"Haven't you ever carried out an A-rank mission yet?"
In the dense forest of the Land of Fire, Hayashi asked Minato this question.
Of course, Minato, still a Genin, wasn't qualified for A-rank missions. Once a mission reached A-rank, it implied facing at least Jonin-level opponents. Jiraiya would never risk sending his young apprentice into such danger. Orochimaru might, but he was not concerned with unnecessary risk.
"Then be prepared," Hayashi added with a hint of teasing, "this mission could be upgraded to an A-rank."
Minato nodded. Even if faced with a Jonin, he would not hesitate. War may bring death to ninjas, but it also accelerated their growth beyond conventional limits. Less than a year ago, he had been a student ninja; now, he was already a capable fighter.
Yet a subtle unease lingered. Since joining Hayashi's team, Minato's peaceful life had vanished. He began to wonder whether he had been unwittingly tricked by his friend.
Noticing Minato's furrowed brow, Hayashi patted his shoulder. "Relax, Minato. It's your first time. Don't suppress yourself. If you feel uncomfortable, speak up."
The two of them were squatting on a large tree near the main forest path, preparing to ambush the Sand Ninjas and monitor activity near the capital.
Although the team lacked reconnaissance experience, Bai and the numerous snakes provided crucial assistance. Summoned throughout the forest near the Daimyo's mansion, the snakes would immediately alert Bai to any unusual activity.
Ambushing a team wasn't simple. Intelligence indicated the Sand Ninjas would arrive in three days, but without a specific time, all they could do was wait.
Minato used the downtime to practice ninjutsu. Wind Release chakra was difficult to master, particularly for high-level attacks, but his foundation was solid. All he lacked was advanced chakra shaping.
The most suitable skill for him to practice? Rasengan. Perhaps even two.
Hayashi had recognized this early on. At six, he had guided Minato in chakra shaping. When Minato had attempted the Super Strength Kunai, he had struggled to control chakra accurately, yet the training laid the foundation for his mastery of Rasengan earlier than expected.
Suddenly, Bai, the quiet and beautiful snake, slithered out from Hayashi's clothes and hissed softly.
"What is it?" Minato paused mid-practice.
"There are approaching ninjas. Prepare for combat."
Hayashi leapt from the tree, vanishing across the forest floor with a series of agile jumps. The others followed, Mikoto and Nawaki moving in tandem.
Bai had detected traces of ninja activity from the foremost snake group. Their strength seemed manageable, allowing Hayashi to act confidently. If the enemy had been beyond their ability, he would have led the team in retreat immediately.
As the commander, Hayashi had to maintain clarity of mind. Every decision could affect the lives of four people, including himself—a lesson he had learned from Yura, who had sacrificed herself for his survival.
The four young ninjas moved swiftly, their steps nearly silent. Following Bai's guidance, they formed a column: Hayashi in front, Mikoto behind him, then Minato, and finally Nawaki.
The snake network spanned an impressive distance. After nearly ten kilometers, they reached the source of the ninja activity.
Hayashi dropped from a tree and immediately noticed traces of a small fire on the ground, along with scattered food remnants. It looked like the enemy's recent meal.
He cautiously touched the cooled embers, detecting a faint residual heat—the other party had just departed. Nawaki bent down to investigate further, sniffing the remnants.
"The aroma of malt," he muttered, his face serious in the morning sunlight.
Hayashi, unable to resist, teased in his mind: An expert! Come taste my original candied sweet potato. He noticed Nawaki seemed tempted to take some of the leftovers.
"There must be a female ninja in their team," Nawaki stated confidently.
Hayashi looked at him with admiration, though inwardly alarmed. Nawaki, you're not in love, are you?
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