Naruto: Forbidden Arts and an Immortal Agenda

Thursday had arrived, the sun blazed overhead as the Hokage Tower buzzed with activity.

After staring at the D-rank mission list for a while, Shibi Aburame's Team Three reluctantly accepted the final four easy tasks available.

As they exited the Hokage Tower, all three couldn't help but complain about how rare decent missions were getting, and how mission grinding had slowed down.

Meanwhile, the other genin from their class were about to lose it.

Seeing the long list filled entirely with farm labor and cargo handling tasks, Team One finally erupted in frustration.

Rong Hyuga coldly stated, "Sensei, it's always carrying stuff again. Do you think I'm just a pack animal? I refuse to accept these missions."

Saya Kurama said nothing, but adjusted her fancy clothing and looked thoroughly disgusted.

Willow Seiichiro's reaction wasn't quite that intense. After calming his teammates down slightly, he also said, "Teacher, Rong has a point. Continuously doing these kinds of missions just won't do. Even catching cats and dogs would be better than this."

Kona Aizawa frowned upon hearing this and asked the receptionist, "Why are all the D-rank missions only labor-intensive ones now?"

The receptionist replied, "Those three kids from Shibi Aburame's Team Three take seven or eight different types of missions every single day, so what's left are only these time-consuming, physical labor tasks."

"What?!"

The three members of Team One exclaimed in shock.

…

Hokage Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed a circle of smoke from his pipe—one of the signature habits of the Hokage—his fingers instinctively tapping on the intelligence report he'd just read.

Recently, the Land of Fire hadn't been peaceful at all. Many displaced civilians had turned into bandits, establishing bases in mountainous areas to rob passing merchants and nearby villages.

"It's only summer, so why are there so many homeless refugees?"

"Are they really just refugees? Or could this be the work of another ninja village?"

Suddenly, a middle-aged ninja walked in and announced, "Tokubetsu Jonin Ichikawa Jiro has urgent business to report."

Hiruzen rubbed his temples and said, "Please him in."

Jiro Ikarawa entered the Hokage office. Without waiting for the Third to ask, he began complaining bitterly, "Lord Hokage, Shibi Aburame's Team Three has gone too far."

"Eh?" Hiruzen was completely baffled.

"They deliberately pick and complete missions at an incredibly fast pace. Now among the D-rank missions, there's nothing left but tasks like moving cargo and helping farmers harvest crops. Catching cats or delivering messages don't exist anymore. These kinds of missions provide practically no training value for genin."

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen asked, "Have they broken any ninja rules?"

"No, but they—"

Before Ichikawa Jiro could finish speaking, Hiruzen cut in, "Then there's no problem. Alright Jiro, you may go back now."

With no choice, Ichikawa Jiro unwillingly left the Hokage office.

After sending Ichikawa Jiro away, Hiruzen was just about to seriously contemplate the truth behind these bandit groups when the middle-aged ninja entered once more, announcing, "Jonin Kona Aizawa has matters she wishes to report."

"Kona?" A smile appeared on Hiruzen's face as he said, "Quick, invite her in."

When Kona Aizawa entered, Hiruzen gestured for her to sit down and gently asked, "Kona, have you run into any problems lately?"

Kona sat down and replied, "Actually, I have encountered an issue."

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen's eyes widened. He suddenly stood up straight, projecting the mighty presence of a true ninja legend as he declared, "Tell me your problem! As Hokage, my purpose is to resolve difficulties for everyone!"

If it weren't for the Third casting a look filled with disdainful scrutiny, Kona Aizawa might have truly believed that Hiruzen was going to act on behalf of the people.

Uncomfortably crossing her arms to block his stare, Kona said, "Hokage-sama, Team Three deliberately chooses simple and quick missions. They're profiting by exploiting loopholes in the village's mission system."

Seeing he couldn't pry any further information out of her, Hiruzen sat back down. "I'm already aware of this matter. I'll handle it properly."

"Is there anything else, Kona? Or perhaps—"

Before he could finish, Kona immediately shook her head and quickly turned around, leaving the Hokage's office.

Letting out a sigh of regret, the Third was about to continue thinking when another middle-aged ninja entered.

After seeing off yet another jonin, Hiruzen Sarutobi called his assistant in and asked for the latest mission list.

Looking at the D-rank mission list filled entirely with transporting goods and performing manual labor tasks, he frowned. "When Team Three finishes their mission later, call them up here."

"Yes sir!"

...

In the afternoon, Aozora had just completed cleaning part of the river and came to report the task completion.

As soon as he entered the Mission Hall, he was surprised to find Jifeng and Aya were already there too. He also noticed Shibi Aburame giving him a slight wave. Instantly, Aozora knew something was happening.

Sure enough, as he approached, Shibi said, "The Hokage wants to see us about something."

Following Shibi upstairs.

"Why is the Hokage calling us? Don't tell me we did something wrong?" Aya asked nervously, looking extremely guilty. With nearly ten thousand ryo coming in every day recently, she was feeling almost criminal.

Jifeng was cautious too. "I think it should be fine… We haven't actually violated any ninja rules."

Witnessing this, Aozora could only try to lighten the mood: "With the village short-staffed lately, we've all been pulling double or triple the workload. Maybe the Hokage just wants to recognize how hard we've been working."

As Aozora made this excuse, even beneath his dark glasses, Shibi rolled his eyes.

They knocked and entered the Hokage's office where Hiruzen was buried in paperwork.

Team Three quietly waited aside.

After waiting a few minutes, Hiruzen finally looked up from his documents and gave them an expression that appeared like smiling but wasn't quite. "You all have been performing exceptionally well. Completing seven or eight missions a day—one team equals several teams combined."

Aya actually took the comment as genuine praise and let out a sheepish laugh while scratching her head. "Of course! Our squad is an elite unit."

"Do you really think that was praise?"

Hiruzen's tone hardened abruptly: "What you're doing is nothing more than opportunism."

"Do you think the village established D-rank missions just so we could rake in a few thousand ryo every day?"

"Of course not!"

"The real reason we set up D-rank missions is mainly to train genin. Hard work builds physical strength and endurance; capturing lost pets develops teamwork..."

"But instead, you're treating D-rank missions as a way to make easy money. What you're doing completely undermines the core purpose of these training exercises."

Under the imposing aura of the Hokage, Team Three stood speechless and lowered their heads one after another.

Shibi Aburame stepped forward. "I take full responsibility for this. After completing two weeks of missions with them, I realized they were already capable enough to act on their own, so I let them choose their own tasks."

Hiruzen nodded slowly as he listened, one hand cradling his pipe while the other tapped lightly on the desk.

After a moment, he said, "I suppose I've been too cautious. You're clearly ready for C-rank missions now. Continuing with D-rank missions won't bring much improvement."

"Shibi Aburame, it looks like Team Three needs a new challenge."

"Lately bandits have been rampant, and the village has accumulated quite a few unresolved C-rank missions. Starting today, Team Three will take on C-rank missions."

Shibi Aburame replied, "Yes, Hokage-sama!"

After exiting the Hokage Tower, Shibi Aburame said, "C-rank missions aren't limited to the village itself anymore. Most require heading out, which increases the risk of danger. We'll call it a day today—you all go home and get ready. Meet at the Mission Hall tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock."

"Yes, sensei!"

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