The sun rose brightly over Konoha, casting a warm glow on the vilge as Kaida, Itachi, and Kabuto eheir muticipated day of rest. After the grueling week of training with Jiraiya, the trio felt a mix of exhaustion and exhiration. They had pushed their limits, and now they were determio rex before embarking on their important mission.

  ing out of the restaurant, each holding ara dango sti their hand, their stomachs bloated from eating too much, they headed toward their homes after thanking their sensei for the treat.

  “Those brats, were they starving for the whole week for this day? How the hell could they eat this mu a siting?” Jiraiya said as he paid the bill.

  “I don’t know, sir…” The young boy at the ter responded meekly. Since Jiraiya was a famous and powerful ninja, most civilians, though they respected him, were easily intimidated by his presence.

  Aced to this, Jiraiya simply paid the bill a. Unlike his disciples, he still had work to do.

  ...

  After resting for a day, all three were summoo the Hokage building the m. When Kaida received the message, Shisui had already left the house. Kaida followed and united with Kabuto and Itachi at the Hokage’s office.

  “Hey, guys,” Kaida said, sittio Itachi and Kabuto.

  “You’re te,” Kabuto remarked.

  “Nope, I’m on time. This isn’t a mission site where I have to be 10 minutes early to s for traps,” Kaida replied with a smile.

  “Still, you’re visiting the Hokage. What if you made him wait?” Kabuto asked.

  ‘Brat, you helped in killing the same Hokage,’ Kaida thought but kept the thought to himself.

  “Well, I was on time, so no worries.”

  “Lord Third is calling for you,” the receptionist said.

  Receiving the order, the three made their way toward the Hokage’s office.

  ...

  “Good m, Lord Third,” all three said, bowing slightly.

  “Good m. Were you able to rest well?” Hiruzen asked in his usual grandfatherly tone.

  “Yes, Lord Third.”

  “Good. Now, about the exam— as you know, this is not just a simple promotion exam for you. This is a mission to show the world that the Will of Fire burning inside every Konoha ninja is as strong as ever, if not stronger.

  The new geion not only matches the previous o surpasses it. The world o know this, and yoing to make sure they do. Though this task is dangerous, the vilge will ensure your safety. Not only will Jiraiya apany you, but Shisui as well, along with two extra squads of Jonin. Your safety is fully secured.”

  Though Hiruzen was trying to reassure them, he was also hinting at the actual danger of the mission. Sending two Kage-level ninjas along with eight Jonin was enough t down any small ninja vilge without casualties. If such a team was required for their safety, then the danger level of this mission was clearly on another level.

  While all three were thinking this, Itachi, being the heir and trained in politics from a young age, thought of other implications as well.

  “But, Lord Third, we really send such a team to an enemy vilge uhe pretext of security?” Itachi asked.

  “Very good, Itachi. This is the quality of a good leader—thinking about the hiddeails as well,” Hiruzen said with a smile, then tinued, “The Daimyo will also be there to watch the exam, and you all will be part of the guard team. This is an S-rank mission, and I would normally send Jiraiya with him anyway, but now we have a reason to send the others as well.”

  “So, will they stay with the Fire Daimyo all the time?” Kaida asked, ed that if that were the case, it would make ambushing them easier.

  “No, a Daimyo doesn’t need prote inside a ninja vilge. Once we reach Kumogakure, it will be their responsibility to maintain his security. However, we will leave four Jonin with him, and the rest will focus on tering any schemes against you,” Hiruzen expined.

  Seeing that there were no further questions, Hiruzen added, “You will leave for the Fire Capital in one hour, so head to the vilge gate then.”

  “Yes, Lord Third,” everyone said, taking their leave to make final preparations and say goodbye to their families, as they might not return for a month or two.

  ...

  Kaida said goodbye to Hae and Naruto, along with Shisui, and wrote a letter to Yomi expining the ret developments, so she would know why he wasn’t there wheurned. He also bid her farewell, as she was still at the outpost, pletirag and sensing training. Along with Shisui, Kaida headed for the vilge gate, the meeting point of the eam.

  There, they met Itachi and Kabuto.

  “Hey, I’m Shisui Uchiha, Kaida’s big brother. o meet you,” Shisui said, meeting Kabuto for the first time.

  “I’ve heard many things about you, Shisui-sama. It’s my pleasure to meet you,” Kabuto said, showing proper respect to his superior.

  Shisui, being ae Jonin, was highly superior to Kabuto.

  “o be so stiff. Since you’re my brother’s friend, you’re like a brother to me as well,” Shisui said, patting Kabuto’s shoulder.

  “Save the talk for the journey; we have quite a long one ahead of us,” Jiraiya said, appearing in front of them, followed by eight Jonin. Four were Anbu, responsible for the Daimyo’s security, while the other four were elite Jonin from the Uchiha , directly under Fugaku’s orders.

  Seeing them, Itachi reized them by their uniforms, and Kaida did as well, havihem during the Danzo i when they were active in the Uchiha pound.

  Notig their gaze, Jiraiya expined, “Itachi is the heir of the Uchiha. These are his guards for the mission, appointed by the Uchiha head.”

  “I nearly fot our captain rince,” Kabuto said with a smirk.

  “How could you? He always maintains his royal attitude to remind us,” Kaida said in mock shock.

  “Yup, totally,” Shisui added.

  For the first time since meeting Itachi, they saw a flicker of embarrassment on his face, his cheeks turning slightly red before he quickly posed himself.

  “I never asked fuards,” Itachi muttered.

  “A pries many things without asking,” Kaida teased. The guards, though loyal to Fugaku, were not as rigid as Root ninjas. Rather than being offehey seemed pleased by the liveliness of the young ninjas.

  “It’s good that you’re in high spirits, but we don’t have all day. We ’t be te to meet the Daimyo, so let’s go,” Jiraiya said.

  Everyone nodded, leaving behind the peaceful atmosphere and being pletely serious as they started running toward the Fire Capital.

  There was no one in the group below Jonin level, so there was o wait for anyone during the jourhe weakest among them was Kabuto, but he was still able to keep pace.

  Using movement jutsu between runs, they reached the capital in just two hours, arriving by 10 a.m., well ahead of the 12 p.m. departure time. It was necessary because, with the Daimyo involved, there was no room for error.

  Who was the Daimyo? The king of the try, the one who trolled the entire ey. If he became offended, Konoha, which was just beginning tain its eic strength, could face problems even bigger than before.