Chapter 170: Mission Abroad

"When can I do S-rank missions?" On the way to the Hokage building, Obito thought about Kakashi's hurtful words from yesterday and couldn't help but sigh.

C-rank missions didn't even involve meeting any ninja, which obviously wasn't the kind of mission he wanted to do.

"You can do it tonight," Kakashi replied.

"Why?" Obito asked in confusion.

"In your dreams," Kakashi said calmly.

"Even chunin rarely get to participate in S-rank missions. You haven't even graduated yet and you want to complete an S-rank mission?"

"Damn you, Kakashi. Just because you can't do it doesn't mean I'm the same as you. Once I become a chunin, I'll definitely have a chance to do S-rank missions." Obito immediately filled with fighting spirit.

Since they could be granted the privilege of taking C-rank missions by completing D-rank missions efficiently, if they also maintained super-high efficiency on C-rank missions, wouldn't they soon be able to take on higher-level missions?

"Teacher Muyue, let's definitely take a challenging mission next time to show them our strength," Obito said with full fighting spirit.

"Preferably one with combat," Might Guy said, feeling a bit itchy after two days of hard labor.

Kakashi had no requirements; he had already done many C-rank missions.

Muyue smiled and nodded in agreement; what Obito and Might Guy wanted was also what he hoped for.

"These are some of the current C-rank missions." The registration ninja spread out several scrolls for Muyue to look at.

"Suppress the bandits hiding in Eagle Beak Mountain, eliminate the unknown beast harassing Pu Sheng Town, escort the client back to the capital of the Land of Fields..."

Muyue glanced over them; those that clearly indicated combat were basically about suppressing bandits or driving away or eliminating beasts. He directly skipped these.

He did want combat, but fighting ordinary people or wild beasts wouldn't help him at all.

"Let's take this one, escorting the client back to the Land of Fields," Muyue said after thinking it over.

"Are you sure you want to choose this mission? The ninja world situation is a bit chaotic right now. Although the Land of Fields has no hidden ninja village, going abroad now carries a certain degree of risk," the registration ninja reminded.

Actually, he felt that Muyue might as well take a mission to suppress bandits or drive away beasts; many of those were within the Land of Fire and were safer.

"We're not afraid of risk; we're afraid of no risk." Obito's eyes lit up upon hearing the registration ninja's words.

"Thanks for the reminder. We'll take this one. I believe their abilities can handle any possible crisis," Muyue said with a smile.

He had chosen this mission precisely because it went abroad; if there were no risk, he wouldn't have wanted it.

The registration ninja didn't argue further. He registered the mission for them and told them the client's current location.

"What kind of risks will we encounter? Enemy ninja ambush?" After leaving the Hokage building, Obito said excitedly.

"You should tone it down a bit. C-rank missions won't encounter the crises you're imagining," Kakashi said helplessly.

An ambush by ninja? If a C-rank mission encountered a ninja, they could return to the village and report it.

Then Muyue and the others went to the inn where the client was resting and found the client who had posted the mission.

"Are you the ninja taking on this mission? Truly young and promising." A somewhat plump middle-aged man was slightly stunned when he saw Obito, Kakashi, and the others, then laughed and praised them.

"I am Numada Yoshimune, the mission client. These are my wife and daughter." Numada Yoshimune briefly introduced.

"I am Hanyū Muyue, the captain of this mission." Muyue nodded and also briefly introduced himself.

"Sir, you have good eyes. I'm the top of the ninja academy!" Obito said, beaming.

"Top? Then are you very strong, big brother?" Numada Yoshimune's daughter blinked her big eyes and said.

"Of course," Obito said with a proud expression.

"When I was at school, I don't remember you being number one," Kakashi suddenly said.

"Huh? Were you just bragging?" The little girl looked confused.

"That's because you graduated early," Obito explained vigorously.

Then he went on about how being first twice still counts as first, and how the last school year had more weight, and such.

Although the little girl didn't understand what Obito was explaining, seeing him wave his arms and blush while explaining was amusing, so she giggled. For a moment, the atmosphere became a bit more cheerful.

After a simple introduction, they got down to business. Learning that Numada Yoshimune was ready to depart, Muyue suggested they set off immediately.

Perhaps because he was traveling with his wife and daughter, Numada Yoshimune had prepared a horse-drawn carriage.

Numata Yoshikane and his people sat on the carriage, while Muyue and the disciples ran along the way.

Compared to a ninja's speed, the carriage wasn't fast. Not to mention Muyue, but even Obito and the others had plenty of spare capacity, able to chat while running.

When night fell and they rested, everyone gathered and chatted for a while. Only then did Muyue understand why Numata Yoshikane had acted so smoothly.

Numata Yoshikane was a merchant. Although he did business in the Fire Country, he was actually from the Rice Country—his entire family were Rice Country natives.

Because of the ongoing war, Numata Yoshikane was worried about danger on the way home, so he posted a C-rank mission in Konoha.

"I wonder when the ninja world will see peace. The four great nations have declared war on each other—business is going to be tough from now on," Numata Yoshikane sighed.

Frequent wars made it hard for a steady businessman like him. It hadn't even been ten years since the last great war, and yet another great nation war had erupted so quickly.

"Uncle, just stay safely in our Fire Country—nothing will happen. With us Konoha ninja here, other nations can't get in," Obito said, thumping his chest.

"The strength of Konoha ninja is indeed trustworthy." Numata Yoshikane nodded. This was a universally acknowledged fact in the ninja world.

The escort mission went smoothly after that. Until they left the country, Muyue and the others encountered no attacks—not a single ninja, nor even any bandits blocking the road.

This made Obito quite disappointed. Weren't we supposed to face some risk? Escorting, traveling, resting, training—aside from being able to tease the little girl, there was no difference from usual.

"This is what a C-rank mission is like. Your imagination is too vivid," Kakashi said.

He had done many C-rank missions and had never encountered ninja in one.

After leaving the Fire Country, things did get a bit livelier. Occasionally some foolish thieves with no sense would try to rob them, but they weren't even worth fighting—Might Guy knocked them all down with a single kick.

On the first night after leaving the country, Muyue was pondering his own combination ninjutsu when suddenly there was movement in a large tree not far from where Muyue and the others were resting—leaves rustled loudly.

"So blatantly trying to lure us over, huh." Muyue adjusted his glasses, very calm. The Byakugan really was a convenient ability.

This chapter counts as making up for yesterday's. The plotline of leaving the village has been revised and changed repeatedly; writing has been rather slow.