Chapter 19: Stealing Team Seven's MissionPreparations

After Kurenai vanished, the three genin separated.

Hinata and Shino headed home to pack their belongings. Ryuzen, however, began walking through the village streets.

His kimono possessed self-cleaning properties—a gift from the system's beginner pack years ago. He needed no extra clothing, no bedroll, no supplies beyond his wallet and his sword.

Moving through the crowd, he passed stall after stall without interest until his steps suddenly slowed.

An umbrella vendor.

His eyes caught on a single item—a red paper umbrella, simple and elegant, its surface painted with subtle patterns that caught the light. Without hesitation, he paid the vendor and continued on his way, the umbrella now tucked beneath his arm.

The image he presented drew attention. Women his age stared openly. Young married women glanced sidelong. Even some older aunts paused to watch him pass with appreciative eyes.

Human nature craved beauty, after all. Good features were common enough, but good features combined with unique presence transformed a person into something luminous.

Ryuzen had long grown accustomed to such attention. He reached the Hokage building without changing expression, his composure absolute.

Waiting

Kurenai already waited downstairs.

She blinked in surprise as Ryuzen approached, paper umbrella in hand, resembling nothing so much as a noble prince stepping from a classical painting. "That was fast. Don't you need to pack anything?"

Ryuzen closed the umbrella with a practiced motion. "My clothing is... special. Cleaning isn't a concern. I've asked Hinata to prepare preserved food for the journey."

Kurenai accepted this explanation easily enough, but her expression shifted to something more inquisitive. "Speaking of which—when exactly did you and Hinata start?"

"No comment."

"Tch." She pretended at disdain. "Nothing to hide about kids' romance anyway. Keep your secrets."

Ryuzen moved to a pillar, leaning against it with eyes closed in meditation. The red umbrella rested beside him.

Kurenai watched him for a long moment, a flicker of reminiscence crossing her features.

So similar. I didn't understand when I was younger, but now... is this simply how geniuses present themselves?

In her eyes, Ryuzen and the child Kakashi shared profound similarities. Talent, temperament, overwhelming strength—all aligned.

Kakashi had become jōnin at twelve. Ryuzen had defeated her at twelve.

Yes, she had been shocked by his sword skills, her reflexes and vigilance reduced by the sheer impossibility of what she witnessed. Yes, her genjutsu had been completely neutralized. But even accounting for those factors, she understood clearly: even at her best, she would last only a few rounds against this boy.

Recalling the precision of his slashes, the deliberate way he had used the back of his blade against her neck, Kurenai understood something else as well. He had held back during their close-quarters exchange. In a genuine life-or-death battle, his restraint would vanish.

Against an unaware opponent, Ryuzen's information advantage alone could mean death or permanent injury.

Ryuzen remained unaware of her thoughts. His closed eyes hid nothing—his Kenbunshoku Haki spread quietly outward, sensing everything within range. Two familiar auras approached.

Minutes later, Hinata and Shino appeared, travel packs on their backs.

Together, the four entered the Hokage building.

The Mission Assignment

In the Hokage's office, the Third sat behind his desk, pipe in hand, regarding them with aged but keen eyes.

Kurenai submitted the mission request. "A C-rank assignment for Team 8."

Hiruzen Sarutobi studied Ryuzen longest, then glanced at Hinata and Shino before nodding slowly. "Indeed. Time they experienced what it truly means to be a shinobi."

He reached beneath his desk, producing a massive scroll containing recently commissioned missions. After a moment's review, he spoke around his pipe. "As it happens, an escort request arrived yesterday. Suitable for your team."

"Yes, Hokage-sama." Kurenai bowed slightly.

"Bring in the client." Hiruzen addressed the empty doorway.

Silence fell across the office.

But within that silence, Ryuzen's eyes flickered with surprise he quickly suppressed.

Tazuna?

The Land of Waves escort mission?

His memory of Team Seven's first C-rank remained crystal clear. Officially rated C, the mission actually exceeded B-rank in genuine danger—involved a missing-nin from Kirigakure, one of the legendary Seven Swordsmen.

They had somehow intercepted Team Seven's mission.

A mission this significant, this iconic, had been diverted to them.

Is the butterfly effect already beginning?

A thread of concern wound through his thoughts, but beneath it, something else stirred. Excitement.

Momochi Zabuza. One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

He should provide a genuine test of my abilities.

His gaze drifted briefly to his new tachi. And beyond Zabuza himself, there was the blade Zabuza carried—the Executioner's Blade, a weapon that repaired itself by absorbing iron from enemy blood.

If that sword were melted down and reforged into a tachi... would it retain its properties?

The thought intrigued him.

He made no move to expose Tazuna's deception. This opportunity was too valuable.

Minutes passed before a chūnin entered, escorting a middle-aged man in a conical hat.

Tazuna.

The client negotiated with Kurenai without incident. Unlike the original timeline, Tazuna raised no objections to the team's apparent youth.

He had noticed Hinata's eyes.

The Hyūga clan—currently Konoha's strongest family, their Byakugan as renowned as the Uchiha's Sharingan. Even in the Land of Waves, a country without shinobi, Tazuna possessed enough awareness to recognize that famous dojutsu.

Beyond that, both Ryuzen and Shino clearly possessed unusual qualities. Their temperaments alone marked them as extraordinary.

Deep inside, Tazuna remained anxious about his deception regarding the mission's true danger level. But he held his tongue.

Who asked him to lie in the first place?

With negotiations complete, the five departed Konoha together, beginning their escort journey toward the Land of Waves.<｜end▁of▁thinking｜># Chapter 19: Stealing Team Seven's Mission

Preparations

After Kurenai dismissed them, the three genin parted ways.

Hinata and Shino headed home to prepare their travel gear. Ryuzen, however, walked leisurely through the village streets.

His kimono possessed self-cleaning and self-repairing properties—a gift from the system's beginner pack years ago. He needed no extra clothing, no bedroll, no supplies beyond his wallet and his sword.

Moving through the crowd, he passed various stalls without interest until his footsteps slowed.

An umbrella vendor.

His gaze caught on a single item—a red paper umbrella, simple and elegant, its surface bearing subtle patterns that caught the light. Without hesitation, he paid and continued onward, the umbrella now tucked beneath his arm.

The image he presented drew attention wherever he passed. Girls his age stared openly. Young married women glanced sidelong. Even older aunts paused to watch him with appreciative eyes.

Human nature craved beauty. Good features were common enough, but good features combined with unique presence transformed a person into something luminous.

Ryuzen had long grown accustomed to such attention. He reached the Hokage building without changing expression, his composure absolute.

At the Hokage Tower

Kurenai already waited downstairs.

Ryuzen closed the umbrella with a practiced motion. "My clothing has special properties. Cleaning isn't a concern. I asked Hinata to prepare preserved food for the journey."