"Hokage-sama… this isn't a joke, right?"
Hagoromo looked at the Third Hokage with a rather strange expression.
Unfortunately, the Third Hokage was not the kind of person who would joke around like that. He had no interest in teasing his subordinates.
Half an hour ago, Hagoromo had still been training his chakra nature transformation when he received the Hokage's summons.
Five minutes ago, the Hokage explained why he had called him here.
And now, Hagoromo found himself struggling to understand—mainly because of the mission he was about to receive.
"Hagoromo," the Third Hokage asked as soon as he arrived, "has your injury fully healed?"
"Yes. I've completely recovered," Hagoromo replied.
The Hokage's question wasn't merely out of concern. What he was really asking was: Are you ready to return to active duty?
In truth, Hagoromo's injuries had already healed before he returned to Konoha. Strictly speaking, he hadn't needed to come back at all. For a ninja like him—someone capable of explosive bursts of combat power—remaining on the front lines during wartime would have been more effective.
However, there was one obvious problem: Hagoromo currently had no assigned squad.
Considering the efficiency of squad-based operations and Hagoromo's own shortcomings, he had been temporarily recalled to Konoha. Only after a new squad was formed would he be sent back to the battlefield.
The Hokage placed his pipe to his lips, took a puff, then nodded.
"That's good. I have a new mission for you. I intend to form a new squad centered around you and assign you to carry out this task."
What did "centered around you" mean?
Simply put, Hagoromo would be given command authority over a ninja squad—he would serve as the leader of a four-man team.
Hagoromo had no objections to the Hokage's assignment.
In reality, ordinary ninjas rarely had the option to refuse a mission. In peacetime, there might be some room for choice, but during war, the Hokage's orders were absolute and unquestionable.
For example, if the Hokage suddenly ordered Hagoromo and his new squad to infiltrate Kumogakure, break into the Raikage's office, and steal the Land of Lightning's defensive plans—even if the mission was clearly suicidal with zero chance of success, they would still have to go.
Unless, of course, Hagoromo intended to defect from Konoha.
That said, the Hokage's words contained quite a bit of information.
Since Hagoromo—a chūnin—was being appointed squad leader, one thing was clear: there would be no jōnin in this squad.
A chūnin commanding a jōnin was almost unheard of, unless that chūnin possessed Shikamaru-level strategic intelligence.
In other words, this new squad—Hagoromo included—would consist entirely of chūnin and genin. Judging by their overall strength, the Hokage clearly wasn't planning to send them on an ultra-high-difficulty mission.
Various thoughts flashed through Hagoromo's mind, but he immediately accepted the Hokage's order.
Seeing Hagoromo nod, the Hokage handed him a document folder.
No explanation was needed—these were the profiles of his new squad members.
Ordinarily, forming a squad wasn't something that required the Hokage's direct involvement. But due to Hagoromo's status, as well as the identity of one of the squad members, the Hokage had personally summoned him to explain the situation.
Hagoromo took the folder and opened it at once, curious about who his teammates would be.
Ninja Registration No.: 010886
Name: Yamashiro Aoba
Rank: Chūnin
Mission Record:
D-rank ×34, C-rank ×22, B-rank ×14, A-rank ×0, S-rank ×0
Specialties: Genjutsu, Taijutsu, Summoning
The second profile followed:
Ninja Registration No.: 010829
Name: Sarutobi Asuma
Rank: Chūnin
Mission Record:
D-rank ×56, C-rank ×20, B-rank ×18, A-rank ×1, S-rank ×0
Specialties: Ninjutsu, Taijutsu
Then the third:
Ninja Registration No.: 010881
Name: Yūhi Kurenai
Rank: Genin
Mission Record:
D-rank ×28, C-rank ×22, B-rank ×10, A-rank ×0, S-rank ×0
Specialties: Genjutsu
Each file was fairly thick. The front contained basic information, while the rest detailed their performance in past missions and a thorough analysis of their abilities.
All three were Hagoromo's peers. Asuma and Kurenai had even been his classmates.
In other words, this squad was composed entirely of rookies.
Of course, judging by mission count alone, they weren't completely green. After graduation—while Hagoromo had remained in Konoha training under Kushina—these three had already been deployed to the battlefield.
After finishing the files, Hagoromo fell silent.
It wasn't because one of the squad members was the Hokage's son.
Nor was it because there were no highly experienced veterans.
Nor even because the squad's overall combat strength seemed insufficient.
The problem was that, looking at this lineup, Hagoromo couldn't tell what kind of mission this squad was supposed to handle at all.
Based on the profiles and his own understanding, one thing was clear: both Hagoromo and Sarutobi Asuma were ninjutsu-oriented—or more accurately, well-rounded—ninjas.
Add Yamashiro Aoba and Yūhi Kurenai, both genjutsu specialists…
What exactly was this squad supposed to do?
They didn't seem particularly specialized in anything.
"Hokage-sama," Hagoromo asked directly, "what is our mission?"
The Third Hokage didn't answer immediately.
He first cleared the documents from his desk, then unfolded a map of the shinobi world.
Once Hagoromo stepped closer, the Hokage pointed to a specific region.
"Our conflict with the Land of Wind has ended. One could say that the western border of the Land of Fire is stabilizing. As such, we will no longer station large numbers of ninja there."
"Next, the Land of Earth to the northwest is our primary enemy in the next phase. Considering logistics and supply routes, if they initiate hostilities, they will most likely invade through the Land of Grass or the Land of Waterfall. That direction will be our main defensive focus."
The Hokage's finger traced the map.
"However, between these two zones of differing strategic priority, there is a gap—a weak point."
Before the Hokage could finish, Hagoromo spoke up.
"The Land of Rain…"
"Correct," the Hokage said, glancing at him. "Amegakure was quite active early in the war, but their national strength is limited. After suffering two defeats, they haven't made any major moves. Previously, the combined pressure from the Sunagakure and Iwagakure fronts kept them in check."
"But now that forces have been withdrawn from the Sand front…"
"We believe that while Amegakure lacks the strength to launch a large-scale offensive, their behavior during peace negotiations suggests they may take unconventional actions. Therefore, we must strengthen surveillance and reconnaissance along the Land of Rain."
"Given our current manpower, we can't afford to establish a dedicated defensive line against Amegakure. If they do launch a major attack, we'll reinforce from the Iwagakure front."
"But prior to that, all we can do is enhance border reconnaissance. For the time being, we'll deploy approximately twenty to forty reconnaissance squads along the border."
The border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain wasn't particularly long. For reconnaissance purposes, this number of ninja squads was sufficient—arguably even easier than monitoring the Land of Wind.
"Your squad will be one of them."
So.
Hagoromo's new squad was assigned to reconnaissance and surveillance.
And that was exactly why Hagoromo was stunned.
Kamishiro Hagoromo.
Sarutobi Asuma.
Yamashiro Aoba.
Yūhi Kurenai.
There wasn't a single dedicated reconnaissance-type ninja among them.
This squad was clearly assembled out of necessity. With continuous casualties during the war, properly balanced squads were simply hard to come by at this stage.
For reconnaissance missions, the Hokage would have loved to dispatch a dozen Hyūga clan members—
But was that even remotely possible?
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