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"You want us to investigate Kirigakure in the Land of Water?"
Kakashi looked at the Third Hokage with confusion.
"But isn't the Land of Wind our current enemy?"
"I've arranged others to deal with the Wind side."
As long as he could reach Orochimaru and make that former student remember his teacher's efforts, maybe he could bring him back to the Will of Fire.
And with the information recorded in the 'Future Notebook,' Sunagakure was already in the bag. No need to worry too much.
The Land of Wind? Hiruzen Sarutobi had already moved on to researching the Lands of Lightning and Water.
"Once war breaks out, it won't just be between Konoha and Sunagakure. Other nations will either be forced or choose to join in. That's why I want you to secretly approach Kirigakure. Find out their current state — and if possible, win them to our side."
According to the notebook, Kirigakure was currently in chaos. The Fourth Mizukage had supposedly been placed under a genjutsu by some mysterious figure.
An opportunity like that was just as rare as the one with Sunagakure.
Handled correctly, Kirigakure could fall into their hands too.
Of course, all of this hinged on whether the "Future Notebook" really showed the future.
If it didn't, then every plan he'd laid would be nothing but a joke.
Still, recent intel from the Land of Wind showed signs that Sunagakure was building up its power in secret.
If Orochimaru could confirm that, it'd mean the notebook was real. And then, unifying the Shinobi World wouldn't be a fantasy anymore.
"I see... Hokage-sama, your foresight is impressive."
Kakashi acknowledged Hiruzen's plan.
But when he glanced at the boy beside him — Uchiha Ying — he frowned again.
"But Hokage-sama, sending Uchiha Ying on this infiltration mission with me... isn't that too dangerous for his current level?"
During the last war, plenty of kids like Ying had died — but still, Kakashi felt the need to speak up.
After all, with one rogue and one loyalist, the Uchiha clan only had two members left.
"Ying, are you willing to take this mission?"
Hiruzen pretended to hesitate for a moment before turning to the boy standing behind Kakashi.
He had recently recruited many young ninjas into the ANBU. Ying wasn't the most special among them anymore.
"I follow Hokage-sama's orders."
Sending a genin to handle what was clearly an S-rank mission — and doing it in a way that played on pride and pressure — truly classic Sarutobi Hiruzen.
While mentally cursing this "8 AM class-style homework," Ying wore the expression of hot-blooded loyalty on his face.
"Good. I'll send Hayate and Yugao to assist you. Focus on recon — avoid direct combat with Kirigakure's ninjas. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
Kakashi gave Ying a slightly regretful glance, then silently accepted the mission scroll from Hiruzen.
——
——
"Ying! You guys here to get a mission too?"
Back in the present, Ying and the rest of Team 8 had just stepped into the Hokage's office when Naruto's loud voice echoed across the room.
"Guess what? Our Team 7 just got a C-rank mission! Awesome, right?"
He beamed, his trademark six-whisker smile on full display.
"A C-rank?"
Ying glanced at Team 7, then looked at the drunken old man who had just exited the office.
So... this was the start of the Land of Waves arc?
"That's pretty impressive."
Hopefully Naruto and Sasuke wouldn't get too wrecked by Zabuza.
"Hey, Ying, about last night's mission..."
After proudly showing off his C-rank assignment, Naruto leaned in curiously.
He had paid a hefty price last night — not just chakra from his Sexy Jutsu, but also the trauma of being sealed inside a stone.
"Naruto!"
Sasuke immediately cut him off, reminding him not to blab in front of everyone.
He was also curious about what happened after, but he definitely didn't want others knowing what went down last night.
Especially now that he'd discovered his chakra reserves had almost tripled overnight.
Sasuke had already decided — that dream last night was his greatest secret.
He just wondered... would there be more of these "dream dungeons" in the future?
"Sasuke said his chakra increased a ton after last night, but I didn't feel anything..."
Naruto quickly lowered his voice and whispered in Ying's ear.
"Really?"
Ying briefly scanned Sasuke's chakra — he used to have about 0.5 cards, now it was nearly 1.5.
As for Naruto, with his freakish base values, it made sense he wouldn't notice a small jump like that.
So completing missions in the dream realm *did* offer tangible rewards.
"But never mind that! What happened to that big-sis from last night?!"
After all that effort, Naruto was dying of curiosity about the "ending."
"She went somewhere very safe. She won't have to worry about being sealed by 'bad guys' anymore."
Though from now on, she *would* be locked away by one particular bad guy — him.
And as for what really happened afterward... definitely not something for kids' ears.
"Oh, good! Let's go!"
With his curiosity satisfied, Naruto left with Kakashi and the others.
Sakura was a bit curious what Naruto had whispered to Ying, but her gaze quickly shifted — to the ever-blushing Hinata standing beside Ying.
Anyone with eyes could see how Hinata felt about him.
And being on the same genin team...
Could Ino really win this one?
——
"No need to envy Kakashi's Team 7. We've got a C-rank mission too."
After Team 7 left, Kurenai patted her students' shoulders and pulled out a scroll she'd received from the Hokage.
"Searching for treasure in the ruins of Uzushiogakure?"
Ying read the text aloud while enjoying the faint scent of his lovely teacher.
"Mhm! Fun, right? Way more exciting than boring escort jobs, don't you think?"
Kurenai winked proudly at her students.
"Yeah, it's pretty good."
Land of Waves. Uzushiogakure. Both were near the Land of Water.
Once they finished this "surface" mission, they could immediately move on to the recon mission in Kirigakure.
From these two missions, Ying could tell how carefully Hiruzen had planned things — and just how understaffed the village currently was.
Though what even Hiruzen didn't know was this:
Team 7's so-called C-rank mission? Was actually an A-rank one involving a jōnin-level enemy.
If the original plot didn't change, Kakashi would end up bedridden for at least a week due to Sharingan overuse.
Which meant...
He might not even make it to the Kirigakure recon.
In that case...
This whole operation just got interesting.
Unless they canceled it, two special jōnin and one genin attempting an S-rank infiltration? Ying figured their best chance was if every single Kirigakure ninja just happened to be a pacifist saint.
"Please don't make me do all the grunt work again this time..."
At the rear of Team 8, Shino Aburame sighed as he watched Ying walk ahead, followed closely by a bashful Hinata.
"Chin up, Shino! No slacking! You're always falling behind!"
"No, Sensei,
the one slacking is clearly..."
Shino had barely started to protest before Kurenai was already far ahead, chatting and laughing with Ying.
Damn it.
Another day of being ignored…
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