As the princess representing the Land of Fire's daimyō estate, Asuna's identity was one of the most noble and important in Konoha.
Her return journey should have, out of basic respect, been overseen by a powerful jōnin, just like when Might Guy, the Blue Beast of Konoha, had personally escorted her to the village.
However, Konoha was now in a state of high alert. With tensions mounting on all sides and the village's combat strength dangerously thin, even defending the village itself was proving difficult, there simply wasn't a single jōnin available to spare for an external mission.
Fortunately, Kirito had voluntarily accepted the escort mission, which saved Konoha a great deal of trouble, though no one in the upper ranks would ever thank him for it. After all, it was Kirito who had plunged the village into its current crisis. Still, when it came to protecting the princess, there was no doubt about his strength.
After practically turning Konoha upside down, there wasn't a single soul in the village who would question his capability.
That said, having only Kirito, who technically wasn't even an official shinobi, escort the princess would be politically impossible.
If the daimyō found out Konoha had only sent a non-ninja to protect his daughter, there'd be outrage. So, to maintain appearances, Konoha sent along a token team of genin as well.
Originally, it should have been Team 10, since they had previous experience escorting the princess, but Rock Lee was still suffering aftereffects from using a forbidden technique during the Chūnin Exams, leaving him unfit for duty. So instead, the team was revised to include:
• Neji
• Tenten
• And, surprisingly, Sasuke, who was drafted in from another team.
With Naruto away training under Jiraiya and Kakashi hospitalized after overusing his Mangekyō Sharingan, Sakura wasn't even considered. Sasuke, finding himself idle, accepted the mission without protest.
Thus, the escort squad consisted of a rather unusual team:
Kirito, Neji, Tenten, and Sasuke.
"We've got a pretty rare lineup, huh~"
On the peaceful, well-maintained national road, Tenten glanced around and sighed, bored. "What's really weird is that Kirito is our team leader this time~"
"…."
Neji and Sasuke remained silent.
Indeed, based on rank, experience, and shinobi status, either of them should have been made leader. Having three proper shinobi on the team, only for the position of squad leader to go to a non-shinobi, it was just bizarre.
That said, both of them knew, to varying degrees, that Kirito wasn't ordinary. People tend to judge others based on their own frame of reference, often wrongly.
Neji was at least more self-aware now. Ever since his loss to Naruto during the Chūnin Exams, his once-proud and arrogant attitude had softened considerably.
But Sasuke?
After his humiliating defeat at the hands of Gaara, and watching Naruto's explosive growth firsthand, he felt like he was standing still while everyone else surged ahead.
Naruto had now become Jiraiya's disciple, undergoing harsh training, and was growing stronger by the day.
Sasuke looked back on himself: even after mastering Kakashi's signature Lightning Release forbidden technique, Chidori, he hadn't managed to defeat any notable opponent.
In his clash with Kirito, he had used Chidori with all his strength, only for Kirito to counter with a devastating taijutsu technique. Though the duel ended prematurely thanks to Kakashi's interference, the aftermath said it all: Sasuke's Chidori pierced through a tree. Kirito's technique shattered the entire tree into dust. The difference in power was obvious.
Now, with Konoha assigning Kirito as the mission leader, it was like an official declaration that even the higher-ups considered Sasuke inferior.
His fists clenched. His face twisted.
What have I even been doing all these years?!
At this rate, how long will it take to catch up to him?!
Sensing Sasuke's simmering frustration, Neji, himself once burdened with pride, spoke up gently, "Don't overestimate yourself. You and I… we're just ordinary people. Only through relentless effort can we change the fate of the ordinary."
But Sasuke didn't take it well.
He shot a sharp glare at Neji and sneered,
"Tch. How noble of you, Hyuga Neji. You got beaten by that dead-last Naruto, didn't you? So much for 'top genin of last year.'"
"Hey! Watch your mouth!"
Before Neji could respond, Tenten furrowed her brows in annoyance. She clearly didn't appreciate Sasuke's insults.
But Sasuke wasn't done.
He turned to her and smirked with disdain,
"And you? You went all out against that Sand kunoichi and still couldn't even scratch her, right?"
"You-!"
Tenten was fuming.
But Sasuke was just getting started.
"Sorry to say, but when I went up against her, she didn't last even one exchange."
"You bastard! Looking for a fight?"
Tenten growled, pulling a scroll from her waist. Her fiery gaze made it clear, she was ready to throw down.
Sasuke, desperate for a battle to regain some pride, only smirked.
"You better think twice. Challenge me, and you're going to get hurt."
"Stop it, Tenten."
Neji's calm voice cut through the tension as he stepped forward, locking eyes with Sasuke.
"Uchiha Sasuke. Let me ask you one thing."
"…What?"
"Do you really still think… that Uzumaki Naruto is a 'dead-last'?"
Sasuke's face darkened.
In his mind, flashes returned, of lying exhausted and useless before Gaara… of trembling in fear while Naruto, like some mythic warrior, stood atop that monstrous form and fought without hesitation.
Boom!
Sasuke slammed his fist into the dirt.
Slowly, he raised his head.
His eyes burned with intensity as he locked gazes with Neji.
"Hyuga Neji… do you dare fight me?"
Neji's brows furrowed. But he didn't back down.
"Very well," he said, stepping forward. "If it's a fight you want… then let's fight."
"Hey, Kirito… your teammates seem ready to kill each other. Shouldn't you step in and stop them?"
Sitting inside the carriage, Asuna leaned out and called to Kirito, who was riding calmly ahead.
Kirito simply waved his hand dismissively.
"Ah~ Young people. Let them scuffle a little. It's good for them. No need to worry."
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Hello guys Fanfic recommendation!
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💥> Naruto: Mind Control (Highly Recommended)
💥> Bleach: Sephiroth Template
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