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After more than two months, we've finally gotten a mission outside the village!
For Ryūsei, this was undoubtedly good news.
Ever since his Sharingan evolved into the Three-Tomoe form, the only gap between him and a jonin now was combat experience.
To become an elite jonin, Ryūsei would need to go through a long period of accumulation.
He needed to build up his combat experience, expand his arsenal of weapons and ammunition, and acquire a wide array of trump cards…
This was exactly how figures like Kakashi and Might Guy had progressed.
The former had copied over a thousand ninjutsu and even developed his own S-rank Lightning Release technique, while the latter had honed his body to its limits, creating numerous taijutsu techniques and pushing the limits of the Eight Gates.
If Ryūsei wanted to skip this accumulation phase, there were only two ways:
First, he could acquire an ultimate trump card capable of threatening a Kage—something like an S-rank ninjutsu that couldn't be mastered through talent and effort alone.
Second, he could obtain a large number of ninjutsu, talents, and Kekkei Genkai, compensating for quality with sheer quantity!
Of course, if Ryūsei could evolve his Three-Tomoe Sharingan into the Mangekyo Sharingan in a short time, he wouldn't even need an accumulation phase.
As long as he could master the unique ocular abilities of the Mangekyo Sharingan and wield the so-called "power of the gods," Susanoo, the only opponents who could stand against him in this era would be the likes of Ōnoki, the pinnacle of the Five Kage, and Nagato, the gatekeeper of the "Super Kage" tier.
Even Uchiha Obito, unless he reclaimed his left eye from Kakashi, would only be able to last five minutes against Ryūsei at best. And even if he used Izanagi to save face, he'd only stretch that to ten minutes.
Because… the moment the Mangekyo Sharingan awakened, the golden legend of Asura's chakra would also begin to manifest.
But since his Sharingan had only just evolved to the Three-Tomoe stage, advancing to the Mangekyo in a short time was impossible.
So, for now, Ryūsei's shortcut was to expand his arsenal.
However, doing so wasn't easy.
He had already obtained the most valuable thing from Kurenai—her genjutsu talent—and had also mastered some of the Yūhi clan's techniques.
Even if he found an excuse to duel Kurenai again and win, there was nothing left for him to gain from her.
As for Hinata's Byakugan, Ryūsei had been working on it for over two months, but so far, he hadn't managed to acquire it.
And even if he did, the boost it would give him would be minimal. After all, before evolving into the Tenseigan or mutating into a Sharingan or the Jōgan, the Byakugan was just the most basic auxiliary eye of the Ōtsutsuki clan.
As for the Aburame clan's insect techniques, even if Ryūsei acquired them, he wouldn't integrate them because how quickly it will be detect by the Aburame clan members.
With no help coming from those around him, Ryūsei had no choice but to look outside for targets.
He didn't expect this mission outside the village to go as disastrously as Team 7's, where they'd encounter powerful enemies.
All he hoped for was to pass through populated areas, run into some rogue ninja, or—best-case scenario—meet shinobi from other villages.
Having developed the Spiral Water Tornado technique, Ryūsei knew exactly how much the talent for chakra control had elevated him.
If he could just acquire other chakra natures and ninjutsu, master their nature transformations, he was confident he could advance the Rasengan or even develop techniques not seen in the original series.
---
Under Kurenai's lead, Team 8 arrived at the Hokage's office in the administrative building.
"Applying for a C-rank mission?"
Hiruzen, wearing the Hokage's hat and holding a smoking pipe, exhaled a cloud of smoke.
In his other hand was a report detailing Team 8's performance over the past two months.
After scanning it, Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction.
"Since Team 8's formation, you've received high praise from every client. Your teamwork is currently the best among this generation of teams. It seems your coordination and teamwork have been honed to a certain level. It's time to assign you higher-ranked missions."
Setting down the report, Hiruzen pulled out a large scroll from under his desk.
Unfurling it, he quickly found a suitable mission for Team 8.
"A few days ago, a merchant group came to Konoha for business. They're worried about being robbed on their return journey, so they've commissioned us to escort them back to Iron Village in the Land of Rivers."
After speaking, Hiruzen lightly traced his finger over the mission listing.
With a poof, a small scroll materialized in his hand.
Tossing it to Kurenai, he said, "This contains the merchant leader's information. Go negotiate with him."
"Yes, Lord Hokage," Kurenai replied respectfully.
Then, she led Team 8 out of the office.
As they left, Ryūsei noticed Hiruzen studying him.
Clearly, the Hokage knew about him—and had likely been keeping an eye on him.
But since Hiruzen didn't speak, Ryūsei pretended not to notice and left without a word.
---
Outside the building, Kurenai opened the scroll and guided Team 8 to a nearby inn, where she began negotiating with a middle-aged man overseeing the merchant's wagons.
Ryūsei and the others waited at a distance.
Before long, the man entered the inn, and soon after, a lavishly dressed merchant emerged.
Kurenai resumed discussions with him.
At one point, the merchant's gaze drifted toward Ryūsei's group—and his face lit up with delight.
Hinata whispered, "Ryūsei-kun… that man keeps staring at me."
Before Ryūsei could respond, Shino said flatly, "He is. But he's focused on your eyes."
Ryūsei chuckled. "That's normal, Hinata. Your Byakugan is the most famous sensory eye in the shinobi world. With you around, we'll know about any ambushes within a kilometer."
Hinata nodded in understanding.
Soon, Kurenai finished the negotiations and turned to the team.
"Today's a rest day. Go pack your things. We'll meet at the village gates tomorrow at 8 AM."
"Yes, Kurenai-sensei!" the three replied in unison.
With that, Team 8 disbanded.
---
"Hinata, want to train together?"
"Mhm."
After parting ways with Kurenai and Shino, Ryūsei, as usual, invited Hinata.
Naturally, she agreed.
They headed to the market to buy ingredients, then returned home, where their shadow clones handled cooking while their real bodies trained in the dojo, engaging in their daily taijutsu spar.
This time, Ryūsei again used his Sharingan to cheat—redirecting Hinata's strikes with precise counters, deliberately destabilizing her balance before catching her in his arms.
Noticing that Hinata was growing immune to this tactic, Ryūsei decided to turn up the heat.
Holding the girl close, he glanced down teasingly. "Hinata… have you grown a bit lately?"
"Eh?" At first confused, Hinata followed his gaze downward—
Her fair cheeks instantly flushed crimson, steam practically rising from her head as her eyes swirled into dizzy spirals.
Then, Ryūsei felt her go limp in his arms.
The girl had fainted.