Konan unrolled a map and handed it to Kakuzu.
"To find a suitable location for the figure production plant, Pain has listed several small countries. You and Hidan are to investigate each one. Evaluate them for labor availability, geography, political climate, and potential contacts."
"Hm~ I see. Labor, terrain, governance, diplomacy... All need to be considered."
Kakuzu raised a brow as he took the map. "Fine. I can pick up a few bounty contracts along the way and blow off some steam."
"Then I'll leave it to you."
"Please have the optimal location determined within a month."
---
Ninja.
That word, no matter when or where it's spoken, always carries the scent of blood.
As a profession it's no different than assassin, thief, or spy—those who bear the title "ninja" are residents of the shadows. Less people than tools—tools designed to do whatever it takes to achieve a goal, even if that means sacrificing themselves.
Which is why... Team 7 right now might as well be a bunch of sewer plunger handles.
"WHY are we picking up trash AGAIN today?!"
Naruto hurled a fistful of empty cans from the riverbank, his face twisted in anguish. On the bank, Kakashi rubbed his forehead in silent exasperation—he'd known this tantrum was coming, and yet…
"Shut it, dead last. It's a mission."
Even Sasuke, thigh-deep in riverwater, looked bored to death, his tone flat but edged with clear irritation. Yeah—this wasn't exactly what any of them expected ninja life to be like.
"Ma ma~ These are D-rank missions," Kakashi shrugged. "You've just graduated. It's perfectly natural to start with basic tasks like this. They're not just for experience—they help you understand society too."
But then—
CRACK.
The sound of something metallic warping broke through his words. Hinata, facing away in the shallows, had crushed a soda can into a twisted spiral in one hand. The aluminum was red-hot, melting, dripping into the water.
"Uuugh—!!"
Naruto yelped and nearly fell in. The momentary flare of murderous intent from the white-eyed girl sent a cold shiver down his spine.
"E-Er... well! If D-ranks are really that frustrating, maybe we can... go talk to the Hokage! See if there's anything else~?"
Kakashi wiped cold sweat from his brow and rapidly pivoted, and sure enough, Hinata's fingers uncurled. The killing aura faded.
"Ara~ Naruto, don't complain. As a ninja of Konoha, it's your duty to complete the village's assigned missions. That's how we grow."
Hinata turned back, smiling serenely, her tone warm and affectionate. Both Kakashi and Naruto exhaled with immense relief.
Honestly, her frustration was justified.
She understood the value of building credibility within the village—especially as someone trying to secure power. But come on... A week straight of D-rank tasks like cleaning rivers, picking up litter, babysitting, dog-walking, and grocery errands?
It was soul-crushing.
They'd done seven, maybe eight D-ranks already. And truthfully, the one most on edge wasn't Naruto. It was Hinata.
This "training" made sense. Put arrogant newbies through the wringer of humility—just like hazing fresh recruits in any organization. She got it. But that didn't mean she had to like it.
Besides—if she remembered right, it was around this time in the original story that Team 7 would get their first real mission. The one that kicks off the Land of Waves Arc.
There was no precise timing in canon, just the vague detail that it came after a mission involving a fat cat named Tora. But even after patiently grinding through a week's worth of D-ranks, they still hadn't gotten that job.
It was irritating.
Sure, Hinata wasn't some idealistic purist obsessed with canon. She didn't need the story to follow the original path. But... it still felt wrong not to trigger that narrative branch.
And beyond that—those two antagonists in the Wave arc had value. Specific, measurable, extractable value.
If she couldn't wait for the story to find her... she'd just find her own way there.
Walking behind her teammates, Hinata glanced at Naruto's back, then smiled.
Yes. With this walking cliché of a shonen hero around, all she had to do was get him there. Once they reached the Land of Waves, it was guaranteed he'd pick a fight with the villains and drag everyone else into it.
All she needed was a way to make the trip.
Normally, genin squads weren't allowed to leave the village without a mission, for confidentiality and safety reasons. But...
Rules only bind those without the power to break them.
"Say... Didn't we say last week's Fox's Tale episode would be the last one before a half-month break?"
She spoke suddenly. Kakashi, walking ahead, turned with mild interest. "That's right~ You said you wanted time to experience real ninja life. Looks like you're getting impatient already?"
"I was never known for patience. So, let's go on a trip."
Hinata's tone was decisive, full of confidence. As the producer and boss of Fox's Tale, she'd already filed the paperwork for a "creative retreat" weeks ago while still in school.
In a ninja village, any mission—no matter how weird—could be accepted as long as it didn't harm the village. The only thing that really mattered was the payment.
"Huh? A trip? I've never been outside the village! Can we really go?!"
Naruto's face lit up. He practically bounced over.
"Where are we going? Are we gonna learn some crazy cool new ninjutsu?!"
"Pfft. Like a dumbass like you could learn anything useful," Sasuke snorted from the side. "You're all talk."
"Oh yeah?! Just because you got lucky this time, doesn't mean I won't catch up! I'll master Shinsararan too!"
"Sure you will. Just like you always say you will."
Hinata's fingers curled tightly.
Yes. There was that too...
She was falling behind.
She'd been the one to introduce the concept of secret techniques, but the first one to unlock one wasn't her—it was Sasuke. His version of the Amatsu-no-Habakiri might have been unstable, but it still worked.
And if the story played out like the original, the gap between them would only grow.
Sasuke's genius and bloodline would lead him straight to the Eternal Mangekyō. He'd wield Susanoo and fight like a god.
Naruto... was even worse. With his Uzumaki lineage and the Nine-Tails sealed inside, once he learned to use it, he'd go from dead last to the savior of the world.
And she?
What would she become?
She'd dragged them into her Nanto Fist training, sure. But even now, they were catching up—maybe even surpassing her.
It was... deeply unpleasant.
But—it was fine.
She had something even better.
The secrets of the Sealing Scroll.
Access to Danzo's stockpile of First Hokage's cells.
Akatsuki's firepower and black-market contacts.
Whatever she lacked in natural gifts, she would build for herself. Forge her own overpowered arsenal. Create her own cheats.
She smiled, cold and sure. Her white eyes gleamed with determination. The destination didn't matter. What mattered was that she got there.
And behind her, Kakashi narrowed his eye, watching the girl's profile with a frown.
That look in her eye…
He'd only seen it twice before, in all of Konoha.
It was the gaze of a true ambitionist.
—
"All right. Naruto, Sasuke, enough arguing."
Hinata stopped walking, her voice light again.
"I've decided. Maybe it's time we went somewhere near the sea. After all... the ocean is the perfect symbol of freedom and possibility."