Kurenai didn't have any idea about the strengths of the other two missing-nin. The woman, Hisame, was a slightly stronger genin. From what she had seen of especially Saul and Hinata's training, they'd have no trouble with a ninja of her caliber. Yakumo on the other hand... She didn't know. She was strong, but she hadn't resolved herself for the battlefield.

Kurenai had graduated early for the third Great Ninja War. At the young age of fourteen she had been part of a team of Genin that were sent out to aid in the war effort. She started helping transport supplies, helping maintain gear and weaponry, basic stuff.

No one would ever let her even see the battlefield. She was too young. Eventually, when she was old and experienced enough, she would be able to handle it. In reality, these were all excuses made by scarred men and women who wanted nothing but to relive their past innocence through looking at her eyes. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could prepare her for the sight of it.

War was a senseless herder that took in all their livestock and butchered them. The young, the old, women, men, Genin, Chunin, Jonin, it didn't matter. Everyone had to kill or be killed. They all tried their absolute best to train, to make plans, to fight tooth and nail for survival. Everyone. In the end, nothing was ever in your control. If you had enough luck, you survived. If you didn't, you died. Strength only improved your chances; it didn't guarantee them.

At 18, the day her Genin graduated, she was already a Chunin. Not due to her own efforts, planning, or skill. Kurenai had gotten lucky. Her father apprenticed her to the Kurama clan from a young age. He taught her a sensory jutsu that saved her life more times than she could count. She ambushed many with Genjutsu and got easy kills as a result. 

Yet she was only a single mistake, a single trap away from becoming the next casualty. Her abilities were obscure enough that few had any countermeasure, and she wasn't strong enough to attract the more dangerous sorts. Her Taijutsu and Ninjutsu were average at best. The day a Genjutsu resistant opponent came, that would be the day she died. Thankfully the war ended before that day came.

Well the war outside is what ended. Inside is where it still affected her. The sight of people dying constantly, having to kill people who were really just like you, it... It did something to you. The nightmares never left. As for Yakumo... even though she could never be ready, the girl was in a worse position than Kurenai had been.

She had constantly heard the tales, seen the effects, known people who left with a smile yet never came back. Yakumo... She was sheltered. Kurenai wasn't just worried about how killing would affect her; it affected everyone. She was worried about the girl becoming overwhelmed, freezing up, or making a mistake. Such things were the number one reason why people died for the first time. She wasn't ready for this.

"Saul, Hinata, Yakumo, we're abandoning this mission. This is outside the scope of any C-Rank mission, and as such I cannot authorize combat. We will go back, inform the Duke of the situation, and advise him to request another team from Konoha."

Saul frowned. Sure because Kakashi was such a lazy, irresponsible Jonin Instructor, he didn't train his team well. But because of this they also got plenty of actual combat experience; he'd practically let them fight in any mission as long as they wanted to! Kurenai was the other side of the coin. Diligent, Protective, Caring, if anything was a risk she'd rather err on the side of caution to make sure they'd be safe.

How in the hell was he supposed to get these lovely test subjects that showed up right on his lap! 

"Kurenai-sensei. You're doing this out of concern for our safety, right? You don't want any possibility of us coming to harm while fighting against these enemy ninja."

The red-eyed woman nodded.

"You guys haven't even participated in life or death combat with civilians, much less ninja. That female missing-nin's strength was almost at the standard of Chunin. The two other ninja she invited I fear are stronger than her if she's come back with them. If I am temporarily tied down then one of you could have their lives at risk. I cannot accept such a thing."

Good. These words would be the basis by which Saul acted later.

The Duke's Residence

"Three Ninja? Likely all at the Chunin rank or Higher?"

The Duke of Fire was not happy.

"How do you explain the raids? The number of people was at least 10!"

Instead of speaking, Kurenai transformed and then made clones before transforming again. Soon she had amassed a bunch of people, each with a different appearance. 

"Can all of you ninja... Make copies of yourself?"

Kurenai shook her head. "These clones are purely visual. Only the real me can act, even if it appears there are more of me. They tricked you using this method."

"I see..."

"One of the ninja was the same missing-nin who interfered last time. Do you think they might be motivated by revenge?"

The Duke's face blanched white. Shit. He had no idea that the woman he crossed would become so crazy! He hadn't done anything special this time - why was she attacking his territories!? This was no longer a mere slight upon his honor. Did she intend to take his life? That would be an international incident! The bounty on their heads would skyrocket!

"If so, good ninja, you must stay to protect me until the second team from Konoha arrives!"

Kurenai shook her head. Protect this greedy bastard? Hah! She still remembered how he treated those innocent people. Their blood might come back to haunt him today.

"This is outside the mission purview. We were hired for a C-Rank mission. You should know, Lord Duke, that this mission rank does not include ninja combat. If it were just that one missing-nin, then I would still be able to handle it. But multiple of them constitutes a very real risk to the lives of my team - something I cannot allow. I am within my rights as a Jonin of Konoha to call off this mission."

The Duke trembled with barely suppressed fury.

"You... I would have offered you more money! Why do you have to make things difficult!"

Saul interjected. "Lord Duke, if I may speak?"

The Duke took a moment to calm himself down. This man had shown himself to be a capable tool in the last mission. He hoped he would speak in his favor.

"As our Sensei has explained, we cannot act as a team in an official capacity due to the risk it poses to our lives. Our team is only authorized to perform C-rank missions at most. However, Hinata and I have a special ability to make clones like Kurenai Sensei earlier, that have the ability to attack. If we were given an incentive in some unofficial capacity, we could be persuaded to attack the enemy camp with our clones only."

Kurenai opened her mouth to speak, yet remained silent. She didn't know the enemy's strength. Maybe they were all at the level of Genin? Regardless, as long as the number of clones they used wasn't too high, there would be little to no risk. 

"For just you? And another Genin? 20,000 ryo."

The corner of Saul's mouth twitched. The minimum fee for a B-rank mission was 80 thousand ryo. This greedy old man...

"I'm sorry then for speaking up. Thank you for your hospitality lord Duke, feel free to hire another team from Konoha at your earliest convenience."

"Wait wait! I misspoke. I meant 20,000 ryo, for each of you, if you accepted the mission! And an additional 60,000 if you manage to kill them!"

Saul could likely extort the man for more, but this was not how you did 'business.' Exorbitant rates could only be gained once, and they would earn resentment more than anything else. He needed an excuse to occasionally leave Konoha.

"I should have expected this to be the case from the Honorable Lord Duke." Saul bowed, smiling. "As long as you continue to show your sincerity, I believe I can be of assistance to you in many more matters as well."

The Duke counted out a full 40,000 Ryo. He held the money out for Saul.

"To the start of our cooperation."

Saul took the offered Ryo.

"For the prosperity of the Duke and the Land of Fire."