Naruto: The Unbreakable Will of a Sannin's Student

After they dispersed, Nakajima Sodai instructed Okamoto Dousuke, "Dousuke, go and gather information about the merchants from the Land of Flowers."

"Understood, Captain," Okamoto Dousuke replied.

Byakugan!

Hyuga Ritsu activated her Byakugan. "There are five individuals from the other party in the room. You can proceed now, Dousuke."

It made sense that everyone who had arrived together would gather in one room. After all, the merchants, having just experienced a robbery on the road, would likely feel safer together. However, this also meant they could potentially be eliminated all at once.

"Understood, Sister Ritsu," Okamoto Dousuke said before quietly slipping out of the room.

He carefully took out a blowpipe from his bag and blew it through the crack under the door. A colorless and odorless gas slowly filled the room.

Approximately ten minutes later, Okamoto Dousuke opened the door and stepped inside. Five people lay unconscious in the room. Besides the merchant from the Land of Flowers, there was a teenage girl and three individuals dressed as samurai, presumably the family's bodyguards.

Okamoto Dousuke took a vial of potion from his ninja tool pouch and carefully poured it into the Land of Flowers merchant's mouth, then proceeded to wake the others.

"May I have your name?"

"My name is Junichiro Shibauchi..."

The next day, Okamoto Dousuke woke up early, being careful not to disturb Hyuga Ritsu, who was sleeping soundly next to him.

"Splash, splash."

He turned on the faucet and splashed the cold water on his face, instantly washing away his morning grogginess.

Creak.

After returning to the room, Okamoto Dousuke gently closed the door.

"You woke up really early, Dousuke. Where's the Captain?" Hyuga Ritsu greeted sleepily, sitting up on the tatami mat.

"Oh, you're awake, Sister Ritsu. I didn't realize," Okamoto Dousuke replied, looking at her.

"Captain went out, but he didn't say what he was going to do," Aburame Takuto said from where he sat on the sofa, retrieving the parasitic insects he had used for surveillance the previous night. Two neat rows of insects flew towards him, crawling into the cuffs of his left and right sleeves.

The Aburame clan's secret technique. Fortunately, Aburame Takuto was here. He had released his parasitic insects to guard the surroundings last night, otherwise, we would have had to take turns keeping watch. This is also why Hyuga Ritsu was able to sleep until dawn.

Just then, Nakajima Sodai returned.

"I have set up traps along our path. My aim is to capture everyone alive," Nakajima Sodai said, his tone slightly serious.

"Captain, I managed to gather all the information on the businessman from the Land of Flowers yesterday. His family situation, habits, everything is detailed here," Okamoto Dousuke said, taking out a piece of paper and handing it to Nakajima Sodai.

"Well done, Dousuke. Excellent work," Nakajima Sodai said after quickly reading the report, clearly impressed.

"We are the Shibauchi family, who came from the Land of Flowers to trade in flower tea. Our home is in the Moriyama area. I am the father, Junichiro Shibauchi. Dousuke is the youngest son, Yangtai Shibauchi. Ritsu is the eldest daughter, Midori Shibauchi. And you, Takuto, are Seiya, the Shibauchi family's samurai. Did everyone understand their roles?" Nakajima Sodai concluded the role assignments.

"Yes, Captain," they replied in unison.

"Dousuke, what did you do with the people from the Land of Flowers?" Nakajima Sodai asked Okamoto Dousuke.

"Captain, I administered a potent hypnotic drug. They won't wake up until tomorrow," Okamoto Dousuke replied confidently.

"Alright, let's move on. Dousuke, you and Ritsu, go and find the Sand Village team from yesterday," Nakajima Sodai instructed.

At noon, in the same ramen restaurant as the day before, Hyuga Ritsu and Okamoto Dousuke sat waiting inside. Hyuga Ritsu was playfully interacting with the puppy she had bought while occasionally glancing back towards the entrance.

"Haha, this is fantastic, sensei! The payment for this mission is really generous. I think I'll order another bowl of ramen!" a boisterous voice announced from outside.

"Okay, I'll let you eat as much as you want."

The Sand Village team from yesterday had arrived.

Okamoto Dousuke watched the Sand Village team enter the restaurant and immediately walked over to the Chunin. "Hello, ninja-sama! Did you complete your mission successfully?"

"Of course! We finished the task in the village. Can we eat first? Oh, and my name is Chin Youje," the enthusiastic Genin replied.

"My apologies, I was just eager," Okamoto Dousuke said apologetically, leading them to the table where Hyuga Ritsu was sitting. "Everyone, please join us. My sister and I haven't eaten yet."

"Boss! A few bowls of ramen for our group, please!" Okamoto Dousuke called out loudly.

"If it's not enough, we can always order more," Hyuga Ritsu added gently.

"Wow, sister, you smell really nice!" Chin Youeje exclaimed, sitting down next to Hyuga Ritsu.

"You little rascal," the Sunagakure Chunin said, lightly hitting Chin Youje on the head, then turning to Hyuga Ritsu to apologize, "I'm so sorry. My student doesn't have much experience interacting with girls back in our village. He didn't mean any harm."

"It's perfectly alright. And I think You-san is very cute too," Hyuga Ritsu replied with a smile, waving her hand dismissively.

"My father went to collect the payment for the goods sold yesterday. He mentioned that the price could be at the level of a B-rank mission. We were hoping you might accept it, please," Okamoto Dousuke said, looking at the Sunagakure Chunin and bowing respectfully.

"Since I agreed yesterday, I will honor my word. No need to worry," the Sand Village Chunin replied directly.

"Haha, then we can make some good money again! Takuma, Kota, aren't you excited?" Chin Youje asked his two companions beside him with a wide grin.

Chin Youje's teammates didn't respond, but simply picked up their chopsticks and ate the ramen that had just been served.

The young men finished their meal quickly. Chin Youje even devoured two extra bowls, explaining that seeing the food made him hungrier, as he often went without proper meals back home.

Okamoto Dousuke and Hyuga Ritsu led Gurenji Tatsuya and his Genin teammates to the hotel, where they met up with Nakajima Sodai.

"Greetings, Chunin Gurenji. Thank you for your assistance this time. Life has been difficult for me. I've never encountered any ninjas during my previous business trips to Sunagakure. At most, I've had trouble with bandits, whom my family's samurai could usually handle," Nakajima Sodai said, adopting the persona of Shibauchi Junichiro, complete with a convincingly pot-bellied appearance, as he lamented to Gurenji Tatsuya.

"The dozen or so family warriors who accompanied me this time were killed, and the few remaining fled in fear. Only my loyal retainer, Makoto, stayed behind. If you hadn't helped us, Midori, Yangtai, and I might have perished on the road." As he spoke, tears welled up in Shibauchi Junichiro's eyes.

"Don't worry, Mr. Shibauchi. Since I accepted the mission, we will ensure your safety. But you understand the agreed-upon price!" Gurenji Tatsuya, the leader of the Sunagakure team, patted his chest reassuringly.

"The commission is not a concern. It will be in accordance with the standards of a B-rank mission. And you only need to escort us to the border of Hanagakure. If you're worried, I can pay half of the fee upfront," Shibauchi Junichiro offered, reaching into his pocket.

"No, no, I trust you," Gurenji Tatsuya said, waving away the offer of payment. "What time would you like to depart?"

"Let's set off immediately; the sooner, the better. I've already packed everything. I don't plan to return to Sunagakure anytime soon. It's far too dangerous," Nakajima Sodai, still in character, said to Gurenji Tatsuya.