"One week maximum," Hideaki-sensei said as he adjusted the straps on his mission pack during their brief rest. "We gather information, locate the missing girl, and return to Konoha."
Hikaru carefully removed his training seals and stored them in his pack before shouldering his equipment. His movements came easier without the familiar weight pressing against his body. The mission could last days in dangerous territory—every advantage mattered.
"Everyone ready to continue?" Hideaki-sensei asked.
"Ready, Sensei," Nobue reported, his pale eyes already scanning the western road ahead.
"I'm good," Hikaru confirmed.
Hana finished checking the Haimaru brothers and gave a quick nod. "We're set."
Hideaki-sensei set a pace faster than their usual travel speed, though not quite at their maximum training rate. They needed to maintain this rhythm for a full day and a half while carrying extra supplies. Around them, the landscape began its gradual transition from the populated central regions of Fire Country toward the western border.
"Stay alert as we move further west," Hideaki-sensei said, his voice carrying easily despite their steady movement. "The closer we get to the border regions, the more likely we are to encounter signs of the instability Mamoru-san mentioned."
Nobue activated his Byakugan briefly, scanning the road ahead before deactivating it to conserve chakra. "Clear for the next two hundred meters, Sensei. No immediate threats."
Hana kept her pace steady alongside them with the Haimaru brothers flanking her position. The nin-ken had picked up on the serious atmosphere, their usual playful demeanor replaced by focused alertness. Their ears swiveled constantly, monitoring sounds from the surrounding forest.
Hikaru extended his sensor abilities in a controlled sweep, feeling for chakra signatures within his range. The technique still required concentration, but five months of practice under a Jōnin instructor had made it much more natural. He detected only small animals and distant travelers—nothing that suggested immediate danger.
The road passed through increasingly sparse farmland. Fields that should have been busy with harvest preparation showed signs of neglect. Some farmhouses appeared abandoned entirely, their gardens overgrown and shutters closed tight.
"Sensei," Hana said, nodding toward an empty homestead they passed. "Why would people leave during harvest season?"
"Border tensions create uncertainty," Hideaki-sensei replied, his eyes scanning the abandoned property. "When bandit activity increases and trade routes become dangerous, farming families sometimes relocate to safer areas until the situation stabilizes."
These were real families who had been forced from their homes by circumstances beyond their control.
As the afternoon progressed, they encountered their first group of travelers heading in the opposite direction. A merchant caravan with hired guards moved eastward, their wagon loaded with goods and several families walking alongside the vehicles.
"Good afternoon," Hideaki-sensei called out as they approached. "Safe travels on the road ahead?"
The lead merchant, a middle-aged man with worry lines around his eyes, shook his head grimly. "Would not recommend continuing west, Shinobi-san. Bandit activity has increased significantly in the past weeks. Three attacks reported just between here and Hayashi Village."
"Where did the attacks happen?" Hideaki-sensei asked.
"Always the same road," one of the hired guards responded. "Along the forest about halfway to the market town. Perfect ambush area, and they seem to know exactly when the targets will be passing through."
Hikaru's stomach tightened. The way the attacks kept happening in the same place suggested the bandits knew the area well.
"Have you heard anything about missing persons?" Nobue asked, his pale eyes focused intently on the travelers.
"Too many," the merchant replied sadly. "Started about a month ago. People disappear completely—not just robbed, but taken. Families are desperate for news of their missing relatives."
"We're investigating one such case," Hideaki-sensei said carefully. "A young woman from Hayashi Village named Yuki."
Several of the travelers exchanged glances, and one of the women spoke up. "She's the village chief's daughter. Sweet girl, always polite at the market. Her brother Mamoru-san has been asking everyone who passes through if they've seen any sign of her."
"Any idea about who's behind these attacks?" Hana asked.
"Border troubles bring all kinds of problems," the guard said with a meaningful look westward. "When relations between villages get tense, bandit groups always take advantage of the confusion."
After exchanging a few more details about road conditions, the groups parted ways. Team 8 continued westward while the merchant caravan headed toward the safety of more populated areas.
"Could it be connected to the tensions with Kusagakure?" Hikaru asked, remembering the conversations he'd overheard about border conflicts.
"Maybe," Hideaki-sensei replied thoughtfully. "When there are border problems, fewer patrols watch the roads. Bandits know this and become more active."
The border troubles weren't causing Yuki's disappearance directly, but they made it easier for criminals to operate without getting caught.
As evening approached, they passed fewer travelers and saw more evidence of the region's troubles. A burned-down inn sat empty beside the road, its roof collapsed and walls blackened by fire. Fresh wheel ruts showed where recent traffic had detoured around the ruins rather than stopping for rest.
"How much further to our planned camp site?" Nobue asked, checking the sun's position.
"Another hour," Hideaki-sensei replied. "We'll set up camp before nightfall and reach Hayashi Village by early afternoon tomorrow."
The way Hideaki-sensei chose their camp filled in knowledge Hikaru had never learned at the academy. Good sight lines to spot approaching danger, far enough from the road to avoid detection, but with clear escape routes if they needed to retreat quickly. These were things you only learned from real missions, not from classroom books.
"Standard watch rotation," Hideaki-sensei announced as they set up their simple camp. "Two-hour shifts, maintain sensory awareness at all times. This isn't training anymore."
His voice carried weight that made everyone move with sharper focus. They arranged their sleeping areas with weapons within easy reach and established clear signal protocols for the night watches.
As they prepared their evening meal, Hideaki-sensei spread out a detailed map of the region. "Tomorrow we'll reach Hayashi Village and begin gathering information about Yuki's disappearance. Based on what we learned today, we should expect many more missing people."
"What's our investigation priority?" Hana asked, carefully feeding the Haimaru brothers from their travel rations.
"First, detailed interviews with family members and anyone who saw Yuki on her last trip," Hideaki-sensei replied, pointing to locations on the map. "Then we'll examine the route she would have taken and look for physical evidence."
"The bandit ambush site the merchant mentioned," Nobue added, studying the terrain features marked on the map.
"Yes, this will be within our scouting area. We need to understand their numbers, where their base is located if they have any, and whether or not any ninja are involved before any rescue attempt."
"If no ninja are involved?" Hana asked.
"Then it will be you three's turn to act," Hideaki explained with a smile. "I'll provide guidance and backup, but the mission will be within your capabilities as a team."
Hikaru looked up in surprise. "You're not taking the lead?"
"If there are only bandits, even organized ones," Hideaki replied, meeting each of their eyes in turn. "Normally C-rank missions are for chūnin or in our case, genin with Jōnin sensei oversight. There generally shouldn't be a chance of combat against other ninja on these missions."
Hideaki rolled up his sleeve before beginning to eat a simple meal, an onigiri.
"Of course, since this is your first C-rank mission, I'll be guiding initially," Hideaki said. "Later missions, I will mostly watch you handle everything yourselves."
"But what if there are more of them than expected?" Hana asked.
"Then we adapt," Hideaki said simply. "But part of your development as ninja is learning to handle missions independently. I'll be there if you need backup, but the final decisions will be yours."
Hikaru stared at the map, trying to visualize the area they'd be searching.
"Sensei," he said quietly, "what if we're too late? What if she's already..."
"We focus on what we can control," Hideaki-sensei interrupted gently. "Good intelligence gathering, careful planning, and doing what we're trained to do. Worrying about outcomes beyond our influence won't help anyone."
Hikaru nodded slowly. Someone's life might depend on their success, and that weight pressed against his chest heavier than any training seal ever had.
"What if they're moving her to another location?" Hana asked, while signaling the Haimaru brothers to scout the area around the camp.
"Then you track them," Hideaki said. "But groups like this usually have established bases. I figure, they won't be moving around a lot."
As darkness settled over their camp, Nobue took the first watch while the others settled into their sleeping arrangements. Hikaru lay in his bedroll, staring up at the stars visible through the forest canopy.
He thought about Mamoru's desperate face, about the merchant's grim warnings, about the abandoned farms they'd passed during the day. This was what ninja work really meant—not just individual shinobi skills and teamwork, but completing whatever mission they were given, no matter how difficult or dangerous it became.
When his turn for watch duty came, Hikaru sat alertly beside their carefully banked campfire, his sensor abilities extended to their maximum range. The forest around them held the normal sounds of nocturnal animals and rustling leaves, but he maintained his focus on detecting any human chakra signatures that might indicate trouble.
Dawn came slowly through the forest canopy. Team 8 woke up and cleaned their camp before getting ready efficiently.
"Last bit before we reach Hayashi Village," Hideaki-sensei announced as they shouldered their packs. "Stay alert—we're entering the area where most of the bandit activity has been reported."
The road climbed gradually through denser forest, the kind of terrain perfect for ambushes. Thick undergrowth provided concealment, while the narrow path forced travelers into walk the same route. Hikaru could see why bandits had chosen this area for the attacks.
By early afternoon, they reached the top of a hill and saw Hayashi Village spread out in the valley below. The small farming community looked peaceful from a distance, but as they drew closer, Hikaru noticed the subtle signs of a settlement under stress.
Gardens showed neglect beyond normal harvest preparation. Few people moved on the village streets, and those who did walked quickly with frequent glances over their shoulders. Windows were shuttered despite the pleasant afternoon weather.
An elderly man approached them as they entered the village proper, his weathered hands clasped together respectfully. "Shinobi-sama? Are you here about the missing persons?"
"Team 8 from Konohagakure, my name is Hideaki," Hideaki-sensei replied with a polite bow. "We're here to investigate Yuki-san's disappearance. Her brother Mamoru-san hired us."
The man's face crumpled with relief and grief. "My daughter... Thank the spirits you've come. I am Hayato, the village chief. Mamoru-kun used what little savings we had to hire you." His voice grew heavy. "So many others are missing too, but we... we could only afford to ask for help for one case. I pray that finding Yuki might help us understand what happened to the others as well."
As they walked through the village streets, Hikaru felt the weight of dozens of eyes watching them from behind partially opened shutters and doorways. These people were looking for hope, for someone who might bring back their missing childs and neighbors and restore safety to their village.