"Can't we just tie him up and beat him?" Mamoru proposed a simple and crude solution.
"Idiot! They told us to persuade him to give up the idea of suicide, not to use force!" Tenten immediately retorted, with an expression that said, 'I knew you'd say that'.
"Sounds troublesome." Mamoru picked his ear, looking impatient. "Forget it, I'll handle it."
"Hey! Don't you dare cause any more big trouble!" Tenten immediately showed a worried expression, clearly still wary of Mamoru's 'solution'.
"Otherwise, what do you suggest?" Mamoru spread his hands, then pointed at the still sobbing man. "If you had a way, would it have dragged on this long?"
"How about... let Mamoru try?" Tenten hesitated, then tentatively looked at Neji, seeking his opinion.
Neji rubbed his temples, his face full of helplessness, and finally conceded, "Just... give it a try."
As soon as he finished speaking, to everyone's astonished gaze, Mamoru darted forward, and with lightning speed, kicked the man sitting on the edge of the rooftop down.
"If you're so desperate, I'll send you off. Go!"
"Aaaahhhhh—" The man's shrill scream pierced the sky as his body rapidly plummeted.
"You... what have you done!" Tenten instantly rushed over, grabbing Mamoru's collar tightly, shaking him frantically, too angry to speak coherently. "I shouldn't have trusted you! You... you!"
"If you don't let go, he's really going to die." Mamoru said, letting her shake him, his tone unusually calm.
"You big idiot!" Tenten cursed, but still let go.
Seeing the figure fall, the crowd downstairs gasped, and some people had already closed their eyes in fear, unable to imagine the bloody scene that would follow.
Just as the suicidal man was about to hit the ground with a heavy thud, Mamoru's figure suddenly appeared above him like a ghost, precisely grabbing his clothes.
The two's downward momentum abruptly stopped, hovering in mid-air for a moment. Then, their figures flashed and disappeared into thin air.
On the rooftop, Mamoru reappeared, casually throwing the now ashen-faced man onto the ground.
He squatted down, looking into the young man's scattered, empty eyes, and calmly asked, "Did you feel death?"
The man was completely scared stiff, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word, only his body shaking uncontrollably.
"Do you still want to die?"
"Next time if you still want to commit suicide, remember to find a deserted place. That way, you won't bother others, and others won't bother you." Mamoru's tone could even be called 'gentle', but his words carried a bone-chilling coldness.
"Okay?"
After speaking, he no longer paid attention to the young man who had completely lost his ability to act and his suicidal thoughts. He stood up, flashed a brilliant smile at the three members of Team Three, and gave a thumbs-up.
"Mission accomplished."
—
The sky hung empty, without a single cloud, as if isolated from everything in the mortal world.
Meanwhile, the clamor of the streets hit the shop windows and walls wave after wave like a rising tide, filled with the vibrant breath of life.
At this bustling street corner.
"You didn't do anything stupid while I was away, did you?" Kurenai crossed her arms, tilting her head to look at Mamoru beside her, her tone carrying undisguised suspicion.
"How could I?"
Mamoru immediately puffed out his chest, his face practically spelling out the word 'reliable' as he vowed solemnly, "While you were gone, I completed all sorts of missions perfectly and beautifully. I definitely haven't brought shame to Team 8."
Kurenai clearly didn't believe his nonsense. She looked right past him toward the most honest child in the group, her voice softening naturally. "Hinata, you tell me. Was he well-behaved during this time?"
Mamoru quickly winked at the eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan, trying to send some kind of 'signal'.
"Mamoru-kun... he, he worked very hard..." Hinata's eyes darted around, her index fingers tapping together nervously as her voice grew smaller and smaller.
Hearing this, Mamoru helplessly covered his face and sighed in his heart. 'She really was a child too pure to know how to lie.'
Kurenai raised her hand at the same time, pressing her temple firmly as if she could already foresee the scene of her being lectured in the Hokage Office.
Her tone carried a hint of resignation. "It's over. Looks like I'm going to be nagged by Hokage-sama."
As they talked, they arrived at the Mission Assignment Office. Just as they reached the entrance, they happened to run into Kakashi leading Team 7 out of the building.
"Yo, Sweet Potato Boys." Mamoru raised a hand and greeted them with a grin, his tone carrying its usual teasing edge.
"We aren't digging up sweet potatoes today!" Naruto immediately retorted loudly, a proud look on his face. "We aren't Sweet Potato Boys!"
"Idiot." Sasuke spat out coldly from beside him.
"What did you say!?" Naruto reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly bristling and flailing his arms as he prepared to pounce.
"Naruto, you're too loud." Sakura frowned and punched Naruto on the head, instantly silencing his racket.
"Sakura-chan..." Naruto immediately clutched his head, pouting aggrievedly.
"We're heading out first." Kakashi nodded lazily to Kurenai as a greeting.
Kurenai nodded in response.
She watched Team 7 leave in their noisy fashion before turning to her students. "Let's go inside as well."
Before she could even speak, Mamoru had already walked through the main doors.
Shino nodded silently and followed quietly.
"Yes." Hinata answered softly, jogging to keep up with her teammates.
Inside the Mission Assignment Office hall, the light was somewhat dim, and the air was filled with a faint scent of tobacco and the unique aroma of old paper. Today, not only was Hiruzen present, but even Iruka was standing by his side.
"Assign all the lost property retrieval missions to us today." Mamoru spoke up without any ceremony as soon as he entered.
"Idiot." Iruka recognized the newcomer and immediately scolded him. "What do you think missions are? Are they dishes you can just order from a menu?"
"A mission is a mission, isn't it?" Mamoru spread his hands, acting as if it were only natural. "I mean, isn't that how it's usually done? What's the big deal?"
"Usually... done..." Iruka's eye twitched. "How can you just pick missions as you please?"
"I can't pick them?" Mamoru blinked, looking toward Hiruzen with a look of confusion.
Iruka emphasized, "While it's not absolute, Genin do not have the right to choose their missions."
"I see." Mamoru pinched his chin, nodding thoughtfully.
It seemed the reason he could pick before was purely because the old man was easy to talk to.
He sighed, his expression becoming helpless. "That said, those low-level missions are troublesome and the pay is low. With this little pay, when will I ever become the richest man in the Land of Fire?"
Iruka facepalmed. "You're still thinking about that unrealistic dream of becoming the richest man? It's impossible. Give it up."
"Ahem..."
Hiruzen coughed lightly at the right moment, tapping his pipe against the table to draw everyone's attention.