A few days had passed since the night at Ichiraku.
Ken and Kakashi waited at the training ground, following a steady routine of sparring and conditioning under Minato's guidance. They had fought many times—sometimes seriously, sometimes until exhaustion forced a stop.
Ken still lost, but he was catching up quickly.
Once he mastered the new jutsu Minato had given him, he was confident he could at least draw with Kakashi.
As for his unfinished technique, he had stopped working on it for now. Though powerful, there were better and safer alternatives at this stage.
Kakashi also seemed more relaxed lately.
Thankfully, this wasn't the Kakashi who would one day lose Rin.
Cold—but not closed off.
With slow grind they would surely become friends.
As usual, Minato appeared without warning.
Ken barely reacted anymore.
Scratching the back of his head, he asked casually, "So… how are we training today, sensei?"
These days had been the best since his arrival in this world.
He hadn't found a realistic path toward impossible heights like Six Paths—but becoming a lower-tier Kage was nearly guaranteed. With his foreknowledge, survival alone would be manageable.
And now, as Minato's student—
If he could protect him, his own standing in the village would be secure. Naruto's future would change as well.
The pressure he once carried had eased.
He would still work hard.
But no longer in desperation.
Minato shook his head.
"Today, we're not training."
Kakashi, standing to the side, spoke immediately.
"…A mission?"
Ken's eyes lit up.
If they didn't start taking missions soon, his medical bath expenses would become a serious problem. That thing devoured money like a black hole.
Minato nodded.
"B-rank mission. Prepare your equipment and meet me at the Konoha gate in thirty minutes."
With that, he vanished.
Ken and Kakashi exchanged a glance.
Without a word, both turned toward home.
By the time Ken reached the Konoha gate, the morning traffic had begun to thin.
Minato stood nearby, finishing a conversation with a middle-aged man dressed in fine traveling robes. Two attendants hovered behind him, clearly nervous.
When the discussion ended, the man bowed and stepped aside.
"That's our client," Minato said as he approached. "A noble from the Fire Capital."
Ken and Kakashi listened attentively.
"This is an escort mission," Minato continued. "We'll accompany him from Konoha to the capital. The route is stable, and travel should take no more than two days."
Kakashi's gaze sharpened slightly.
"The mission is B-rank solely because of his status," Minato added. "There's no confirmed threat—but don't lower your guard."
With the briefing complete, the group gathered at the gate.
As the massive doors opened and the road beyond came into view, Ken adjusted his gear and took a steady breath.
His first B-rank mission.