Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 95: First Blood

After giving Tonari and his team a brief rundown about the Land of Grass and their mission parameters, Tsunade turned to the group with a decisive announcement.

"This is a B-rank mission. Theoretically, you won't encounter any opponents above genin level. To give you a proper challenge, I won't be intervening until you reach the Land of Grass. From now until then, you're on your own."

The three students exchanged shocked glances.

What? Their first mission—already a B-rank—and she was planning to leave them to fend for themselves?

"You can do it," Tsunade added. "Tonari, I know you've been holding back, but this time, I need you to take responsibility.

"From now on, Tonari is your temporary squad leader. Follow his instructions at all times. And remember, your primary and only objective is to protect yourselves. That comes before everything else!"

Tsunade's tone left no room for argument.

She wanted them to rely on themselves for this mission, not her. While she would secretly monitor their progress from the shadows, she believed that her constant presence would hinder their growth.

If they felt no real threat due to her being nearby, they wouldn't learn to work together or develop survival instincts.

Although Tsunade knew this approach was risky, the team's prior performance had convinced her that they were capable. Their cohesion during training was proof that Tonari could take charge, and Yoshinari and Yoshino could work together under his leadership.

Tonari's own strength was already well above average for a genin, Yoshinari's Uchiha talent put him among the top of their class, and Yoshino's Shadow Possession made her a valuable support. Their main weakness was a lack of experience, and this mission would give them the chance to address that.

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Without further ado, Tsunade vanished into the forest, leaving the three genin standing in awkward silence.

"Tonari, what's the plan?" Yoshino asked hesitantly.

Her words broke the silence, but even Yoshinari looked uncertain. This was their first mission, and without Tsunade around, they suddenly felt exposed and unsure.

Tonari sighed and took charge. "Alright, first question: Have either of you killed anyone before?"

The abruptness of the question startled Yoshino, her eyes widening in shock. Yoshinari's reaction was subtler, but the tightening of his lips spoke volumes.

Tonari shook his head, silently lamenting Tsunade's sink-or-swim approach. While throwing them into the deep end might force them to grow, it wasn't ideal for everyone.

"Alright," Tonari began, adjusting his tone to be calm but firm. "Yoshinari, even if you can't keep your Sharingan active the whole time, I want you to activate it every half hour to scan for any signs of danger.

"Yoshino, don't overthink things. Tsunade may not be visible, but I guarantee she's nearby, ready to step in if things get too dangerous.

"Besides, you've got me. If you follow my instructions, I promise we'll be fine."

His confidence was infectious. Both Yoshinari and Yoshino nodded, their unease slowly fading.

In the shadows, Tsunade watched the interaction and smiled. She had made the right call. Tonari's leadership was the glue holding the team together.

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Over the next three days, the group settled into their roles under Tonari's guidance. The first two days were uneventful, with no bandits or enemies in sight. However, Tonari remained vigilant, refusing to let the team grow complacent.

On the third day, trouble finally arrived.

The caravan came under attack by a group of bandits. For Yoshino and Yoshinari, it was their first real battle, their first time spilling blood.

Yoshino managed to hold herself together during the fight but collapsed to her knees and vomited once it was over. Despite this, Tonari was impressed—she had waited until the battle was done to let her emotions show.

Yoshinari, for his part, proved why the Uchiha clan was so feared. Though pale-faced and visibly shaken, he had killed several bandits with ruthless efficiency, wielding both his Sharingan and fire-style jutsu with precision.

Tonari, meanwhile, ensured no harm came to either of them, stepping in whenever necessary to protect his teammates and maintain control of the battlefield.

As the fight concluded, Tonari couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride. Both Yoshino and Yoshinari had done well, considering it was their first time experiencing life-or-death combat.

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In the days that followed, the mission's difficulty gradually increased.

The closer they got to the Land of Grass, the more frequent the threats became. With Tsunade remaining in the shadows, the three genin were forced to step up, learning to rely on one another and adapt to the challenges of the ninja world.

Their real journey had just begun.

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(Chapter End)

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