A few days later, Squad 10 had completed several more D-rank missions, such as finding lost cats, pulling weeds, and cleaning riverbeds.
The sun was beating down like a grumpy old toad on the riverbank. Shizune and Kurenai were knee-deep in muddy water, bamboo baskets strapped to their backs like oversized turtle shells. Their hair was plastered to their foreheads, and every scoop of river trash came with a dramatic splash and a groan.
"Ughhh, why is this cat's favorite toy a rusty kunai?!" Shizune whined, holding up a dripping, suspiciously sharp object. Her face was pure chibi despair – eyes wide, mouth wobbling like she was one second from crying. "This isn't a lost cat mission, it's a 'retrieve dangerous evidence' mission!"
Kurenai, ever the composed one, flicked a strand of wet hair from her ruby-red eyes and gave a small, elegant sigh. "At least the weeds we pulled yesterday only tried to strangle us once. Today's river gunk is… sentient." She poked a floating clump of algae that actually bubbled back at her.
A single shadow clone of Shinichi Higashino stood beside them, cheerfully scooping trash with perfect posture. The real Shinichi? He was lounging under a shady tree on the riverbank, legs crossed, right hand clenching and unclenching as pale-blue chakra flickered like tiny fireworks along his forearm. His expression was calm, almost meditative – the picture of a genius at work.
Tsunade, sprawled on a nearby rock with a canned drink in hand and her tea-green haori flapping lazily in the breeze, raised an eyebrow so high it nearly touched her diamond mark. "Oi, brat! You're letting two girls do all the heavy lifting while your clone plays nice guy? That's not very 'genius persona' of you!"
Shinichi didn't even look up. "Shadow Clone is helping. Real body is training monstrous strength control. Efficiency, Tsunade-sensei. It's a genius move."
Tsunade took a long swig, then flicked the empty can at his head. It bounced off with a ping. "Efficiency my foot! Get your real butt in that river before I make you the lost cat!"
By sunset, the squad trudged back to Konoha covered in mud, cat scratches, and the faint smell of river weeds. Shizune looked ready to collapse into a puddle of complaints. Kurenai was still trying to look graceful despite the slime. Shinichi's clone poofed away in a cloud of smoke, and the real Shinichi stretched like he'd just finished a light warm-up.
"Another successful D-rank!" Shinichi declared with zero sarcasm. "Fundamentals polished."
Tsunade just growled. "If I see one more lost cat, I'm going to become the cat and scratch the Hokage's eyes out."
The next morning, they were back at the Hokage's office for the mission report. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat behind his desk like a wise old monkey king, pipe smoke curling peacefully. He reached for another D-rank scroll with the calm of someone who had done this for decades.
Tsunade slammed her hand on the desk before he could unroll it. "That's enough, old man!" she barked, arms crossed, ponytail swishing like an angry lioness's tail. "These brats have polished their fundamentals enough! They're ready for C-rank or higher. No more cats, no more weeds, no more river gunk!"
Hiruzen blinked slowly, then smiled that gentle, grandfatherly smile that always meant trouble. "Since you say so…" He pulled out a fresh scroll. "Here's one on Izu Oshima. Bizarre deaths. Victims watched a black videotape and died in terror a week later. Faces frozen in horror. No wounds. Locals think it's supernatural."
Shizune let out a high-pitched squeak and hugged her medical kit like a teddy bear. Her face went pale as rice paper. "A-A videotape that kills you?! That's straight out of a horror scroll! Sensei, please, no ghost stories! I'll take the river gunk back!"
Kurenai patted her shoulder, but even she looked a little spooked. Shinichi just tilted his head, calm as ever, though inside he was already calculating how public perception of "mysterious tape incident solved by genius shinobi" could boost his [Spiritual Perception] trait.
Tsunade tapped her finger on the desk like a drumroll of annoyance. "Too far. Travel time would eat the whole mission. Next!"
Hiruzen, still perfectly patient (and maybe a tiny bit amused), swapped scrolls. "Saeki estate in Sanban City. Cursed house. Family vanished five years ago. Trespassers, police, developers – all dead mysteriously after entering. No signs of struggle. Locals call it haunted."
Shizune's knees knocked together. "C-cursed house?! Serial deaths?! This is worse than the tape! It's like the house eats people!" She ducked behind Kurenai, peeking out with one terrified eye. "Sensei, I-I'm a medical ninja, not a ghost buster!"
Tsunade rubbed her temples so hard you could almost see the vein throbbing in chibi style. "Cold cases, curses, bureaucrats, and superstitious civilians? No. Change it again, old man! I want normal missions – bandits, caravans, something that doesn't involve urban legends!"
The Third Hokage shrugged innocently, pipe puffing. "Land of Fire's been peaceful. All the fun escort and bandit jobs are taken. Left with these 'supernatural flavor' requests… or long international ones."
He rummaged dramatically and pulled out one last scroll, unrolling it with theatrical slowness. "Ah. VIP Escort. Client: Shinichi Higashino, Guest Chef at Konoha's Ajino Takumi Restaurant. Escort him to the capital for the 'Number One in the Land of Fire' Culinary Competition. Ensure safety during stay and return. Rank: C."
Dead silence.
Then – snap – every head in Squad 10 whipped toward Shinichi like they were on puppet strings. Tsunade's finger froze mid-tap. Shizune's mouth formed a perfect "O". Kurenai's ruby eyes went wide as dinner plates.
Shinichi? A chef?! Entering a culinary competition?!
Shizune whispered hoarsely, "Did… did the Hokage just say Shinichi is the client? Our Shinichi? The same one who just spent three days scooping river trash with a shadow clone?!"
Kurenai leaned in, voice barely above a squeak. "He's… a guest chef? Since when?!"
Tsunade pointed an uncertain finger at the perfectly calm black-haired Chunin. "Old man. This Shinichi Higashino… is he our Shinichi Higashino? The genius brat who broke Kakashi's sword and lectures people about conviction?"
Hiruzen coughed lightly, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Assuming the client didn't lie on the form… yes."
Tsunade's impatient scowl melted into the biggest, fakest, most exaggerated customer-service smile the world had ever seen. She snatched the scroll so fast it made a whoosh. "Taking it! Why wouldn't we take it?!"
She spun toward Shinichi, voice dripping with over-the-top enthusiasm like a bad stage play. "Mr. Shinichi Higashino, sir! Konoha's Squad 10 will guarantee your safety with the utmost professionalism! We'll deliver you to the competition venue without a single hair out of place! Focus entirely on your cooking, Chef-sama! We've got your back!"
Shizune and Kurenai stared at each other in silent, wide-eyed horror. Did he just issue a mission request to himself?!
Shinichi's mouth twitched once – the tiniest hint of a smirk – before he recovered his genius-level poker face. He nodded politely. "Then I'll leave my upcoming itinerary in your capable hands."
Inside his head, though? The [Glutton] trait was practically glowing. Perfect. The 'Number One in the Land of Fire' title, personally bestowed by the Daimyo… national attention… folk delicacies… This is how I anchor 'Shinichi Higashino' into the cultural fabric. Just like the Sage of Six Paths anchored Ninshū. Food, festivals, daily life – my name will be everywhere. Public perception, here we come.
Tsunade was already marching out the door, scroll in hand, muttering under her breath, "Finally, a mission that isn't haunted or weedy. Though a chef client? This brat's full of surprises…"
Shizune trailed after her, still pale but now giggling nervously. "W-wait, does this mean we get to taste test his cooking? Chef Shinichi… that sounds kinda fun…"
Kurenai just shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Squad 10's missions just got a lot more interesting."
As the door closed behind them, the Third Hokage leaned back in his chair, puffing his pipe with a quiet chuckle. "Heh. Let's see how the world reacts when our young genius adds 'Master Chef' to his legend."
---