Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Mifune-Style Kenjutsu

Early the next morning.

Natsuki and Nonou arrived at the First Training Ground.

This was the first gathering of their ninja squad, Team 1.

Because they were already so familiar with each other, Tsunade directly skipped the usual first-meeting introductions yesterday.

"You look a bit worried."

Natsuki turned to look at Nonou.

Her small face lacked its usual gentleness and looked tense.

"I’m afraid of holding you guys back."

Nonou hesitated for a moment and voiced her thoughts.

"Why would you think that?"

Natsuki smiled. "Among our peers, no one is better at medical ninjutsu than you."

"I only know medical ninjutsu."

Nonou lowered her head. "If a battle breaks out, I’ll have to rely on you guys for protection."

Natsuki was slightly taken aback.

This was indeed the awkward situation medical ninjas faced in a ninja squad.

Although medical ninjas were important, the fact remained that they lacked combat ability.

If the other two teammates weren’t strong enough, adding a medical ninja teammate would actually lower the squad’s overall strength.

Thinking about it carefully, this was probably one of the reasons why Tsunade’s proposal to mandate a medical ninja in every squad was rejected in the original story.

"Have you forgotten who your teacher is now?"

Natsuki reminded her. "You can ask Teacher Tsunade to teach you taijutsu later."

Although Tsunade had already taught Nonou a lot of medical ninjutsu, that was in the medical ninja training class.

Even though they were both teachers, a Jonin instructor and a medical ninja training class teacher were completely different concepts.

It was different now. Tsunade had explicitly stated yesterday that Nonou was her student.

Nonou was stunned for a moment, then broke into a smile.

Tsunade was a rare medical ninja who possessed combat ability.

As her student, she could also learn taijutsu from her—and then she wouldn’t be a burden to Natsuki and Nawaki.

"You just overthink things."

Natsuki patted her hair.

Nonou kept her head down, letting him do as he pleased.

"Natsuki! Nonou!"

Not long after, Nawaki’s enthusiastic voice rang out.

Tsunade came with him.

Kushina didn’t come.

She wasn’t a member of Team 1, and with Uzumaki Mito’s condition worsening, she had to make the most of her time.

Natsuki estimated that Uzumaki Mito would have a hard time surviving this year.

"Teacher."

After greeting her, Nonou got straight to business. "I want to learn taijutsu."

"Even if you didn’t bring it up, I would have made you learn it."

Tsunade was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

"I feel like our squad is terrifyingly well-rounded!"

Hearing this, Nawaki immediately said. "We have everything we need."

Combat and medical support went without saying.

For sensory abilities, they had his and Natsuki’s summoning beasts.

Of course, what he didn’t know was that Natsuki also had Clairvoyance and "There is Only One Truth."

For crowd control, Natsuki knew two genjutsu and had the Logia-Type Plume-Plume Fruit.

Once Nonou learned taijutsu, their last weakness would be covered.

"The biggest weakness of your squad is your reckless personality."

Tsunade rolled her eyes at him.

Nawaki smiled awkwardly but couldn’t refute it.

"Alright, since everyone is here, let’s begin Team 1’s first mission."

Tsunade clapped her hands.

"What rank is the mission?"

Nawaki immediately asked. "Is it A-Rank? Or S-Rank?"

"It’s a D-Rank."

Tsunade replied.

"Ah?"

Nawaki widened his eyes. "With our strength, do we still need to do D-Rank missions?"

You had to know that even before they graduated, they had completed many high-rank missions with Orochimaru and Tsunade.

Now that they’d graduated, they were doing low-rank missions instead. What was the point of graduating?

"What?"

Tsunade asked in return. "Do you not want to participate in the Chunin Exams?"

"What do D-Rank missions have to do with the Chunin Exams?"

Nawaki was baffled.

"Natsuki, you tell him."

Tsunade didn’t answer directly but called on Natsuki instead.

"A prerequisite for participating in the Chunin Exams is having completed a sufficient number of missions."

Natsuki said slowly. "This includes a significant number of low-rank missions."

"Why is there such a rule?"

Nawaki’s mouth twitched.

"As a ninja, you cannot be picky. No matter what mission you accept, you must complete it seriously."

Tsunade raised her hand, flicked his forehead. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, Sister."

Nawaki replied listlessly.

"I heard from Teacher that there will be a Chunin Exam this year."

Tsunade reminded him. "If you aren’t proactive about doing missions, you won’t be able to participate when the time comes."

"Really?"

Nawaki immediately perked up.

"Mm."

Tsunade nodded. "It’s related to the war in the Land of Rain. Many Genin have already met the requirements for promotion."

"Logically speaking, isn’t it more inappropriate to hold Chunin Exams during wartime?"

Nawaki asked, confused.

"Because the war hasn’t reached its most intense point yet."

Tsunade said as she walked. "Under the premise that it doesn’t affect the war effort, holding a Chunin Exam is quite suitable."

Natsuki suddenly thought of Sarutobi Asuma, Might Guy, and the others participating in the Chunin Exams in the original story.

The timing was also exactly the year before the Third Shinobi World War reached its peak.

"We’re here. Your first mission is to clean up the river trash."

Tsunade stopped.

"Clean up an entire river?"

Nawaki felt a headache coming on.

"Can we use Water Release?"

Natsuki asked thoughtfully.

"You’re the smart one."

Tsunade nodded. "Both of you know Water Release. This mission can be considered a form of training for you."

Although it was a D-Rank mission, she wouldn’t let Natsuki and the others waste their time for nothing.

Nawaki realized this and began to form hand seals.

Under his control, the river water surged. Soon a lot of trash floated to the surface.

"Natsuki, you do the mission with Nawaki."

Tsunade ordered. "Nonou, I will teach you taijutsu now."

"Yes, Teacher Tsunade."

Natsuki responded, formed hand seals, and used Water Release to clean the river.

Nonou followed Tsunade to an open space on the other side and began learning taijutsu.

The sun set in the west.

Natsuki and Nawaki finished the river-cleaning mission.

"How does it feel?"

Tsunade asked with a smile.

"Very tiring."

Nawaki let out a breath.

Although there was no combat, using Water Release all day was also a huge burden for him.

"Don’t underestimate low-rank missions."

Tsunade said earnestly. "Every mission has meaning."

Nawaki wanted to say something but stopped.

Tsunade knew he hadn’t grasped the point yet, so she looked at Natsuki.

"Doing low-rank missions is mainly to interact with the villagers, help them, and understand them."

Natsuki thought for a moment. "Only by doing this can one gain the villagers’ recognition and become Hokage."

"No wonder Teacher often says you have a deep understanding of the Will of Fire."

Tsunade said, very satisfied. "You are indeed outstanding."

Natsuki secretly thought: I’d rather not help those Konoha troublemakers.

Although becoming Hokage required a vote from the villagers, it actually wasn’t that important.

The true power lay in the hands of the current Hokage.

For example, Sarutobi Hiruzen became Hokage because Senju Tobirama appointed him during a crisis. There was absolutely no villager voting process.

Of course, in front of Tsunade, he had to say some nice words.

"So that’s how it is?"

Nawaki scratched his head.

"You’ve all worked hard today. Go back and get a good rest. We’ll do another mission the day after tomorrow."

Tsunade considered.

Although she said rest, she was actually giving them time to train.

"Teacher Tsunade, for our next mission, can we take one that goes to the Land of Iron?"

Natsuki directly stated his purpose. "I want to use Hanzo’s kenjutsu to exchange for Mifune’s kenjutsu."

"Your idea is quite unique."

Tsunade couldn’t help but laugh.

She wasn’t surprised that Natsuki wanted Mifune’s kenjutsu.

Because he had always been learning new kenjutsu styles.

He even asked her to teach him Senju-Style Kenjutsu before.

"Mifune should agree. After all, he just lost to Hanzo and definitely wants revenge."

Tsunade nodded. "For our next mission, we’ll go to the Land of Iron."

"Thank you, Teacher Tsunade."

Natsuki breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Fortunately, his usual performance was outstanding enough, so Tsunade agreed without much thought.

The day after tomorrow.

Natsuki and Nonou arrived at the entrance of Konoha at the agreed time.

But the village entrance was livelier than they expected.

Five ninja squads were assembling, and the person in charge was none other than Hatake Sakumo.

"Lord Sakumo."

Natsuki thought for a moment and stepped forward to greet him.

"Natsuki, why are you here?"

Hatake Sakumo asked, confused. "I remember your name wasn’t on the list given by Lord Hokage."

The reason he asked this was that Natsuki possessed Jonin-level strength and was indeed qualified to follow him on this mission.

"I’m waiting for Teacher Tsunade here."

Natsuki explained. "We are going out on a mission."

"Then it seems I misunderstood."

Hatake Sakumo paused. "It’s about time. I’ll be leaving first. Let’s chat next time we have the chance."

After speaking, he led the five ninja squads and quickly left Konoha.

"Sunagakure’s Puppet Brigade suddenly disappeared a while ago."

Tsunade walked up. "Teacher felt something was fishy, so he sent Sakumo to check the situation."

Natsuki’s thoughts stirred, remembering something.

During the Second Shinobi World War, the war between Sunagakure and Konoha had two most famous battles.

Besides Tsunade and Chiyo’s battle of poisoning and detoxifying, there was also Hatake Sakumo inflicting heavy damage on Sunagakure’s Puppet Brigade.

At that time, the leaders of the Puppet Brigade were Chiyo’s son and daughter-in-law—Sasori’s parents.

They ultimately died at the hands of Hatake Sakumo.

Could it be this time?

Natsuki wasn’t sure.

But he was curious if fighting Sunagakure’s Puppet Brigade could trigger a new character template.

After all, there were quite a few characters who manipulated puppets or dolls in various works.

Tsunade talked about the content of this mission as they walked.

The mission rank was C-Rank. The objective was to retrieve a sword forged in the Land of Iron for the client.

Although Nawaki kept clamoring to encounter enemies, it was obvious that no enemies would appear on such a mission.

The group successfully arrived in the Land of Iron—and Natsuki also met Mifune and completed the exchange of kenjutsu.

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