Chapter 25: Izuke Port
In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen was, as always, smoking and handling his duties. He looked at Shūji as he entered, and without any pleasantries, cut straight to the point.
"You've done well building the squad. Your coordination over the past few days has been good." The Sandaime Hokage's voice held a note of approval. "In your judgment, is the team mission-ready, Shūji?"
"Mitarashi Anko's mental state has, for the most part, recovered," Shūji answered cautiously. "Therefore, my judgment is that this squad can handle B-Rank missions."
He specifically emphasized "B-Rank." For their first official mission, he needed to give the team some breathing room. He didn't want the village to hand him a hot potato right out of the gate.
A wrinkle at the corner of Hiruzen's eye twitched, almost imperceptibly. The Shūji of the past had been more direct, more strong-willed. He rarely showed this kind of caution—bordering on "weakness"—when it came to mission difficulty. Was it the shadow of his last mission, where he'd been heavily wounded and lost his comrades? Or was it because of the eight-year-old Uchiha on his team? Or perhaps... The thought vanished, and he continued.
"Hn." The Sandaime grunted, pulling a specific scroll from the stack on his desk. With a flick of his wrist, it flew in a perfect arc and landed in Shūji's hand. "A B-Rank mission. Escort a merchant caravan to Izuke Port."
An escort mission? For it to be rated B-Rank, the core risk had to be the possibility of engaging other shinobi. Shūji untied the scroll and quickly scanned the neat script.
Client: Hiroyama Makoto.
Occupation: Cloth Merchant.
Cargo: High-grade textiles from the Land of Fire.
Destination: Izuke Port.
Mission Rank: B.
The contents were simple enough—a standard cross-border trade escort. But that B-Rank was the real warning.
Izuke Port was on the southwestern coast of the Land of Fire, but it was technically part of the Land of Tea—a nation with a unique geography. The Land of Tea had two separate enclaves, one in the southwest and one in the southeast, both landlocked within the Land of Fire's territory. It also possessed two large overseas islands. Its total land mass was actually greater than the Land of Water's.
However, the Land of Tea had no hidden village.
Its unique position (bordering only the Land of Fire) and its lack of military power had, in effect, made it Konoha's private, stable mission territory.
Hiroyama Makoto's caravan was currently at the Minami Checkpoint, just south of Konoha. To travel from the heart of the Land of Fire to the Land of Tea, which was still in Konoha's sphere of influence... why would that carry a B-Rank risk?
Shūji looked up, his gaze calm. "Hokage-sama, are there other objectives for this mission?" The escort itself wasn't B-Rank. There had to be an unspoken factor.
"Sharp as ever." Hiruzen wasn't surprised. He took a puff from his pipe, the smoke momentarily hiding his expression. "A group of rōnin has surfaced near Izuke Port. They've become... troublesome."
"Understood." Shūji nodded. That made sense. "Does the village have detailed intel on them?"
"A five-man team," the Sandaime said, pulling two thinner scrolls from his drawer. "They call themselves the 'Kuroshoku-shū.' They move like ghosts, and they've mastered some rather nasty, underhanded jutsu. They are not to be taken lightly." He pushed the two scrolls forward.
"Besides ensuring Mr. Hiroyama's safety, I want your squad to, on the way, investigate the Kuroshoku-shū."
He pointed to the two scrolls. "A-Rank: Expel or eliminate the Kuroshoku-shū. B-Rank: Investigate and gather detailed intel on them. You may, based on the situation on the ground, decide which of these to complete." He paused. "If you assess the risk as too high, you are authorized to abort the secondary objective, complete the escort, and return."
"Also," Hiruzen added, "your squad designation will be your old one. Squad 5."
Shūji's gaze lingered for a moment on the scroll. Squad 5. The same number as the team he had fought with on the border, the team he had been the sole survivor of... He silently gathered all three scrolls.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood and walked around the desk. He placed a hand on Shūji's shoulder. "The Land of Tea's mission contracts are vital to the village's current finances. We cannot afford to lose them." He removed his hand, his voice tinged with weariness. "The Kumo delegation will be arriving soon. Our manpower here is stretched thin. The Anbu and regular forces are all prioritized for the delegation's security and the peace talks... I can only send your Squad 5 to check the situation at Izuke Port."
Shūji nodded, his face unreadable. "Yes, Hokage-sama."
He took the scrolls and left. The heavy door closed behind him, sealing away the smell of tobacco. Shūji's steps were steady, but his mind was already racing.
Kuroshoku-shū... rōnin... investigate or eliminate. The mission difficulty was clearly high. Itachi's genius was limited by his age, and Anko's condition, while better, was not at its peak. Their first official mission, and it already had a dual objective in a hostile, unknown area. The risk was high.
But the Hokage's meaning was also clear: the village's finances were strained. The Land of Tea was a resource that could not be abandoned.
"Squad 5..." Shūji whispered the reactivated number. The memories, though not his own, still made him feel... complicated.
He took a deep breath, pushed the thoughts down, and quickened his pace toward Training Ground Three. It was time for Squad 5 to prepare.
The sun was already beating down on the training ground. Anko was attacking a reinforced post, practicing her snake-jutsu angles, her new purple coat damp with sweat. Itachi was off to the side, his eyes closed, seemingly running through chakra control exercises.
When Shūji returned, Anko stopped, wiping her brow. "So, Captain, what did the old... ahem... what did Hokage-sama want? We get a big mission?" Her eyes were eager.
Itachi opened his eyes and looked at Shūji.
Shūji walked to the center of the field and laid the scrolls on the sand. "B-Rank mission. We're escorting a cloth merchant to Izuke Port in the Land of Tea."
"Izuke Port?" Anko raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that place a total cakewalk? Why B-Rank? Enemy shinobi?"
"It used to be," Shūji said. "Now, a group of rōnin calling themselves the 'Kuroshoku-shū' has appeared. They're a threat to the trade routes." He pointed to the other scrolls. "Secondary objectives: Investigate the Kuroshoku-shū (B-Rank), or, depending on the situation, eliminate them (A-Rank)."
Anko hissed. "A-Rank?! On our first mission?!"
"Hokage-sama gave us the choice," Shūji stressed, his gaze moving between them. "The priority is the escort. The investigation and elimination... we decide that based on what we find, and on our own condition. The risk is not small. We're facing an unknown enemy."
He paused, his voice firm. "The objectives for Squad 5 are: First, ensure the Hiroyama caravan arrives in Izuke Port with zero losses. Second, gather as much intel on the Kuroshoku-shū as possible, without endangering the team. And third," he looked at them both, "is to engage them. Understand?"
"Got it!" Anko's shock was gone, replaced by a serious focus.
Itachi also replied clearly, "Yes, Senpai."
"Good." Shūji rolled up the scrolls. "The rendezvous is at the Minami Checkpoint. The caravan leaves at dawn tomorrow. You're dismissed. Go home, pack your gear and medical supplies. Meet at the main village gate before 06:00."