A few days later, Team 10 completed several D-level missions, such as finding cats, weeding, and cleaning up the river.
Tsunade was the first to show obvious impatience with this tedious and repetitive process.
Once again, during the handover of missions in the Hokage's office, when the third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, habitually picked up his pen to issue another D-rank mission, Tsunade interrupted the process without any politeness.
"Alright, old man."
She crossed her arms and said directly, "I think these kids have honed their basic skills enough and are capable of carrying out more advanced tasks."
The third Hokage looked up from the documents, glanced at her impatient disciple, and then at the three students behind her with different expressions.
"Since you've put it that way..."
The third Hokage slowly took out another mission scroll from the drawer, unfolded it, and read it aloud in a calm and unhurried manner: "Well then, here is a suitable mission. In the past two months, several bizarre deaths have occurred on Izu Oshima Island, located in the eastern sea of the Land of Fire."
"All the victims claimed to have watched a black videotape of unknown origin within a week before their deaths. Their deaths were quite similar, with extremely terrified expressions, as if they had witnessed an indescribable horror. However, there were no obvious fatal wounds on their bodies. The local sheriff was at a loss and suspected that supernatural forces or ninjas were involved, so he sent a request for assistance to Konoha."
Hearing this, Shizune instinctively hugged her bag tighter, her face pale, and her voice trembling slightly as she said, "A videotape that... will kill you if you watch it? It sounds like something out of a ghost story..."
Tsunade frowned and tapped her fingers on the table: "Izu Oshima? Too far. Going all that way just for a broken videotape? The time spent on the road is longer than the mission time. Give me another one."
The third Hokage nodded without any temper and then pulled out another scroll: "Then how about this one? The Saeki family mansion in the Setagaya District of Sanban City. Five years ago, a mysterious disappearance case involving a family of three occurred there. There were no signs of intense struggle at the scene, and no property was lost. It was as if they vanished into thin air."
"In the five years that followed, five people who broke into the house, three sheriffs in charge of investigating the case, and two real estate businessmen who bought the house all died mysteriously in their own homes or temporary residences shortly after entering the mansion. The causes of death varied, but no signs of external intervention could be found."
"The mansion is therefore considered haunted, and Sanban City hopes that Konoha will send professionals to conduct a thorough investigation."
Shizune's face paled even more. She moved closer to Kurenai and whispered, "A haunted mansion where you'll die if you move in... this sounds even more like a supernatural story than the last one... and it's about serial murders..."
Tsunade rubbed her temples, her tone disdainful: "Investigating cases involving old cases, serial deaths, and even those rumored to be cursed is the most troublesome. The clues are probably long gone, the scene may have been destroyed countless times, and you have to deal with a bunch of local officials and superstitious people. It's time-consuming, laborious, and purely thankless."
"No, change it again!"
The third Hokage, in a good mood, changed the scroll again: "Then what about this mission? In Misaki Town on the southwestern coast, a series of bizarre murders and conflicts has recently occurred. Several male townspeople, including the son of a local wealthy merchant and members of the sheriff's office, have become involved in intense disputes."
"All of them are focused on a black-haired girl said to possess astonishing beauty, with a tear-mole beneath the corner of her eye. They compete for her affection, plotting against each other and even directly killing one another, as if they have completely lost their sanity. Rumors have spread locally that she is the reincarnation of a fox demon that bewilders people's hearts."
"What fox demon? Isn't that just someone using Genjutsu to mess with people?"
Tsunade scoffed after hearing this, but this time she didn't immediately refuse.
Seeing that Tsunade's attitude had softened, the third Hokage smiled and offered another option: "There's also Kirimi Village near the northwestern border. Over the past three months, young women in the village have been disappearing on nights of the full moon. The following morning, they are discovered unconscious in front of the village shrine outside the town."
"Their lives are not in danger, but they have completely lost their memories of the previous night, and their bodies show signs of slight depletion."
"Rumors in the village say they are being taken as brides by the mountain God. The villagers are terrified. The local defense unit has found nothing in their investigation and has requested assistance from a professional ninja."
Shizune still looked pale and muttered quietly, "Taken as brides by the mountain God… That still sounds strange…"
"Why is everything either ghosts or urban legends?"
Tsunade couldn't help complaining. "Old man, don't you have anything more normal? Like exterminating bandits or escorting a merchant caravan, something like a C-rank mission?"
The third Hokage shrugged, looking innocent: "Recently, things have been relatively peaceful within the Land of Fire. The regular escort and bandit-suppression missions have all been taken by other teams. What's left are either these kinds of missions with a bit of a supernatural element, which require ninjas to investigate the truth and dispel rumors, or more distant and complex cross-border missions."
He paused, as if suddenly remembering something, and rummaged through the pile of scrolls on the table, pulling out a scroll that looked relatively new.
"By the way, there is one here... well, it might be a bit special, but it might be more suitable for your Team 10's current situation."
The third Hokage unfurled the scroll, his gaze sweeping over the contents, and read aloud calmly as usual:
"Mission type: Personnel escort. Client: Shinichi Higashino, the invited chef of the Aji No Takumi Cuisine Restaurant at Konoha. Mission details: Escort the invited chef Shinichi Higashino safely to the capital city of the Land of Fire, Taiyoto, and ensure his safety during the entire period until he completes participation in the Land of Fire's first culinary tournament. Afterward, escort him safely back to Konoha. Mission rank: C."
The third Hokage read it in a flat, straightforward manner, as if it were just an ordinary escort mission.
However, the moment the words fell...
Everyone in Team 10, including Tsunade, turned their gazes to Shinichi Higashino, who had been standing to the side and had been mostly silent since the start of the meeting!
Everyone's face was filled with astonishment, confusion, and a sense of absurdity, as if they were wondering, "Did I hear that right?"
Shinichi… was a chef?
He was going to participate in a culinary tournament?
Shizune and Kurenai were completely dumbfounded, their eyes wide open.
Tsunade blinked, her impatient expression completely frozen. She raised her hand, pointing uncertainly with her index finger at the calm Shinichi, then turned to the third Hokage: "Old man, is the client you're talking about, Shinichi Higashino, the same person I'm thinking of?"
"If the client did not provide false information, then it is the same person."
The third Hokage coughed lightly, then smiled and said, "So, Tsunade, do you want to take it?"
"Take it! Why wouldn't I take it?"
Tsunade no longer hesitated, snatching the mission scroll from the third Hokage's hand with a swift and decisive motion.
She turned to face Shinichi, a sudden, extremely kind, even exaggeratedly enthusiastic smile spreading across her face as she spoke in a tone as if addressing an important vip client: "Mr. Shinichi Higashino, please rest assured! From now on, our Team 10 of Konoha will do our utmost to ensure your absolute safety during your trip to Taiyoto! We guarantee to deliver you to your destination unharmed and escort you back safely! You can focus on preparing for your match!"
What's this?
Do you assign tasks to yourself?
Shizune and Kurenai thought to themselves.
Shinichi's lips twitched slightly at Tsunade's deliberately quirky yet solemn promise, but he quickly regained his composure, nodded slightly, and replied cooperatively, "Then I'll leave the rest of the journey to you all."
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