The days of elite training were monotonous yet highly efficient.
Training Ground 3 had been divided into three separate areas by the three shadow clones and the three genin, each zone undisturbed by the others.
"Bang!"
Another water balloon exploded in Naruto's hands, splashing water all over his face.
The "Sora No. 1" clone in front of him handed over another balloon expressionlessly.
"Chakra output needs to be steady and sustained—not a burst that blows it up all at once."
Naruto wiped his face, took the new balloon, and continued with a grimace.
On the other side, a faint electric arc at Sasuke's fingertip sizzled, slicing a tiny notch into the edge of a leaf.
The "Sora No. 2" clone in front of him nodded.
"Not bad. You've grasped the basics of nature transformation. Next, try increasing the output to make the lightning more concentrated."
Sasuke took a deep breath, his dark eyes filled with focus.
The quietest area was Karin's.
She sat cross-legged, a thick introductory illustrated guide to medical ninjutsu placed in front of her.
The "Sora No. 3" clone was patiently explaining the principles of human meridians and chakra flow.
"The foundation of medical ninjutsu is precise chakra control and a vast knowledge base. Your control is already up to standard. Now, you need to cram all this theory into your head."
Karin listened with exceptional seriousness, nodding from time to time.
And the mastermind behind it all—the real Sora—was lying on top of the Hokage Rock, a foxtail grass in his mouth, basking in the warm afternoon sun.
Comfortable.
This was what retirement life should feel like.
[Uzumaki Naruto · Rasengan Training Progress]: 5%
Evaluation: As expected of the protagonist—quite the grinder.
[Uchiha Sasuke · Lightning Nature Transformation Progress]: 15%
Evaluation: With the Uchiha clan intact and family around, his foundation is solid.
[Uzumaki Karin · Medical Ninjutsu Theory Progress]: 30%
Evaluation: Study mode activated. The Uzumaki clan's brains seem pretty sharp.
Sora lazily rolled over.
Training the kids was just a side gig. Lately, he'd been waiting for an opportunity.
An opportunity to legitimately leave the village, do something big, and... make some money on the side.
His real body was sunbathing here, but scattered across every corner of Konoha, over a hundred shadow clones were disguised as ordinary people in various professions, monitoring the entire village 24/7 without blind spots.
Some were gate guards at the village entrance, some were clerks at the mission center, some sold takoyaki on the street, and one was even... stoking the boiler in the boiler room outside the women's bathhouse.
All of it, just to wait for one person.
A drunken old bridge-building geezer from the Land of Waves.
"Sigh..."
Sora sighed inwardly.
Sure, he'd absorbed Magnet Release and could head to the desert anytime to mine gold, achieving financial freedom in minutes.
But...
Free stuff is always the sweetest!
A heartless capitalist like Cardo, who hoarded wealth without benevolence—his money, if not taken... no, if not used to build Konoha, would be an outrage against heaven.
Just then.
A surge of memory instantly transmitted from the shadow clone at the village gate to the real body's mind.
An old man wearing a douli hat, carrying a toolbox, reeking of alcohol, was grumbling and arguing with the chunin gate guards.
He's here.
The corner of Sora's mouth curved upward slightly.
The fish has taken the bait.
He leaped down from the Hokage Rock, his figure flickering several times in mid-air before vanishing silently.
.....
Hokage Building, Mission Assignment Desk.
"What?! A C-rank mission costs this much?! Is Konoha robbing people?!"
A drunken voice echoed through the hall.
The bridge-building master Tazuna was slamming the table, yelling at the mission center clerk.
The clerk looked troubled.
"Sir, escorting you back to your country is a standard C-rank mission. This is already the standard price."
"I don't care! This is all the money I have! Take it or leave it!" Tazuna played the rogue.
"Ahem."
A gentle, cheerful voice came from the side.
Tazuna turned his head and saw a young ninja with flaxen hair smiling at him.
"Third Hokage-sama."
Sora ignored Tazuna and walked straight toward Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had just emerged from his office.
"You're here at the perfect time. I was just about to request an out-of-village mission for my Class 7."
His face bore a sincere smile that said, "I'm a good teacher who cares about his students."
"They've been training very hard lately. I think it's time they saw the real world."
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the still-drunkenly ranting Tazuna, then at the sunny young man before him. A flicker of understanding passed through his cloudy eyes.
"Oh? Perfect timing, then."
Hiruzen smoothly pointed at Tazuna.
"This is Mr. Tazuna from the Land of Waves. He needs a team of ninjas to escort him home. A standard C-rank mission—perfect for your team."
Tazuna immediately shuffled over. He sized Sora up and down, then glanced at the mission scroll listing the members of "Class 7."
"Just you? Plus a little Uchiha brat, a Uzumaki brat, and a red-haired girl?"
He shouted in disbelief.
"What a joke! These stinking milk-fed kids protecting me? They'd probably wet their pants at the first sight of bandits on the road!"
The harsh skepticism quieted the surrounding air.
The smile on Sora's face didn't change at all.
He simply gazed quietly at Tazuna, his usually smiling amber eyes pure and clear.
"Old man."
His voice wasn't loud, but it reached Tazuna's ears clearly.
"Don't worry."
"With me around, you'll be safer than you are in the Hokage's office."
As his words fell.
The sake gourd in Tazuna's hand suddenly trembled slightly.
Only he could feel it—an invisible, yet heart-palpitating pressure that flashed and vanished.
His hand shook, nearly spilling the sake.
Tazuna opened his mouth, looking at the harmlessly smiling young man before him, and suddenly couldn't utter a single word.
...
Training Ground 3.
Sora's figure appeared out of thin air.
"Alright, that's it for today's training."
The three kids and three shadow clones stopped in unison.
Naruto plopped down on the ground exhausted, while Sasuke and Karin were drenched in sweat.
"Pack up your gear."
Sora clapped his hands and announced.
"We've received our first official out-of-village mission."
"Out-of-village mission?!"
Naruto instantly revived at full health, jumping three feet into the air.
"Awesome! What kind of mission? Are we going to defeat some powerful enemy?!"
Sasuke's eyes lit up too, a rare hint of anticipation on his face.
Only Karin trotted over to Sora's side, asking nervously, "Big Brother Sora, is it dangerous?"
"Just a simple C-rank escort mission."
Sora ruffled her hair reassuringly.
"Escorting a bridge-building old man named Tazuna back to the Land of Waves."
He looked at the three kids with their varying expressions, his smile fading slightly.
"One hour from now—meet at the village gate."
"Remember, this isn't an academy field trip. Bring your brains and all your skills."
"Anyone late will have to swim to the Land of Waves."