Chapter 5: First D-Rank Mission Mayhem
The morning after graduation dawned bright and mercilessly cheerful. Tenten woke to birds chirping outside her window and the faint scent of dew on training grounds. For a single, blissful second, she forgot everything.
Then the system chimed like an overeager alarm clock.
[Good morning, Host~ ♡ First official genin day!][Task 5: Mission Exposure Mayhem]Objective: During today's D-rank mission (cat retrieval in the civilian district), engineer at least one major "accidental" exposure lasting twenty seconds or more. Must occur in a public area with multiple witnesses (civilians count double). Bonus if a teammate or the mission target sees it clearly. Reward: +25% reflexes and agility (permanent) Failure Penalty: -15% speed for the next three days Special Note: The system has "enhanced" your qipao's durability today—slits will tear more easily under stress. Have fun!**
Tenten stared at the ceiling, pillow clutched to her chest.
(Cat retrieval. Classic D-rank. Boring, safe, zero combat. Perfect for the system to turn into a public humiliation circus.)
She rolled out of bed and checked her outfit. The red qipao looked normal—until she moved. A tiny experimental stretch, and the left slit gave a soft ripping sound, widening by half an inch.
(It's literally falling apart on command. Great. Just great.)
Breakfast was quick: onigiri, tea, and a silent prayer that today wouldn't end with her on the front page of some civilian gossip scroll.
Team Guy met at the mission desk in the Hokage Tower. Gai arrived first, green jumpsuit gleaming, pose dramatic as always.
"My youthful team! Today we embark on our first mission as official genin! A simple task—retrieve a lost cat named Tora for the Fire Daimyo's wife!"
Lee bounced on his toes. "A noble quest to reunite a beloved pet with its owner! I will give it everything!"
Neji crossed his arms. "It's a cat. Again."
Tenten managed a weak smile. "Should be… straightforward."
The mission scroll confirmed it: Tora, a fat orange tabby, had escaped the Daimyo's wife's mansion for the third time this month. Last seen near the market district. Reward: standard D-rank pay plus "eternal gratitude."
Gai slapped the scroll shut. "We depart immediately! Speed, teamwork, and youthful vigor will prevail!"
They hit the streets running.
The civilian district was alive—vendors shouting, children darting between stalls, shinobi on break grabbing street food. Tenten kept her hands on her pouches, trying to look professional while every step made the newly weakened slits flutter dangerously.
They split up to cover ground: Gai and Lee took the east alleys, Neji the rooftops with Byakugan, Tenten the main market street.
She'd barely walked fifty meters when she spotted it—orange fur flashing under a vegetable cart.
"Tora!" she hissed, dropping to a crouch.
The cat's ears flicked. It stared at her with lazy yellow eyes, then bolted.
Tenten sprinted after it.
The chase was immediate chaos.
Tora darted between legs. Tenten vaulted a fruit stand. Apples rolled everywhere. A vendor yelled. She leaped over a low table of pottery—landed awkwardly—and felt the telltale rip.
The right slit tore wide open, fabric parting from hip to mid-thigh. White panties fully exposed on one side, the bow now dangling like a sad flag.
She didn't have time to stop.
Tora zigzagged through the crowd. Tenten followed, arms pumping, skirt flapping wildly.
Civilians turned. Gasps. Whistles. A group of teenage boys froze mid-conversation, mouths open.
"Oi! Look at that kunoichi go!"
"Is she—?"
"Nice legs!"
Tenten's face burned hotter than Amaterasu.
(Twenty seconds. I need twenty seconds. Just keep running. Don't stop. Don't cover. The reward is worth it. Right? RIGHT?!)
She rounded a corner into a small plaza—fountain in the center, benches full of gossiping housewives and off-duty merchants.
Tora jumped onto the fountain edge, then onto a low wall.
Tenten vaulted after it—higher this time.
Mid-air, both slits gave way completely.
The entire lower half of the qipao tore open like cheap wrapping paper. Thighs, hips, ass cheeks, panties—all on full display for a solid thirty seconds as she twisted to grab the cat.
She landed in a crouch, one hand snagging Tora by the scruff.
The cat yowled indignantly.
The plaza went silent for one heartbeat—then erupted.
Applause. Laughter. Whistles. Someone wolf-whistled. An old lady fanned herself dramatically.
Tenten knelt there, frozen, cat dangling from her grip, entire lower body exposed to half the market.
(I'm going to die. Right here. In front of civilians. On my first mission.)
Then—
"Such dynamic pursuit of youth!" Gai's voice boomed from the crowd.
He appeared in a dramatic swirl, thumbs-up blazing.
Lee landed beside her, eyes sparkling with tears.
"Tenten! Your determination burns so brightly even your attire cannot contain it! Magnificent!"
Neji dropped from a rooftop—silent, expression unreadable.
His Byakugan deactivated slowly.
He stared.
Not at the cat.
At her.
Tenten yanked the torn fabric closed as best she could—useless now—and stood, face nuclear.
"I—I caught the cat," she squeaked.
Tora hissed and swiped at her wrist.
Gai laughed heartily. "Mission success! Let us return Tora to his loving owner! And Tenten—your spirit knows no bounds!"
The walk back to the mansion was torture.
Civilians whispered and pointed. Some took discreet photos with seals. Tenten walked with one hand clamping the shredded qipao together, the other holding the squirming cat.
Neji walked beside her—close.
Without a word, he shrugged off his outer jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
It covered her from waist to knees.
She looked up at him, startled.
He didn't meet her eyes.
"…It was distracting."
His voice was low. Rougher than usual.
Lee bounded ahead, oblivious. Gai lectured the cat about the importance of family bonds.
Tenten clutched Neji's jacket tighter.
(He gave me his coat. Neji Hyuga gave me his coat. After seeing… everything.)
The system chimed triumphantly.
[Task 5: Completed! Bonus Achieved – Public plaza, 30+ witnesses, teammates present, extended duration.][Reward Granted: +25% permanent reflexes and agility][Bonus Reward Unlocked: 'Public Darling' passive – Civilian witnesses during exposure now have 20% higher chance of positive/awed reactions instead of mockery][Shamelessness Level: 8/100. Crowd pleaser in the making~]
They delivered Tora to the Daimyo's wife, who cooed over her "precious baby" while side-eyeing Tenten's state of dress. Gai accepted the payment with a dramatic bow. The team was dismissed for the day.
Outside the gates, Neji lingered again.
"Tenten."
She turned, still wrapped in his jacket.
"Thanks… for this."
He nodded once.
"Return it tomorrow. Cleaned."
A pause.
"And… be more careful with your equipment."
His gaze flicked down—brief, deliberate—then back up.
"Or don't."
He walked away before she could respond.
Lee waved enthusiastically. "See you at training tomorrow, Tenten! Your youthful chase was legendary!"
Gai gave her a thumbs-up and vanished in a swirl of leaves.
Tenten stood alone in the street, jacket warm around her, body buzzing from the new agility boost. Every muscle felt lighter, faster.
She tested it—small hop. She cleared twice the distance she expected.
(Okay. That reward is insane. I feel like I could run across rooftops without touching them.)
But underneath the physical high, something else stirred.
The memory of eyes on her—dozens, hundreds maybe.
The whistles. The applause.
The way Neji had looked.
She bit her lip.
(I hated it. Mostly. But… part of me didn't.)
The system whispered sweetly.
[Daily Wrap-Up: Mission success. Exposure quota shattered. Teammate flirtation progress: Neji 28%, Lee 15%.][Upcoming Task 6 Preview: Hot Springs Relaxation – Time to unwind… or heat things up.]
Tenten sighed and started the walk home, Neji's jacket still draped over her like a claim.
(Hot springs. With the team? Or alone? Either way… I'm doomed.)
And for the first time, the tiny voice in her head didn't sound quite so panicked.
It sounded… curious.