The leisurely life Hyuga Arin thought he had didn't last long.
Within just a few days, he was summoned to the Hokage's office by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Old man, what is it?" Hyuga Arin walked in and slapped a hand onto the desk.
Hiruzen glared at him angrily. At least show some respect, you brat!!
With no one else around, Arin curled his lips. "Hokage-sama, what's the matter?"
"There's a mission that requires you," Hiruzen said, unfolding a mission scroll in front of him.
Arin opened it.
"Protect the Daimyō!?" Arin looked at the mission in disbelief.
"Is this really a mission suited for me?"
He thought back on all the missions he had done—none involved protection. And considering his track record of killing like it was nothing, asking him to protect someone… was this a joke?
He might end up becoming the danger instead.
"And besides, the Daimyō isn't in any danger, right?"
Among the Five Great Nations, the Daimyō were the safest individuals. Ninja were not allowed to act against the Daimyō of the Five Great Nations—only the Daimyō of small countries were fair game.
The Five Great Nations were the true overlords of the world, and the Daimyō's status was unshakable. If any ninja dared to attack one of them, the other four nations would jointly condemn it, even forcing the Five Great Villages to cooperate in hunting down the culprit.
And yet, despite having the power to overturn everything, ninja still obediently followed the Daimyō's orders.
It was absurd.
"But this time, the Daimyō personally requested that you protect him," Hiruzen said in a low voice.
"Sounds like he wants to win me over," Arin said, stroking his chin.
The relationship between ninja villages and the Daimyō of great nations was inherently awkward. The former held the strongest military power, yet the latter ruled the nation with their support.
Logically, those with force should rule everything. Yet reality had twisted into something bizarre—those with power voluntarily serving the weaker side, protecting them while allowing them to stand above them.
If the Daimyō truly improved the country, that would be one thing.
But in reality, the noble class led by the Daimyō were the real parasites hindering development.
The Daimyō likely understood this truth as well, which was why they had always wanted their own independent military force.
They didn't dare during the First Hokage's era.
They couldn't outplay the Second.
But under the Third… they could finally start testing the waters.
Just like during this war—repeatedly restricting Konoha's funding, practically training them like dogs.
Hiruzen wasn't stupid either. He hadn't completely submitted to the Daimyō—he even showed signs of resistance.
"What nonsense!" Hiruzen snapped, glaring at Arin. "The purpose of ninja is to protect the Land of Fire and the Daimyō!"
"Sure, I'll pretend I believe that," Arin said dismissively.
Later on, the Daimyō would form the Twelve Guardian Ninja. Each of them would be quite strong—yet internal conflict would erupt after Asuma joined.
If Hiruzen wasn't behind that, Arin wouldn't believe it.
Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction. "I expect you to complete this mission properly."
With Arin's attitude, it was clear he wouldn't be easily swayed.
"Besides me, who else is going?" Arin asked curiously.
Surely he wasn't being sent alone.
"Kazuma."
Two figures suddenly appeared beside Arin.
"He'll accompany you. Jōnin Kazuma."
Arin tilted his head as he looked at the man.
So this was Kazuma—the future leader of the Twelve Guardian Ninja who would later attack Konoha.
Arin raised his hand.
"Hypothetically speaking… what if I accidentally killed the Daimyō?"
Kazuma showed no reaction. He simply turned to Arin and said calmly:
"Jōnin Hyuga Arin, our mission is to protect the Daimyō. A ninja's highest priority is the mission."
"You'd be hunted down and killed," the other man said coldly.
Kazuma's presence didn't surprise Arin.
What surprised him was the other person.
White Fang—Hatake Sakumo.
"Well, that's harsh. Guess I can't 'slip up,' then," Arin said with a regretful expression.
"Just do your mission properly!!" Hiruzen roared.
Even if his relationship with the Daimyō wasn't great, the Daimyō was still technically his superior. Their disagreements hadn't reached the point of wanting each other dead.
"So when does this mission end?" Arin asked, clearly resistant.
Even Hiruzen was starting to regret assigning him. Everyone else was going to protect the Daimyō's life—Arin looked like he was aiming for it.
But this was the Daimyō's request.
Rejecting it would cause trouble.
Telling the truth would likely result in losing next quarter's funding.
A headache.
Hiruzen looked helplessly at Hatake Sakumo, hoping he could keep Arin in check.
Sakumo had also been specifically requested by the Daimyō. Initially, even the Sannin were requested—but they declined due to ongoing missions.
The Daimyō's attempt to poach talent was obvious.
But Hiruzen had no choice but to comply.
Orochimaru was currently in Root researching Wood Release with Danzo.
Tsunade had just become director of Konoha Hospital and was overwhelmed.
As for Jiraiya—
Did he even have such a disciple?
Was there such a person among the Sannin?
The guy who kept getting arrested by the Uchiha for peeping in women's baths couldn't possibly be his disciple.
At least his own disciple wouldn't get caught.
There were only two Sannin.
That was common knowledge.
Cough.
Hiruzen cleared his throat.
"The mission ends when the Daimyō allows you to return."
"Oh~" Arin nodded thoughtfully.
Hiruzen shouted again:
"No causing trouble!! Carry out the mission properly!!!"
It was obvious Arin was up to no good.
Arin curled his lips.
Then it seemed…
The Daimyō would just have to die "accidentally."
…
The three-man team set out.
Arin lay lazily on a tree branch and looked at Hatake Sakumo.
"Senior White Fang, if you leave Konoha, a lot of people will be worried. Is that really okay?"
Sakumo's reputation was skyrocketing.
His frontline achievements were simply too outstanding.
He had held off the Third Kazekage, repelled Elder Chiyo, and cut through Sunagakure forces.
Compared to that, the Sannin's achievements—repelling the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki and defeating Hanzo—seemed less impressive.
Those opponents simply weren't as famous.
Sakumo was gradually becoming Konoha's pillar.
"There are other powerful ninja in the village," Sakumo replied coldly.
His tone carried a distant, untouchable air.
"Ah… seems I've been disliked," Arin said with a smile.
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