Chapter 51: Departure and Introductions
After receiving the mission, Shinra didn't head home to pack. Instead, he went to bid farewell to Kushina and Mikoto.
When the two girls heard he was being deployed on a mission, worry instantly clouded their faces. They were kunoichi, raised in the shinobi world's harsh truths, but that didn't make the fear any less real. Still, they understood duty. They clung to him for a long, silent moment before finally letting go, eyes glistening.
Kushina, ever the whirlwind of action, immediately rushed off to prepare food.
Shinra used the brief window to gather his own essentials. A short while later, Kushina and Mikoto returned, staggering under the weight of a massive, bulging sack.
Shinra hurried forward to help.
He didn't even need to open it. The rich, heavy scent of cured and smoked meat wafted from the bag.
He looked at the two girls with a mix of fondness and wry amusement. "My lovely ladies, you're not expecting me to carry this entire haunch of the forest on a high-speed infiltration mission, are you?"
Seeing his expression, they shared a knowing look, then—with an air of triumphant surprise—produced a second, much smaller, delicately wrapped pink pouch from behind their backs.
"Of course not! How could you eat all that by yourself?" Kushina declared, her smile bright. "We made other preparations!"
Shinra blinked. This small bag held no scent of meat. "And this is…?"
The two girls exchanged a glance and giggled. "You guess!"
"Playing games with me, huh? You little mischief-makers…" Shinra laughed, his heart swelling. He leaned in and planted a firm, affectionate kiss on each of their cheeks.
It sent Kushina into a blushing, squealing fit. "So mean!"
Mikoto simply watched Shinra with her usual gentle, spring-water calm, though her eyes held a world of unspoken worry and love.
"These are 'Meat Pills' we developed for you," Mikoto explained softly as Shinra and Kushina teased each other. "They replicate the flavor of various meats. A single pill contains the condensed nutritional essence of three kilograms."
Shinra was genuinely taken aback. He hadn't expected them to go to such lengths, to create a specialized field ration just for his absurd dietary needs. It was… incredibly thoughtful. Far superior to the standard bland ration pills.
"That's incredible," he breathed. "One pill equals three kilos of meat?"
Seeing his astonishment, Kushina's pride overflowed. She gave his backside a playful, bold swat. "Of course it's incredible! Mikoto and I worked on the recipe for ages!"
Looking at her smug grin, Shinra felt a surge of affectionate exasperation. He pulled her close and kissed her soundly, stealing her breath until she was boneless against him.
"Thank you," he said sincerely, his voice soft. "Wait for me to come back."
Seeing their time was up, a wave of reluctance hit him. He gently kissed each girl's forehead, shouldered the two bags—one heavy with provisions, the other light but dense with care—and set off.
The two girls stood in front of his house, watching his retreating figure until it vanished, like young wives seeing their husband off to war.
At Konoha's main gate, Senju Natsuki and Hyuga Hizashi were already waiting.
"This little brat, making me wait so long… has no gentlemanly manners at all," Senju Natsuki grumbled, perched on a large rock with her knees drawn up, her pretty face scrunched in annoyance.
"He's here." Hyuga Hizashi's voice was flat, his Byakugan having noted Shinra's approach long before he was visible.
"Here? Where?!" Natsuki spun around, looking—and promptly smacked her forehead squarely into something firm yet yielding.
"Oww—eek!"
Startled, she tumbled backward off the rock, managing to twist and land gracefully in a crouch.
When she looked up, her expression shifted from surprise to flushed indignation. Standing right where the rock had been was Shinra.
"You little jerk! You scared me half to death!"
Shinra looked down at the flustered Senju heiress, a slight, pained smile tugging at his lips. He didn't speak, merely gave her a cool, dismissive glance before turning away.
It wasn't aloofness.
It was… agony.
Ahem…
An awkward silence settled.
It was shattered by a vibrant, booming voice that seemed to shake the very leaves on the trees.
"YOSH!!! SHINRA-KUN! SHINRA-KUN, I AM HERE!!!"
Yes. That iconic, two-toned exuberance could only belong to one man.
Might Duy had arrived.
The next instant, before Shinra could fully process his… discomfort, Duy blurred across the distance and enveloped him in a crushing, enthusiastic bear hug.
"THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS CHANCE TO BLOOM MY YOUTH! THANK YOU!!!"
Urk.
This time, Shinra didn't just feel pain. He felt the distinct urge to vomit blood.
"Don't… mention it…" he managed to wheeze, frantically extracting himself from the bearded man's fervent embrace.
That feeling…
That sensation of being passionately embraced by a muscled, mustachioed man in a green jumpsuit…
Shinra decided then and there he would rather die than experience it again. From this moment on, he would maintain a state of high alert and a safe distance from Might Duy at all times.
The man was a hazard.
Hyuga Hizashi watched the spectacle with his customary impassive 'dead fish' expression. Senju Natsuki, however, was grinning from ear to ear, thoroughly enjoying Shinra's plight.
"Ahem."
Hatake Sakumo reappeared, his presence instantly commanding seriousness. The four fell into a line before him.
"Alright. The four of you will operate as a temporary squad for this mission. Senju Natsuki, you will act as squad leader. Your objective: execute Priority-A Protection Plan for the Daimyo's wife."
A heavy, somber atmosphere descended. An A-rank mission was second only to S-rank in danger. Their lives would be on the line every moment. And failure—the death of the Fire Daimyo's wife—was unthinkable, with catastrophic political consequences.
Shinra wasn't surprised Natsuki was made leader. While his combat power was likely the highest present (excluding Duy's secret), he was a complete novice in terms of mission experience and tactical command. A leader needed more than brute strength. He had no objections; it was one less responsibility.
Seeing their solemn expressions, Sakumo gave a sharp nod. "Since you've never worked together—some of you have never even heard of each other—you will now give brief introductions. This is for tactical cohesion and efficiency."
Natsuki stepped forward first. "Senju Natsuki. Jounin. Proficient in: Wood Release, taijutsu, medical ninjutsu, the Strength of a Hundred. Summoning contract: Slugs."
A true Senju, Shinra noted. Her skill set was impressively broad.
"Hyuga Hizashi. Jounin. Bloodline Limit: Byakugan. Proficient in: taijutsu."
That was it. Concise, cold, and to the point. The future father of the Hyuga heiress was a man of few words.
"MY TURN! MIGHT DUY, GENIN! PROFICIENT IN: TAIJUTSU!"
Duy roared his introduction, a fiery passion blazing in his eyes—the burning flames of youth.
All eyes then turned to Shinra, the youngest, the one personally named by the Hokage.
"Shinra. Genin. Bloodline Limit: Vibration Release. Proficient in: taijutsu."
Hearing this, Duy's eyes welled up with tears of camaraderie. He made another lunge toward Shinra. "SO SIMILAR! IS THIS THE CONVERGENCE OF YOUTHFUL FLAMES?!"
Shinra, already on guard, planted a foot firmly on Duy's chest to hold him at bay. The man's enthusiasm was a force of nature.
"Ahem. Good. Introductions are done." Sakumo's voice cut through. "Move out. The Hokage and I will be waiting for your return."
The four snapped to attention. "YES, SIR!"
In the next heartbeat, four figures vanished from the gate, streaking into the forest toward the Land of Fire's border, destiny, and the waiting blades of Kiri.
(End of Chapter)
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