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Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: The Weeding Mission

Chapter 26: The Weeding Mission

"No! Not at all!" The three of them shook their heads desperately. Even if they had some thoughts, they wouldn't dare say them out loud with him looking at them like that.

"Good. Since there's no problem, let's have introductions. We'll start with the white-haired one," Tenchi said, pointing at Jiraiya.

"My name is Jiraiya. I'm 7 years old."

"My name is Tsunade. I'm also 7."

"My name is Orochimaru. I'm the same age as them."

"Oh, all the same age?" Tenchi was a little surprised. Jiraiya looked older, but they were all born in the same year.

"Tsunade is the oldest, then Orochimaru, and I'm the youngest," Jiraiya explained, having recovered some of his usual energy. He pointed at the other two as he spoke.

"Jiraiya! Are you looking for a beating?!" Tsunade snapped, her face turning red at the mention of her being the "oldest."

"I'm not wrong! You *are* the oldest!" Jiraiya yelped, quickly hiding behind a stoic Orochimaru.

"You still dare to say it!" Tsunade yelled, lunging for him.

"Alright, that's enough," Tenchi cut in, amused. "I didn't expect Tsunade, who looks the smallest, to be the oldest. And Jiraiya, who looks the biggest, is the youngest. What a surprise. Let's go. We're heading to the mission assignment desk."

Hearing they were finally getting a mission, the three stopped their squabbling and followed Tenchi.

The walk was quiet, with Tenchi leading the way and the three genin trailing behind him.

"Hey," Jiraiya whispered to the other two. "Who do you think is stronger? Old Man Sarutobi or our new captain?"

"Obviously, Lord Sarutobi," Tsunade said with certainty. Her grandfather had been Hokage, and in her mind, the Hokage was always the strongest.

Jiraiya looked at Orochimaru. "What about you?"

"I... I also think it is Lord Sarutobi," Orochimaru said, though he sounded less sure, remembering the terrifying pressure Tenchi had released earlier.

"Okay, since you both say the old man is stronger, I'll take that bet!" Jiraiya declared. "I think the new captain is stronger!" The memory of that overwhelming chakra was just too fresh in his mind.

"A bet?" Tsunade's eyes lit up at the word. "What are the stakes?"

"The loser buys dinner for everyone tonight!" Jiraiya said, looking at the two of them. He figured Tsunade came from a rich clan and wouldn't care about the money, and if he won, he got a free meal. He prayed silently that he wouldn't lose.

"Deal!" Tsunade agreed instantly. Orochimaru gave a slow, thoughtful nod. He was genuinely curious about the answer.

With the bet set, Jiraiya gathered his courage and scurried up to walk beside Tenchi.

"Uhm, Captain? Can I ask you a question?" he asked timidly.

Seeing Jiraiya's nervous look, Tenchi grinned and threw a friendly arm around his shoulders. "We're a team now. I'm just a bit older than you. You can call me Brother Tenchi. I'm easy to talk to. Ask me anything."

Seeing how approachable he was, Tsunade and Orochimaru moved closer to listen.

"Well, Brother... Brother Tenchi," Jiraiya stammered, still a little scared. "I was wondering... who is stronger? You, or... or Lord Sarutobi?"

Tenchi hadn't expected that question. He looked at Tsunade and Orochimaru. "You two want to know as well?"

They both nodded eagerly.

"Is that so?" Tenchi's expression turned playful. "Alright, come closer. I'll tell you a secret."

The three genin huddled around him, their heads close together, utterly captivated.

"Let me tell you," Tenchi said in a low, mock-conspiratorial voice. "You really shouldn't ask questions like that. But just look at me. Of course I'm stronger. Hiruzen Sarutobi is nothing compared to me. Your Hokage is the little brother here."

He finished with a loud, booming laugh, then walked off, leaving the three genin standing in stunned silence.

They looked at each other, completely bewildered.

"Should we believe him?" Tsunade asked, frowning.

"I... I'm not sure," Orochimaru admitted. "It felt like he was just joking with us."

Jiraiya just scratched his head, utterly confused about his dinner bet.

Still puzzling over it, they followed Tenchi into the mission hall.

The ninja at the assignment desk was immediately all smiles and eager to help. He had to be. This was the guy who was always with Hiruzen Sarutobi, and now Sarutobi was Hokage. This one's status had shot straight up. Rumor had it his power was on par with the Hokage himself.

"Lord Tenchi! Here to pick up a mission today?"

"Obviously. I don't come here for the scenery," Tenchi replied flatly.

The mission clerk immediately pulled out an A-rank mission scroll.

"How about this one, Lord Tenchi?" he said, his voice full of flattery.

Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru watched the exchange, shocked. They had only ever seen this particular ninja act this way around Sarutobi. The fact that there was a second person who could make him behave like this was telling.

The three exchanged another look. *'This new captain... he's definitely not simple,'* they all thought.

Tenchi just pushed the A-rank scroll back. "I'm here with my new genin team. Just give me a simple C-rank or D-rank."

"Oh, I see!" The clerk quickly put the A-rank away and pulled out a D-rank scroll instead.

Tenchi took it without looking and tossed it to the three genin behind him. "Let's go," he said, walking out of the hall.

***

Soon, they were in a large field. Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru were on their hands and knees, painfully pulling weeds from the soil. Tenchi was lying on a large, sunny rock nearby, fast asleep.

The D-rank mission was weeding. This was the result.

Seeing Tenchi sleeping soundly while they did all the hard work, Jiraiya finally complained. "Brother Tenchi! Why are we doing all the work while you sleep? And we have to split the pay evenly in the end? It's not fair!"

"If you think it's unfair, you don't have to do it," Tenchi said, his eyes still closed. "But let's see what happens when I wake up."

Hearing the clear threat in his voice, Jiraiya instantly lost his nerve. A beating from this guy would probably keep him in bed for a month. Even Tsunade and Orochimaru, who had been about to complain, kept their mouths shut.

"Oh, and one more thing," Tenchi added, his voice lazy. "It's just a few dozen acres of weeds. I suggest you finish before 3 PM. Otherwise, don't blame me for being angry. My time is very precious."

Hearing this, the three genin mentally cursed Tenchi and his entire family. But they also sped up their weeding. They hadn't even gotten the mission until almost noon. What should have taken a few hours was now a race against the clock, and they hadn't even eaten lunch. This was a trap!

And so, with a lot of silent, internal complaining, the three of them finally finished the weeding mission by three o'clock. They collapsed onto the ground, completely exhausted.

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