Naruto: I Traveled with a Max Level Account
CH 31 – 39

The proctor was taken aback for a moment, staring at the paper in his hand as Takuya already walked out of the exam room. He instinctively raised his hand to call him back but was stopped by his colleague's shake of the head.

There was no rule that said you couldn’t submit your exam early.

As long as you were confident and fast enough, you could hand in your paper once you were done.

Glancing over Takuya's paper, the proctor couldn’t help but mutter to himself, “These kids nowadays are really something.”

After a quick review, he was surprised to find no mistakes on the paper.

And it only took him thirty minutes—how strange!

Some of the other participants had barely finished reading the questions in that time and hadn’t even started writing yet.

Takuya's early submission left the other exam-takers stunned, their eyes wide as they watched him leave the room. Inside, they were feeling a mix of disbelief and frustration.

I’ve only just finished reading the questions, and you’re already done?

Having breezed through the exam, Takuya headed outside to wait for Minato and Mikoto.

He was the only one who submitted early, so there he was in the hallway, casually playing with a kunai, training the dexterity of his fingers.

Even though he had some powerful tricks up his sleeve, Takuya didn’t slack off in his training. In fact, his regimen was stricter than most.

“What’s going on with this kid?”

The Third Hokage, busy with paperwork, suddenly remembered that today was the Chunin Exam.

So, he picked up his crystal ball to take a look.

He wasn’t expecting to see Takuya standing alone in the hallway, and the sight immediately unsettled him.

He quickly summoned an ANBU operative to get an explanation.

The ANBU member arrived in the Hokage’s office, kneeling respectfully as he reported, “Lord Hokage, Takuya Yagami has already completed his exam. He finished all the questions in just half an hour, handed in his paper, and is now waiting for his teammates outside.”

“...”

Half an hour? You’ve got to be kidding me.

If someone submits their exam that quickly, they’re either extremely confident or completely giving up.

But does Takuya seem like the type to give up?

No, he seemed full of confidence, as if he wasn’t there to take an exam but just to make an appearance.

For some reason, the Third Hokage’s blood pressure spiked a little. He felt a strong urge to drag Takuya in and give him a good talking to.

You’ve got talent and strength, so why are you just hanging around the village all the time?

“Understood. You may go. Once the exams are over, bring their team’s papers to me,” the Hokage ordered.

“Yes, Lord Hokage,” the ANBU operative replied before retreating.

“Master, someone’s watching,” Snowy’s voice echoed in Takuya's mind. Without showing any reaction, Takuya continued to play with his kunai, responding mentally, Let me know the moment you identify who it is.

Someone’s spying?

The only person who would have the time and inclination to do something like this had to be the Third Hokage.

Why’s the Hokage watching me? I’m not exactly a beautiful woman.

Isn’t he more into watching the hot springs? He should go do that instead of peeping on me.

As time slowly passed, the exam eventually came to an end. Minato and Mikoto walked out of their rooms, looking relaxed.

It was clear that the test wasn’t too difficult for them.

“Let’s go grab some barbecue. We’ve got the practical exam this afternoon,” Takuya suggested.

The three of them headed straight for the barbecue restaurant, ordering a decent spread. As they ate, Takuya gave them a heads-up, “After the exam, we might get assigned some difficult missions or even be sent to the frontlines.”

Since the Hokage was keeping an eye on them, it was unlikely they could continue their laid-back routine in the village.

They’d either be given challenging missions or sent to fight in the war.

Takuya wanted Minato and Mikoto to be mentally prepared for that.

“The frontlines?” Mikoto’s usually calm face took on a serious expression. Minato also stopped smiling and looked at Takuya.

“Are you sure?”

“Pretty sure,” Takuya replied with a shrug. Not everyone knew how the Third Hokage liked to operate, but Takuya was all too familiar.

He was almost certain that their team’s easygoing days were numbered.

But whether it was a difficult mission or the battlefield, Takuya was confident he could keep the team safe.

Worst case, he’d just have Snowy toss out a Tailed Beast Bomb at their enemies.

Takuya had a feeling his Sharingan was close to evolving.

Once it did, and he unlocked his first special ability, his power would take a significant leap.

He’d finally have the strength to truly protect himself.

“Relax. Have some faith in yourselves. Eat up; you’ll need the energy for the practical exam this afternoon.”

“Thanks for the food,” Minato and Mikoto said in unison, pressing their hands together before diving into the meal.

As for their earlier worries...

They had been pretty anxious at first, but after hearing Takuya's reassurances, they relaxed. If Takuya said there was nothing to worry about, then they believed him.

After they had eaten and rested for a bit, the three headed back to check their exam results.

“Just missed it, so close!!”

“Damn it!!”

“Failed again? This is too hard!”

The exam hall was filled with shouts of frustration as many participants vented their disappointment, while those who passed wore relieved smiles.

Some gathered in groups, discussing the day’s questions.

When Takuya's team checked their scores, they saw that all three of them had passed. With that, they left the hall and headed for the training grounds where the practical exam would take place.

“There sure are a lot of people who passed this time,” Minato remarked, a bit surprised.

Usually, if half the participants passed the Chunin Exam, that was considered good. But today, about two-thirds had made it through.

If the practical exam eliminated a few more, there’d still be a good number of new chunin.

Chunin are the main fodder on the battlefield, Takuya thought to himself.

“During wartime, the difficulty of ninja exams is significantly lowered. The standards for Chunin and Special Jonin exams are reduced; only the Jonin exams remain strict,” Takuya explained.

“Well, that’s...,” Minato trailed off, unable to find any humor in the situation.

He had figured out why the exams were easier during the war.

Noticing Minato’s sudden gloom, Mikoto tried to lift his spirits, concerned that it might affect his performance. “Minato, it’s just the way things are. The war’s depleted the village’s forces a bit.”

“Lowering the exam standards is the best way to replenish the ranks. Besides, everyone who passes still has the skills of a Chunin.”

“Don’t overthink it. If they were too weak, do you think the village would let them pass?” Takuya added, giving Minato a light slap on the back of the head.

“Hey, what was that for?” Minato stumbled forward a few steps from the hit.

-Ch32

Takuya laughed heartily: "I'm just trying to cheer you up, you know?"

"You could say thank you, at least. Look, you're all better now, right?"

"..." Is this your idea of cheering someone up?

Minato was at his wit's end.

He swore, if only he could beat Takuya, he'd definitely give him a thrashing.

The method for the combat exam was straightforward—fight one-on-one against the village's examiners.

As long as you could last a certain amount of time against them, you'd pass. And if you were strong enough to defeat an examiner outright, that was also acceptable.

The three of them went to draw lots for their turn.

Minato was up third, Takuya was twenty-eighth, and Uchiha Mikoto was fifteenth.

"Contestant number three, please proceed to Examination Arena Six!"

The announcement blared over the loudspeakers, calling out the order of combatants and their respective venues.

"Good luck," Takuya nudged Minato, rooting for him alongside Uchiha Mikoto.

"I'll be back soon," Minato said, flashing a confident smile.

Having watched the previous two assessments, Minato was confident in his abilities.

At Examination Arena Six, the proctoring jonin said to Minato, "Come on, kid, let's see what you've got. Someone as young as you coming to take the test must be pretty strong."

"The uncle seems pretty strong too," Minato responded like an obedient child, his trademark sunny smile on full display.

He scratched his head, looking every bit the harmless sunny boy.

This guy's in trouble, thinking he can shake Minato with words.

He doesn't know who he's dealing with; this is the little sun.

"Uncle..."

The jonin was flabbergasted.

He might look a bit rushed, but he's only eighteen years old! What's with the uncle nickname?

As the jonin was taken aback, the referee shook his head in disbelief and announced the start of the assessment.

No sooner had the referee declared the start than Minato charged forward.

"Uh oh!" The crafty kid, I let him get to me.

Damn it.

The jonin had planned to use words to fluster Minato, but it was he who ended up distracted.

A single "uncle" hit him harder than any physical attack could.

Throwing several shurikens at his opponent, Minato quickly followed up.

This kid's speed is incredible.

Whispers of awe spread through the crowd, many feeling embarrassed.

Here they were, grown men, unable to keep up with a kid's pace, as if they'd lived their lives for nothing.

What they didn't realize was that Minato's most terrifying attribute wasn't his speed but his nerve reaction speed.

Many ninjas were faster than Minato, but few could match his reflexes—not even Takuya could, and finding someone comparable to Minato was a challenge.

So it could be said that Minato was uniquely gifted, born to master techniques like the Flying Thunder God.

"Kid, don't underestimate people," the jonin yelled, dodging a shuriken from Minato and aiming one right back at him, trying to force a change in his tactics.

But what the jonin didn't expect was the confident smile on Minato's face as his unmatched reflexes let him easily dodge the counterattack.

A swift hit to the back of the jonin's head followed.

"Thud!"

It was over—the jonin's eyes widened as a sharp pain shot through the back of his head, and he fell face down to the ground.

A muffled sound, and the loud-mouthed jonin was down on the ground, with Minato winning effortlessly.

It hardly took any effort.

Other contestants looked at Minato as if he were a monster.

How did he dodge that?

It's not scientifically possible.

"Contestant number three wins!"

The referee hadn't expected the fight to end so quickly, from start to finish, it hadn't even been twenty seconds.

Having passed the exam smoothly, Minato ran out, eager to high-five Takuya.

But as he raised his hand in excitement, he realized Takuya had no intention of returning the gesture.

"Pfft—"

Uchiha Mikoto couldn't help but laugh at the awkward sight of Minato standing there, not knowing where to put his hand.

Takuya, arms crossed, glanced at him and shook his head.

"You're too old for high-fives."

"..."

I really want to hit you!!

"Ha ha ha, okay, I'll stop teasing you," Takuya laughed and finally gave Minato a high-five.

"Contestant number fifteen."

Aside from Minato, the rest of the assessments proceeded without much noteworthy action; each one was by the book.

The skills of the ninja being assessed were mediocre at best, and the examiners went a bit easy on them.

It wasn't long before it was Uchiha Mikoto's turn.

"Good luck!"

Minato waved cheerfully as Uchiha Mikoto, giving a 'no problem' gesture, entered Examination Arena Three.

"A girl from the Uchiha clan, huh?"

Noticing the clan emblem on Uchiha Mikoto's clothing, the examining jonin became cautious.

Ninjas from major clans usually had no lack of skill, and he couldn't afford to underestimate Uchiha Mikoto, or he might seriously regret it.

"The assessment begins!"

The referee announced the start of the test.

Uchiha Mikoto didn't bother hiding her strength; activating her Sharingan, she charged forward.

"..."

Damn! How am I supposed to fight this?

I'm just an ordinary jonin who got dragged in to fill numbers. Does she have to be so serious, using Sharingan and all?

This guy's panicking.

Takuya knew the moment he saw this that the assessment was over.

Despite Uchiha Mikoto's Sharingan being only a single tomoe, the insight it provided, combined with her innate strength, allowed her to easily overpower her opponent, almost as quickly as Minato had.

Facing such candidates, the examining jonin really had bad luck.

"I passed."

The battle ended easily, and Uchiha Mikoto ran out happily, raising her hand for a high-five.

Minato instinctively raised his hand to meet hers, only to find Uchiha Mikoto being swept up and spun around by Takuya, her cheeks flushed as she struggled and pushed him away.

"..."

Am I being ignored again?

Takuya, are you deliberately opposing me?

The assessments continued.

Minato and Uchiha Mikoto's impressive performances had many people whispering, casting frequent glances their way.

"Contestant number twenty-eight, please go to Examination Arena One for your assessment."

Soon, it was Takuya's turn.

Surprisingly, the jonin assessing Takuya was an attractive young woman, although her looks were average.

"Quite the handsome young man."

"And you're very beautiful, ma'am," Takuya politely complimented her in return.

"You sure have a way with words, little brother," the examining jonin revealed a surprised expression, smiling through narrowed eyes. Takuya's words clearly pleased her.

"..."

What are you two doing? This is supposed to be an assessment!

-Ch33

The referee glanced at the two with a puzzled expression and announced loudly:

"The assessment begins!"

"Little brother, no matter how much you flatter me, I won’t go easy on you..." The jonin began to warn Takuya that she wouldn’t hold back.

But before she could finish her sentence, the smile froze on her face.

As soon as the referee declared the start of the match, Takuya activated his Sharingan.

"I might as well reveal it now," Takuya thought to himself. "Before my Sharingan evolves to three tomoe, I should let everyone know what I’m capable of."

He decided it was time to show that not only had he awakened his Sharingan, but he already possessed the double tomoe.

"What...?" The Third Hokage, who was watching the match through his crystal ball, shot up from his chair in shock. Uchiha Mikoto had already awakened her Sharingan, which was surprising enough.

Given her age, it was impressive but not unheard of. She was a prodigy, after all.

But Takuya? He was two years younger than Mikoto, and not only had he awakened his Sharingan, but it was already at the double tomoe stage.

"Am I seeing things?" The Third Hokage rubbed his eyes vigorously and looked again.

No, it was real.

Takuya, with Uchiha blood running through his veins, had truly awakened the Sharingan, and it was already at the double tomoe stage.

The Hokage didn’t bother watching the rest of the assessment; he could already guess the outcome. Takuya would win easily.

A strange irritation gnawed at him. Lighting his pipe, he took a few deep drags.

Takuya had Uchiha blood, and now he had also awakened the clan's unique Kekkei Genkai, the Sharingan.

At such a young age, with the double tomoe already developed, the Uchiha clan would be foolish not to try to win Takuya back to their side.

No matter how much they might have disliked him in the past, no matter how unsettling they found his striking silver hair, they would certainly try to bring Takuya back into the fold.

It was over too quickly.

The jonin who had warned Takuya to be careful hadn’t even realized what was happening before she was sent flying by a single kick from him. She crashed into the wall of the exam arena, knocked out cold.

Takuya’s movements were swift and efficient, without a hint of hesitation. He didn’t believe in dragging out a fight when he could end it quickly.

This kid sure didn’t hold back!

One moment he was complimenting someone on their looks, and the next, he was knocking them out cold, regardless of whether they were an older sister figure or not.

"Takuya," Mikoto and Minato called out as soon as he exited the exam arena.

"It’s nothing. Let’s talk when we get back."

The assessment was over, and now all they had to do was wait for the village's notification. Soon, they would officially be chunin.

Takuya hadn’t mentioned his Sharingan to Uchiha Mikoto before.

Minato was even more shocked. He knew that Mikoto had awakened her Sharingan, but he had no idea about Takuya.

Takuya revealing it out of nowhere had really caught him off guard.

Leaving the now buzzing training grounds, Takuya led Uchiha Mikoto and Minato back home.

Once they were seated, Takuya spoke to them both:

"Actually, according to my plan, I wasn’t going to reveal my Sharingan so soon. But the village’s mandatory assessment forced my hand."

Minato scratched his head, hesitating to speak. He wasn’t as naive as he used to be.

Through Jiraiya, he had learned about the village’s animosity towards the Uchiha, especially from people like Danzo.

Fortunately, Danzo was currently on the front lines of battle and wouldn’t be returning to the village anytime soon.

Takuya got up, opened the fridge, and explained while grabbing drinks:

"Once we took part in the assessment, with our skills, we were bound to pass.

"Whether it’s going to the battlefield or taking on high-risk missions, the Sharingan would have been revealed eventually."

"So, I figured I might as well reveal it during the assessment."

"But this means the Uchiha clan will now definitely try to bring me back."

No matter how much his hair color bothered them or what past grievances they had, the Uchiha clan would overlook everything to bring Takuya back, once they recognized his talent.

"Of course." Takuya placed the orange juice on the table, helpfully unscrewing the cap for Uchiha Mikoto and handing it to her.

"I was cautious before, but now, there’s no need. Whether or not to reveal it is no longer important."

When you lack the power to protect yourself, it’s wise to keep a low profile.

But once you have the strength, showing some of your cards can serve as a reminder to others not to treat you like a pushover.

If anyone tried anything against him...

Takuya wouldn’t hesitate to have his little friend, Snowy, put on a "fireworks show" at their place.

A Tailed Beast Bomb display, guaranteed to be spectacular and attention-grabbing, though they probably wouldn’t appreciate it.

Be it Danzo, the Third Hokage, or even the Uchiha clan—if they dared to mess with him, Takuya would send Snowy to light up their homes.

And if it came to that, Takuya wouldn’t mind becoming a rogue ninja.

Should that happen, he’d make sure Snowy came back to visit Konoha from time to time, just to remind them he was still around.

Every now and then, he might drop a few Tailed Beast Bombs on Konoha and see how long they could hold out.

He could even take Kushina with him.

Takuya was confident he could convince Kushina.

Not to mention, Kushina already had some ambiguous feelings toward him. If he told her about how Konoha had fueled the destruction of the Uzumaki clan and betrayed them, Kushina might not want to stay in Konoha anymore.

"Cough, cough!" Takuya spoke openly about certain threats, while Uchiha Mikoto remained unfazed, but Minato looked awkward, quickly coughing to cover his discomfort.

After all, his teacher Jiraiya was a disciple of the Third Hokage.

Logically, that put Minato closer to the Third Hokage's side, and Takuya’s words made him uneasy.

Besides, it was better to avoid such discussions. If someone overheard and reported it to the Hokage's office, Takuya could find himself in serious trouble.

Minato didn’t know Takuya had Snowy as a hidden ace, so he was worried about unnecessary risks.

"Takuya, not everyone has a negative view of the Uchiha," Minato said gently, choosing his words carefully.

"And besides, you’re not really part of the Uchiha clan, and I’m sure Mikoto won’t face any particular targeting either."

Targeting someone like Uchiha Mikoto wouldn’t make any sense to the higher-ups. It would only deepen the rift between the Uchiha and the village, and it would be shameful if word got out.

Besides, the village’s issues were with the entire Uchiha clan, not just an individual.

-Ch34

“I know,” Takuya shrugged, pointing at himself. “But the fact that I have Uchiha blood is enough for some people. Whether I return to the Uchiha clan or not doesn’t really matter. In fact, not returning might make some people even audacious.”

“….”

Is it really that serious?

Minato wasn’t sure.

But he trusted that Takuya wouldn’t be cautious for no reason.

There’s no such thing as love or hate without cause.

Some things are just too complicated to explain.

“That’s all I’ve got. Once the village sends out the official notification, we’ll be a full-fledged Chunin team. We can start taking on higher-ranked missions and won’t have to stick to C-rank ones anymore.”

“I’m done talking. Do you guys have anything to add?” Takuya asked, looking at Uchiha Mikoto and then at Minato.

Uchiha Mikoto smiled and shook her head, indicating she had nothing to add.

Takuya’s decision was her decision.

If you guys have nothing to say, what else could I possibly add? Let’s just roll with it.

After hanging out with Takuya for so long, Minato had already learned to go with the flow.

“Is the news true?”

In the main house of the Uchiha clan, the elderly Uchiha patriarch focused his cloudy eyes on the clan member who had come to report the news.

As the future head of the Uchiha clan, Fugaku sat quietly by his side, observing.

Yagami Takuya?

He remembered that name.

As the heir apparent, Fugaku was well-informed about the clan’s affairs.

Yagami Takuya—the last male heir of the Yagami family—his mother was an Uchiha.

When Takuya’s father died, his mother tried to bring him back to the Uchiha clan.

After all, Takuya had Uchiha blood.

However, his striking silver hair displeased many clan members, and the two hawkish elders firmly rejected the idea.

And so, the matter was dropped.

Fugaku recalled the first time he saw Takuya—just a silver-haired little brat.

“Clan leader, the news is indeed true. Yagami Takuya has our Uchiha blood. It’s very pure, and at such a young age, he’s already awakened his Sharingan, and it’s a double tomoe. Without a doubt, he’s a genius of our Uchiha clan.”

Judging by his age and his Sharingan, Takuya’s bloodline was indeed pure.

But with that striking silver hair, Takuya didn’t look like he had any Uchiha blood at all.

After all, no Uchiha had ever looked like that.

Even in cases of intermarriage with other clans, those with unusual hair colors mostly had brown or purple hair.

Silver was unheard of—a first for the Uchiha.

“Not allowing him to return to the clan when he was young, and now trying to win him back... Easier said than done,” the Uchiha patriarch said with a raspy voice.

He couldn’t help but cough, a mocking smile on his wrinkled face.

Seeing this, Fugaku quickly helped his father steady his breathing.

“Father, regardless of the past, he carries our Uchiha blood. Now that he has awakened the Sharingan, we should bring him back.”

Cough, cough!

The Uchiha patriarch waved a dismissive hand as he coughed.

After catching his breath, he snorted in displeasure.

“Let those who opposed it back then go and handle it now.”

Those who opposed it should go!

You all get to play the bad guys, but now you want me to clean up the mess?

Not a chance!

In the Hokage’s office, the Third Hokage questioned an Anbu member:

“Any movements from the Uchiha clan?”

“Hokage-sama, the Uchiha clan hasn’t sent anyone to seek out Yagami Takuya,” the Anbu ninja reported truthfully.

“No movement at all?”

Did that old man finally change his ways?

The Third Hokage found it hard to believe.

He was certain that the Uchiha clan had received the news and would try to win Takuya back into their fold.

“Thank you for your hard work. Take a break.”

It was strange that the Uchiha hadn’t made a move.

But the Third Hokage had more pressing matters to worry about right now, as long as the Uchiha didn’t cause trouble during this time.

As for stopping surveillance on the Uchiha clan, that was out of the question.

Even if he agreed, Danzo, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado would never consent.

The village’s notification came quickly. As expected, the three of them were promoted to Chunin, leaving behind their Genin status.

To Takuya’s surprise, after their promotion, the village didn’t rush to assign them any specific missions.

“Let’s go have some barbecue. My treat!”

Upon hearing the news of their promotion, Kushina cheerfully sought them out, suggesting they go out and celebrate.

When it came to good food, Kushina always had a special craving for the barbecue from the Akimichi clan.

“Won’t that be too expensive?” Uchiha Mikoto asked, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Kushina had treated them to barbecue not long ago. If she did it again, it would be too much.

“Not at all, Mikoto-nee! I have plenty of money! You don’t have to worry about making me broke. Eat as much as you want.”

Hugging Uchiha Mikoto’s arm, Kushina walked ahead with her, leaving Takuya and Minato to follow behind.

“Why do I feel like Kushina isn’t very happy?” Minato leaned closer to Takuya, whispering quietly.

“Why don’t you ask her and find out?” Takuya replied.

You think I’m falling for that? Are you trying to set me up?

Minato leaped away, holding up his hands, signaling to Takuya that he wasn’t going to be fooled.

Trying to trick me?

No way!

I, Minato, have been burned too many times. I’ve learned my lessons well. Your little tricks, Yagami Takuya, won’t work on me anymore.

“....”

I just said it offhandedly. Do you really have to react that much?

They ordered a pile of meat and some juice. Kushina placed both hands on the table and leaned in, almost knocking heads with Takuya.

“What’s up?”

If he hadn’t reacted quickly, they would have ended up bumping foreheads.

“Takuya, what do you want for your ninth birthday?”

“Birthday present?”

Minato reacted even faster than Takuya, while Uchiha Mikoto tilted her head, thinking it over.

Kushina’s mention of it reminded her that Takuya was about to turn nine.

What should I get him?

I want a gift too. I’m almost nine.

Minato tried to hint at Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto with his eyes, but they both completely ignored him.

“Minato, is something wrong with your eyes? You’ve been blinking non-stop,” Kushina asked, puzzled.

The smile on Minato’s face froze.

Pfft!

Takuya couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Someone wanted a gift so badly that they were practically crossing their eyes from all the blinking, but the others didn’t even notice.

Patting Minato on the shoulder sympathetically, Takuya thought for a moment and replied, “There’s nothing I particularly want.”

“Really?” Kushina frowned.

Without an idea, it was hard to pick out a present.

“Well, let’s dig in.”

“....”

People in this world are so strange. They all have to announce it before they eat.

-Ch35

Unfortunately, Takuya wasn’t into making such announcements.

Minato and the others found nothing odd about it and happily started eating.

“If the village assigns you guys missions, won’t you be really busy from now on?” Kushina suddenly realized this.

If possible, she still hoped that Takuya and his friends would continue as before, taking on missions occasionally.

Most of the time, they would stay in the village to train, rest, and keep her company for long periods.

With Tsunade and Jiraiya at the front lines, Kushina felt she wouldn’t have anyone familiar to turn to after Takuya and the others left.

“We’ll spend time with you when we're resting, and if we’re not in the village, you'll have to work on strengthening yourself, Kushina. I look forward to seeing the day you gain your freedom.”

Unstable Jinchuriki?

That’s all nonsense!

Only with sufficient strength can you obtain what you desire, including freedom.

Look at Mito Uzumaki; who dares to speak against her? Apart from being the First Hokage's wife, it’s her terrifying power that defines her.

As long as your own strength is sufficient, even as a Jinchuriki, when the time comes, not just freedom, if Kushina wishes to come and go as she pleases, the village wouldn’t dare to utter a word.

Of course, that's assuming no constraints.

If you're influenced by the Will of Fire, then there’s nothing that can be done.

“Mmm, I’ll do my best!” Kushina was full of drive, waving her little fists.

Determined to gain her freedom sooner, Kushina decided to work hard on her training and strengthen herself.

Strong enough not only to protect herself and those she cared about but also to win back the freedom she desired.

After a hearty meal, Takuya felt his eyes itch, signaling that his Sharingan was about to evolve. He said goodbye to the others and headed home first.

Seeing Takuya leave, and with Kushina looking like she wanted to go shopping with Uchiha Mikoto, Minato had no choice but to say his goodbyes as well.

Once Minato had left, Kushina asked, “Mikoto-nee, staying together like this isn’t good for you, right? I just wanted to ask, what kind of gifts does Takuya like? He didn’t really like the last birthday present I gave him.”

Thinking about it made Kushina frustrated. She had racked her brain over Takuya’s birthday present.

Unable to decide, she even consulted Tsunade and Jiraiya.

One suggested a ninja tool set, and the other suggested money.

Then, her brain short-circuited, and she actually gave Takuya a ninja tool bag filled with money...

The moment he received the gift, Takuya was utterly stunned.

He couldn’t believe that one day, a girl would actually give him money!

Was this considered being kept?

Obviously, the money was unacceptable, so Takuya simply returned the ninja tool bag as well, which left Kushina brooding for days.

She didn’t speak to Tsunade for days because the money suggestion was from Tsunade, that money-grubber.

“Food?” Uchiha Mikoto thought for a moment.

“....”

The two tomoe in his eyes spun rapidly, and as the discomfort in his eyes gradually subsided, a third tomoe appeared in Takuya’s eyes.

Three-tomoe Sharingan, successful evolution.

Such an evolution method, if the Uchiha clan knew about it, would probably frustrate them to the point of spitting blood.

As they say, no talent can compare to having an outright cheat.

Besides evolving the Sharingan into three tomoe, Takuya also acquired his long-awaited first unique ability.

A single-target genjutsu.

Named Sakura Fall, it’s also jokingly referred to by gamers as the ultimate social suicide technique.

Those caught by the Sakura Fall genjutsu are pulled into a genjutsu space, surrounded by floating cherry blossoms, and compelled to dance uncontrollably.

Imagine, in the midst of a public gathering or on a battlefield, your enemy suddenly gets caught by this genjutsu, performing a cringe-worthy dance like the avenger Star-Lord; avoiding social suicide would be impossible.

The most terrifying aspect of Sakura Fall is that it’s an unavoidable genjutsu, unless your resistance to genjutsu is strong enough, or your mental fortitude reaches a level that makes you immune to genjutsu.

Otherwise, you just wait to dance on the spot.

Even if you can quickly break the genjutsu, in a battle of equals, that moment is enough for someone to launch an attack.

Previously, Takuya hoped Danzo wouldn’t suddenly come after him.

Now, he couldn’t wait for Danzo to come find him, just so he could test his new unique genjutsu on him.

The image of the head of Konoha’s foundation, an advisor to the Hokage, caught in a genjutsu and dancing on the spot would certainly be interesting.

“Kazekage-sama, this is the intelligence collected from the battlefield in the Land of Rain,” reported an Anbu member.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

The stoic Third Kazekage opened the intelligence scroll:

“The Leaf Village has deployed a large number of troops on the Rain Country battlefield, and now the Land of Earth is also making moves. Do you think our Sand Village should get involved?”

“I believe we should let the Leaf and the Rain villages continue to slug it out in the Land of Rain,” advised Ebizo, head of Sand Village intelligence. He was well aware of the Leaf’s current situation.

Although a significant portion of their forces was engaged on the Rain Country battlefield, the Leaf was not yet stretched thin enough to be unable to spare more troops. If the Sand Village launched a surprise attack now, they might just drag themselves into a muddy war.

Such a war would not be beneficial for the development of the Sand Village.

“I understand,” the Third Kazekage handed the scroll to Chiyo, then walked to the window and looked out at the somewhat gloomy sky, sighing, “But do I have any other choice?”

If possible, the Third Kazekage also wanted to strengthen the village’s forces as much as possible.

Unfortunately, the Sand Village was poor, with very few economic resources.

The village’s commissions and missions were scarce, forcing the Sand Village to rely on allocations from the Daimyo.

It had been over a decade since the First Great Ninja War, and with the Daimyo cutting funds year by year, the village was constantly begging for money, to the point where the Wind Country’s Daimyo was at his limit.

If the Sand Village did not change, he would stop the funding.

Thus, the Third Kazekage urgently wanted to start a war to seize some fertile lands and resources from other countries.

Now was the best opportunity.

With the Leaf engaged in fierce battle with the Rain Village, their forces concentrated on the Rain Country battlefield, the battlefield firmly holding the Leaf’s attention, a surprise attack by the Sand Village could throw the Leaf into disarray.

At that time, the Sand Village could penetrate the borders of the Fire Country and loot the resources the village needed.

The Sand Village was too poor, needing everything from land to food, even population.

Seeing his sister’s gaze, Ebizo gave a wry smile and nodded, indicating he would say no more.

The decision was theirs to make.

A surprise attack against the Leaf would be initiated by the Sand Village.

-Ch36

A few days after passing the Chunin Exam, the trio received a notification from the Anbu and headed together to the Hokage's office. The village had a mission for them.

"I told you, once we became a Chunin team, there's no way the village would just let us sit idle. Minato, don't get too worked up, from now on, you're our team's captain."

"What?"

"Why?"

As Minato was pondering what kind of mission the Hokage would assign, he was completely baffled, pointing at himself.

He thought his ears were playing tricks on him.

Takuya was making him the team captain?

"Because I see you have an extraordinary talent for martial arts, a crucial position like team captain is tailor-made for you."

"Pfft—"

Watching Takuya spout nonsense with a straight face, Uchiha Mikoto couldn't help but laugh.

Minato, with a full head of frustration, looked at him speechlessly, Do you think I’d believe you? You must be kidding.

"Cough, cough!"

Takuya cleared his throat and said, "Anyway, from now on, you are our team's captain, and you'll handle all our external communications."

Minato: "........."

I knew it, Takuya, you’re up to no good.

So, you're just too lazy to deal with negotiations and dumped the captaincy on me, how cruel of you!

What if I don’t want to do it either?

Minato looked hopefully towards Uchiha Mikoto.

But when he turned around, he found that Uchiha Mikoto had already moved to Takuya’s side, pulling out her homemade lunchbox.

The box emitted an enticing aroma of food.

The smell of fried pork ribs!

Minato's eyes lit up, and he involuntarily swallowed his saliva.

Since Takuya wasn’t interested in onigiri or sushi, Uchiha Mikoto, who loved cooking, would seek his advice and try out new recipes according to his guidance.

Takuya always got to feast on these dishes, while Minato could only tag along for the meal.

"Go on, if you do well, I'll save you half of the ribs. Perform poorly, and you'll just get the bones."

"Wait for me!"

Upon hearing this, Minato sprinted towards the Hokage's office with all his might, disappearing from their sight in the blink of an eye.

Sitting on a bench by the road, Uchiha Mikoto tilted her head and asked, "Takuya, isn’t it a bit mean to trick Minato like this?"

"What’s so bad about it? I made him captain, what more could he want? At most, I'll leave him some ribs."

Takuya praised as he enjoyed the delicious ribs, "Mikoto-nee, your cooking skills are getting better and better."

"As long as you like it," Uchiha Mikoto, pleased to be appreciated by someone important to her, responded cheerfully, "I’ll keep trying my best."

"But is it okay to just let Minato go to the Hokage's office alone?" The Anbu had notified their squad to go to the Hokage’s office, not just Minato alone.

"I trust Minato will handle it."

Takuya munched on the ribs, uninterested in facing the Third Hokage's old face.

Nor was he interested in hearing the Third Hokage ramble about the village's difficulties and the truths of the Will of Fire.

"Lord Hokage."

After knocking and being permitted to enter, Minato cheerfully walked into the Hokage’s office.

The Third Hokage, who was looking at some documents, looked up and was momentarily stunned: "Your team..."

I remember asking the Anbu to notify Takuya’s squad to gather at the Hokage's office. How come only Minato came? Where are Takuya and Uchiha Mikoto?

"Ahahaha..."

Minato laughed awkwardly, scratching his head and quickly explained: "Lord Hokage, they were busy, so I came on behalf of the team. If there are any suitable missions, please assign them to our squad."

"I see."

The Third Hokage didn’t press further and picked up a scroll from the desk, handing it to Minato: "Due to the war, the village has accumulated a backlog of commissions and missions. This mission is urgent, so we need your squad to handle it."

"Takuya’s squad won't disappoint you, Lord Hokage."

Minato gripped the mission scroll tightly.

"I believe in you, you can do it, young man." The Third Hokage showed a relieved smile: "Jiraiya is at the front line, so I'm sorry to burden you during this period."

"It's alright."

Minato felt somewhat embarrassed and instinctively wanted to scratch his head again.

But suddenly remembering how many times Takuya had mocked this gesture, he forcibly lowered his raised hand.

"Well then, I’ll take my leave, Lord Hokage."

Minato bowed deeply to the Third Hokage.

The Third Hokage smiled: "Go ahead, child. You all will be the pillars of Konoha’s future, leading it forward."

"Lord Hokage is as approachable as ever."

Leaving the Hokage's office, Minato muttered to himself.

Every time he saw the Third Hokage, he left with a feeling of closeness, always thinking of him as a respectable elder and a strong leader.

"Lord Hokage, Takuya and Uchiha Mikoto are eating out on the street."

Just after Minato left, an Anbu member reported this to the Third Hokage.

"Eating out?"

Letting Minato come alone to receive the mission?

The Third Hokage couldn’t help but laugh and cry: "These kids, well, let them be."

The kids are just busy eating, and after all, there’s no rule saying that the whole squad must come to receive a mission.

Such matters are trivial, and the Third Hokage didn't dwell on it further.

He just wondered if perhaps he was getting old. Are today's kids developing relationships this quickly?

Wait... that’s not right.

Takuya and Uchiha Mikoto together, and then there’s Kushina's vague affection for Takuya, what’s all this?

This kid is really popular.

The Third Hokage couldn’t help but reminisce about his own youth, and suddenly his expression turned somewhat unnatural.

"Takuya, you’re too much, eating sneakily!"

Minato, holding the mission scroll, hurried over and discovered Takuya savoring the ribs with gusto, immediately exploded.

He threw the scroll over, and while Takuya caught it, swiftly swiped the lunch box.

"........."

Really, was that necessary?

Catching the mission scroll, Takuya looked down to see the lunch box gone.

Minato was already on a nearby rooftop, enjoying the meal.

Opening the mission scroll, Takuya checked the mission details and frowned.

"Is the mission troublesome?"

Uchiha Mikoto leaned over to ask.

"The mission isn’t complicated, but the timing is. The Land of Rivers is not peaceful right now."

These damned officials, can’t they just stay put in the daimyo’s palace during a war? They have to run around the country, going to hot springs in the Land of Rivers. Their ideas are quite unique.

It seems that the Sand Village launched a surprise attack on the Fire Nation during Konoha's conflict with the Land of Rain. Sasori’s parents were among those who invaded the Fire Nation during that period.

-Ch37

Unfortunately, they weren't so lucky—they ran into Sakumo Hatake, a truly formidable opponent, which cost them their lives. This event also planted the seeds of hatred that would later lead to Sasori's dark transformation and betrayal.

Why did Sasori target the Third Kazekage? Besides the fact that the Third Kazekage was the most suitable candidate to be turned into a puppet, it was also because the war was initiated by him. Sasori's parents were sent to the Land of Fire during this time. With Hatake Sakumo having committed suicide, Sasori could only take out his anger on the Third Kazekage.

Looking across the Five Great Nations, the position of Kazekage has always been the most pitiful and the most tragic in terms of death. The First and Second Kazekages had it relatively easier, but the Third was killed by his own village's ninja. The Fourth was killed by Orochimaru, and the Fifth died miserably after having his tailed beast extracted. It was only thanks to Chiyo’s life-for-life technique that Gaara was revived.

When it comes to tragedy, even the Mizukage of the Land of Water can't compete with the Kazekage.

There’s a chance the Sand Village's forces could invade the Land of Fire at any time, yet at this critical moment, the Third Hokage assigns them the mission of escorting some officials from the daimyo’s court to go sightseeing in the Land of Rivers. Seriously, what is this, if not a joke?

Uchiha Mikoto thought for a moment and said, "The Land of Rivers doesn’t seem to be caught up in the war."

It isn’t right now, but who knows what’ll happen later? If the war between Konoha and the Land of Wind escalates, small countries like the Land of Rivers will only become battlegrounds.

Takuya didn’t really know when the Sand Village launched their surprise attack on Konoha. After all, the information available on the First and Second Shinobi Wars was pretty limited.

The Second Shinobi War began with the conflict between Konoha and the Hidden Rain Village. Later, the Sand Village launched a surprise attack on the Land of Fire, forcing Konoha to retaliate. After Konoha and the Hidden Rain Village made peace, ending their war, the Hidden Rain Village then declared war on the Sand and Hidden Stone Villages. Konoha's forces shifted their focus and invaded the Land of Wind. The Hidden Cloud Village took advantage of the chaos to launch an attack on the Land of Earth.

All sides were fighting intensely—that was the course of the Second Shinobi War. But Takuya wasn’t exactly clear on the timeline.

The war between Konoha and the Hidden Rain Village hadn’t lasted too long; maybe the Sand Village hadn’t yet launched their surprise attack on the Land of Fire.

"I’m probably just overthinking it. Let’s get ready. The officials are set to leave tomorrow." Takuya put away the scroll and called up to Minato, who was sitting on the roof: "Minato, after you’re done eating, wash the lunchbox. We’re meeting at the village gate at seven tomorrow morning."

Got it. Minato signaled an OK with his hand before hopping down from the roof.

The three then went their separate ways to prepare what they’d need for the journey.

Takuya made a special trip to buy two brand-new mission scrolls, stuffing them with various spices and such.

"Other travelers get a standard-issue storage space, so why didn’t I? Looks like I didn’t open my cheats wide enough."

Takuya felt a little disappointed that the game’s inventory didn’t carry over.

The night passed without incident.

The next day, when a massive convoy appeared before them, Minato's eyes widened, and Uchiha Mikoto was equally shocked.

Even Takuya, who thought he was prepared, couldn’t help but blurt out, "Holy crap!"

They had expected a simple family trip, but who could have imagined the convoy would be this bloated?

If a battle broke out along the way, there’s no way the team could protect all these people.

"Takuya, what should we do? Should we request another team to join us for the escort?" Minato was a bit flustered.

They had completed escort missions before, but never on this scale. This was no ordinary trip. Even if they were bringing their whole family, it wouldn't be this excessive.

"No need." Takuya sighed and said with some frustration, "In a pinch, just focus on protecting the key people. We don’t need to worry about their servants and guards."

Watching the convoy busy loading various goods onto the wagons, Minato broke out in a cold sweat. "I hope everything goes smoothly."

With such a bloated convoy, the pace would definitely be slow. If anything unexpected happened, who knows how chaotic it would get. This wasn't something a three-man team could easily manage. But since it was a mission assigned by the Third Hokage, they couldn’t refuse even if they wanted to.

The convoy had gathered by seven in the morning, but it wasn’t until close to noon that they finally set off from Konoha towards the Land of Rivers.

"Honored guests, my master has arranged a carriage for the three of you. The journey to the Land of Rivers is long, so traveling by carriage would be more comfortable."

As they set off, the accompanying steward approached the trio.

Minato instinctively declined, "Thanks, but we won’t need the carriage. If we get tired, we’ll just rest on one of the supply wagons. The carriage isn’t necessary."

With the offer declined, the steward had no choice but to report back.

As the convoy of over a hundred people busied themselves loading goods onto the wagons, Takuya couldn’t help but feel anxious on their behalf.

Is this a vacation or a house move?

No wonder Konoha’s ninjas would run away at the mention of this kind of escort mission—everyone wanted to avoid it. Anyone would get frustrated following such a slow-moving convoy, barely faster than a turtle.

It was close to noon when the convoy finally set out. But barely two hours after leaving Konoha, they stopped again. The officials were hungry and wanted to prepare lunch.

Seeing the convoy of over a hundred people start bustling again, with a few officials leisurely sipping tea in the shade, Minato couldn’t hold it in anymore: "Takuya, at this rate, when will we ever reach the Land of Rivers?"

"Who knows," Takuya replied, chewing on a piece of grass as he leaned against a tree.

He was tempted to find someone and ask when these officials would stop dawdling.

The truth was, this escort mission wasn’t going to end easily. It might even drag on for over a month.

"Why don’t you go urge them on?" Takuya suggested, jumping down from the tree and slinging his arm over Minato’s shoulder to drag him aside.

"No way, you go if you want. I’m not in a hurry." Minato shook his head like a rattle, determined not to be tricked. He’d rather take it slow than stir up trouble.

While they didn’t need to be overly polite to these people, angering them wouldn’t do any good either. After all, they were officials from the daimyo’s court, and offending them was as good as offending the daimyo himself.

Even if the daimyo of Konoha was just a figurehead.

"Sigh, Minato, you’ve grown up." Takuya sighed dramatically.

The Minato who used to scratch his head and smile shyly was gone; the current Minato was as sharp as a tack.

Is this what happens when you get tricked too many times and finally wise up?

"Get lost!" Minato snapped, flaring up at Takuya’s words.

"Hahaha," Takuya laughed, giving him a playful shove. "Now go hunt something. Don’t you want grilled meat later?"

Since they didn’t touch the food provided by their employers, the three had to fend for themselves.

I knew it, you just wanted to trick me, Minato grumbled as he leaped into the woods. Soon, he returned with two rabbits in hand.

-Ch38

The accompanying steward had originally planned to invite Takuya and the others to join them for lunch, but upon seeing the three happily munching on roasted rabbit, he quickly swallowed his words and quietly returned the way he came.

Watching the steward's retreating figure, Minato felt a bit puzzled.

Is this guy being too friendly with us? Or is it just my imagination?

“Hey, Takuya, have you noticed that these people are a bit too enthusiastic towards us?” Minato nudged Takuya, who was sitting next to him, with his elbow. He recalled that Jiraiya had mentioned that Konoha’s relationship with these officials from the daimyo’s court wasn’t exactly great. Yet here they were, being shown kindness over and over again—it was starting to feel a little unsettling.

“That’s because they think we’re worth cozying up to. Or rather, they think you, Namikaze Minato, are worth cozying up to,” Takuya replied casually, biting into his piece of rabbit.

Cozying up to me? Minato thought, bewildered. What’s so special about me that they’d want to cozy up to?

“Why?” he asked aloud.

“Because your teacher is Jiraiya, and Jiraiya’s teacher is Hiruzen Sarutobi. Does that answer satisfy you?” Takuya said, as if it were obvious. Did these officials really think they could fool him? If this had been any other team, those officials would’ve probably been up in arms by now, maybe even demanding a new escort team. But instead, they were being treated with such goodwill—if that wasn’t worth thinking over, what was?

Takuya didn’t believe for a second that these officials were being nice to them because of Uchiha. No, the real reason for their niceness was Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage.

At this point in time, the legendary Sannin weren’t yet famous across the ninja world. Other than Tsunade, known as the Princess of Konoha, both Orochimaru and Jiraiya were merely recognized as geniuses, but their reputations were nowhere near Tsunade’s level. However, their teacher was Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage of Konoha.

Tossing the last of his bones into the fire, Takuya continued, “Don’t be fooled by how high and mighty these officials act in the daimyo’s court. Once they leave that place, they’re nothing. And that includes the daimyo.”

In other countries, the daimyo is the highest authority. But in the Land of Fire, a single look from Danzo is enough to make the daimyo tremble in his boots—that’s the difference.

This is because Konoha isn’t highly dependent on the funds provided by the daimyo’s court. Even if relations with the daimyo were to break down, Konoha could sustain itself for a short period. But other villages don’t have that luxury—that’s the disparity.

And besides, does the daimyo really dare to cross Konoha? If he did, it wouldn’t even take three days before other noble families would overthrow him and appoint a new daimyo, who would then scurry off to negotiate with Konoha.

“Shh! If someone hears you, this could cause problems,” Minato whispered urgently, tugging on Takuya’s sleeve. Uchiha Mikoto also shot him a warning glance, signaling him to stop talking—walls have ears, after all.

What Takuya said might be true, but such things shouldn’t be spoken openly. It could stir up a lot of trouble.

“Oh, that reminds me!” Minato exclaimed, clapping his hands together as he turned to Takuya. “I’ve learned the Summoning Technique that Jiraiya-sensei taught me!”

“Minato’s already signed a contract with a summoning animal? That’s impressive!” Uchiha Mikoto’s eyes lit up. She had always wanted to sign a contract with the ninja cats, but hadn’t found the right opportunity yet.

“Of course!” Minato couldn’t help but puff up with pride at the compliment, a smug smile spreading across his face. He rubbed his thumb under his nose and tilted his head back.

You’re getting cocky, huh? Just wait till I see your summoning; it’s gonna crack me up!

Seeing Minato showing off, Takuya smirked. “You didn’t summon a tadpole, did you?”

Oh, so you think you’re all that, huh? Takuya thought, knowing full well what was coming. He knew Minato inside out—others might not know, but Takuya did. Sure, Minato would one day become a legend, the Yellow Flash of Konoha, feared by countless enemies. But at this point in time… well, let’s just say “clumsy” might be a kind way to describe him.

Especially when it came to the Summoning Technique—he wasn’t much better than Naruto in the early episodes.

“No way!” Minato yelped, jumping up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his face flushing red with embarrassment. “I’ve already successfully summoned a toad from Mount Myoboku! Here, I’ll show you!”

With a flurry of hand signs, Minato bit his thumb and slammed his hand onto the ground.

Boom!

A cloud of smoke erupted from the ground, and both Takuya and Uchiha Mikoto leaned in to see.

“...”

Mikoto’s eyes twitched slightly as she raised a hand to cover her mouth, trying not to laugh.

“...”

Is this your toad? Takuya thought, staring at the tiny creature. The little toad’s four legs were flailing in the air, clearly not prepared for the sudden summoning. But that wasn’t the best part—the best part was the small tail sticking out from its rear.

In other words, this toad hadn’t fully matured yet.

"Pffft— Hahaha!” Takuya couldn’t hold it in any longer. He clutched his stomach, doubling over with laughter. “Minato, are you trying to kill me with laughter? This is your toad?”

“How is this possible... I was sure I got it right... Did I use too little chakra?” Minato mumbled, dumbfounded. He had been practicing in secret, mainly to avoid being laughed at by Takuya, but it seemed that fate had other plans. Instead of summoning a proper toad, he had brought forth something that wasn’t quite a toad yet.

Seeing the little toad’s cute, wiggling tail, Minato felt an overwhelming urge to bury his face in his hands and cry.

“Alright, you better head back,” Minato said with a sigh, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he sent the confused little toad back to its realm.

He had hoped to show off a bit, but instead, his attempt had backfired, turning into a humiliating spectacle. Feeling his pride take a hit, Minato shouted, “Takuya, you have a summoning animal too, right? Summon it! I bet it’s not any better than mine!”

It wasn’t a secret that Takuya had a summoning animal. Even Uchiha Mikoto knew about it, but neither of them knew what it was since Takuya had never summoned it in front of them. Every time they asked, he would just brush it off with a vague answer.

“Nice try, but your cheap tricks won’t work on me. If I summoned mine, I’m afraid it would scare you stiff,” Takuya replied, still wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.

“Hahaha!” Takuya laughed so hard his stomach hurt, and tears streamed down his face. Uchiha Mikoto was also laughing so hard she could barely breathe.

It wasn’t that she wanted to laugh, but the tiny, tailed toad that Minato had summoned was just too hilarious.

“Liar, I don’t believe you,” Minato grumbled, still trying to provoke Takuya, but it was no use.

He had picked the wrong person to mess with.

As the convoy continued its journey, Minato remained sullen for the rest of the afternoon, still frustrated by the tailed toad. If circumstances allowed, Takuya was sure Minato would have rushed to Mount Myoboku to demand an explanation.

Why was it that every time he tried to summon a toad, he ended up with a tadpole or a toad with a tail?

Minato’s worries weren’t unfounded. The convoy had been traveling all day, yet they hadn’t covered even a third of the distance an ordinary person could walk in that time.

At this rate, who wouldn’t be frustrated?

Takuya had to admit, the Third Hokage really knew how to push their buttons. Assigning such a mission to a newly promoted Chunin team—seriously?

The daytime wasn’t too bad, but night was when things got tough. With so many people, the camp took up a large area, and the three of them had to split up to set traps, patrol, and scout for potential threats.

“Mikoto, you go rest. Minato will take the first watch, and I’ll take the second,” Takuya said as they settled in for the night.

The next day, the convoy continued its slow crawl towards the border of the Land of Rivers. Takuya, meanwhile, climbed onto a supply wagon to catch some rest, knowing he’d need his strength for the night watch.

And so, the convoy inched closer and closer to the border of the Land of Rivers.

At the Fire Country’s border outpost, the ninja on duty continued to stand guard.

In the dead of night, a large force from the Sand Village, using the cover of darkness, began to silently approach the outpost as they infiltrated the Land of Fire.

-Ch 39

Swish, swish, swish...

The sound of sand shifting through the night was unmistakable.

On the watchtower, a patrolling ninja realized something was wrong. He barely had time to gasp, "What the—" before—thud—a sharp iron spike pierced through his throat and heart.

The two bodies crumpled to the ground atop the tower, never having the chance to raise the alarm. In their fading eyes, the reflections of figures wearing the forehead protectors of the Sand Village gleamed ominously.

After swiftly dispatching the outpost guards, the weapons made from iron sand returned to the side of the Third Kazekage.

"Move forward," he commanded, flicking his cloak as he led a large group of Sand ninjas deeper into the Land of Fire.

"Master, there’s a large number of unidentified ninjas approaching from the front," Snowy alerted.

Resting with his back against a tree, Takuya snapped awake instantly.

The main reason he had taken the night shift was because he had Snowy. With Snowy’s powerful sensory abilities, anyone approaching the camp would be detected, especially those harboring ill intentions.

Takuya hadn’t expected that after ten grueling days on the road, just as they were about to reach the Land of Rivers, they would run into something like this.

"Is the Sand Village planning to strike against the Land of Fire?" The possibility sent a chill down Takuya’s spine, and he quickly roused Minato and Uchiha Mikoto.

"Shh!" he signaled for silence, then whispered urgently, "Grab those officials and get out of here—now. There’s a large number of unidentified ninjas surrounding the camp. They might be enemy forces invading the Land of Fire."

What?!

Minato’s eyes widened in shock, his sleepiness evaporating instantly. Uchiha Mikoto also jolted awake, and together, they sprinted toward the largest tent in the center of the camp.

Out here, in the middle of the Land of Fire, with a large, unidentified force of ninjas closing in, it didn’t take a genius to figure out that they were in deep trouble.

The best course of action now was to grab the important people and get out, not stick around and try to fend off the enemy.

"Let’s go!" Takuya took the lead, bursting into the tent and knocking out the still-drowsy officials. Slinging one over his shoulder, he bolted from the tent. As he ran, he made sure to leave a few parting "gifts" for the Sand ninjas.

Whether those gifts would actually blow up any unlucky targets depended on fate.

Not everyone was as unfortunate as Nawaki, who managed to get blown up right in front of Orochimaru on the battlefield.

"Something’s wrong! The officials have been taken!"

The sudden actions of Takuya and his team left the guards and attendants in shock.

What kind of rescue mission is this—no warning, just grabbing people and running?

"The officials have been kidnapped by the Konoha ninjas!"

The guards’ shouts quickly spread panic through the camp, waking up those who had been sleeping peacefully.

Takuya had anticipated this and quickly shouted back, "The Sand Village is invading the Land of Fire! Run for your lives!"

"What?!"

"The Sand Village?"

"They’re invading the Land of Fire?"

The attendants and guards who had been scrambling to rescue their masters were thrown into chaos. Considering that Konoha was already embroiled in a fierce battle with the Rain Village, an invasion during this time wasn’t out of the question.

As Takuya and his team disappeared into the forest, the camp fell into complete disarray. People screamed and fled in all directions, abandoning the supplies and valuables left behind.

"Kazekage-sama, it seems the people in that camp have discovered us."

"Kill them!" The Third Kazekage’s face darkened. Their discovery was not the outcome he had hoped for.

After crossing the border and neutralizing the outpost, the scouts had reported the presence of a large camp ahead. Judging by its size and supplies, it seemed to belong to the daimyo’s court.

The Kazekage had ordered his forces to encircle the camp and eliminate everyone to prevent news of the Sand Village’s invasion from leaking.

But before they could close in, the camp had erupted into chaos—their cover had been blown.

Boom!

In their panic, some of the guards and attendants stumbled into the traps Takuya had set. The ensuing explosion tore through the already chaotic camp, turning it into a scene of utter pandemonium.

As explosions and flames erupted behind them, Takuya’s expression grew serious. Minato and Uchiha Mikoto, still in shock, realized that staying to fight was not an option—they had to get back to Konoha and deliver the intel.

As for the others in the camp, they would have to fend for themselves.

"Master, someone’s pursuing us."

"You two go ahead. I’ll handle the ones chasing us," Takuya said, coming to a halt. He dropped the official he had been carrying and gestured for Minato and Uchiha Mikoto to keep moving.

If no one stayed behind to hold off the pursuers, they would soon be overtaken.

"Be careful," Minato said, not wasting time on arguments. Uchiha Mikoto also nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.

Takuya was the team leader and their strongest member—it only made sense for him to stay behind and deal with the enemy.

Not long after Minato and Mikoto had left, a squad of ninjas arrived at the scene. It was a standard jōnin-led team with one jōnin and three chūnin, and the jōnin was a well-known puppeteer from the Sand Village.

"So, it’s just a Konoha brat," the Sand jōnin sneered, maneuvering his puppets closer as he cautiously scanned the area. "You caused all that chaos in the camp, didn’t you? How did you even detect us approaching?"

There were no other Konoha ninjas around, but the Sand jōnin remained wary, trying to unnerve Takuya with his words. In his experience, a kid this young would be easy to rattle when facing a real threat.

"Kid, did your teammates abandon you and run off?"

"No, they just didn’t need to stick around," Takuya replied calmly. He closed his eyes, and when he reopened them, they glowed with a crimson light.

"Sharingan!" The four Sand ninjas were taken aback. They hadn’t expected this Konoha kid, who looked no older than ten, to be from the Uchiha clan.

What the hell—since when did Uchiha start having white-haired kids?

And to top it off, this Uchiha kid had the three-tomoe Sharingan!

When did the Uchiha produce such a prodigy?

"This isn’t good, don’t look into his eyes—"

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