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Here, the standards for judging a ninja's rank and the standards for judging the difficulty of a mission are not always the same. For example, Orochimaru is a legendary Sannin — undeniably powerful — yet his strength is still considered slightly inferior to some Kage-level combatants. Even so, if someone issued a bounty on Orochimaru's head, that mission would undoubtedly be ranked as Super-S-class, not some low-level "Zone-class" assignment.
This distinction can be seen in Hatake Kakashi's own record in the original manga. Kakashi has completed numerous S-class missions — not all of which necessarily depended on pure strength — but even so, if capturing someone of Orochimaru's caliber were ranked only as a normal S-class mission, then Kakashi would likely not have survived long enough to make his name.
"Hmm… the shinobi world already has such a formidable figure," the Third Hokage muttered, exhaling smoke from his pipe, his expression heavy and complicated.
When it came to talent, Konoha never lacked for geniuses. Known as the 'cradle of prodigies,' the village constantly produced exceptional shinobi. Yet, time and again, it failed to hold onto them — geniuses became missing-nin, and brilliant leaves were lost in the wind…
"Knock, knock."
"Come in," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable authority.
The door opened, and in stepped a tall young man in a white flak vest, silver-white hair catching the light. His face was hidden behind an ANBU mask, the right eye exposed, the left eye covered by the mask's design. Anyone who knew him well would instantly recognize the presence he carried — it was Hatake Kakashi, still serving in the ANBU at this point in time.
"What is it, Hokage-sama?" Kakashi asked, his visible eye cold and distant, an air of killing intent lingering around him.
"Kakashi, I have a mission I'd like you to handle." Hiruzen slid a folder across his desk, watching Kakashi carefully.
As the Third Hokage handed over the documents, he sighed inwardly. It was obvious to him that Kakashi's mental state had grown darker over time, but there was no simple way to address it.
"Peacock King?" Kakashi's gaze sharpened. An excellent shinobi knew not to bring personal feelings into a mission — something Kakashi struggled with on occasion — but his focus was nonetheless razor-sharp.
Hiruzen nodded. "In the ANBU, you must have heard of the one called 'Peacock King' — real name, Chen Xing. His recent activities have caused quite a stir. One after another, well-known names have become his prey."
"What exactly do you want me to do? Investigate him… or assassinate him?" Kakashi asked bluntly.
Although Kakashi was already at elite jōnin level (not counting the Mangekyō Sharingan he would later awaken), assassination missions were not contests of brute strength. They required precision, stealth, and efficiency — the ability to kill a target with a single strike, using poison, traps, or sheer speed.
"Investigate first," Hiruzen said after a pause. "Avoid direct confrontation if possible."
"And what about Naruto?" Kakashi asked suddenly. He had recently been assigned to covertly watch over and protect Naruto, preventing any attempts by Danzō to bring the boy into Root, while also monitoring the seal on the Nine-Tails.
"I'll have Yūhi Kurenai take over for now," the Hokage replied after a moment's thought.
Kakashi nodded. "Understood. I'll make preparations and move out soon."
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One month later…
The major hidden villages had all received intelligence reports about Chen Xing. It was now clear that he was no longer a nameless figure, and his growing reputation had attracted the close attention of powerful factions.
A shinobi of his caliber — especially one so young — was rare. If left unchecked, there was no guarantee he wouldn't one day grow into Kage-level strength, altering the balance of power in the shinobi world.
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[Raytheon Sword]
The Land of Tea, bordering the Land of Fire, was much larger than the Land of Bears.
Known for its abundant tea production, it was a medium-sized country with decent economic strength compared to most small nations. Although it lacked a hidden village, it did have small shinobi clans scattered throughout its territory. Its geographic position was fortunate — unlike the Land of Rivers or the Land of Grass, it wasn't often used as a battlefield between great nations.
Half the country was farmland, its people living simple but content lives. Though not wealthy, their smiles revealed a quiet prosperity.
Chen Xing had come here after noticing a particular target in the updated A-rank bounty list:
"Guren Kanda — Missing-nin, formerly of Konoha. Bounty: 1.8 million ryō. Last sighted in the Land of Tea."
Normally, Chen Xing wouldn't waste time on such a small bounty — his current standard was missions worth at least 2.5 million ryō. But the name Guren sparked a memory: the man wielded the Raijin no Ken — the Thunder God Sword — once wielded by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
According to records, Guren was a former Konoha chūnin who defected to Amegakure. With the Thunder God Sword, his combat ability had risen significantly. In the original timeline, he was easily defeated by Naruto and Sasuke, but the sword itself remained a dangerous weapon. It was said to be forged from a special conductive metal infused with the Second Hokage's chakra, capable of cutting through almost anything below S-class durability while delivering a paralyzing electric shock.
Chen Xing's interest lay entirely in acquiring that sword. Even though the original was destroyed in the manga by a combined Chidori and Rasengan attack, the power it displayed was undeniable. If reforged with the right materials, it could become a true masterpiece.
After buying local intel from an underworld contact in Green Tea City, Chen Xing learned Guren was staying in the area after completing a mission for a wealthy tea merchant.
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That afternoon, Guren walked along a forest path outside the city, dressed in an Ame-nin flak jacket, Raijin no Ken strapped to his back.
A blade of pure blue lightning erupted from the sword's hilt, arcs crackling along its half-meter length. He lazily drew it across the trunk of a thick tree — the blade sliced through effortlessly, leaving a charred edge still smoking.
Guren smiled to himself. "Not only is the lightning strike powerful… its sharpness is unmatched. Truly the legendary Raijin no Ken. How many in this world can rival me now?"
He didn't know that, high in a nearby tree, Chen Xing was watching him intently, eyes fixed on the glowing blade.
So it really is as sharp as the stories say… good. That just makes it worth taking.
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