll, recalling Tsunade's earlier instructions. 'Sarutobi Hiruzen really did change the plan.'
'Originally, I was supposed to go to the Kirigakure war zone, but I ended up going to the Iwagakure war zone.'
'But... the Land of Grass?'
Bits and pieces of information about the Land of Grass flashed through Keisuke's mind. 'I do have some impressions of it. But during the Third War, this small country doesn't seem to have any points of particular interest...'
'It's just that I inexplicably feel like I've missed something...'
Keisuke temporarily suppressed the suspicion in his heart, took out a map from his ninja tool pouch, and controlled the [Shadow Creature] to accelerate forward.
A ninja's mobility was already extremely strong. And a [Shadow Creature] with the ability to fly had an even greater speed advantage in long-distance travel than a ninja running on two legs.
Departing from Konoha in the morning, after flying for the better part of a day, by evening, the [Shadow Creature] had flown to the border area between the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass. Following the map's instructions, they found the main base of the Konoha ninja stationed in this area.
Keisuke controlled the [Shadow Creature] to slowly descend. The moment they landed, the three team members dismounted in an orderly fashion, and the [Shadow Creature] merged into the shadows. Keisuke gestured to his teammates, and the four of them advanced together, arriving at the main entrance of the Konoha encampment.
Two Chunin wearing forehead protectors and vests were guarding the left and right sides of the entrance, with some inconspicuous outposts hidden in the dark. And inside the camp, ninja could be seen coming and going everywhere. A cold, bloody smell permeated the air.
Keisuke sized up the ninja war base before him. While feeling a sense of novelty, he couldn't help but feel a sense of dislike. Other ninja might be used to war, used to being tools, listening to the instructions and commands of their superiors. But Keisuke was fundamentally different from these tool-ninja. A peaceful and happy life was his pursuit.
However...
Keisuke took a deep breath, and led his three equally impacted teammates forward. They communicated with the two Chunin in charge of guard duty and smoothly entered the camp.
Carrying the eye-catching giant scroll, Keisuke's group of four made their way to the central area of the camp. After being announced by another ninja, the squad finally received permission to enter the command tent.
Keisuke entered first, with the other three close behind.
This was a fairly large military tent. Strange ninja-style instruments were placed in various positions, with many ninja guarding them, their heads connected to the instruments with hoods, constantly relaying information to the outside.
The four of them kept their eyes forward, not looking at the strangely shaped machines, their gaze fixed on the black-haired man sitting in the center of the tent.
"Lord Orochimaru." Keisuke took a step forward, untied the giant scroll from his waist, and presented it along with the small scroll he was carrying. "These are the supplies from the village."
"It's been a long time, Nara-kun." Orochimaru's signature hoarse voice sounded as he sized up Keisuke with great interest. "There was indeed news from the village that a team was being dispatched to transport supplies. But according to my understanding, unless it's Minato, a normal ninja, even at full speed, would only arrive at the border of the Land of Grass from Konoha at dawn tomorrow. What special means did you use to shorten the journey?"
Orochimaru had been stationed at the front lines for too long and was too far from the village. He did not know about the [Shadow Shikigami] secret technique that the Nara clan had "recently researched."
"It's a new secret technique researched by the Nara clan," Keisuke explained calmly. "It allows a ninja to have the ability to fly."
"Flight!" Orochimaru subconsciously licked the corner of his mouth. "It seems the teacher made full consideration when he sent your team to the front lines."
"The mission we have currently accepted is not to support the front lines." Keisuke once again took out the A-rank mission scroll and presented it. "The mission arranged by Lord Third is for us to transport supplies and escort the wounded."
"I believe the content of your mission will change very soon, Nara-kun." Orochimaru took the mission scroll, his snake-like, naturally unusual pupils sweeping over Keisuke's squad. "Uchiha, Hyūga, and... hm. Nara-kun, please rest in the camp for a night for now. I will have someone count the seriously wounded in the infirmary. Tomorrow morning, you can return to the village. Be careful on the way."
(End of Chapter)
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