"Captain, what do you think of this mission?"
Neji tilted his head thoughtfully, the mission scroll resting lightly in his hand. After studying it for a moment, he passed it to Yugito, who was standing beside him.
Yugito's amber eyes gleamed with sharp curiosity. "Why do you ask that?"
Scratching his head, Neji looked slightly embarrassed but answered honestly. "First of all, this is just an escort mission—moving a convoy of grain. It doesn't seem like something anyone would bother hiring ninja to sabotage. Who would risk offending the Hidden Cloud over a pile of grain? Secondly, the destination is Grass Country. It's not one of the Five Great Nations, so we shouldn't encounter interference from powerful shinobi villages. Even if we run into bandits or minor trouble, it will be completely within our ability to handle."
For a moment, Yugito studied him in silence. Then, the corners of her mouth curved upward, and she gave a rare smile. "Kid, your analysis is spot on. Not bad."
Her tone carried genuine praise, and it made Neji's chest warm.
Every shinobi knew that intelligence was paramount. The very first step in undertaking any mission was to analyze the details—to anticipate risks, to weigh dangers, and to prepare accordingly. Seeing Neji do this so naturally reassured Yugito that he was growing into his role.
Neji, however, merely shrugged at the compliment, as though it were nothing.
In truth, there was another reason he had accepted the mission so readily, but he chose not to voice it.
Three years had passed since he had come to this world. Three years in which his life had been confined almost entirely to the Hidden Cloud. Though the village had become familiar, part of him yearned for the unknown. He wanted to see the outside world with his own eyes, to experience the lands and people beyond Lightning Country.
And Grass Country, though not far in the grand scheme of the shinobi world, was still a journey worth taking.
---
Yugito handled the formalities of obtaining their mission certificate and the official village exit permits. Once everything was complete, she turned to Neji outside the mission hall and waved the stamped permit in the air.
"Go back and pack your things properly. This won't be a short trip—at least a month away from the village. Don't forget anything. We'll meet at the main gate tomorrow at eight sharp."
"Yes, Captain," Neji replied without hesitation.
He didn't linger; with a brief bow, he slipped into the bustling crowd and disappeared down the main street.
Yugito, however, remained still. Her eyes followed his retreating figure until it was swallowed by the evening throng. Only then did she exhale softly, turn on her heel, and head straight toward the Raikage's office.
---
When Neji returned home, the house was silent.
Samui was not there.
He set down his pack by the door, a faint pang of disappointment flickering across his expression. Usually, whenever he came back, she would already have dinner ready, waiting for him. Her calm presence always gave the house a warmth that eased the loneliness of his new life.
But ever since Samui had officially debuted as a full kunoichi and been placed on Yugito's team, she had changed.
She trained harder than ever before, often staying out late or even all night. Her once relaxed demeanor had sharpened, and her focus had shifted completely to becoming stronger.
Samui was eighteen now. Two years earlier, she had already reached the level of a Special Jōnin—a remarkable achievement in any of the Five Great Villages. Yet she wasn't satisfied. She pushed herself relentlessly, as though something unseen were driving her forward.
Neji understood.
This world was cruel. Bloodlines decided destiny. Those born with kekkei genkai or special inheritances had an overwhelming advantage, and ordinary ninja had to put in a hundred times more effort just to narrow the gap.
Even then, sometimes hard work wasn't enough.
Sighing quietly, Neji made his way into the kitchen. He cooked a simple meal, preparing enough for two out of habit, and then sat in the living room. He ate his share in silence, the ticking of the clock his only companion.
By ten o'clock, Samui still hadn't returned.
Neji stored her untouched portion in the refrigerator, then went to his room. Lying on his bed, he closed his eyes, but his thoughts inevitably drifted back to the mission.
---
The mission details replayed in his mind like the lines of a scroll:
Client: Tokugawa Takahara, head of the Tokugawa family in Grass Country.
Objective: Escort 50 tons of grain purchased in the Land of Lightning safely to Hidden Grass Village.
Personnel: Convoy of 200, plus 50 armed guards.
Rank: C-Rank.
Requirements: Departure on October 10th, Year 53 of the Hidden Cloud. Deliver safely within 20 days.
Reward: 70,000 ryō.
Neji turned to his desk, where his tools were neatly laid out: twelve kunai, thirty-six shuriken, two spools of wire, nine explosive tags, two bottles of soldier pills, rolls of bandages, and packets of hemostatic powder.
Fifty tons of grain wasn't especially valuable. The mission should be straightforward, but Neji's instincts told him not to take chances. For safety, he prepared double sets of supplies.
Thanks to his status in the village, Neji never worried about money—his expenses were well-covered. That security gave him peace of mind.
Once everything was packed into storage scrolls, Neji lay back on his futon. Within minutes, sleep claimed him.
---
The next morning dawned crisp and clear.
After breakfast, Neji didn't leave right away. He lingered, hoping Samui would appear, if only for a moment.
By 7:59, however, there was still no sign of her.
Suppressing the disappointment, he activated his Lightning Release Chakra Mode. His body flickered into motion, blurring as he dashed across the village streets.
---
At the main gate of the Hidden Cloud, activity bustled. Villagers streamed in and out, but the most striking sight was the massive convoy lined up outside: a hundred wagons, stretching into the distance. More than two hundred handlers bustled about, adjusting harnesses and securing loads.
"Captain, I'm here."
Neji materialized beside Yugito, precisely on time.
Yugito had arrived half an hour early. This was her first time leading a team outside the village, and she had made thorough preparations. She valued punctuality—perhaps even more than Kakashi ever would.
Seeing Neji arrive, she nodded. "Finally. Let's go meet the client."
Neji caught his breath, but she didn't press him. Instead, she reached into her pouch and pulled out a pair of tinted glasses.
"Here. Wear these."
Neji blinked. "Do I have to?"
"Obey orders." Yugito's tone left no room for negotiation.
Reluctantly, Neji accepted them. He slipped them on, though his lips twisted in mild irritation. The design of the frames reminded him uncomfortably of a certain Uchiha.
Still, he understood her reasoning. His Byakugan was too distinctive. Wearing glasses would help conceal his identity and avoid drawing unnecessary attention outside the village.
Identity was a delicate matter. A ninja caught outside the village without the proper permit risked severe punishment—sometimes even being branded a missing-nin. For that reason, no one could simply sneak out with a Shadow Clone or Transformation Technique. The Five Great Nations guarded their prestige carefully.
At the gate, they presented their exit permits and mission certificates. Once the procedures were complete, the guards stepped aside, allowing them to leave.
Waiting at the front of the convoy were three people: a middle-aged man, a beautiful woman in her thirties, and a child of no more than ten.
The man introduced himself as Tokugawa Takahara—their client.
Yugito's gaze sharpened as she studied the woman and child. She raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Tokugawa, these two don't appear in the mission description."
According to the briefing, only Tokugawa himself should have been present.
The client's expression grew strained. "Ah… these are my relatives. They decided at the last moment to visit family in Grass Country."
Yugito's voice turned firm. "This is irregular. Such changes cannot be overlooked."
"I—I apologize. It was an emergency, and I didn't have time to update the mission request." His voice carried genuine unease. Then he bowed slightly and added, "If it pleases you, I can increase the payment. An additional ten thousand ryō."
Her eyes narrowed, but after a long pause, Yugito gave a curt nod. "Very well. But we'll inspect the convoy before departure. Only once it's cleared will we move."
"Thank you, ninja-sama," Tokugawa said with obvious relief.
Neji followed as Yugito began walking along the convoy, checking wagons, guards, and personnel. She explained as she went, her tone both instructive and practical.
"For large-scale escort missions like this, the most important thing is to memorize the faces and numbers before setting out. Otherwise, if the enemy infiltrates using the Transformation Technique and you fail to notice, disaster can strike at any moment…"