Chapter 44 – First Day on the Mission
Back at home, Taichi carefully reviewed the mission details in his mind.
Mission: Supply Escort
Client: Ishihara Masao of the Ishihara family, Land of Rivers
Details: Escort 1,000 tons of rice purchased in the Land of Fire safely to Kanematsu City in the Land of Rivers. Traveling with the cargo are 60 wagon drivers and 45 guards.
Rank: C-rank
Requirements: Assemble at Konoha's gate, May 23rd, Year 44, 8 a.m. Deliver the goods safely within 9 days.
Reward: 50,000 ryō
From the mission description, Taichi judged that although the cargo was vast in quantity, it wasn't particularly valuable. Logically, it shouldn't attract enemies capable of sparking major battles. Even so, he prepared his gear according to standard mission requirements—and doubled his rations just in case of unforeseen trouble.
Laid out neatly on the table were his supplies: six kunai, twenty shuriken, a coil of wire, five explosive tags, a vial of wound medicine, one bottle of antidote pills, three rolls of bandages, and a bottle of soldier pills.
Still uneasy—it was, after all, his first mission outside the village—Taichi prepared an identical second set of equipment. He sealed both into a storage scroll, along with a change of clothes.
These days, he had enough money to stock up on ninja tools and scrolls, and that financial cushion gave him a sense of calm.
Once everything was packed into his pouch in just the right places for quick access, Taichi finally considered his preparations complete.
By the time he finished, it was already noon. He cooked himself a simple lunch, ate quickly, then headed out for training.
There were no tasks scheduled that afternoon, so he planned to train, rest early, and keep his stamina and chakra reserves at their peak. Even if this was "just" a C-rank escort, it was still a mission outside the village that would take several days—he needed to be in top form.
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Konoha Gates – 7:45 a.m. the next morning
Despite the early hour, the great gates of Konoha bustled with traffic. The most eye-catching sight, however, was the massive caravan assembled just outside.
More than fifty horse-drawn wagons lined the roadside in a long, imposing column. Roughly counting, there were already over forty guards flanking the convoy.
It was obvious that a single genin squad couldn't possibly oversee every angle of such a massive formation. Their role here would be more deterrence than full defense.
"Taichi! Over here!"
He turned to see Yōhei and Saori waving him over. As he drew closer, he noticed their tired faces.
"What happened? Don't tell me you two didn't sleep last night?" Taichi asked.
"Don't even mention it," Yōhei groaned. "I was too excited. Didn't fall asleep until nearly dawn."
"I was the same…" Saori admitted sheepishly.
Taichi chuckled. "You'll get used to it. After a few more missions like this, it won't be a problem."
"All present," came the calm voice of Captain Yamaguchi, who had appeared silently at their side. "Let's go meet our client."
They handed over their mission and travel permits to the gate guards for inspection. Only once the paperwork was cleared did they step outside Konoha's walls.
"Remember this," Yamaguchi told them as they walked. "Anytime a shinobi leaves the village, it must be formally reported. If it's for a mission, both mission and travel documents are required. Unauthorized departure can be treated as defection—punishable as becoming a rogue ninja."
They soon reached the caravan, where three figures approached them: a stern-looking middle-aged man, a graceful woman, and a boy of about five holding her hand.
The man introduced himself as Ishihara Masao—their client.
Captain Yamaguchi frowned slightly. "And these two? They weren't listed in the mission request."
The client shifted uneasily. "My wife and son. They're only coming along to broaden their horizons. It shouldn't be an issue… right?"
"You should have stated that in advance. We would have made additional preparations." Yamaguchi's voice was firm.
"My apologies. I'll be more careful next time," Masao said sincerely.
Yamaguchi gave a short nod, then checked the time. "Very well. I'll have my squad inspect the caravan, and then we'll be ready to depart."
"Much obliged, Captain," Masao replied respectfully.
Together, Yamaguchi and his team walked the length of the caravan, observing every driver and guard. Along the way, the captain shared his insights.
"Before an escort mission begins, familiarize yourselves with everyone involved. That way, if an enemy infiltrates using Transformation Jutsu, you'll have a better chance of spotting it."
The three young genin listened intently. To them, these were not just instructions—they were survival lessons from a veteran jōnin.
Once the inspection was complete, the caravan finally set off. Stretched out across the road, it was so long that the front and rear were no longer visible from a single vantage point.
"Taichi, Yōhei," Yamaguchi ordered. "One of you takes the front, the other the rear. Stay a hundred meters apart to guard the convoy. Saori and I will remain in the middle to provide support."
"Yes, sir!" Taichi and Yōhei answered crisply, immediately moving to their assigned positions.
Taichi sat atop one of the carriages at the head of the convoy, gazing off into the distance. Behind him, the gates of Konoha gradually shrank from view, while the trees along the road grew denser and thicker with every mile.
This was his first time leaving the village, and everything filled him with curiosity.
Still, Taichi never forgot his duty. He kept his sensory perception spread wide, remaining alert to every fluctuation in his surroundings.
But as the hours passed, the monotonous scenery began to dull his thoughts. No matter how interesting something seemed at first, if you stared at it too long, it eventually lost its charm. Especially when one had to stay on edge the entire time.
I wonder how Yōhei is doing back there… He must be bored out of his mind all alone, Taichi thought.
What he didn't know was that Yōhei was actually having the time of his life, laughing and joking with the guards and drivers at the rear of the convoy. Taichi was simply too far away to hear any of it.
By the time afternoon came, Taichi could no longer endure the tedium. He formed the hand seal and created a Shadow Clone, finally freeing himself from the endless grind of vigilance. Ignoring the clone's resentful glare, he focused on training his chakra nature transformation instead.
A tiny whirlwind spun in his palm—sometimes steady, sometimes violent—drawing awed exclamations from nearby guards. So this is what a shinobi can do… they murmured, eyes wide with wonder.
That evening, the caravan set up camp. The carriages were drawn into a large circle to protect everyone inside.
Around the bonfire, Yōhei animatedly retold the amusing gossip he had picked up from the guards earlier. Only then did Taichi realize he had been the only fool keeping a stiff watch in silence.
Captain Yamaguchi and Saori listened with interest, smiling faintly at Yōhei's stories. When he finally finished, Taichi spoke up:
"Captain, is this how the journey will be the whole way?" His tone carried the implication—isn't this a little too easy, too dull?
"For now, yes," Yamaguchi replied. "We're still within the borders of the Land of Fire. Things won't get rough here. But once we enter the Land of Rivers, you'd better stay sharp. That country isn't nearly as stable—bandits are a constant threat."
Taichi nodded thoughtfully. So the real danger lies in the second half of the mission…
Just then, Ishihara Masao approached with his wife and young son. "Captain Yamaguchi, thank you for your escort. Since tonight is our first camp, things should be relatively safe. Everyone can relax a bit." He gestured toward the other side of the fire, where guards and drivers were singing and dancing.
Yōhei's heart itched at the sight. He glanced at the captain—seeing no objection, he eagerly joined in the merriment.
Meanwhile, Lady Ishihara led her son to sit beside Saori, chatting with her in a low voice.
Taichi exchanged a look with Yamaguchi. "Captain, I'll take first watch. You can relieve me later."
Receiving a nod, Taichi moved to the perimeter of the encampment, circling the carriages with careful steps.
The night sky of the shinobi world was breathtaking, free from any trace of pollution. A sea of stars twinkled above, and a brilliant full moon hung high and bright. Who would have thought that colossal heavenly body was artificial—a creation of mankind—and that sealed within it was the progenitor of chakra herself, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
The camp remained lively for another hour before gradually quieting. Tomorrow's journey awaited, and people drifted off to rest. Guards took their posts for the night watch.
Nothing happened through the night. At dawn, Yōhei came to relieve Taichi, and only then did he finally retreat to his tent for sleep.