Chapter 92: First Mission, Root's Shadow

"Haha! I said it—if you want to get closer, don't hold back!" Orochimaru grinned. "Let's exchange more ideas. I'm very interested in your research potential."

Gin nodded politely, but in truth, he'd never allow Orochimaru deeper access without a contract. He was too unpredictable otherwise.

"Agreed!" Orochimaru beamed, unaware of Gin's guarded thoughts.

From the side, Tsunade chuckled silently. Orochimaru… You just bit the bait. I can't wait to see your face when the truth comes out.

The next morning, Tsunade met Gin and his team—Minato, Kushina, and Mikoto—at the bulletin board. She led them to the Hokage's office.

The Third had requested this personally—hoping to sway Gin and the others to his side. Tsunade and her team knew his intentions but didn't care. The old man's efforts were futile.

For once, Tsunade entered the Hokage's office without kicking the door open.

"Old man, I brought Gin and the rest. Hand over some C-ranks. I'll show them some blood," she said casually.

She ignored Koharu and Homura. Strangely, the usually grumpy advisers said nothing. Tsunade didn't care—maybe they were drugged, maybe they weren't. Irrelevant.

"We've got five C-rank missions involving bandits. All close by," said the Third, handing her a scroll. "Be careful."

He turned to Gin and the others, putting on a grandfatherly smile.

"You're the pride of Konoha. Take care of each other. Your lives are more important than any mission."

Internally, Gin and the others nearly laughed. They remembered Hatake Sakumo's fate. Hypocrite.

But outwardly, they smiled and bowed.

"Thank you, Hokage-sama. We understand."

If you want to play the caring elder, we'll play along. But one day, we'll rip the mask off your face.

"Don't be so formal. Call me Grandpa Hokage!" he smiled again.

What grandpa? Gin rolled his eyes mentally.

"Enough talking!" Tsunade said, pulling her team away.

The Third's face darkened. These brats… they don't take me seriously!

Outside, they ran into Orochimaru and his genin team, including Nawaki.

"Hey Sis! What mission did you get?" Nawaki waved cheerfully.

WHACK! Tsunade smacked his head.

"Idiot! You don't ask about another team's mission! Have some sense!"

Nawaki clutched his head in pain, near tears. "Ow! I was just being friendly!"

There goes my mood, he sighed. No one will marry my sister at this rate…

Tsunade snorted. "Watch yourself. Let's go."

Soon, Gin's group slipped through the forest behind Konoha, heading for their first target.

Root Headquarters – Underground, Hidden Facility

Danzo received the update.

"Tsunade's team is on the move."

"Should we act?" asked a masked Root operative.

"Not yet," Danzo answered. "Tsunade is near Kage-level. With her and Uchiha Gin, we'd need three elite squads to even try. But she's only with them temporarily. In two months, the brats will run missions alone. That's when we strike."

He narrowed his eyes.

"For now, shadow them. Observe. They're hiding something—we'll kill them when we're certain. No risks."

"Yes, sir."

"Act. And maintain distance. We can't afford mistakes. Watch carefully. When the time comes—kill in one strike."

Danzo then turned to his second.

"Hato. Go to the Land of Rain. Locate Hanzo of the Salamander. If we can involve him, we might just have a real chance."

"Yes, Danzo-sama!"

As the chamber emptied, Danzo stared at the candlelight.

"If I can't crush the Uchiha, Uzumaki, and Senju now—there won't be another chance. With Hanzo's poison… even Kage-levels can die."

Two Days Later – Mission Site

From a high tree, Kushina scanned the mountain village below.

"Two hundred fifteen people. Two chunin, five genin. The rest are civilians. I could wipe them all solo. Too easy."

Gin rapped her lightly on the head.

"No. We do this cleanly, by the book. You said Root is tracking us? Let's keep our strength under wraps. Perform like we did at the exams."

"Fine, fine…" Kushina grumbled.

They coordinated positions.

"Minato, rear. Mikoto, left. Kushina, right. I'll go front. When you feel my chakra burst—move."

Gin didn't use teleportation or Pirate World energy. He ran silently to the gate, crouching above the guards.

He launched a fireball into the sky—a signal and a distraction.

"Whssssh—!"

Gin dashed down, decapitating two sentries mid-sentence.

"Execute," he whispered.

The team struck fast, synchronized. Within minutes, all hostiles were dead.

Kushina and Mikoto found dozens of kidnapped women locked in barns.

"What do we do?" Mikoto asked.

Gin glanced back. "Give them food and ryo. Send them home."

The two girls gave supplies to the grateful survivors, who wept and bowed.

Gin then led the group to incinerate the bodies.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu."

A ten-meter fireball surged from his mouth, incinerating a mass grave. The edges of the pit turned to glass.

"Damn," Minato muttered. "Your fireball—easily A-rank. That heat…"

"That's not even his strongest," Kushina grinned. "I've seen one 50 meters wide. Blue and white flame."

"Fifty?! Blue-white? That's over 1500 degrees," Minato was stunned.

Gin smirked quietly. This is just the beginning.