Holiday time is always short, three days passed in a flash.
Ryoma's team soon threw themselves back into the village's missions.
"Team Six, next mission: help the Elder care for his children."
"Yes, sir!"
...
"Team Six, next mission: help the village dig sweet potatoes."
"Yes, sir!"
...
"Team Six..."
"Yes..."
...
Just as Ryoma, Asuma, and Kurenai had finished helping an elderly village woman dig up the taro she'd planted, and the delinquent Asuma was thinking about enjoying a nice cigarette, Chōza-sensei suddenly appeared before them.
Today's missions end here; go home and pack your things. Our team has received a new mission—we'll be leaving the village for a while. Assemble at the main gate in two hours. Dismissed!
Hearing this news, Ryoma and the other two immediately set down their farm tools, separated, returned to their own homes, and quickly packed their bags.
Two hours later, at Konoha's main gate.
Akimichi Chōza presented his mission credentials to the gate guard ninja and led Ryoma and the other two out through Konoha's gates.
Unfolding the map he carried with him, Chōza began explaining the mission to Ryoma and his teammates.
This mission requires us to deliver the intelligence we're carrying to a Konoha covert operations base in the Land of Grass, make contact with our liaison, then bring the latest information from there back to the village, completing the intelligence exchange. The mission rank is set at B.
After speaking, Chōza looked at the three calm faces before him and thought to himself, *After that night, they really have matured*.
He continued, "The village is short on available personnel; Lord Hokage considered it carefully and decided to entrust this mission to our team. Of course, that's also an indirect recognition of your abilities."
"A B-rank mission means there's a possibility of combat with enemy ninja. However, since this is an intelligence mission, if we're careful enough, we should be able to complete it smoothly."
Ryoma and the other two replied firmly in unison, "Yes, sir!"
Increasingly satisfied with his three excellent pupils, Chōza said, "Alright, if there are no questions, let's set out. I'll explain more details about the mission and the points you need to pay attention to for this type of task along the way."
"Yosh! Team Six, target: the Land of Grass. Let's move out!"
Following their planned route, the four of them then set off towards the Land of Grass.
...
As Ryoma and the others advanced quickly through the forest, Chōza suddenly turned back and asked them, "This is your first time leaving the village, isn't it?"
Ryoma, Asuma, and Kurenai exchanged glances, then nodded.
Chōza said regretfully, "That's a shame. If this were a mission like escorting supplies, maybe I could have taken you guys for a day out in the Land of Grass after we finished."
At this point, Ryoma spoke up, puzzled. "Chōza-sensei, what kind of country is the Land of Grass?"
Asuma and Kurenai also shot him questioning looks.
Continuing to move forward, Chōza answered, "The Land of Grass is located northwest of the Land of Fire, bordering both the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth—two major nations. At the same time, its north and south borders are right next to two relatively smaller countries, the Land of Waterfalls and the Land of Rain. You could say it's a region completely surrounded."
"However, this has also led Kusagakure to become very skilled at using diplomatic means to maneuver between the major powers, always grasping the direction of the times early on to protect itself. As a result, Kusagakure has also established good diplomatic relations with Konoha."
"From the intelligence we have now, Kusagakure's ninja are very adept at researching other villages' ninjutsu, and also at breaking them. But their individual combat strength is still somewhat inferior compared to Konoha's ninja."
Having heard Chōza's explanation, Ryoma and the other two nodded thoughtfully.
It suddenly occurred to Ryoma that Karin was supposedly born in the Land of Grass.
Too bad, though—Karin probably hasn't even been born yet.
If only he could snatch her away, tsk, tsk, tsk.
Ahem, ahem. That thought is seriously "criminal"!
It's mainly because Ryoma wants Karin's special ability, she's a powerful humanoid power bank.
The kind that can recover even if your body is severed.
Also, the Land of Grass was a major battleground during the Third Great Ninja War.
Even our Obito "died" there...
Chōza suddenly said, "But the main threat we need to watch out for on this mission is still the Iwa-nin.
Kusagakure is still on good terms with Konoha for now; they won't attack us lightly. Can't say the same for those guys from Iwagakure. Their recent activity has been too frequent; no telling what they're plotting."
Ryoma and the other two nodded to show they understood.
As if suddenly remembering something amusing, Chōza spoke in a relaxed tone to the three behind him, "Speaking of Kusagakure, there's this rumor I heard. Of course, it's just a rumor—authenticity is very much unverified, the not-very-credible kind. Ah... never mind, never mind, better not tell you guys."
Then Chōza lowered his head and focused on the path ahead.
Ryoma was stunned.
Whoa! An enigma!
Damn enigmas should all die!
Asuma was completely hooked. "Chōza-sensei, don't leave us hanging! Tell us already!"
Kurenai also expressed strong condemnation of Chōza's habit of only speaking half a thought.
Looking at his three excellent pupils, all showing expressions like eager children, Chōza laughed heartily. "Alright, alright, no more teasing. I just thought you all seemed a bit tense for your first B-rank mission. Wanted to help you adjust your mood—sometimes being too nervous makes it easier to slip up on a mission."
Then Chōza began recounting the "rumor" he'd heard from who knows where.
"It's said that although the political corruption in the Land of Grass is severe now, weakening Kusagakure's strength, I heard that a long, long time ago, Kusagakure nearly ruled the entire ninja world. But then, somehow, Kusagakure was suddenly destroyed, and it eventually became the Kusagakure of today."
After hearing Chōza's "rumor," Asuma looked completely incredulous, muttering, "Chōza-sensei's always tricking kids. Can't believe he'd say something like that. Besides, if they really almost ruled the whole ninja world, how could they have been suddenly destroyed? That sounds totally fake!"
Kurenai was behind him, earnestly nodding her little head in agreement with Asuma.
Chōza laughed again. "I told you, it's just a rumor. Not much credibility. Just something for you to hear and forget."
"Alright. For now, let's push hard to the Land of Fire's border. We can resupply and rest at our border outpost there. Then we'll prepare to enter the Land of Grass."
"Yes, sir!" x3
After hearing Chōza's rumor, Ryoma did not dismiss it as just kid's stuff like Asuma and Kurenai.
Instead, he sank into deep thought...
Not because he thought the Kusagakure ninja were particularly strong, Nor because he believed that any rumor, once it exists, is reasonable by virtue of existing.
But because, he had apparently, damn it, actually seen this movie before...
---
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