Chapter 96: We’re Totally Professionals, We Swear

Chapter 96 - We’re Totally Professionals, We Swear {Alt title:- Shinobi Babysitters Club: Borderline Edition} Ren stayed quiet for a bit, his steps steady along the dirt path as he mulled over the question. Then, without turning back, he answered plainly, "Yeah, I want to. I don't think normal Chunin missions would give me much scope for improvement." As he said this, his mind wandered to more pragmatic concerns. 'For me, joining the ANBU would definitely be good. They wouldn't keep handing out higher-ranking missions if I stayed a normal Chunin. But in the ANBU, the minimum should be at least B-rank missions. Those are what I need if I want to keep earning points.' He exhaled lightly, 'For normal shinobi, maybe ANBU life isn't ideal. Less time for personal training, more danger, higher pressure. But for me, the clones can handle mastery while I rack up system points from real combat.' Yugao's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "I don't know much about the ANBU," she said, "but my dad told me they only take the best of the best. I want to see if there are any sword users in the village strong enough to be my opponent." Ren glanced toward her, curious. "Is that your goal?" Yugao went silent for a moment, looking down at the katana resting by her side. Her fingers brushed lightly over the hilt before she lifted her head, locking eyes with Ren. "Yes. My goal is to become the strongest swordswoman in the world." Ren smiled faintly and looked back ahead as he muttered, "Well, be careful of the stairs then." "Huh?" Yugao blinked in confusion, clearly not catching the reference. Ren ignored her and instead shifted his attention to Hitoshi. "What about you, Hitoshi? What's your goal?" Hitoshi was quiet for a moment, his steps not faltering. Then he said, "I want to be the strongest Aburame the village has ever seen. Right now, our clan leader is the strongest in the entire clan, and even he doesn't rank in the top ten of the village. I want to change that." Ren let another small smile form as he listened. 'Well, even Shino from the Konoha 9 stopped once he reached jonin level. I wonder if Hitoshi can surpass that. Maybe I should help him out a little.' He gave a simple nod. "I hope your goals come true." The three of them continued in silence for a while. The forest around them buzzed softly with the sounds of distant insects, leaves rustling overhead in the light spring breeze. Then, as if unable to let it go, Yugao spoke again. "What about you, Ren? What's your goal?" Ren gave a thoughtful hum. "Well, I don't ever want to be under someone's control." He glanced up at the sky above, the clouds lazily drifting past the tree line. "So... I guess being the strongest will do." ~~~ After a little while, once Team 1 had disappeared from sight, two figures flickered into view atop a tree branch overlooking the trail they'd just left behind. Both wore standard ANBU attire, with porcelain animal masks covering their faces, one shaped like a tiger, the other a fox. The one with the tiger mask gazed ahead along the path and spoke in a quiet, thoughtful voice. "The three of them... they've got some grand goals." The fox-masked operative cut in sharply, her voice cold and clipped. "They'll learn the reality of the world in a few years. I'd like to hear what their goals sound like then." Tiger tilted his head slightly, still watching the trail. "Maybe they'll manage it. Maybe they really can do what they want to achieve?" "No," Fox interrupted, her tone brooking no argument. "They won't. They've been inflated by everyone around them calling them 'geniuses', but this is Konoha. There's no shortage of genius here." She turned to look directly at him, her voice lowering. "You were called a genius too, weren't you? Back when you were younger? What was your goal? Did you achieve it?" Tiger said nothing, and she continued, "They'll eventually learn. No matter how brilliant they are, no matter how many tricks they come up with, the day they stand before one of those true monsters," She paused, ever so slightly, and Tiger caught the subtle shiver in her voice. "that's when they'll realize just how small they really are." Her eyes settled briefly on the spot where Ren had stood earlier. "Especially that blue-haired boy." Without waiting for a response, she flickered away in a burst of motion, vanishing into the trees ahead. Tiger stood there for a moment longer, staring silently at the path they had just observed. Then, in a murmur only the wind could hear, he muttered, "Looks like Shisui left a deeper scar on her than she lets on." He glanced toward the direction Fox had gone. "I should report this to the Third when we return." And then he, too, disappeared. ~~~ Two days passed before Team 1 finally reached the border checkpoint that connected the Land of Fire to the Land of Rivers. After showing the mission scroll to the guards stationed there, they were allowed to pass through. The Fire side didn't take much time after Ren mentioned their sensei's name, Utakata was respected enough to smooth out most bureaucratic delays. However, the Land of Rivers guards weren't as welcoming. Though they didn't stop them, the stares lingered longer, clearly unsettled by the presence of foreign shinobi. Ren noticed it and kept his face impassive. As they moved away from the checkpoint and out of earshot of the guards, Ren finally spoke up. "Be careful from here on out," he said, not raising his voice. "We might not be officially at war, but there's no treaty either since this is just a minor village. Treat this like we've entered enemy territory." Yugao nodded once while Hitoshi gave a small hum of agreement, his insects faintly buzzing under his sleeves. Ren continued, "Also, remember: the noble we're supposed to escort is one of their own, and he requested foreign shinobi. Some people won't like that. Don't provoke anyone, and don't act superior. We're just here to complete the mission and return. Nothing more." The other two didn't respond verbally but adjusted their pace slightly, falling into a looser formation that allowed for quicker response if needed. They continued through the winding road that eventually led to a small settlement marked on their map: Suiren Village. By the time they arrived, the sun was halfway across the sky. The village itself was modest, no walls, a few elevated watchtowers at the edges, and mostly single-storied buildings with thatched or tiled roofs. Farmers, traders, and workers moved about their business. There wasn't much traffic on the roads leading into the village, but a few carts and merchant wagons stood near what could be called the village square. Ren signaled for them to stop just before entering. "Let me handle the talking unless something goes wrong. Yugao, cover from behind. Hitoshi, spread your scouts." Hitoshi's insects quietly slipped from his sleeves and scattered. Yugao nodded, stepping slightly to the rear with her hand near the hilt of her katana. Ren adjusted the forehead protector, making sure the Leaf insignia was clearly visible, not hidden, but not flaunted either. They walked into the village calmly. People noticed them instantly, eyes lingering longer than necessary. A few whispered among themselves, while others avoided direct contact. Ren ignored it all and headed toward the center of the village. There was a two-story inn there, slightly better maintained than the surrounding buildings. A few armed men stood near the entrance, not with headbands but with coordinated armor pieces, likely mercenaries or private guards. When Ren approached, one of the guards moved forward and raised a hand. "State your business." Ren didn't flinch as he replied, "We're from Konoha. Team 1. We're here to escort Lord Mizuka to the border outpost." The man eyed them suspiciously. "Didn't hear about Leaf sending children." Ren took out the mission scroll and handed it to the man. "You'll find everything in there." The man looked through it, reading carefully. After a moment, he turned to the door and knocked twice in a particular pattern. A second later, another guard came out and went inside. They waited for a few minutes before a slightly older man in traveling robes stepped out. His hair was neatly combed, and he had a faint scent of perfume. His hands were gloved, and he wore multiple rings. He scanned them for a moment before stepping closer. "I assume you're the shinobi from the Leaf?" His voice was soft but carried weight. Ren nodded. "Yes. I'm Ren Takahashi, the mission lead. These are my teammates, Yugao and Hitoshi." Mizuka looked at each of them, his eyes lingering slightly longer on Yugao before returning to Ren. "Well," he said after a pause. "You're younger than I expected. But I suppose your village knows what it's doing." He turned slightly. "Come. We'll finalize a few things inside." Ren followed him in while Yugao and Hitoshi stayed just outside the door, observing the area. Inside the inn, Mizuka led Ren to a private room with a table and a few documents laid out. "I've already informed my staff we'll be departing tomorrow morning," Mizuka said. "I'd like us to be gone at first light. I want to avoid unnecessary attention." Ren nodded. "We'll be ready." Mizuka poured himself a drink and sat down. "I'm not expecting trouble, but it's better to be careful. Especially when you're carrying something of value." Ren's eyes narrowed slightly at the last part. "You weren't listed to be carrying anything aside from personal effects." Mizuka didn't answer immediately, simply sipping his drink. Then he said, "Don't worry. It's nothing illegal. But my family operates one of the largest textile trades in the region. I have samples and contracts on me. Documents that some people might want to intercept." Ren didn't respond to that. Instead, he reached into his pouch and took out a blank form. "We'll need your confirmation of identity. Sign here." Mizuka looked at the paper, then took out a small stamp from inside his coat and pressed it onto the page. "Satisfied?" "For now." Ren stood up. "We'll be nearby. Notify us immediately if there's any sign of trouble." He left the room and met his team outside. "He wants to leave at dawn," Ren informed them. "We'll stay at a nearby building if possible. No need to crowd him or his people too early. We rotate watches tonight." Hitoshi nodded. "Some insects are already moving through the inn. I'll keep the perimeter covered." Yugao tilted her head. "Something feel off?" Ren didn't answer directly. He looked around the square again. "Not yet. But be alert anyway." They found an abandoned house nearby, clearly marked as for rent or sale, but the structure was intact. Ren placed a few basic perimeter seals and motioned for the other two to rest. He sat down near the doorway, eyes scanning the villagers. 'Something feels off. He asked for protection. He got it. But the way he speaks, either he knows more than he's letting on, or someone else does. Let's see how tonight goes.' ~~~ The entire night passed smoothly. Team 1 rotated shifts as planned, keeping one member on watch while two rested. Hitoshi's insects remained active, monitoring the perimeter around the inn and a few stayed close to Mizuka himself, hiding in the corners of the ceilings and behind wall panels. But despite the tension they all felt, nothing unusual happened. Ren had taken the last shift just before dawn. When the time finally came, he woke the other two. Hitoshi reported no movement or suspicious activity during the night. Yugao stretched once and checked her sword before she spoke. "Either he really is just paranoid, or whoever might have targeted him gave up." Ren gave a small nod. "Let's keep our guard up. Just because it was quiet doesn't mean it'll stay that way." By the time they reached the inn, the noble's caravan was already preparing to move. A pair of carriages were being loaded, one with travel supplies, the other with Mizuka's personal belongings. Six guards, dressed in matching dark blue uniforms and light armor, stood ready near the front. Two servants, a man and a woman, checked over a few food containers while a driver was arguing with a stable hand about the cart's axle. Mizuka himself emerged from the inn wearing a long travel cloak, a scarf wrapped loosely around his neck, and gloves still on. When he saw Ren and his team, he gave a short nod. "Good. We're leaving on schedule." Ren stepped forward and gestured toward the gate. "We'll take point. You stay in the middle, and keep your guards close to the carriages." Mizuka didn't argue. "Just make sure we get there without issue." With a final check of their supplies and a last sweep from Hitoshi's insects, they left Suiren Village as team 1 took formation. Ren in front, Yugao watching the sides and rear, Hitoshi moving in a wide perimeter with his scouts deployed. ~~~~~ {I shall once again assure you guys that nothing will go wrong.} {Also if you still have opposing views regarding him joining the ANBU comment here. BUT, there should be reason too.} {Also, you can consider joining the Pat for advanced advanced Chapters (Just so you know Utakata's no longer single)} { h t t p s : / / w w w . p a t r e o n . c o m / / Z e e n o n } {You can just search for my name too, it's the one with tom's pic (from tom and Jerry)} {You know what else to do.} {STONES!!!! }