Mission Change

The Hidden Leaf Village had endured three Great Ninja Wars, often finding itself besieged by the other four major ninja villages. While they emerged victorious, the losses were staggering, with countless elites perishing in the battles.

The Third Hokage relinquished most of the war reparations and formed an alliance with Sunagakure. This decision was largely influenced by the Third Hokage himself, but it also had the support of the two advisors.

Even when Orochimaru executed the Konoha Crush Plan, leading to Sunagakure's betrayal and the Third Hokage's death, the two advisors still backed Tsunade, ensuring the alliance with Sunagakure remained intact.

They were determined to prevent the Hidden Leaf from being besieged again, making the search for allies an absolute necessity.

Forming an alliance with the weakened Sunagakure to counter the other three ninja villages was a long-term strategy.

Now, they saw another opportunity: to potentially bring the weakened Kirigakure into the alliance.

The two rogue ninjas were not particularly significant. Raiga Kurosuki was already incapacitated, and Zabuza had been reduced to working as a thug for merchants. According to the general consensus in the Shinobi World, Zabuza's "potential" was limited, and his achievements were likely capped at this point.

The key figures were Haku and Ranmaru.

Killing them would serve no purpose for the Hidden Leaf. Kakashi had refrained from delivering a fatal blow to Haku, and Asuma had not been overly harsh on Ranmaru.

Keeping them was also impractical, as the bond between the two boys and the two members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist was too deep. Sending all four back to the struggling Kirigakure would be akin to delivering aid in a time of need.

In the Shinobi World, the title of "genius" could be both important and insignificant. A genius who failed to grow was not truly a genius.

Now, regarding the alliance, it was somewhat wishful thinking. The Third Hokage needed someone to represent the Hidden Leaf and approach Kirigakure to convey his goodwill.

Sending a mere foot soldier would not suffice.

Kakashi, as the Fourth Hokage's disciple, and Asuma, as the Third Hokage's son, were not suitable either. Their status was insufficient; they lacked the authority to represent the Hidden Leaf Village.

The Hidden Leaf needed to send a high-ranking official. The Third Hokage could not leave, and Danzo? If Danzo went, the two villages would undoubtedly clash. Even without existing conflicts, he would create them. Koharu Utatane's stern demeanor was off-putting, Shikaku lacked the seniority, and Mitokado Homura believed he was the most suitable candidate.

The Third Hokage also deemed him the best choice.

Once the decision was made, Mitokado Homura wasted no time. That very day, he set off with two Jonin guards and the Thunderswords, heading to Kirigakure for preliminary negotiations.

Meanwhile, the Third Hokage issued orders to Asuma. The original C-rank mission had been upgraded to B-rank due to Raiga Kurosuki's involvement. After completing their initial mission, Team 10 was to escort Raiga Kurosuki and Ranmaru to the Land of Waves, where they would join Kakashi's Team 7 to capture Zabuza. They would then await further instructions from Mitokado Homura before proceeding to Kirigakure together.

This mission, which involved the relationship between two major ninja villages, was classified as an A-rank mission for both Team 7 and Team 10.

Mitokado Homura represented the older generation, Kakashi and Asuma the middle generation, and Ino and Naruto the younger generation.

The Chunin Exams were meant to showcase their strength and reduce the likelihood of war.

The same principle applied here.

The older generation was unlikely to engage in conflict. A 69-year-old Mitokado Homura facing a 90-year-old Genji? The Hidden Leaf had a significant advantage! As for the middle generation, with Kakashi present, none of Kirigakure's Jonin could match him.

After the meeting between the two sides, the focus shifted to the younger generation. The Third Hokage hoped to showcase the strength of Konoha to the Hidden Mist Village through the talents of the younger generation. He had great confidence in the abilities of Genin like Ino and Naruto. Look, even our Genin are at this level! And we have plenty of Chunin and Jonin who are even stronger. Doesn't that make you think a bit about forming an alliance?

The Third Hokage called out to Danzo, and after the other three left, he asked in a low voice, "Does the incident at the Oxalis Mine have anything to do with you?"

Perhaps because he had been blamed too many times, Danzo reflexively sneered with a particularly graceful demeanor, turned around, and left without even bothering to respond to the Third Hokage.

Asuma received the mission change order on the evening of the second day after arriving at the Oxalis Mine.

He had no objections. Ninjas were tools, and even though he was the son of the Third Hokage, and Ino and the others were heirs to major Ninja Clans, they still had to follow orders without question. They didn't need too many personal thoughts; they just had to go where they were told and fight.

After the Black Hoe Clan was wiped out, Asuma found the mission client from the Land of Rivers and explained the situation. With that, the mission was considered complete.

The villagers here had previously mined for the Black Hoe Clan, and now they would mine for the officials of the Land of Rivers. For them, it was always about mining. The only difference was that Raiga Kurosuki of the Black Hoe Clan was a lunatic who would often threaten to bury villagers alive, while the current officials, concerned about their own pockets, wouldn't easily kill them. That was the only change.

After handing over the Thunderswords and assisting in the capture of Raiga Kurosuki, the accumulated merits were sent back along with three scrolls via messenger hawk.

The reward for Ino was still a Ninja Technique scroll.

A Water Release Ninja Technique developed by the Second Hokage: Water Release: Water Severing Wave! It was also a B-rank difficulty to learn, but unlike widely known Water Release techniques like the Water Dragon Bullet and Water Formation Wall, the Water Severing Wave had always been the Second Hokage's unique technique.

This technique used high pressure to shoot a water jet that could cut through targets. It was fast, consumed little Chakra, had high destructive power, and could attack from a considerable distance.

When the Second Hokage used it, he even defied the principle of earth overcoming water, using the Water Release to cut through the Third Hokage's Earth-Style Wall.

This technique was priceless.

The reward for Shikamaru was a Chakra Blade, the same model as Asuma's. Shikamaru felt that his talent in Ninja Techniques was limited, and his Body Techniques weren't as good as Choji's. The only thing he excelled at was his mind. He now prepared to act as a supplement to the two of them. When Ino was lacking in Ninja Techniques, he would help by using techniques, and when Choji couldn't hold off the enemy, he would step in to assist.

The reward for Choji was a thick stack of notes, detailing the training plan that the Second Hokage had once devised for Akimichi Torifu.

The Akimichi Clan surely had traditional training methods passed down through generations, but traditional methods might not suit everyone. The Second Hokage was a figure at the pinnacle of the Ninja world, and his advice was insightful and highly valuable, both for the Akimichi Torifu of the past and the Akimichi Choji of today.

As for Asuma, the biological son, he didn't need this form of reward. If he wanted something, he could just go home and ask for it.

While Danzo was "taking the blame," Ino gained a Pot Point.

It's a bit of a pity; the blame wasn't entirely hers to shoulder. Asuma and the Third Hokage likely played a significant role in it as well. When the responsibility was divided, her part was minor, so the benefits she reaped were naturally fewer.

She didn't concern herself with who exactly ended up bearing the brunt of the blame. As long as she gained some advantage, that was enough. This panel was a blame-shifting panel, not a Sherlock Holmes panel—the truth didn't really matter.