A few minutes later, Kurenai Yuhi emerged from the inn.
"The client still needs to make some purchases in Konoha," she said. "We'll depart tomorrow at eight in the morning. Be at the village gate on time."
She gave each of them a firm look."After we disband today, go home and prepare. Bring a change of clothes, a tent, a blanket, and, if possible, some soldier pills. If you can't fit everything, buy a storage scroll—you should be able to afford one with your recent mission rewards."
"Yes, understood," Team 8 responded in unison.
"Don't be late," Kurenai reminded again, then disappeared with a flicker of movement.
After parting ways with Shino, Izanami and Hinata walked together down the street.
"You don't need to buy a storage scroll," Hinata said quietly. "I'll bring one for you tomorrow."
Izanami smirked and lightly pinched her cheek."As expected of the heiress of the Hyuga Clan. Are you planning to support me already?"
"S-Support...?"Hinata's face turned scarlet, her voice stammering.
"I'm just teasing you."Izanami patted her head, then took her hand and smiled."There's no need for the scroll. I'll carry a backpack. If we need to camp, I'll keep watch while you rest."
At those words, Hinata's blush deepened. She looked down, her eyes settling on their intertwined fingers. A shy but blissful smile curved her lips.
Her heart fluttered with joy, as sweet as honey.
Though they hadn't made their relationship public or official, the connection between Izanami and Hinata was already unmistakable. They were more than teammates—they were partners.
If not for the looming presence of the Hyuga Clan Elders, Hinata would have confessed long ago. But she was waiting—waiting for the day when both she and Izanami would become Jonin. Elite, respected, untouchable. Then even her strict clan would have no grounds to object.
That day is coming soon, she thought, squeezing Izanami's hand gently.
Unaware of her thoughts, Izanami simply smiled, content.Hinata's come a long way. She's already amazing.And with a clear goal in her heart, she'll become someone even more remarkable.The Byakugan Princess will shine brilliantly.
The next morning, 7:50 AM.
Izanami and Hinata arrived at the village gate, both carrying backpacks. Shino Aburame was already there, waiting with his usual stoic posture.
"Good morning," Izanami greeted.
"Morning," Shino replied.
"Hey, Shino, didn't bring a tent?"
"I did. It's stored in a scroll. I also have extra soldier pills if needed."
"Thanks, but Hinata's already prepared those for me."
"…"
They exchanged their usual greetings, though the atmosphere soon grew awkward.
This time, it wasn't the typically taciturn Shino who ended the conversation—it was Izanami himself. Having been served an unexpected helping of 'relationship vibes,' Shino felt the sting quietly. On the surface, he was unreadable, but internally his mood soured.
Still, true to his nature, he didn't voice his annoyance—just retreated into silence.
Seeing Shino clam up again, Izanami leaned close to Hinata and whispered, switching to casual conversation. He avoided teasing her—out of consideration.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Kurenai's voice drew their attention. She was accompanied by a group of over a dozen people—a caravan prepared for departure.
Walking beside her was an ordinary-looking middle-aged man who gave off a relaxed, businesslike demeanor. His warm gaze scanned over Team 8, lingering subtly on Hinata.
Not out of lust—but curiosity.
Izanami activated his sensory technique. No malice detected. The man wasn't after the Byakugan. Rather, he seemed genuinely relieved—no doubt thrilled that a Hyuga had been assigned to his escort.
Ah... That explains it, Izanami thought.
With Byakugan on the team, their client had hit the jackpot. The Hyuga's all-seeing eye could detect stealth techniques, hidden ambushes, and even enemy chakra underground. To a cautious merchant, this was worth every ryo of the commission.
No wonder he was smiling so brightly.
Kurenai stepped forward. "Let me introduce you. This is our client—Mr. Nishimura."
"Mr. Nishimura," Team 8 greeted in unison with polite bows.
"Hello. I'll be counting on your protection," the man said cheerfully, bowing in return with genuine respect.
His down-to-earth attitude put Team 8 at ease. After their fair share of difficult clients on D-rank missions, this was a welcome change.
Finally, a mission with a straightforward request and a reasonable client.
They were ready to move forward—and for the first time, truly step into the world of real shinobi.
"Let's go, we can set off," Kurenai Yuhi announced.
She and Mr. Nishimura handed over the pre-arranged village exit permits to the Chunin guarding the gate. With that, Team 8—along with their client—stepped beyond the familiar boundaries of Konoha. For the first time in twelve years, Izanami, Hinata, and Shino were leaving the village they had called home.
At first, both Hinata and Shino were filled with anticipation, eager to see what lay beyond the village walls. The unknown world had a certain allure.
However, their excitement quickly faded as they passed through the first town.
Though the Land of Fire was known for its thriving commercial hubs like Tanzaku Street, most of the region was made up of humble towns and villages. These smaller settlements lacked the grandeur of Konoha, a village built to serve as both a military stronghold and a thriving center of commerce. The infrastructure was simple, even rustic, and the contrast was jarring.
Nobles and high-ranking officials still traveled in manual palanquins or carriages, with trains and other advanced technology remaining a distant dream. The conveniences of modernity were a rarity in the countryside.
Before long, Hinata and Shino's excitement began to ebb away, replaced by a more grounded focus on the mission at hand.
Ninjas, as always, moved with incredible speed. If they traveled at full pace, it would take them about three days to reach the Hidden Sand Village in the Land of Wind. For an elite team, this was hardly a challenge. But the journey wasn't just about speed—it was about endurance, and the inclusion of the mining team meant that travel would be slower.
The group's pace wasn't particularly fast, but they managed to cover a lot of ground, taking eight days to leave the Land of Fire completely. Two carriages, with no goods to carry, could move quickly enough, but they still had to make regular stops, and the terrain slowed them down.
The moment they crossed the border into unfamiliar terrain, Kurenai Yuhi called for a status update.
"Hinata, what's the situation around us?"
They had just transitioned from a forest trail to a narrow mountain road, and Kurenai turned to the young Hyuga, who had activated her Byakugan. The veins around Hinata's temples were visibly swollen, indicating her focus.
Hinata closed her eyes for a moment before speaking.
"There are no dangers within a twenty-kilometer radius."
The answer seemed simple enough, but it left Kurenai and Shino momentarily speechless. They stared at Hinata, blinking in surprise.
"...Nani?!" Kurenai stammered, her eyes wide.
Hinata's calm, collected response was unnerving. Her precise sensory abilities were impressive, but the scope of her detection—being able to sense a full twenty kilometers out—was nothing short of extraordinary.
Kurenai and Shino couldn't help but be stunned by the scale of the information Hinata had just provided.
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