"Heh. Since you're coming for me, big brother complex… I'll take you on."
Kaede said it lightly.
But he wasn't stupid.
Uchiha Setsuna was dangerous.
Right now, Kaede's combat level hovered around special jōnin. Strong, but not yet true jōnin-class.
His chakra reserves were another problem.
One or two high-output techniques were fine.
A prolonged battle?
He'd hit empty fast.
The fastest way to increase chakra capacity was through the Peaceful Life System's shop.
But that required Calm Points.
And Kaede did not yet have a stable way to farm them.
Burning resources carelessly now could mean not having enough later.
Especially for a certain future catastrophe.
"So annoying… why do so many Uchiha enjoy picking fights?"
Kaede finally understood why the Second Hokage had always treated the Uchiha Clan with caution.
Still, it wasn't fair to paint everyone the same.
Uchiha Kei was fine.
Uchiha Shiori too.
Thinking any further just gave him a headache.
So Kaede did what he did best.
He went to sleep.
Worst case, I can crash at my master's place.
He doubted Uchiha Setsuna would be insane enough to attempt an assassination inside Senju territory.
Kaede hit the bed and was out instantly.
The next morning.
Sunlight. Fresh air. No assassination attempts.
A good start.
Kaede and Shiori walked through the streets side by side.
Kaede stretched.
"Looks like today's lucky. The First Hokage is busy. We got dismissed early."
Shiori pouted.
"I wanted more training. How am I supposed to beat you like this?"
"You don't have to beat me," Kaede said lazily. "You're already doing fine."
She shook her head.
"My brother has some influence in the clan, but it's nothing compared to those old hardliners. I want to grow up faster and help him."
Kaede stopped walking.
Looked at her seriously.
"Shiori, you're six."
She blinked.
"Do what kids your age are supposed to do. Train. Learn. Grow. That's it."
"Do you think your brother was commanding clan members at six?"
"…No."
"Exactly. As long as you're improving, that's enough."
Shiori felt a little better.
Still worried.
But better.
"At least your brother's also Master Tobirama's disciple," Kaede added. "That's a pretty solid safety net."
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
"…Okay."
Her mood bounced back quickly.
"So what now?"
Kaede thought for a moment.
"Let's go see what your brothers are up to."
"Sure. They're probably taking a mission."
They headed toward the mission assignment hall.
The closer they got, the busier it became.
Mostly adults.
The youngest were around fifteen or sixteen.
Two kids standing there naturally drew stares.
A few people even asked if they were lost.
Kaede politely explained they were looking for someone.
Some recognized him as the Hokage's disciple.
No one cared much.
Which Kaede appreciated.
Celebrity status sounded exhausting.
"Kaede, look! It's my brothers!"
Shiori pointed.
Kaede spotted Uchiha Kei and a familiar group.
"Let's go."
"I'm telling you, Uncle, don't you have anything harder?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen complained loudly at the mission desk.
The middle-aged clerk didn't even look up.
"With your qualifications, this is already the hardest mission you're allowed to take."
Hiruzen rolled up his sleeves.
"Oh yeah? Wanna see what I can do?"
Before he could embarrass himself, Shimura Danzo grabbed his collar.
"Senior," Danzo said calmly, "we are Master Tobirama's disciples. Our teacher instructed us to take a more difficult mission as a test. This is his letter."
He handed over a folded note.
The clerk opened it.
Read it.
Sighed.
"Well then…"
His finger landed on a scroll marked with a large A.
"This one."
Hiruzen's eyes lit up.
He snatched the scroll.
"…Clear bandits?"
He blinked.
"That's A-rank?"
Even Uchiha Kei looked puzzled.
Bandits were normally C-rank training missions.
Good for rookies.
Good for learning what killing felt like.
But A-rank?
Hiruzen looked back at the clerk.
"You didn't slap the wrong label on this, did you?"
The clerk finally met his eyes.
"Kid. You think Master Tobirama takes jokes seriously?"
Hiruzen bristled.
Danzo stepped in again before things escalated.
Uchiha Kei took the scroll.
Read the details carefully.
His expression changed.
"…I see."
Kaede, standing behind them, narrowed his eyes.
Bandits.
But A-rank.
Which meant—
These weren't normal bandits.