The New Year's holidays flew by in a blur of activity. On the first day back, Team 8 regrouped at the Mission Hall.
Yohei, practically vibrating with excitement, dragged Captain Yamaguchi toward the hall as if all the good missions would vanish if they were even a second late.
The reality, however, was that ninjas are human, too. Being a ninja is a job, and not everyone was eager to clock back in right after the holidays. The massive hall was practically empty, with only a few stragglers looking for work.
Captain Yamaguchi grabbed the mission roster, gave it a quick scan, and handed it straight to Taichi. It was clearly a peace offering to the kids, giving Taichi and the others the freedom to choose.
Yohei and Saori understood the gesture immediately and huddled around Taichi to inspect the list.
They scanned the options, immediately filtering out all the D-rank and C-rank tasks. After spending the last few months grinding through those low-level chores, they were sick of them. Now that the Captain was back, they were itching for something with a higher payout and a bit more danger.
Before long, a B-rank escort mission caught their eye: Protect mining operations in the Land of Rivers until February 15th, Konoha Year 45.
High-level missions were scarce this early in the year, and ones suitable for Team 8 were even rarer. This escort mission was the perfect fit.
Leaving the hall, Yohei couldn't wait to show off. He waved the mission scroll around, grinning from ear to ear. "Finally, a real mission! I took my Sharingan training to a whole new level over the break. I'm gonna crush it this time!"
As he spoke, he mimicked Taichi's sword strokes, nearly crashing into a roadside stall. Taichi face-palmed, while Saori quietly took two steps away to disassociate herself.
"Watch where you're going," Captain Yamaguchi said, dousing Yohei's excitement with a bucket of cold reality. "If you wreck that stall, the Uchiha Police Force will haul you in for a 'friendly chat.' Forget showing off—you won't even make it out on the mission."
Knowing the Police Force's reputation, Yohei immediately straightened up and behaved.
None of them noticed they were being watched. In a corner tea house, a customer wearing a brown kimono jacket observed their antics. He curled his lip in disapproval and muttered under his breath, "Are Konoha ninjas really this flaky nowadays? Especially that loudmouthed black-haired kid... zero professional discipline."
Just then, Captain Yamaguchi stopped in front of the tea house, scanning the area. Spotting the brown jacket in the corner, he signaled Taichi and the others to follow him.
---
"Excuse me, are you Mr. Tokugawa?" Yamaguchi asked, stopping by the table to confirm.
The customer looked up from his tea. Seeing the very group of Konoha ninjas he'd just been mentally criticizing, a bad feeling settled in his gut.
"I am Tokugawa Shuo," he replied, making no effort to hide his skepticism. He glanced pointedly at Yohei's forehead protector. "Don't tell me Konoha is sending you lot to handle this? Considering the long-standing relationship between the Tokugawa clan and the Village, this feels like a slap in the face."
"Hey! I am—" Yohei flared up at the disrespect, but Taichi yanked on his sleeve before he could start a fight.
Unfazed, Captain Yamaguchi calmly handed over his ninja registration card. It clearly listed his service record, including seven completed S-rank missions. It was a silent mic drop.
Tokugawa's expression softened slightly, though he still eyed Yohei with suspicion. "What about the kid? He looks unreliable. He was just bouncing off the walls out there."
"Uchiha Yohei. Surely you know the name," Yamaguchi said, adding a little weight to his voice. "Don't let his age fool you. He's already survived combat with Jonin-level opponents. Furthermore, my team is an elite squad with multiple A-rank missions under their belt."
The teacup in Tokugawa's hand rattled. As someone who frequently did business with Konoha, he knew the weight the Uchiha name carried. The bingo book warning—If it's one-on-one, run on sight—was famous not just among ninjas, but among their wealthy clients as well.
"If that's the case..." Tokugawa straightened up, reluctantly accepting the explanation. "Then, gentlemen, let's not waste time. My latest intel says the Kawada family has hired mercenaries. I've heard there are Sand ninjas among them."
---
The midday sun did little to cut through the freezing February wind. Team 8 and Tokugawa were marching down the main road toward the Land of Rivers. As they walked, Tokugawa briefed them on the details.
"Matsudaira City has a high-quality iron mine. Historically, my family, the Tokugawas, has managed the mining rights. A large portion of that ore is sold directly to Konoha."
He shot a meaningful glance at Captain Yamaguchi. The message was clear: This mission isn't just for me; it's for your village's supply chain, too.
"But this year is different. Our rivals, the Kawada family, suddenly got into the iron business before the New Year. They want the mine. They've bribed officials at the City Lord's manor to try and steal the mining rights."
"So, fight them for it," Yohei interrupted, confused. "The Tokugawa clan has run this mine for years. Can't you handle a little competition? Or are the Kawadas playing dirty?"
"Exactly. Before the bidding starts, the City Lord sends inspectors to check the mine's safety and output. If we fail that inspection, we lose our eligibility. That is where they will strike."
Tokugawa finally got to the crux of the mission. "If there's an 'accident' at the mine, or if we miss our quotas because of sabotage, the Kawadas will pressure the officials to disqualify us. We'll lose the rights before we even bid."
"So," Yamaguchi summarized, "our job is to ensure the mine operates without interference during the inspection period."
"Precisely. The fate of the Tokugawa clan is in your hands!"
Tokugawa stopped walking and executed a deep, formal ninety-degree bow, causing Taichi and the others to scramble in awkward politeness.
Time was tight. The contract required them to be at the Tokugawa estate by February 1st. Including today, they had five days. For ninjas, that was plenty of time. But Tokugawa was a civilian with only basic stamina.
To make the deadline, the group had to hustle. Even pushing the pace, it took them two full days just to cross the border into the Land of Rivers.
---
Night fell like a heavy curtain. Team 8 and Tokugawa moved through the dense forests of the Land of Rivers. Since leaving the Fire Nation's paved roads yesterday, the terrain had turned into narrow, winding forest trails, forcing the team onto high alert.
Moonlight filtered through the thick canopy, scattering in jagged patches on the ground. Tokugawa was wheezing, struggling to speak between breaths.
"Just... one more day... and we'll be there... I didn't fail the family... got you here... in time."
"Mr. Tokugawa, save your breath," Saori said from beside him. "If Taichi hadn't been pumping you full of medical chakra to help you recover, you would've collapsed miles ago."
"Yes... I truly must thank young Taichi..." Tokugawa started coughing violently, clearly winded again. It wasn't the first time.
"Alright, we camp here tonight. Pushing any further won't help," Captain Yamaguchi ordered. He was legitimately worried their client might drop dead from exhaustion before the assassins even showed up.
Taichi and Saori went to set up the tents in a clearing, while Yamaguchi and Yohei stood guard by Tokugawa.
A dark cloud drifted overhead, blotting out the moon. The forest plunged into sudden, pitch darkness.
Snap.
Six shadows dove from the treetops. The whistle of shuriken sliced through the silence.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Captain Yamaguchi had his kunai out instantly, deflecting the incoming projectiles. However, four of the attackers immediately swarmed him, clearly intending to isolate the strongest fighter.
On the other side, Yohei effortlessly dodged the ambush. In the dark, his three-tomoe Sharingan glowed an eerie crimson.
He yanked Tokugawa out of the way just as a kunai zipped past, shearing off a few strands of the man's hair.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A roaring sphere of flame forced one attacker back. As the assassin retreated, he whipped several kunai toward Yohei.
The angle was nasty—they looked like they were aiming for Yohei, but the trajectory was actually targeted at Tokugawa cowering behind him. Yohei had no choice but to block them head-on.
Taking advantage of the distraction, the sixth assassin lunged from Yohei's blind spot, heading straight for the fallen Tokugawa.
It sounds like a long sequence, but the entire ambush had lasted less than ten seconds. Taichi and Saori were still rushing back from the campsite. Captain Yamaguchi was deadlocked with four ninjas who were fighting defensively—stalling him rather than trying to win.
Tokugawa was seconds away from death.
"Don't underestimate me!" Yohei roared.
His Sharingan spun wildly, predicting the trajectory of every weapon. He twisted his body to dodge the first blocking kunai, used his own weapon to knock away the second one aimed at Tokugawa, and caught the third one squarely on his metal forehead protector with a loud clink.
The movement was fluid, almost like a dance. As he finished the combo, he hurled his own kunai at the assassin diving for Tokugawa.
Using that split-second delay, Yohei used the Body Flicker technique to teleport directly in front of Tokugawa. With the heightened perception of the Sharingan, he slammed the assassin against a tree trunk and finished him instantly.
Tokugawa froze, only just realizing how close he had come to dying. The boy he had mocked had just snatched him back from the grave.
When he looked back at the battlefield, the ninja Yohei had driven back with fire was already lying dead at Taichi's feet. The four who had been stalling Captain Yamaguchi, realizing their numbers were down, dropped two bodies and fled into the night.
"Do we pursue?" Taichi asked coldly, walking over with his short sword drawn.
"No. They were just cannon fodder sent to test us," Yamaguchi replied. "They'll have backup waiting. Killing them is pointless."
"Six Chunin as mere cannon fodder? The Kawada family is playing for keeps," Taichi noted, sheathing his blade and inspecting the bodies. "These are bounty hunters. No sign of Suna ninjas yet."
Yohei walked over, helping a shaken Tokugawa. Taichi immediately noticed Yohei's right arm. There was a distinct slash.
"You're hit."
Yohei glanced at his arm. It was a cut about four inches long. It wasn't deep and had already stopped bleeding. "It's nothing. Just a scratch. It'll probably heal before I even finish this sentence."
Seeing him joking around, the tension in the group evaporated.
Until Taichi spoke again, wiping the grin off Yohei's face.
"It's poisoned."
"No... no way. Taichi, I don't feel anything!" Yohei stammered, frantically lifting his arm to look closer.
Sure enough, the skin around the wound was turning black, and a numbness was starting to spread.
"Young Taichi, is he going to be alright?" Tokugawa asked, his attitude completely changed. He was genuinely concerned now, clearly moved by Yohei saving his life.
Taichi didn't answer. He walked over to where Yohei had fought and found the poisoned kunai. He gave it a quick sniff—a foul, fishy odor assaulted his nose.
Nodding to himself, Taichi pulled several bottles and jars from his ninja pouch and began mixing compounds right there on the spot.
Tokugawa watched, confused.
Yohei watched, his mouth twitching in fear.
Saori and the Captain turned away, trying to hide their snickers.
As Taichi's teammates, they knew his pharmaceutical style well. His medicine was incredibly effective, but the taste... the taste was a crime against humanity.
"Taichi... wouldn't a standard village antidote pill work?" Yohei asked, rubbing his hands together nervously. "I mean, I don't want to trouble you."
Taichi didn't even look up. "I have no objection. Provided you don't mind permanent nerve damage as a side effect."
That shut Yohei up.
Five minutes later, Taichi handed over a freshly made pill. "Since I made it in a rush, the flavor profile might be a little... rough."
Yohei's face fell. Specially made ones were bad enough; a rushed one was going to be a nightmare.
He looked at the pill. He had to eat it eventually. He squeezed his eyes shut, threw it into his mouth, and tried to swallow it whole without chewing.
The pill, the size of a large jawbreaker, scraped slowly down his throat. Yohei's eyes rolled back in his head as he gagged, frantically grabbing his canteen to wash it down.
Once it finally went down, Yohei stuck his tongue out, panting heavily like a dog, desperately trying to exhale the lingering bitterness from his mouth.
Tokugawa finally understood. The boy hadn't been afraid of the poison; he was terrified of the cure. It gave him a new perspective on the fearless young warrior.
Seeing the client's confusion, Captain Yamaguchi patted Tokugawa on the shoulder and said gravely, "If you ever have the misfortune of needing Taichi's medicine, you'll understand why he looks like that."
---
After the chaos settled, the group cleared the bodies, set up the tents, and organized the night watch.
The dark clouds drifted away silently. The bright moon re-emerged, its light filtering through the gaps in the leaves, illuminating the forest once more.