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For the next month, Hatake Squad's life was as regular as it had been during their school days.
After waking up in the morning, they would head to the Hokage Building under Sawara's lead to accept today's D-rank mission.
After completing it, they would learn various small tricks under his personal guidance that they would likely not learn anywhere else.
Although the title of 'Disciple of that Lord Sawara Kiri' sounded very impressive, to the three members of Hatake Squad, it seemed no different from their school days.
If there was any difference, it was probably the people they encountered during missions.
"Thank you so much!"
"If it weren't for you, this irrigation ditch definitely wouldn't be finished before spring plowing. By then, who knows how much the yield would drop!"
The simple-looking old Village chief thanked them kindly, the deep lines on his dark face squeezed into fine furrows by the joyous smile brought on by the approaching harvest.
He held a bamboo basket of fruit and eggs in his hands:
"These are small tokens of appreciation from the villagers; please, Ninja sirs, accept them!"
"To get an irrigation ditch completed so quickly at this price is a good thing we never even dared to imagine before."
"Please do not decline."
"This…"
The still-young Kakashi looked at the enthusiastic old Village chief in front of him, his expression under his mask a little uneasy.
He looked like he wanted to refuse but instinctively turned his head to look at his Sensei:
"Sawara-sensei, should we…?"
"Since it's the Village chief's kind intention, accept it with a grateful heart," Sawara Kiri said with a smile, then turned his head to look at the Village chief and the villagers watching from a distance behind him.
Upon hearing this, Kakashi somewhat awkwardly took the fruit basket, and the old Village chief on the other side bowed profusely in thanks again.
On the way back, Kakashi held the fruit basket in his arms, with a few scattered eggs tucked inside, and looked up to ask Sawara Kiri:
"Sensei, haven't they already paid the bounty?"
"Why are they still so polite?"
The young boy pondered for a long time before finding a relatively suitable adjective.
They had only just started taking on missions; for the first half-month, most of the time they were around the Village.
The commoners there were already used to Ninja, and even though they were Ninja, those people could easily and naturally chat and laugh, not taking their status to heart at all.
If they received missions like finding cats or dogs, it was even more troublesome; the clients were often wealthy families or nobles, and their attitude towards them, if not imperious, could be described as careless.
Obito was even severely scolded for accidentally injuring someone's dog.
However, in this wild Village far from Konoha, most villagers looked terrified.
Even though they had hired them to work, when they performed Ninjutsu, everyone hid far away, with only a few curious children peeking out to watch.
Kakashi didn't understand why there was such a difference.
"Because they are displaced people."
Sawara Kiri had been in this world for over twenty years, traveling far and wide countless times, and already had a sufficiently comprehensive understanding of this world: "Most of these ordinary people, not under the jurisdiction of nobles, are far from their hometowns due to reasons like taxes, disasters, wars, rampant wild beasts, etc.—however, the primary reason that truly causes them to leave their homes is actually Ninja."
His tone was a little helpless: "After all, being hired by nobles to collect taxes in various Villages is also part of a Ninja's mission."
"The Ninja those displaced people have seen are not as easy to talk to as you and I."
"Hmm, it's quite sweet."
Sawara Kiri said, taking out a frozen peach and taking a bite: "Obito, Rin, you two try it too."
After listening to his Sensei's words, Kakashi couldn't help but fall into thought.
This grown-up demeanor was what Lord Third used to often call the 'Hokage's way of thinking.'
Talented people are born into this world to change something.
As for a fool like Obito, he had no such worries at all.
Whether the client's attitude was good or bad, he didn't care at all.
Even if he was scolded a few times by a rich lady as round as a ball, he could forget that anger after a meal.
Compared to that, he was more concerned about something else.
"Crunch!"
Obito took a bite of the frozen peach, his cheeks puffed out, looking lazy: "Sawara-sensei! When can we finally take on high-level missions?"
"Every day, it's either helping people turn over soil and water plants or doing various chores for them; being a Ninja like this is too stifling!"
"Isn't there a mission where we can fight strong opponents from other Ninja Villages, kuku?"
As he spoke, he waved the frozen peach in his hand like a Kunai, making random gestures in the air.
"If not, even some missions delivering important letters would be good!"
Not just Obito, even Rin clasped her hands over her chest and pleaded softly, giving him a pitiful, deer-like gaze: "Sawara-sensei, my new manicure, it hasn't even been two days, and now it's all gone!"
Sawara Kiri's face immediately darkened upon hearing this: "What's so good about fighting and killing, all bloody and messy? You'll know how interesting farming is in a few years!"
Then, a string of incomprehensible words about war being a continuation of politics, scientific development being the hard truth, and great terror existing between life and death came from his mouth.
Obito and Rin, who were following him, chuckled softly, while Kakashi, who had come back to his senses, nodded blankly, as if he understood.
Sawara was good at everything, except that he was occasionally a bit lazy.
Obito always felt that he led them to do these chores that didn't require his own intervention simply because he didn't want to work.
Now he was even more certain.
Looking at their innocent expressions, Sawara Kiri couldn't help but sigh softly, saying helplessly:
"You really want to do high-level missions? People will die, you know."
"Please! Sawara-sensei!"
Obito immediately clasped his hands together with a 'snap'.
If all his skills were used for farming and tilling the land, it would be too much of a waste!
Rin Nohara, however, hesitated slightly when she heard 'people will die'.
This girl was naturally kind; if not for that, she wouldn't have started taking medical Ninjutsu as an elective in fourth grade.
However, as Ninja, they would eventually have to face this hurdle.
"Yes, Sawara-sensei!"
"We are ready!"
The girl's face showed a determined expression.
"It's good to change things up occasionally," Kakashi nodded slightly.
"Then it's perfect."
Sawara Kiri's slightly helpless expression suddenly changed, revealing a look of 'I knew this day would come,' and slowly took out a mission slip from his pocket, extending it in front of the three youngsters:
"I just happened to receive a mission today."
"Here."
Kakashi and the others were stunned upon hearing this and instinctively took the mission slip.
[Protect the Daimyo of Snow Country and his young daughter]
[Time Limit: 15 days]
[Mission Rank: A]
The three youngsters didn't react much when they saw the mission requirements.
Until their gaze gradually moved to the last line.
"Wait a minute?!"
"A-rank mission! Isn't this against the rules!" Kakashi suddenly looked up, astonished, "Only Chunin and above are supposed to take on this mission, right?"
Sawara Kiri smiled confidently: "Because your Sensei is invincible!"
"So it's fine."
"Eh?"
Kakashi drooped his dead fish eyes.
Although it was true, hearing it from Sawara himself somehow felt like he was setting a flag.
His Sensei was clearly strong, but occasionally he would have these eccentric moments.
At this moment, young Kakashi inexplicably felt a sense of disillusionment, like seeing his own father secretly applying hemorrhoid cream in the bathroom.
"Yay—!"
On the contrary, Obito, who had always looked forward to becoming a hero, instantly brightened when he saw the mission rank, wanting nothing more than to rush up and give his Sawara a big hug!
This was exactly what he wanted!
The chance to become famous at a young age was today!
Sawara Kiri clapped his hands: "Alright! In any case, today's training is canceled, go back and prepare your luggage, we leave tomorrow!"
"Yes!"
Early the next morning.
Uchiha Obito had been so excited the night before that he barely slept.
With two dark circles under his eyes and carrying the large schoolbag his grandmother sewed for him, he excitedly arrived at the agreed meeting point.
However, the meeting place was not the traditional Konoha main gate, but a Train Station on the south side of the new city.
Looking up, he saw the four large characters 'Konoha South Station' hanging above the building.
Even at this hour, the area around the Train Station was already quite crowded, with several food stalls a little further away hawking their wares along the street, their aromas enticing.
It was then that Obito remembered he hadn't eaten breakfast since rushing over early in the morning. He casually bought a few rice balls with meat sauce from a street vendor, stuffed them into a bag, and wandered around the Train Station while eating.
Although he was a local Konoha resident, this was his first time visiting this place since the Train Station was built.
Seeing the various buildings around him, different from the old streets in the Uchiha clan's territory, he inexplicably felt the same anticipation as when he went on spring outings with classmates as a child.
It wasn't until the warm rice ball in his hand was completely gone that he spotted Kakashi and Rin walking side by side in the distance, which made him grit his teeth again.
"Damn it! That Kakashi!"
"He's taking advantage of moving near Rin's house, so they're together every day for school!"
"This is clearly showing off!"
He just mumbled for a long time, then sighed and lowered his head.
After all, if it was Kakashi, he felt inexplicably better—if some unknown blond guy suddenly snatched Rin away, that would be truly heartbreaking!
Just as he was sighing mournfully, he felt a large hand gently land on his head:
"This is a hurdle that boys must go through before becoming men, Obito."
"Who?!"
Obito was startled by the voice and sharply turned his head.
Then, he saw Sawara Kiri looking empathetic, with a weathered expression, gazing into the distance at the two people opposite them with a sigh.
Seeing his expression, Obito actually felt a little comforted and hesitantly said, "Sawara-sensei, did the person you liked before also…?"
"Hmm."
Sawara Kiri nodded with great regret.
Uchiha Obito suddenly felt tears welling up.
So even an excellent man like Sawara had gone through something like this?
It really is a hurdle that a man must go through!
The young boy thought this, and courage seemed to swell in his heart again.
The next moment, he heard Sawara Kiri say faintly, "I, back then, was like Kakashi, getting entangled by my wife."
"It's truly maddening."
Obito: "…"
"Give me back my feelings!"
"You rotten old man!"
When Kakashi and Rin arrived at the meeting point, they saw Obito looking half-dead, sniffling and clinging to Sawara Kiri's arm, so angry he was almost crying.
Kakashi looked puzzled.
Before he could even ask, Sawara seemed to suddenly notice something and waved into the distance:
"Minato, over here!"
The white-haired boy turned his head and saw a golden-haired man with a sunny smile also spot them, raising his hand high in greeting.
Behind him, just like Sawara, he had three Genin.
The three little ones opposite them, the moment they saw them, their eyes immediately sharpened, looking fierce.
It was Mei Terumī's team, who had lost to them in the graduation exam.
However, Kakashi didn't pay any mind to their slight intimidation and turned to say, "Sawara, is this a joint mission then?"
"Of course."
"Minato's team is one of the biggest assurances in the entire Ninja World, you know."
Sawara Kiri put Obito down, looking as if it were only natural.
Indeed.
Kakashi nodded slightly in his heart.
This should be Lord Minato Namikaze, the one rumored to be proficient in Space Ninjutsu.
It seemed Sawara wasn't so overconfident as to take them, these three small burdens, to the battlefield.
The precocious Kakashi had a very clear self-awareness of their status as three Genin.
"Kiri! Did you eat this morning?"
"Kushina made me a bento, I can share some with you."
Minato Namikaze walked over with his students, a smile on his face, exuding the sweet, cloying scent of a couple in their honeymoon phase.
"I'm telling you, you're all 'Kushina, Kushina' first thing in the morning! We're still in front of the students, you know." Sawara Kiri was quite helpless about his old friend's personality.
This guy seemed to have completely immersed himself in a happy life as a couple ever since he realized there was no hope of becoming Hokage.
In the past two years, with Kushina being able to fully control the Nine-Tailed and no longer needing to live long-term in the sealing barrier, he became even more excessive. After the last mission, he didn't even go to the squad banquet, rushing home instead.
"You don't understand, Kushina is so clumsy. She practiced these few dishes for a long time to make them look like this."
"If it were anyone else, I wouldn't share it."
Minato smiled gently, looking so happy he was almost dead.
"Yes, yes!"
Hearing his words, Obito, cowering behind Sawara Kiri, got goosebumps and couldn't help but show a pitying expression, looking at Mei Terumī and the others who were following Minato Namikaze.
What a cringeworthy squad leader, thankfully he's not ours, otherwise it would be so embarrassing.
Mei Terumī, Zabuza, and the others, though dressed as capable Genin, all had standard dead-fish eyes when following Minato, ignoring even Obito's pitying gaze, clearly long accustomed to it.
"Mei, how have you all been doing lately?" Sawara Kiri replied, then turned to look at the little ones behind Minato.
"Lord Minato has been very caring, and his guidance on our tactics has been very effective. Thank you very much."
Mei Terumī spoke formally, while quickly winking at Sawara Kiri.
Please, Lord Kiri!
Please transfer us away from this love-struck idiot!!!
"Is that so? That's good then."
Sawara Kiri, however, maintained his smiling expression, completely ignoring her wink.
At the same time, Minato nodded slightly at him.
Clearly, he chose him to be the squad leader for these little ones precisely because of Minato's personality, right?
Naturally, Minato, as one of Konoha's very few high-ranking officials, was also aware of Mei Terumī and the others' situation.
Therefore, he was very attentive to both their daily lives and training.
With just a glance, Sawara Kiri understood that their integration into Konoha should be without issue.
Additionally, the political situation in Hidden Mist Village was changing even faster than he had imagined.
Soon, these 'hidden pieces' should be activated.
He hoped the upcoming plan would proceed smoothly.
Sawara Kiri thought to himself, his face returning to its usual relaxed smile, like a tour guide leading the way, as he grandly led the members of the two squads into the Train Station.
Obito wasn't the only one curious about this Train Station; the rapid changes in Konoha in recent years were so fast that even children, whose perceptions were constantly updating, couldn't quite keep up, and they all looked around with raised heads.
Most of the people coming and going inside the Train Station were merchants and nobles of various kinds. These people were mostly well-dressed, some even surrounded by attendants. The Konoha Ninja specifically responsible for escorting the trains stood quietly on both sides of the station, scanning the passing figures.
Upon seeing Sawara Kiri and Minato Namikaze, they would pause slightly, then respectfully nod in acknowledgment.
The train they had booked was quite punctual. After waiting a short while on the platform with their bags, they saw a trail of smoke and a long, "Wahhh-Wahhh-Wahhh" whistle as the train entered the platform.
After they entered their compartment, put down their bags, and waited a little longer, the scenery outside slowly began to change as the train pulled forward.
"Because it's still an early model, the current train speed is actually no different from us running to Snow Country ourselves."
Sawara Kiri sat on the bed, explaining to the curious little ones, "However, traveling on a train escorted by Ninja is much safer than roughing it, and there are no rogue Ninja or bandits blocking the way."
"But for military use, Ninja who can cross various obstacles directly on a map are still more convenient."
"But new models of trains will continue to be developed in the future, right?" Kakashi's mind was quite agile, and he grasped the key point with a single sentence.
"That's right."
Sawara Kiri smiled and nodded at him: "Future trains will get faster and faster, until we sit on the train for a while, and the train will directly cross from Konoha to the Land of Fire border at a speed that surpasses a Ninja's footwork."
Obito sat swaying by the window, watching the scenery constantly change and the tracks being left far behind, and suddenly said:
"But trains aren't very convenient, are they?"
"What if an enemy Ninja blows up the railway…"
Before he could finish his sentence, Sawara Kiri immediately covered his mouth.
Unfortunately, almost the instant his words fell.
"Boom—!"
From the direction of the engine, a dull explosion echoed in the distance.
Sawara Kiri lowered his head with a resentful expression:
"You're really cursed, Obito!"
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