Chapter 175: Mission Level
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Mugetsu swiftly formed hand seals and unleashed a barrage of small, burning fireballs toward Troy's corpse.
Boom!!
The fireballs struck the body in a chain of explosions, instantly blowing it apart and reducing it to scorched ash.
It wasn't that Mugetsu was being overly cautious—this was to ensure that no one could identify the body later.
He had no doubt that a Kumogakure ninja of Troy's caliber wasn't some nameless figure. If word of his death reached the wrong ears, it could draw unwanted attention.
Defeating someone like Kurokawa could serve as a useful report to Hiruzen, demonstrating his practical combat ability.
But killing a Jonin of Troy's level? That was another story entirely. At his current "official" rank and power level, that was something he shouldn't have been able to do.
As the raging flames gradually subsided, Kakashi and Obito arrived, panting slightly from their earlier battle.
After confirming that Mugetsu could single-handedly handle two Jonin, Kakashi and Might Guy had regrouped and quickly finished off the remaining Kumogakure ninja who had been fighting Obito.
Once the last enemy fell, one of them stayed to guard the client while the other two rushed to Mugetsu's side.
"Mugetsu-sensei, are you alright?" Obito asked, his tone filled with concern.
Kakashi's gaze fell on the charred remains beside Mugetsu. He could immediately tell—Mugetsu had already finished both Jonin.
"Mugetsu-sensei," Kakashi reported, "we've eliminated all the Iwagakure ninja on our end… but honestly, they didn't seem like Iwagakure ninja at all."
Indeed, although the enemies wore Iwagakure uniforms and forehead protectors, their techniques told a different story. Every one of them had used Lightning Release—none had used Earth Release. It didn't fit.
Two Jonin and several Chunin, all using Lightning Release? That sounded much more like Kumogakure.
"These ninja not only used Lightning Release," Kakashi added, crouching beside one of the bodies, "but their skin turned noticeably darker after death. I think they were Kumogakure shinobi disguised as Iwagakure using Transformation Technique."
Mugetsu smiled faintly and turned to Obito.
"The enemies have been completely dealt with. Of course, I'm fine."
Then he nodded at Kakashi.
"You're right. They're very suspicious. It's likely that Kumogakure wanted to stir up tension between us and Iwagakure—to provoke the war further."
"Wait—so they weren't Iwagakure ninja?" Obito exclaimed, his eyes widening. "Then Kumogakure's really despicable!"
He clenched his fists. He had been planning to "teach the Iwagakure a lesson" someday—but now, finding out the real culprits were Hidden Cloud shinobi, his anger flared in a different direction.
"Each village has its own Ninjutsu traditions," Mugetsu explained patiently. "Iwagakure focuses on Earth Release. Kumogakure specializes in Lightning Release."
He paused, glancing briefly at the other two. "Hidden Sand Village excels in Wind Release and Puppet Techniques, while Hidden Mist relies on Water Release and assassination arts."
Obito blinked and tilted his head. "Then what about us, Sensei? What's Konoha best at?"
Smack!
Mugetsu gently flicked Obito on the forehead. "You're a Konoha ninja, and you don't even know that?"
"Hehe, well, I'm not officially a ninja yet. I'm still an intern!" Obito said, rubbing his forehead and grinning sheepishly. "Besides, everyone in Konoha's so different—it's hard to tell!"
"Konoha's unique," Mugetsu explained. "We're the most balanced village—there are strong users of every elemental release. Each clan has its specialties. For example, your Uchiha clan focuses on Fire Release."
Obito nodded, eyes shining with understanding.
Satisfied, Mugetsu began sealing all the Kumogakure bodies into scrolls. They would be valuable evidence once they returned to Konoha.
Konoha had clear regulations for missions that encountered unexpected circumstances. If a client had deliberately concealed the presence of enemy ninja, the team could terminate the mission immediately and return home.
However, if the client had been honest and unforeseen dangers appeared during wartime, the mission's rank—and the corresponding pay—would be adjusted based on the strength and number of enemy shinobi defeated. The extra funds would come directly from the village treasury.
Mugetsu estimated that it would be difficult to officially classify the two Jonin he had slain. Their remains were too damaged to confirm rank—one reduced to cinders, the other obliterated entirely by his finishing Fire Release.
Which, of course, was exactly how he wanted it.
One Jonin and seven Chunin, he thought calmly. That's much more believable.
Even if someone questioned the report, it would be easy to argue that the Jonin led a squad of Chunin. The burned remains would only support that conclusion.
Mugetsu dusted off his hands and turned toward the tent.
"It's alright now," he said gently. "You can go back to sleep."
"Thank you all."
Upon hearing Mugetsu's words, Numata Yoshihisa finally felt his heart settle. Still, he didn't dare sleep too deeply—the battle from earlier had been too close, too loud. Even with the enemy gone, his nerves remained taut.
That night, Mugetsu and his three disciples took turns keeping watch, their rest uneasy beneath the quiet aftermath of destruction.
By morning, Numata Yoshihisa awoke by habit. The poor sleep left him dizzy and sluggish, but he didn't want to wake his wife and daughter. Carefully, he stepped outside the tent—only for his breath to catch in his throat.
To the north stretched a lush, vibrant forest.
To the south—nothing but ruin.
The once-green trees stood blackened and skeletal, their leaves burned to ash. The air smelled faintly of smoke and scorched earth, and the ground was blanketed with cinders. The contrast between the living forest and the desolate wasteland was so sharp it made him dizzy.
"Is this… the power of a ninja?" Numata Yoshihisa whispered. He swallowed hard, his worldview shaken to the core.
He had always known ninjas were strong—that was why he had hired Konoha's protection in the first place. But this... this was far beyond his imagination.
He had thought a strong ninja could perhaps shatter a tree with a punch or split a boulder with a jutsu.
He had never imagined that in a single night, an entire forest could be erased—turned into a charred wasteland.
A strange, uneasy thought rose in his mind:
Are people with such power truly the same as us?
"Good morning, Uncle," Obito greeted cheerfully, stretching his arms.
"Mm. Good morning," Numata Yoshihisa replied, forcing a smile. No matter how shaken he felt, these were still the people who had protected him. Whatever their power, they had used it for his sake.
During the rest of the journey, they encountered no more ninja—only the occasional group of unlucky bandits who were swiftly dealt with. Eventually, they reached the capital of the Land of Rice Fields safely.
"If I ever need protection again, I'll be sure to request your team," Numata Yoshihisa said sincerely, smiling as he clasped Mugetsu's hands. "You're all truly reliable."
Konoha's regulations allowed clients to specify ninja for future missions, if the chosen team was available.
Mugetsu smiled humbly and exchanged polite words, then turned to leave with his disciples.
"Bye-bye, big brothers!" Numata Yoshihisa's daughter waved happily as they walked away.
"See ya!" Obito grinned and waved back, full of energy.
As they made their way home, Obito couldn't stop talking. "That mission was so exciting! I wish every mission was like that!" His eyes gleamed as he recalled the battle, especially Mugetsu's combination Fire and Wind Release. Just remembering it made his blood race.
"What are you dreaming about?" Kakashi muttered, shaking his head. "That mission was an exception. Normally, something like that would've been classified as at least an A-Rank Mission."
He wasn't exaggerating—though he hadn't fought the two Jonin directly, he could sense how dangerous they'd been.
"So what if it was A-Rank? We still won!" Obito shot back, puffing out his chest.
Kakashi rubbed his forehead in exasperation. "We only survived because of Mugetsu-sensei's strength. What exactly are you so proud of?"
In truth, he was right. The battle had been terrifying. If their sensei had been anyone else—any ordinary Jonin—they likely wouldn't have returned at all.
"Why can't I be proud?" Obito argued, grinning. "Mugetsu-sensei is my teacher! Can't I be proud that my sensei's strong?"
He crossed his arms and added, "And besides, I pulled my weight too! I held off one of the enemies. If Mugetsu-sensei hadn't been protecting you so much, you'd have been taken out early."
Kakashi's expression faltered. The memory of that night flashed in his mind—the moment he had been immobilized, helpless as Mugetsu shielded him from a killing blow.
Obito was right. He had been the burden that day.
Mugetsu had risked his life to protect him.
If it were me… would I have done the same? Kakashi wondered. If a teammate were captured or controlled, would I risk everything to save them? Or would I focus on completing the mission?
Mugetsu's words from their first meeting echoed in his mind:
A true ninja must uphold their conviction.
Kakashi looked up at the sky as they walked, lost in thought.
"Mugetsu-sensei…" he murmured quietly to himself. "Is your conviction… to protect your comrades?"
The wind carried his words away.
(To be continued…)
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