C141

After Shizune left, the evening still felt full of energy for Haruto. He couldn't let the night end without getting in some more training. After all, the mission was tomorrow, and he needed to keep his edge sharp. He went through an intense workout, his muscles burning in all the right ways as he pushed himself to his limits. Once he was done, he made a shadow clone and tasked it with continuing the genjutsu defense training. He was making progress, but there was still so much to learn about how his Two Minds ability could synergize with resisting genjutsu. Satisfied with his setup, Haruto finally went to sleep.

The next morning, as the sunlight filtered through his window, Haruto stretched and immediately released his shadow clone. The flood of memories from the genjutsu defense training poured in, giving him valuable insights, but today was different. He wasn't going to make another clone—not for this mission. Haruto knew the value of being 100% focused on the task at hand. He had no interest in sending clones on real missions unless they were the mundane D-rank types like weeding gardens or chasing cats. No way I'm chasing a cat, he thought, smirking to himself. He wasn't about to waste his talents on that.

Haruto met up with Daichi, and the two of them walked toward the mission office. The morning air was crisp, and there was a sense of excitement buzzing between them. Shuisi and their Jonin leader, Sakumo Hatake, were already at the mission office by the time they arrived, looking ready for the day ahead. Sakumo greeted them and then immediately launched into an explanation of how the mission system worked.

"Once you're a Chunin, you can come here and accept open missions," Sakumo explained, motioning to the large board where missions were listed. "Not all missions are assigned by the village. Some you can choose to take on yourselves—D, C, B, and even A-rank missions can be picked. But be aware, S-rank missions are different. Those are assigned directly, usually by the Hokage himself."

Haruto and Daichi nodded, absorbing the information. It was interesting to learn that B and A-rank missions could sometimes be picked by choice rather than being assigned, giving teams more freedom to control the types of missions they wanted to take. The mission system allowed for a lot of flexibility once you gained enough experience.

"Today's mission," Sakumo continued, "is actually three separate bandit-clearing operations. We've got reports of gangs causing trouble near the eastern border of the Land of Fire. None of them are wandering ninja, so we aren't expecting any major surprises, but we're tasked with neutralizing the threat. It'll take about three days to get to the location of the first gang."

Haruto's attention sharpened. This wasn't just a mission—it was the real deal. The Land of Fire's borders were crucial to protect, and bandits operating that close to the edge of the nation posed a serious threat. It would be their job to eliminate it.

"Pack for a long trip," Sakumo added. "We'll be traveling light but be prepared for anything."

Haruto checked his pouch, which was securely fastened on his back. It held his ninja tools, shuriken, kunai, and other essential gear, along with a small supply of military ration pills. The pills would be useful if they needed to go without food for extended periods, but Haruto hoped it wouldn't come to that.

Daichi glanced over at him, excitement clear in his eyes. "Looks like it's going to be a serious mission."

"Yeah," Haruto agreed, feeling that same buzz of anticipation. "Let's show them what we can do."

The mission office, as Sakumo had explained, was typically run by a team of Chunin with one Jonin team leader overseeing the missions. As they received their mission details, Haruto felt a sense of purpose settling over him. This wasn't just about training or preparing for the future anymore—this was about putting their skills to the test.

The trio of Genin, along with their Jonin leader, set off on their journey toward the eastern border. It would be a long trek, but Haruto was ready. This was what he had trained for, and now, it was time to prove himself.