A few days later, Team Ten completed several more D-rank missions such as finding cats, pulling weeds, and clearing river channels.
Tsunade was the first to show obvious impatience with this tedious and repetitive routine.
During yet another mission handover at the Hokage Residence, just as the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, habitually picked up his brush to sign off on another D-rank mission, Tsunade unceremoniously interrupted the process.
"That's enough, old man." She crossed her arms and said bluntly, "I think these brats have had their basics polished enough. They're capable of handling higher-level missions now."
The Third Hokage raised his eyes from the document, looked at his impatient disciple, then glanced at the three students behind her, each wearing a different expression.
"Since you say so..." the Third said slowly as he took another mission scroll from the drawer and unfolded it. Unhurriedly, he read aloud, "Then there is a suitable mission here. On Izu Ōshima, located in the eastern sea region of the Land of Fire, several strange death incidents have occurred over the past two months."
"All the victims claimed that within the week before their deaths, they had watched an unidentified black videotape. Their deaths were quite consistent: their faces showed extreme terror, as if they had witnessed some indescribable horror, yet there were no obvious fatal wounds on their bodies. The local sheriff is at a loss and suspects the involvement of supernatural forces or ninjas, and therefore has requested assistance from Konohagakure."
Shizune instinctively clutched the bag in her arms tighter. Her small face turned pale, and her voice trembled slightly as she said, "A videotape that kills anyone who watches it? That sounds like something from a ghost story..."
Tsunade frowned and tapped her fingers on the table. "Izu Ōshima? That's too far. Traveling all that way just for a lousy videotape? The travel time would be longer than the mission itself. Pick another one."
The Third Hokage nodded without the slightest temper and pulled out another scroll.
"Then how about this one? At the Saeki family residence in Setagaya District of Sanban City, a mysterious disappearance of a family of three occurred five years ago. There were no signs of intense struggle at the scene, nor any loss of property. It was as if they had vanished into thin air."
"Over the following five years, five civilians who broke into the house, three sheriffs assigned to investigate the case, and two real estate merchants who purchased the property all died mysteriously not long after entering the residence. They all died either in their own homes or temporary lodgings. The causes of death varied, but likewise showed no trace of external interference."
"As a result, the residence has come to be regarded as a cursed house, and the authorities of Sanban City hope that Konohagakure will send professionals to conduct a thorough investigation."
Shizune's face turned even paler. She edged closer to Kurenai and whispered, "A haunted house where you die if you move in... th-this sounds even more like a ghost story than the last one... and a serial killing case at that..."
Tsunade rubbed her brow, her tone full of disdain. "Cases like this, involving old unsolved incidents and a string of deaths, and then being spread around as some curse, are the biggest hassle to investigate. Any leads are probably long cold by now, the scene may have been ruined countless times, and we'd still have to deal with a pile of local bureaucrats and superstitious civilians. It takes time and effort for no real reward at all."
"No. Change it again!"
The Third Hokage good-naturedly switched to another scroll. "Then what about this mission? In Misakichō, a town on the southwestern coast, a series of unbelievable murders and conflicts has recently occurred. Several male townspeople, including the son of a local wealthy merchant and a sheriff, have successively become involved in fierce disputes."
"All of them are said to have been targeting a black-haired young girl of astonishing beauty, with a tear mole beneath the corner of her eye. They fought over her out of jealousy, schemed against one another, and even directly killed each other, as though they had completely lost their reason. Rumors have already spread locally, calling her the return of a fox demon that beguiles men's hearts."
"What fox demons and ghosts? It's obviously just some guy using genjutsu to cause trouble."
After hearing it, Tsunade let out a direct scoff, but this time she did not reject it immediately.
Seeing Tsunade's attitude soften, the Third Hokage smilingly threw out another option. "Near the northwestern border lies Kumomi Village. Over the past three months, young women in the village have been disappearing one after another on nights of the full moon. At dawn the next morning, they are found unconscious in front of the shrine outside the village. Their lives are not in danger, but their memories of the previous night are completely blank, and their bodies show signs of slight depletion."
"A rumor has spread through the village that they are being taken as brides by the mountain god. The people are in a panic, and after the local garrison failed to uncover anything, they submitted a request for professional shinobi assistance."
Shizune's little face was still somewhat pale as she listened, and she muttered softly, "Taken as a bride by the mountain god... it still sounds kind of strange..."
"Why is it either gods and ghosts or urban legends?" Tsunade could not help complaining. "Old man, don't you have anything more normal? Like a C-rank mission to wipe out bandits or escort a merchant caravan?"
The Third Hokage shrugged, looking innocent. "The Land of Fire has been relatively peaceful lately. The ordinary guard and bandit-subjugation missions have all been taken by other teams. What's left is either this sort of thing, with a bit of ghost-story flavor to it, where shinobi are needed to investigate the truth and dispel the rumors, or else cross-border missions that are even farther away and more complicated."
He paused, as if suddenly remembering something, then rummaged through the pile of scrolls on the desk again and pulled out one that looked relatively new.
"Right, there is one here… hmm, perhaps somewhat special, but it might be more suitable for Team Ten's current situation."
The Third Hokage unfolded the scroll, his gaze sweeping over the contents, and read in an even tone: "Mission type: Personnel escort. Client: Higashino Shinichi, specially invited chef of the Ajino Takumi Cuisine Restaurant of Konohagakure. Mission details: Escort the specially invited chef of the restaurant, Higashino Shinichi, safely to the capital of the Land of Fire, and ensure his safety during his activities there until he completes the entire process of participating in the Land of Fire's No.1 Gourmet Competition. Afterward, escort him safely back to Konohagakure. Mission rank: C."
The Third Hokage read it in a flat, matter-of-fact tone, as if this were nothing more than an utterly ordinary escort mission.
However, the moment his voice fell silent—
Everyone in Team Ten, including Tsunade, instantly turned their gazes in unison toward Shinichi, who had been standing nearby and had remained mostly silent since the meeting began.
Every face was filled with astonishment, confusion, and a sense of absurdity that seemed to say, "Did I hear that wrong?"
Shinichi… is also a chef?
He's going to participate in a gourmet competition?
Shizune and Kurenai were completely stunned now, their eyes wide and round.
Tsunade blinked. The impatient expression on her face froze completely. She raised her hand and pointed uncertainly with her index finger at the calm-looking Shinichi, then turned toward the Third Hokage.
"Old man, the Higashino Shinichi you're talking about as the client—is he the same person I'm thinking of?"
"If the client did not provide false information, then it is the same person."
The Third Hokage gave a light cough, then said with a smiling expression, "So? Tsunade, do you want to take it?"
"Take it! Why wouldn't we take it?" Tsunade no longer hesitated. She snatched the mission scroll from the Third Hokage's hand in one swift, decisive motion.
Turning around to face Shinichi, a suddenly extremely kind smile bloomed on her face—so warm it was almost exaggerated. In a tone as though addressing an important VIP client, she said: "Higashino-san, please rest assured! From this moment on, Team Ten of Konohagakure will guarantee the absolute safety of your trip to the capital with the utmost professional attitude! We will make sure not even a single hair on your head is lost when delivering you to the competition, and we will escort you back just as safely afterward! You can focus on preparing for your competition without worry!"
What is this?
Issuing a mission commission to himself?
Shizune and Kurenai could not help complaining inwardly.
Faced with Tsunade's deliberately exaggerated and solemn promise, the corner of Shinichi's mouth twitched slightly. But he quickly regained his composure, gave a slight nod, and cooperatively responded: "Then I will leave the itinerary from here on to all of you."
---
I will post some extra Chapters in Patreon, you can check it out. >> patreon.com/TitoVillar
---