Me and Kaen were on the ground, exhausted from the long team coordination exercises. I looked up in horror at Sena, who was tired, yes, but still standing with that calm, confident smile, staring down at us like some higher being. It was understandable, though. Kaen kept trying to outpace me, and I kept pushing harder just to annoy him. It’s one of the few reliable sources of entertainment I have in this world. Meanwhile, Sena kept a steady pace, never overexerting herself, always perfect in timing and precision. Watching her, I was starting to wonder if she was even human. Maybe she had been training since she was one. Knowing her and her parents, that probably wasn’t far from the truth.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts as Shisui looked at us, clearly pleased. “You did really well, both in your coordination drills and personal training,” he said with a nod of conviction. “The chunin exams are only a few days away, so this is our only suitable time to take on a mission. I think you’re all ready to prove whether you’ll dominate the exams or just barely make it.”

That last line, said in his usual teasing tone, instantly lit a fire under Kaen. He jumped up and shouted, “Sensei, we won’t disappoint your expectations! We’ll exceed them!”

Shisui smiled faintly and nodded. “Good. Go home, clean up, and meet me at the Hokage building in one hour.”

We all replied, “Yes, Sensei!” and ran off, excitement bubbling in our chests. A B-rank mission was finally within reach.

When I arrived at the Hokage building, Shisui and Sena were already waiting near the stone steps. The late afternoon light reflected off the glass windows, giving the whole building a solemn, warm glow. Kaen stood off to the side, arms crossed, scowling as usual. I rolled my eyes. He was always angry about something. Even if I’d come early, he’d have found a way to complain. I just walked straight past him and joined Shisui.

Two ANBU guards stood by the entrance of the Hokage’s office, silent and still, their masks expressionless. One raised a gloved hand slightly and said, “The Hokage is finishing a meeting.” We waited.

True to their word, about ten minutes later, the doors opened, and two elderly figures walked out. The woman’s hair was neatly tied, her steps slow but steady. The old man beside her leaned slightly forward, sharp eyes that missed nothing. The faint click of their sandals echoed against the wooden floor, and even the ANBU inclined their heads slightly as they passed.

They looked familiar, but I couldn’t place them right away. The woman smiled warmly at Sena, who bowed respectfully. “Elder Koharu-sama, Elder Homura-sama,” she greeted politely.

The two elders nodded and continued walking with the quiet confidence that comes from holding power for a long time.

I turned to Sena. “Who were they?”

She sighed softly. “You should really learn these things, Noa. With your strength, you’ll need their support one day.”

I gave her a bored look, and she added, “They’re two of the village elders, Homura-sama and Koharu-sama, members of the Konoha Council.”

Recognition hit me at once. Those two, together with the Hokage’s weakness, had played their roles in one of Konoha’s darkest moments, the downfall of the Uchiha clan.

I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down. This wasn’t the time for that. The ANBU at the door gestured to us. “The Hokage will see you now.” I exhaled slowly, ready to meet said weak Hokage.

My pulse quickened as we stepped forward. Whatever came next, I had a feeling it was going to matter.

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The Hokage sat behind his desk, the air heavy with pipe smoke and the faint crackle of burning tobacco. Sunlight poured through the tall windows, casting warm light across the wooden floor. He looked up as we entered, the corners of his mouth lifting into a kind, steady smile. You might say the worst things you could about the Third, but he had led Konoha through three great shinobi wars and helped raise some of the strongest ninja the village had ever seen. Even if by incompetence, he had technically done it.

He looked at us all and said with a bright tone, “Shisui informed me that your training results have exceeded his expectations. That is not something that happens often, which speaks volumes about your commitment and talent.”

Kaen gave him a half-lidded glare but turned to Shisui afterward, smirking with pride. Shisui only shook his head lightly. Hiruzen, to his credit, wasn’t offended. His eyes moved to me and Sena. “You are proving that the new generation of Konoha carries the Will of Fire. The future is in your hands, so do your best to prepare for it.”

We both nodded, Sena more convincingly, as the tone of the room shifted.

Hiruzen’s mind turned back to the mission itself. Lately, ANBU and ROOT had both been heavily involved in handling B-rank operations near the Land of Forest, narrowing his choices. There was only one mission left that fit Shisui’s team’s current capabilities. The rest were too dangerous or politically tied to risk assigning to genin.

Despite his reputation, Hiruzen wasn’t naive. He had learned from his mistake with Daiken. He gave a subtle nod, and the ANBU stationed inside the office bowed and exited. As the door closed, I felt the faint ripple of a sealing formation activate, a privacy seal.

“Shisui,” Hiruzen began, his tone lower now, “this mission is to investigate one of our advanced outposts in the Land of Forest, bordering Kumo. It’s a station we use for scouting and ANBU relay, but it went silent six days ago. Fortunately, it’s not too close to Kumo’s territory, so even if they acted, they wouldn’t linger long. Five chunin were stationed there. I need you to find out what happened. Do not engage with Kumo shinobi unless attacked. They are quick to use any excuse to start hostilities.”

Shisui nodded, his expression firm. “Yes, Lord Hokage. I’ll ensure we uncover the fate of our shinobi.”

Hiruzen inhaled deeply from his pipe, smoke curling through the air. “However,” he said slowly, “this mission feels strange to me.”

Shisui straightened slightly, eyes sharpening. “Strange in what way, Lord Hokage?”

Hiruzen’s gaze grew thoughtful. “The circumstances around this mission’s approval feel suspiciously similar to Daiken’s final assignment.”

I felt my stomach twist as the words hit. My voice slipped out before I could stop it. “Is that so, Lord Hokage? Who authorized this mission?” My tone came out sharper than intended.

Hiruzen sighed and rested his hands on the desk. “I understand your concern, young Noa, but this is only a suspicion. The pattern of activity surrounding this type of mission has spiked again, just as it did with Daiken.”

Shisui looked serious. “ROOT as well?”

Hiruzen nodded. “ROOT moves differently. When they prepare for large operations, they manipulate regular mission flows. This could be one of those patterns. It is not unheard of, but the movements within ANBU are odd too.”

Shisui frowned. “Do you suspect a spy?”

“It’s unlikely,” Hiruzen said, exhaling smoke, “but there might be a single influence behind all of this.”

I couldn’t stop myself. “Then why not investigate every party involved?”

Hiruzen shook his head. “That would anger too many people and shake the fragile trust between the Hokage’s office and the other departments. This requires subtlety.”

I muttered internally, “Hiruzen being Hiruzen,” but his lips curved into a faint, cunning smile. “Why do that when I can draw them out instead?” His tone held quiet confidence. “This is a chance to make them reveal themselves without risk.”

Shisui understood at once, and Hiruzen continued, “Go all out. They will have prepared countermeasures against you since they know you’ll be leading this mission. Be cautious. I can’t send anyone to follow you. If they notice a tail, they might cancel the setup. You’ll be on your own.”

Kaen looked annoyed at the idea of being sent on what sounded like another death trap. Sena simply smiled, her composure unshaken, while my anger simmered just below the surface.

Hiruzen’s eyes met mine. “This may not be a trap, but if it is, you must control your emotions. Anger will cloud your judgement and get you killed.”

I forced myself to inhale deeply, letting the air cool my chest. The anger didn’t vanish. It hardened instead into focus. If this mission really connected to Daiken-sensei’s death, then I’d find the truth, no matter what it cost.