Chapter 36: Return to the Squad
"Finally, we can take on missions. Staying in the village all this time, my bones are almost rusty."
Kurenai Yuhi complained. While it wasn't as exaggerated as she made it sound, constantly training in the village still made her feel bored.
"My apologies, my apologies. This is an apology gift. Please accept it, Captain and both of you."
Hyuga Mirai clasped his hands together in apology, then took out fifteen Healing Tags, handing five to each person.
"I made them myself, and they work quite well."
Kaminari Kaede accepted them without hesitation. These Healing Tags were extremely popular among Jonin. Carrying them was equivalent to having a Medical Ninja constantly by your side; however, due to their limited quantity, even a squad-leading Jonin found it difficult to acquire them. Even Kaminari Kaede, an Elite Jonin, couldn't buy Healing Tags.
After being distributed among strategic reserves, Root, and the major Clans, Jonin could only apply for a few if they were undertaking A-rank or S-rank missions. Otherwise, Konoha would only slowly sell them to the public once the Healing Tag reserves increased.
This kind of strategic material, capable of saving lives, was far more valuable than Exploding Tags.
If it had been any other gift, Kaminari Kaede might have been polite, but for Healing Tags, he directly accepted them.
Kurenai Yuhi and Hyuga Kiyomi also knew the benefits of Healing Tags, so they accepted them with smiles and carefully stored them in their ninja pouches.
"Alright, let's talk about the squad's mission."
Kaminari Kaede clapped his hands, gathering their attention, and said,
"With your current strength, you are only one Chunin away from being able to take on B-rank missions independently. Regarding this, I've decided that once the squad has completed enough missions, I will recommend Hyuga Mirai for the Chunin Exam. Do either of you have any objections?"
Kaminari Kaede's last question was directed at Hyuga Kiyomi and Kurenai Yuhi, especially Hyuga Kiyomi. Kaminari Kaede wasn't sure if the Hyuga Main Family would allow a branch family member to lead them.
Hyuga Kiyomi said, "I have no objections."
Aside from his strength not being as great as hers, Hyuga Kiyomi had to admit that when carrying out missions, listening to Hyuga Mirai's commands always led to easy mission completion. Moreover, he arranged everything for patrols, outdoor stays, and so on, very properly.
If she were to be the captain, Hyuga Kiyomi knew she couldn't do as well as Hyuga Mirai.
"I also have no objections, Mirai-kun is more careful than me," Kurenai Yuhi raised her hand and replied with a light laugh.
Kaminari Kaede nodded and said, "Since that's the case, after one more B-rank mission and five C-rank missions, I will recommend Hyuga Mirai for the Chunin Exam."
"Although it's likely just a formality…"
It didn't matter if his combat strength was slightly weaker. His Medical Ninjutsu and tactical aptitude fully met the Chunin requirements. At that point, it would probably just be a formality, and he might even be directly promoted to Chunin.
"Let's go to the Hokage Building."
Subsequently, the Uzumaki Maple Squad arrived at the Hokage Building to accept a mission. Most B-rank missions required a considerable amount of time. Kaminari Kaede flipped through the mission list before selecting a mission to escort a merchant convoy.
This merchant convoy was very influential in the Land of Fire, and among the goods being transported this time, one item was Chakra metal. Once they escorted it to the border of the Land of Earth, Iwa Ninja would take over.
The most common ninja missions were assassination and escort. Kaminari Kaede also wanted Hyuga Mirai and the other two to gain more experience in these areas before he left the squad.
"This mission isn't just for our squad. Tomorrow afternoon at 1 PM, gather at the village gate. Dismissed."
After learning the mission details, the three went to prepare. B-rank missions involved combat between ninja, and Kaminari Kaede had also said that he wouldn't intervene unless their lives were in danger, not even to give a reminder.
So they had to prepare well.
Hyuga Mirai, on the other hand, was going to Konoha Hospital. He planned to inform Kimura and Tsunade, and then use Konoha Hospital's Chakra paper to make some Healing Tags.
He was quite adept at using public resources for personal gain!
Upon arriving at Konoha Hospital, Hyuga Mirai told Kimura about his mission, and Kimura looked regretful upon hearing it.
She had originally wanted the Third Hokage to transfer Hyuga Mirai to Konoha Hospital, starting directly as a chief physician, becoming a director in five years, and taking over Konoha Hospital in ten.
However, the Third Hokage, the Hyuga Main Family, and Hyuga Mirai himself had no such intentions, so Kimura's idea fell through.
All Hyuga Mirai cared about was Konoha Hospital's laboratory. As for working at Konoha Hospital? He really wasn't interested. Once he had the right to use the laboratory, who would still want to be a laborer saving people?
"Is Tsunade-sama in?"
Hyuga Mirai thought about how he had learned a lot of useful things from this woman these past few days, and even though she would blow up his Shadow Clone at the slightest provocation, she was quite serious about teaching, so he wanted to say hello to her.
Kimura nodded and said, "She's still here. Tsunade-sama said this morning she had documents to handle, so she should be working now."
Hyuga Mirai shook his head and said, "It's better not to have hope, Vice Director. She'll only carry the documents over and then have you carry them back."
Upon hearing this, Kimura wanted to tell Hyuga Mirai that most of the time, she was the one who voluntarily carried the documents back; however, as a subordinate, Kimura still didn't speak ill of Tsunade behind her back.
Arriving at Tsunade's office door, Hyuga Mirai knocked twice, but after a few seconds, there was still no reply.
So Hyuga Mirai called out from outside the door, then directly pushed the door open and went in. In the past, when he came to ask questions, he often found Tsunade heavily drunk, and many times he would just push the door open.
After Hyuga Mirai entered, Tsunade immediately woke up and looked towards the door. When she saw it was Hyuga Mirai, she spoke, "It's you, you Byakugan Brat. What is it?"
"Tsunade-sama, you just promised Vice Director Kimura that you would handle documents."
"That's right, I'm handling them right now…"
"You still have drool on your face," Hyuga Mirai mercilessly exposed her. Tsunade heard this and hurriedly wiped the corner of her mouth with her hand, but then she realized she had been tricked by Hyuga Mirai.
"You hateful Byakugan Brat!"
Seeing Tsunade clench her fist, Hyuga Mirai immediately said, "I'm leaving the village tomorrow for a mission. You're probably leaving soon too, so I came to say goodbye."
Tsunade snorted and said, "Even you, this Byakugan Brat, can tell?"
Hyuga Mirai shook his head and said, "It's no secret. Anyone who spends time with you should know."
"Don't you have anything to say to me?" Tsunade saw Hyuga Mirai bring up the matter and thought this Byakugan Brat, like everyone else, was going to persuade her to stay in Konoha.
"Say something…" Hyuga Mirai thought for a moment, then his expression became slightly serious as he said to Tsunade, "Don't gamble anymore in the future. You can't win."
Bang!
Tsunade slammed her fist on the table, then angrily said, "Byakugan Brat, are you looking down on my gambling skills?!"
You even have gambling skills?
Seeing Hyuga Mirai give her that look again, Tsunade's veins throbbed. However, on second thought, she was about to leave anyway, so she would let this Byakugan Brat off the hook for today.
"I thought you would try to persuade me to stay, like the Old Man."
Hyuga Mirai shook his head and said, "Why persuade you? Just do what you want. Living for others is very tiring."
Hearing Hyuga Mirai say this, Tsunade's heart stirred, and she said, "Hey, Byakugan Brat, do you want to be my…"
"Please forgive me, Tsunade-sama, but I refuse."
Before Tsunade could finish her sentence, Hyuga Mirai decisively refused.
"My ideals are too different from yours. It's impossible for me to be your disciple!"
Vote!