"You want us to explore the Hidden Mist Village in the Land of Water?"Kakashi looked at the Third Hokage with clear confusion.
"But shouldn't our current enemy be the Land of Wind?"
"I've already assigned others to handle the Wind Country," Hiruzen replied.
As long as he could get in contact with Orochimaru, the former disciple might finally appreciate his mentor's painstaking efforts and return to the embrace of the Will of Fire.
Based on the records in the Future Notes, Sunagakure in the Land of Wind was already within their grasp and wouldn't require much effort. But the Land of Wind was only part of the bigger picture—Sarutobi Hiruzen had already begun studying the political situations in the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water.
"And once the war begins, it won't just be a matter between Konoha and Sunagakure," Hiruzen continued. "Other nations will be forced—or will volunteer—to join in. That's why I want you to make secret contact with Kirigakure. Ideally, find out their strengths and weaknesses. If possible, win them over to our side."
According to the Future Notes, the Hidden Mist Village was currently in a state of chaos, and the Fourth Mizukage was rumored to be under the control of an unknown individual through genjutsu.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, no different from the one in Sunagakure. If handled well, Kirigakure could be theirs as well.
Of course, all of this depended on whether the Future Notes was truly authentic. Otherwise, all these plans would become nothing more than a joke.
Still, recent intelligence from the Land of Wind showed that Sunagakure was secretly building up its strength and preparing for action. If Orochimaru confirmed this, then the Future Notes was real—and unifying the ninja world would no longer be a distant dream.
"I see. Hokage-sama is very thorough," Kakashi said, approving of Hiruzen's arrangement.
But when his eyes shifted to Uchiha Kage, standing next to him, his expression darkened.
"However, Lord Hokage, given Uchiha Kage's current strength, isn't it too risky for him to accompany me on an infiltration mission like this?"
Although many young ninja like Uchiha Kage had died in past wars, Kakashi still wanted to protect him. After all, aside from the rogue ninja outside the village, there were only two Uchiha left.
"Shadow, are you willing to accept this mission?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, feigning a thoughtful pause before turning to Uchiha Kage.
He had recently brought many young ninja into the Anbu—Uchiha Kage was no longer the most special recruit.
"Following Hokage-sama's orders," Kage replied without hesitation.
Asking a Genin to take on an obvious S-rank mission, pretending to hesitate so as to spark competitiveness—that was exactly Hiruzen's style.
Outwardly, Kage appeared eager. Inwardly, he was already planning his next move.
"Good to see such confidence," Hiruzen said. "I'll send Hayate and Xiyan to support you. The mission is primarily reconnaissance—try to avoid direct confrontation with Kirigakure ninja. Understood?"
"Yes!"
Kakashi gave Uchiha Kage a regretful look before silently taking the mission scroll from the Hokage.
"Kage! You guys are here for a mission from Hokage-sama too?"
The moment Uchiha Kage and Team 8 stepped into the Hokage's office, Naruto's loud voice rang out.
"Let me tell you—Team 7 just got a C-rank mission! Isn't that awesome?" Naruto grinned, his face marked with those unmistakable whisker-like lines.
"A C-rank mission?"
Kage glanced at Team 7, then at the drunken old man who had just left the Hokage's office.
So, they'd reached the Wave Country arc already?
"That's pretty good," Kage said mildly, hoping Naruto and Sasuke wouldn't be too badly beaten by Zabuza.
"By the way, Kage, about last night's mission…"
After boasting, Naruto's curiosity shifted to the dungeon mission from the night before. He had paid a high price—training in the chakra-draining Harem Technique and even experiencing what it felt like to be sealed in stone.
"Naruto!"
Sasuke's sharp tone cut him off, reminding him not to discuss last night in public.
Though Sasuke was also curious, he didn't want others to know what happened—especially since he had woken up to find his chakra reserves had nearly doubled.
That "dream" was now his most closely guarded secret. Would there be more "dream dungeons" in the nights ahead?
"That Sasuke guy said his chakra shot up after last night, but I didn't feel any change at all," Naruto whispered to Kage.
"Is that so?"
Kage scanned Sasuke's chakra—before, it had been about 0.5 units; now it was closer to 1.5.
As for Naruto, it was no surprise he couldn't sense subtle increases—he was hopeless when it came to chakra measurement.
It seemed that completing dungeon missions granted some permanent boost.
"But more importantly… what happened to that big sister from last night?" Naruto pressed, his curiosity clawing at him like a cat at a door.
"She's in a very safe place now," Kage replied, "and she won't have to worry about being sealed away by bad guys anymore."
Of course, this bad guy would be visiting her daily—but the true follow-up was far from child-appropriate.
"That's good! We'll get going, then!"
Satisfied, Naruto left with Kakashi and the rest of Team 7.
Sakura glanced at Naruto whispering to Kage, but her attention quickly shifted to Hinata, who was standing beside Kage with her face bright red.
Anyone could see Hinata's feelings for him—and since they were in the same Genin class…
If this continued, could Ino really stand a chance?
"Don't envy Kakashi's Team 7—we have a C-rank mission too," Kurenai said cheerfully after Team 7 left. She patted one of her students on the shoulder and pulled out the scroll she'd received from the Third Hokage.
"Searching for treasure buried in the ruins of the Land of Whirlpools?"
Enjoying the faint perfume of his sensei, Kage read aloud the mission details.
"Well? Isn't this more exciting than some escort job?" Kurenai asked with a playful wink.
"It's not bad," Kage agreed.
Both the Land of Waves and the Land of Whirlpools lay on the fringes of the Land of Water. Once these obvious missions were complete, they could immediately proceed to their true task—spying on the Hidden Mist Village.
From these assignments alone, Kage could see both Hiruzen's intentions and the village's current shortage of manpower.
But what Hiruzen probably didn't realize was that the C-rank mission given to Team 7 was, in reality, an A-rank mission involving a battle against a Jonin.
And if the original plot stayed intact, Kakashi would end up bedridden for at least a week after overusing his Sharingan.
Which meant that when the time came to infiltrate the Hidden Mist Village, Kakashi—the main powerhouse—might not be available.
If that happened…
This mission could turn into something very interesting.
Unless they abandoned it entirely, two Special Jonin and one Genin attempting an S-rank infiltration would have little hope—unless every Mist ninja turned out to be peace-loving and kind-hearted.
"I just hope I'm not the one doing all the heavy lifting again," Shino muttered from the rear, watching Kage walk ahead with Hinata shyly trailing him.
"Come on, Shino, don't fall behind. No slacking off," Kurenai called over her shoulder.
"No, Sensei—the one slacking is clearly…"
Shino's words trailed off as he saw her already ahead, chatting and laughing with Kage.
Great. Another day of being ignored.