"Hmm? gulp gulp gulp... So they're all kids? Doesn't Konoha have more decent ninja? Especially that furry-faced guy—did you escape from a circus?"
After the bespectacled old man pushed open the door and entered, he first took several big gulps of liquor, then spoke to the three members of Team 8.
Yet the moment Yuki saw him, he felt a wave of relief. Because the person who appeared was an old man with dark red hair wearing green clothes—not the disheveled old man he had imagined.
"Furry-faced? Hahaha, besides me, there's someone else who's furry—hey, you old geezer! You looking for a fight?!"
After laughing three times, Kiba finally realized the old man was probably, maybe, perhaps referring to him as the one who escaped from the circus and immediately bristled.
"Now, now. This gentleman is Mr. Tenmei, the client for this C-rank protection mission. He is a fisherman and wishes to be escorted to the southern coast of the Land of Fire to catch a rare type of fish."
While Shino restrained the nearly furious Kiba, Hiruzen quickly introduced the mission's client to Team 8 before their own team could finish him off.
Stubborn, unreasonable, and arrogant due to seniority—the old man named Tenmei wore deliberately dirty, messy clothes and put on an impatient attitude, like any ordinary old man you might see anywhere.
But after observing for a few seconds, Yuki realized his interior wasn't as bad as his exterior suggested.
Though his clothes were for heavy labor, his back was straight, his posture proper, his fingernails clean without a speck of dirt. His hair was messy but clearly had been well-groomed before...
A disguise? He's trying to disguise himself as a slovenly ordinary fisherman, but in reality, he's a highly cultivated elder. But what's the purpose of this disguise?
"Hmph, whatever. Anyway, before I find the legendary 'Golden Pufferfish,' you must protect me with your lives."
After shooting Kiba a glance, Tenmei's gaze swept over each member of Team 8. His eyes were serious and profound, as if hiding an entire ocean within them.
"Don't worry. For this mission, I—a Jōnin—will be accompanying you. Nothing will go wrong."
Noticing this client might not be easy to fool, Team 8's Jōnin instructor, Yūhi Kurenai, quickly stepped forward, demonstrating their firm resolve.
"Good. Then departure is tomorrow morning. This journey will likely last about a week. Everyone, prepare accordingly."
After leaving the Hokage's office, Kurenai, with experienced ease, explained to her three students what to bring for such a long-distance mission before departing.
The southernmost part of the Land of Fire? Near the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Tea? That seems like a remote coastal area, right?
When Yuki returned to the Hyūga clan's estate, he promptly found a world map and began scrutinizing it closely.
The "Land of Fire" was not equal to Konoha Village. To put it bluntly, Konoha was merely one city within the vast territory of the Land of Fire. The true ruler of the entire nation was the Fire Daimyō, who usually resided in the "Daimyō Capital."
Though not the largest in area, the Land of Fire had the best geographical position—mountains, plains, and sea all available.
The Land of Fire's coastline was concentrated in the south and east. The eastern coastline was precisely where the "Land of Waves" was located, while the southern coastline neighbored the "Land of Whirlpools" and the "Land of Tea."
The place Old Man Tenmei wants us to take him is at the corner of the longest southern coastline? Aside from a small fishing village, there doesn't seem to be anything special there, right?
After looking at the map, Yuki couldn't help but frown. Old Man Tenmei claimed he wanted them to take him to catch some "Golden Pufferfish," but he clearly wasn't a fisherman, right? What's his real purpose for going there?
Ah well, this might make things more interesting anyway. Being the daring type, when Yuki noticed the oddities in this mission, he didn't mention them to anyone else and simply set off inexplicably on this journey toward the sea.
Just as Team 8 was making preparations for departure, within the master bedroom of the Daimyō's residence at the very center of the "Daimyō Capital" under the night sky, a seemingly somewhat effeminate old man sat at a massive desk wearing loose sleeping robes.
With a calm expression, he raised a gold-rimmed wine glass, elegantly sipping the priceless famous sake "Kikuhime Kukurihime Junmai Daiginjo." He appeared very relaxed and at ease, his every movement exuding the authority of a superior.
But don't let this old man's seemingly frail appearance fool you. In reality, he was one of the most powerful men in the entire Land of Fire.
"Fire Daimyō - Ensō Hikari"—this was the old man's title. In other words, the entire Land of Fire was his territory, including Konoha Village.
Unlike the Hokage, who specialized in missions and warfare, the Fire Daimyō's usual duties involved international diplomacy, internal administration, commercial operations, economic coordination, etc.—meaning the Hokage focused on military affairs, while the Daimyō focused on domestic affairs.
Of course, nominally, the Hokage was subordinate to the Daimyō. The Daimyō even had significant say in Hokage selection—superficially appearing extremely prestigious.
But honestly, in this chaotic ninja world, the Hokage's fame and authority were undoubtedly many times greater than the Daimyō's. Moreover, the Hokage possessed all armed forces of "Konoha Village" and their own formidable strength as bargaining chips. Though the Daimyō was nominally prestigious, everyone knew they were completely incomparable to the Hokage in substance...
"Lord Hikari, an informant from Konoha sent intelligence. A team is planning to depart for the southern coastal area, and the client appears to be from a southern fishing village."
"What?"
When the shadow suddenly appearing outside the window reported this unexpected development, Hikari's meticulously groomed eyebrows couldn't help but twitch.
"Do we know what mission that fishing villager requested from Konoha? What's the team composition?"
"Seems to be a C-rank protection mission, but it's uncertain whether it's related to the 'Akabane Corps Base' we established near the fishing village. The team's Jōnin is Yūhi Kurenai, registration number 010881. The other three are all genin who graduated this year."
A C-rank mission with a team that just graduated this year... Besides that Jōnin, the other three are probably useless. Sending the 'Akabane Corps' should handle it. No need to ask Danzō for personnel yet.
After pondering a moment, Hikari instructed the shadow dedicated to transmitting intelligence: "Have the 'Akabane Corps' take action. Just eliminate that villager. Let the Konoha ninja go—spare their lives."
"Yes!"
With that response, the shadow instantly vanished outside the window, as if he had never appeared.
Konoha ninja... Hmph, be grateful. If I didn't want to attract Hiruzen's attention, I'd make sure you were utterly annihilated.
Gazing at the bright moonlight outside the window, the Fire Daimyō, Ensō Hikari, revealed a sinister expression.
He didn't believe an ordinary Konoha team could match the "Akabane Corps." After all, this was a unit composed of members who had undergone special training. Several squad leaders even came from the special organization "Root," so their combat prowess was naturally extraordinary. That's why Hikari specifically said to spare their lives.
But as tomorrow's sun rose again, the Fire Daimyō would once more become the gentle, kind, even somewhat timid and honest elder in the eyes of the common people. No one knew he wore such a face in the shadows...
Early the next morning, the party of four, carrying backpacks, left Konoha Village with the mission's client, Mr. Tenmei.
Though it had only been a month or two since his last return to Konoha, as Yuki once again walked on the broad roads outside the village, he felt a long-missed sense of refreshment.
Somehow, compared to the orderly buildings of Konoha Village, I still prefer the forests and plains of the wilderness... and thrilling battles.