For the current Konoha, Mizuki wasn't even worth considering a threat. If not for his nature that led him to target students at the Academy, Masashi wouldn't have even bothered dealing with him.
After a brief chat with Hiashi, the matter was settled in his eyes. A team of Hyūga ninjas would ensure Mizuki wouldn't be able to make a single move.
The next day, Masashi arrived at the designated meeting spot for the students.
Over the years, as Konoha implemented large-scale infrastructure projects, the western district was no longer as desolate as before.
Although the area's population was still primarily composed of farmers, many had begun growing cash crops, leading to the rise of small-scale processing industries. However, the forests in the region remained extensive.
Team 7's meeting point was located between the river to the south and the lake to the north. This spot was chosen because it used to house a secret base for the Root organization, which was later dismantled. After Root was disbanded, the base was left vacant and never reactivated by the ANBU. Eventually, the Police Force repurposed it as an outpost, stationing three squads there on a regular basis.
It was an ideal meeting point—easily recognizable thanks to the landmark.
Knowing Naruto and Sasuke's terrible eating habits, he had brought breakfast before heading out.
Sure enough, when he arrived at the outpost's cafeteria, the three kids were already there, mooching off the stationed ninjas' meals.
Technically, the outpost wasn't supposed to provide food to them. However, since many of the stationed Police Force members were from the Uchiha and Hyūga clans, they couldn't just let their own clan's children go hungry.
He walked over to their table and placed the breakfast he had brought in front of them.
"When you eat, chew slowly and thoroughly."
Honestly, while Sasuke and Naruto ate quickly, their speed was still slightly slower than the girl sitting next to them—Hinata.
The key difference was that despite eating the fastest, she was also the most graceful.
As expected of a child from a taijutsu-based clan.
After finishing their meal, Masashi exchanged a few words with the stationed ninjas before leading the three students out of the outpost and into the forest.
Ninjas had digestion abilities far superior to ordinary people. Academy graduates could usually engage in intense physical activity just ten minutes after eating.
If they had taken military ration pills instead, digestion wouldn't even be a concern.
After finding a relatively open area in the forest, he stopped and turned to face the trio.
"First, let me explain the old rules," he said. "You guys aren't actually considered full-fledged ninjas yet."
"Huh?" Naruto and Sasuke immediately voiced their shock.
"But we already passed the exam! We even got our headbands!"
Both of them wore their forehead protectors in the standard fashion, tied around their heads.
"That thing can be taken back, you know? Don't sweat the small stuff," Masashi replied. "The real graduation test is under my supervision. This will be a team evaluation. Oh, right..."
He reached into his pouch and pulled out a mission scroll, handing it to the three.
"This is your mission. Open it and take a look."
The moment they heard the word "mission," Sasuke and Naruto's eyes lit up. Excitedly, they flopped onto the ground and unrolled the scroll.
Their eager posture made Hinata feel a little embarrassed.
A moment later, both of them raised their heads.
"We accept this mission!" they announced enthusiastically.
They sounded as if they had stumbled upon a grand injustice and were about to serve justice themselves.
As if you had a choice. Masashi rolled his eyes. "Alright, tell me—what does a bodyguard do?"
"Stay by their side, eat with them, sleep near them, and punch anyone who gets close!" Naruto declared confidently.
Masashi gave him a look that seemed to say, This kid is going places.
"Did you even read the mission details? The client is a girl, the same age as you. Are you really planning to sleep next to her?"
"Ah?" Naruto looked genuinely disappointed. It was a girl.
Although he didn't fully understand the complexities of gender interactions yet, he at least knew that boys and girls weren't supposed to sleep together, unless they were married.
"Then…" He entered deep-thinking mode.
"I have an idea." Sasuke clapped his hands. "I can summon a larger snake now. I'll have Kuro keep her company at night."
"…" Deciding to change his approach, Masashi turned to the quietest member of the group.
"Hinata, what do you think? … Sasuke, move over. You're covering the scroll, let her see."
Realizing that his suggestion had been indirectly dismissed, Sasuke begrudgingly moved aside.
Hinata stared at the scroll for a while before she looked up.
"For a standard escort mission, we should position ourselves in a triangular formation around the client. S-Sasuke-kun would take point since his Sharingan can spot ambushes, I could use Byakugan for rear and peripheral surveillance, and N-Naruto-kun..." She glanced at the blond boy. "He would be ideal for rapid response to any threat."
She paused, seeming to gather more confidence. "We should also establish coded signals and maintain visual contact at all times."
"Good, very good," Masashi praised.
Did her answer offer any real strategy? Not really. When he used to do these missions, his philosophy was simple—eliminate threats proactively.
Once he became a jonin, he'd simply activate a barrier and place a Flying Thunder God mark on the client. That was more effective than any traditional escort method.
The real reason for this discussion was to remind Naruto and Sasuke that Hinata was also a capable kunoichi, not just an afterthought.
After retrieving the mission scroll, he announced their departure.
He led the three of them through the forest, exiting the village via the western gate.
Their destination: the Land of Rivers.
Currently, a large portion of Konoha's bodyguard missions came from this country.
Previously, the Land of Rivers had been overrun with missing-nin and wandering ninjas. But after Konoha and Suna teamed up to wipe them out, even the underground bounty exchange shut down.
As a result, the nobles of the Land of Rivers had no choice but to hire ninjas from Suna, Ame, or Konoha for protection.
And since Konoha was the strongest of the three, it received the highest number of commissions.
When clients submitted mission requests to a ninja village, they didn't determine the mission's rank themselves—the village did.
Non-combat missions, classified as C or D rank, had clear guidelines, so the administrative office could assign their rank immediately.
If there was a risk of injury but no direct combat, the task was classified as C-rank. In the original timeline, Team 7's mission in the Land of Waves was initially categorized as C-rank because the client had concealed the presence of enemy ninjas.
Most bodyguard missions in the Land of Rivers fell under the C-rank category.
If combat was required but the enemy had no ninjas, it was perfect for Team 7's current skill level.
Their journey to the Land of Rivers was smooth—no ambushes from enemies hiding in puddles this time.
Still, Masashi insisted they follow proper reconnaissance protocols.
Hinata's Byakugan and Sasuke's summoning technique complemented each other well.
Naruto struggled a bit in this regard, but he had his own strengths. His speed and stamina in using the Body Flicker Technique were superior to Sasuke's, making him the team's designated scout.
Minato had personally taught Naruto the Body Flicker, and it suited his hyperactive nature perfectly.
Though in Masashi's eyes, neither Naruto nor Sasuke had fully mastered it yet.
For example, they still lacked control over the technique's momentum and could only move in straight lines.
As they entered the Land of Rivers and approached the client's town, Masashi became slightly more vigilant.
After all, the country was even more complicated now than before.
The towns and landscapes of the Land of Rivers were generally similar to those of the Land of Fire.
Its terrain consisted of alternating lowlands and hills, with a humid climate, numerous rivers, and fertile soil, making it ideal for growing high-quality crops. Due to the abundance of waterways, residents often built their homes along the rivers and live close to the water.
Among the small nations surrounding the Land of Fire, the Land of Rivers had the best agricultural conditions.
However, despite these advantages, it never developed into a powerful ninja nation. Suna and Konoha were both dominant forces, with the smaller yet formidable Ame on its northwest border. Unlike the Land of Rain, the Land of Rivers was never caught between multiple great nations at the same time, so it lacked the conditions to foster a strong ninja organization from the start.
The mission Masashi accepted was commissioned by a minor noble from the Land of Rivers.
He wasn't of daimyō status but was still quite wealthy.
Upon arriving at this noble's domain, he was warmly welcomed by the man's servants and led into his residence, where he met the client.
The three young members of Team 7 took their first official mission as ninjas very seriously. Even the usually mischievous Naruto and Sasuke were putting on a disciplined front, while the shy Hinata straightened her posture and tried to exude confidence.
Since childhood, they had heard countless times that they represented both Konoha and their clans.
That said, they didn't fully grasp the significance of this responsibility.
For Naruto and Sasuke, their focus was more on the prospect of stir-fried bamboo shoots with meat.
Meanwhile, Hinata simply followed orders. If an adult told her to do something, she did it without question.
The noble, who bore the surname Daigo, was overjoyed to have a renowned ninja like Masashi take on his mission.
But when he saw the three young genin Masashi had brought along, his joy turned to sheer panic.
In the shinobi world, nobles who held actual land grants tended to be somewhat knowledgeable. They understood the level of ninja they could realistically afford to hire.
The son of the Hokage's right-hand man, the heir of the prestigious Uchiha clan, and the princess of the Hyūga clan—all coming to serve as his bodyguards?
That didn't add up.
And to top it off, their squad leader was Masashi himself?
At this point, Daigo started wondering if he had unknowingly gotten himself caught in some dangerous conspiracy.
After all, the Land of Rivers had just been ravaged a few years ago, and the memories were still fresh.
Masashi could read his thoughts from the man's expression.
"Daigo-sama, you're overthinking it," he said. "They're just fresh graduates from the Academy. Getting to accept your commission was simply their good luck."
"N-No, of course! It's my honor," Daigo responded with a nervous laugh.
The idea of hosting the heirs of the Uzumaki, Uchiha, and Hyūga clans as mere bodyguards felt like having a ticking time bomb in his estate.
Otherwise, why would a figure as powerful as Masashi personally be a jonin instructor?
"Masashi-sama, please be honest with me. There's really no hidden agenda here?"
"Rest assured, there's nothing to worry about. This is a normal business transaction—your commission, our acceptance. Protecting our clients is Konoha's creed. You're overthinking things."
"My deepest apologies. I should never have doubted you."
Konoha's reputation as a trusted village carried serious weight. Upon hearing Masashi's reassurances, Daigo felt a sudden surge of trust and even guilt for his earlier skepticism.
He gestured for his butler, who promptly presented several ornate gift boxes.
"Please accept these as a token of my apology. I will also increase the mission payment."
"We appreciate your generosity, but Konoha's mission fees are determined by strict standards. Unless the mission scope changes, additional payments are not allowed. Also, we are prohibited from accepting personal gifts. Even though this sum may be trivial for you, as Konoha ninjas, we must adhere to our village's regulations—violating them carries heavy consequences."
After some back-and-forth, Daigo ultimately failed to convince Masashi to accept his gifts.
Impressed by the Konoha ninjas' professionalism, he finally began explaining the reason behind his commission.
The situation wasn't overly complicated—essentially, the Land of Rivers had become more unstable in recent years due to the reshuffling of its landscape.
Previously, the country relied on various local ninja groups and the underground bounty network to handle security issues. Although it seemed chaotic, the system was surprisingly stable because all parties knew each other well.
Now, those familiar groups had been completely wiped out. Suna, Konoha, Ame, and even Kusa ninjas had begun operating within the Land of Rivers. On top of that, missing-nin from other nations had also entered the fray, creating an increasingly volatile situation.
Small lords like Daigo suffered the most in such conditions.
All sorts of troublemakers saw them as easy targets.
Generally, noble lords hired ninjas to protect either their land's productivity or their own families. However, due to financial limitations, most prioritized personal safety.
"I see," Masashi nodded. "Can you confirm that there have been no ninja attacks on your territory so far?"
"Yes, for now. If that changes, I will immediately pay Konoha for additional security."
"Understood. You don't have to worry—we won't abandon the mission over uncertainties. These young genin may be inexperienced, but they're already quite capable. Even if the mission escalates to B-rank, we can continue handling it. The village won't replace the team."
"That's wonderful news!" Daigo was overjoyed.
Changes in mission ranks were not only inconvenient for ninja villages but also a headache for clients. If a mission required swapping out the assigned team, it could be disastrous.
Masashi now understood why the mission center had assigned this job to him. Daigo had likely indicated this possibility from the start, leaving room for a potential rank increase.
Given Masashi's own strength and the potential of his three young charges, they could seamlessly handle an upgrade if necessary.
"Now then, please allow us to meet the rest of your family so I can organize our security plan," Masashi said.
"Of course, this way."
Calling over his students, Masashi followed Daigo deeper into the estate.
---
Meanwhile, somewhere within the Land of Rivers, a shadowy figure emerged from the ground.
That idiot really doesn't know how to pick locations.
Black Zetsu surveyed the land, concluding that this would be an excellent spot for a secondary base.
Compared to the former base in the Land of Grass, this was a low-risk area. It had access to the ocean, abundant water sources, thick soil, and dense forests—ideal conditions for growing White Zetsu.
In contrast, the Land of Iron's region was a nightmare. The war between Iwa and Kumo had been dragging on for far too long, forcing Black Zetsu to spend the past two years digging underground tunnels instead of growing White Zetsu.
The sheer waste of time left it seething with resentment.
He was fine if they didn't treat him like a person. He was even fine being a tool. But couldn't they at least stop slowing him down just when things were looking up?
It had been a mistake to trust Obito's judgment and set up their main base there.
If only Masashi were on his side—he would never have made such a rookie mistake.
Although Masashi wasn't an ally, the way he had strengthened Konoha meant the Land of Rivers would be relatively stable.
Unlike the Land of Grass, which had been a battlefield for various major nations, this country saw fewer wars. Only Suna and Konoha had any real interest here, with no third-party village interfering.
Even if fighting broke out, he wouldn't drag on for years like in Iwa and Kumo's case.
Though there were still bandits here and there, they were mere civilians—easily handled by White Zetsu.
All Black Zetsu wanted was to quietly cultivate White Zetsu while waiting for Obito to fulfill Madara's plan.
Sinking back into the earth, he moved further south.
His new base had to be as close to the sea as possible.
From his research, there was a minor lord named Daigo whose domain was right by the coast—a secluded, agricultural noble with no interest in politics.
A perfect match.
---
---
Currently 80 advance chapters!
p@treon.com/Malphegor