Amid Naruto's endless chatter, Haku and the others left the plaza and arrived at a massive venue. The area resembled a giant conical pit, with a towering tree standing prominently at its core.
Around the giant tree, rows of seats radiated outward in a tiered arrangement. Notably, these seats were all seamlessly formed from vines and wood, blending perfectly with the natural setting.
Numerous entryways allowed waves of people, guided by volunteers, to stream into the venue and take their seats.
For Zabuza, who had participated in the Jonin Tournament, this scene was not unfamiliar. However, compared to the previous tournament, this venue was much larger, even leaving someone as seasoned as Zabuza slightly in awe.
Naruto grinned. "This time, over 200,000 people are participating!"
Nawaki turned to Zabuza. "Uncle Zabuza, are you participating this time too?"
Zabuza nodded. "This time, I'm cooperating… well, playing a role—"
Before he could finish, Naruto cheerfully interjected, "Uncle Shuichi calls that being a 'background extra'!"
Zabuza's mouth twitched. "I'm a Jonin, playing an important role!"
Feeling exasperated with Naruto, Suigetsu quickly changed the topic. "Alright, let's find our seats. By the way, are the seats assigned?"
Nawaki replied, "No assigned seating. You can sit wherever you like. But the earlier you arrive, the closer to the center you should aim to sit."
Haku nodded. "Let's head closer to the center, then."
The group moved toward the inner area and eventually settled in the prime seats near the center.
Nawaki waved as he said, "Uncle Zabuza, Haku, Suigetsu, and Kimimaro, we'll see you later! Let's have a meal together after everything ends!"
Haku smiled warmly. "Sure, no problem."
Nawaki waved goodbye, but Naruto looked reluctant to leave. He clearly wanted to sit down and watch the event instead of continuing his volunteer duties.
---
Meanwhile, Kurotsuchi, Deidara, and Akatsuchi were also being guided into the venue by volunteers.
Alongside them were Cloud Village's Cee, Samui, Atsui, Omoi, and Karui, as well as Sand Village's Pakura's student, Maki, and the newly promoted Chunin, Temari, who entered with other Chunin from her village.
All of this unfolded under Shuichi Hoshita's watchful perception.
As he observed these familiar faces, Shuichi couldn't help but feel nostalgic.
Naruto's generation was finally growing up.
In his mind, the thought lingered:
He had changed so much of the future.
There would no longer be a Wave Country mission after Naruto's graduation, no iconic clash with Zabuza the Demon, no battle where Sakura and Granny Chiyo fought Sasori of the Red Sand. So much of the canon would never happen.
With a soft sigh, Shuichi mused:
Perhaps the future wouldn't be what he once anticipated, but each would still have their own brilliant story.
---
At that moment, Mei Terumi, Minato Namikaze, Onoki, and others arrived.
Minato approached Shuichi. "Shuichi, everyone's here."
Shuichi nodded. "Then let's begin."
With a wave of his hand, a space-time portal opened. The group entered, instantly arriving at the heart of the arena beneath the giant tree.
The seats closest to the tree had been left vacant for Minato, the other Kages, and General Mifune, who quickly took their places.
Shuichi stood under the towering tree, which he had created using the God: Nativity of a World of Trees, Kekkei Mōra technique. The tree served as the core, and the vine-formed seats surrounding it were all part of the same structure.
Unlike Infinite Tsukuyomi, which trapped people in cocoons to extract their chakra, Shuichi didn't need chakra from the participants. Instead, the tree connected everyone to a practical genjutsu realm through their seats.
The genjutsu was not Infinite Tsukuyomi but his unique Demonic Realm: Palace of Memories. Over time, he had refined it into a Kekkei Mōrat genjutsu by integrating elements of Infinite Tsukuyomi.
---
When the venue was filled to capacity, Shuichi spoke:
"I am Shuichi Hoshita. Everyone, prepare to enter the illusion."
The seated participants—except for a select few, like Minato and the Kages—immediately tensed up.
Before they could react further, they were seamlessly transported into the illusionary world.
The actors found themselves in their designated roles, while the competing Chunin appeared inside a massive, high-tech indoor facility: The Mission Hall.
Here, the participants quickly noticed a critical detail: the people around them were no longer their original companions.
A mechanical voice echoed throughout the hall:
"This is the Mission Hall. All teams, please use the information panels to accept missions and earn points. Rankings, personal information, and other details are also available via the panels."
---
Haku turned to his three new teammates. It was clear these were his assigned squad members.
Before he could speak, a translucent screen appeared before him, displaying text:
Team 357
- Captain: Hoshita Haku
- Members: Omoi, Marusaki Ichi, Futakami Ryou
Haku glanced at the information and introduced himself. "Hello, everyone. I'm Hoshita Haku. I specialize in Wind Release, Water Release, and the Ice Release Bloodline Limit."
Marusaki Ichi, from Iwagakure, exclaimed, "Ice Release from Kirigakure?!"
Haku smiled gently, not bothering to clarify that he wasn't technically a Kirigakure ninja.
Omoi, from Kumogakure, eyed Haku thoughtfully. "Hoshita Haku… Is he the son of the God of Shinobi?"
(T/N: Again with gender bulls*it, Haku was written 'she' and 'daughter', I mean WTAF!!, I changed it of course.)
Haku urged, "Let's all introduce ourselves."
Marusaki Ichi spoke first. "I'm Marusaki Ichi, specializing in Earth Release and Fire Release."
Futakami Ryou added, "I'm from Kumogakure, and I specialize in Lightning Release."
Omoi finished, "I'm from Kumogakure as well. My specialty is kenjutsu."
---
After introductions, Marusaki Ichi quickly said, "We should grab a mission as soon as possible! The good ones will be gone if we're too slow."
Futakami Ryou nodded in agreement.
However, Omoi interjected cautiously, "We should first familiarize ourselves with the rules. I suggest starting with a simpler mission to build teamwork."
The three turned to Haku for a decision.
With his characteristic gentleness, Haku smiled. "Omoi, you and I will review the competition rules. Ichi, Ryou, check the mission details and evaluate the tasks."
The trio exchanged glances, nodded, and brought up their individual information panels to begin their tasks.
The competition's rules were straightforward:
- Teams could freely accept missions, with difficulties ranging from C-rank to S-rank, matching the standard mission grading system.
- Mission points were awarded as follows: C-rank: 2 points, B-rank: 4 points, A-rank: 6 points, S-rank: 10 points.
- Rankings were determined by team points.
However, this was only the first stage.
Only the top 100 teams would advance to the final competition, where individual members would battle for the title of the strongest Chunin.
In the first stage, team members who "died" could be revived to compete in the second stage, provided their team qualified.
While Haku and Omoi were meticulously reading the detailed competition rules, a wave of exclamations erupted nearby.
"Mission lists from the Second Shinobi World War!"
"There's one for the First Shinobi World War, too."
"And the Third!"
"Wait, there's even a mission about the destruction of Uzushio!"
"Look here! It's the mission from the last Shinobi World War."
"Could there be missions involving fights against Uchiha Madara or even the Ten-Tails?"
The voices of surprise came not just from Haku's teammates, like Futakami Ryou, but also from nearby squads. Clearly, the scale and scope of the missions in this competition were astonishing, covering an extensive timeline.
Hearing the excitement, Omoi quickly switched to the mission system interface and saw several categories listed. Each represented major wars and battles across ninja history. His eyes immediately locked on one particular mission: The Death of the Third Raikage.
Skimming through the mission details, Futakami Ryou couldn't hold back his eagerness. "What mission should we take?"
"Many of these missions require us to choose a faction."
"But we're…"
Their squad consisted of Haku from no specific allegiance, Futakami Ryou and Omoi from Kumogakure, and Marusaki Ichi from Iwagakure.
Omoi glanced at Haku. "We shouldn't decide our faction in advance. Instead, we should choose based on the mission. For example…" He pointed at the mission on his display: The Death of the Third Raikage.
The others gathered around Omoi's screen, listening as he explained:
"Years ago, the Third Raikage stayed behind to single-handedly defend against ten thousand Iwagakure ninja so his comrades could retreat. He eventually perished from exhaustion. If we choose the Kumogakure faction, completing this mission could prove exceptionally challenging."
"Unless…"
Futakami Ryou interjected, "Unless numerous squads unite under the Kumogakure banner to reduce the difficulty, especially for tasks like saving the Third Raikage in the final mission."
Marusaki Ichi frowned. "But there's another issue. Would the difficulty of the mission decrease if more squads join the same faction?"
Haku shook his head. "No. We're not the only ones thinking this way."
"It's unrealistic for all squads to choose the same faction. Moreover, the number of missions is limited."
Marusaki Ichi checked the mission details carefully, realizing something. "The number of squads a mission can accommodate is capped. For example, the Kumogakure faction can only take up to 100 squads for this mission."
"That means even if 100 squads choose the Kumogakure faction, adding 400 chunin in total, it won't drastically change the battle outcome," Haku explained. "Likewise, the Iwagakure faction may have far fewer participants, but the war's dynamics remain unaffected."
Futakami Ryou hesitated. "So, where do we start? Other squads have already begun their missions."
Looking around, they saw the number of squads in the hall gradually decreasing. After accepting their missions, each squad was enveloped in white light and vanished.
Fascinated by the teleportation mechanic, the group exchanged glances.
"Let's start with a C-rank mission," Haku suggested. "We should first hone our teamwork, familiarize ourselves with one another, and build trust before tackling higher-difficulty tasks or seeking alliances with other squads."
The others nodded in agreement. Haku searched the system for available C-rank missions, noting how tasks were disappearing as squads claimed them. He quickly locked onto a Bandit Extermination Mission. After confirming with his team, they accepted the task.
The moment the mission was set, a bright light engulfed the four, transporting them to a new location.
---
The group found themselves standing before a small village. An elderly man emerged, leading a crowd of villagers.
"You're finally here!" the old man exclaimed. "I've been waiting forever! Now hurry into the mountains and deal with those scoundrels!"
Spittle flew as he spoke, and the villagers chimed in noisily, throwing out scattered details about the bandits.
The mission's brief had been vague—just that this was a group of murderous bandits who enjoyed killing for fun. No specifics about their numbers or whether there were any shinobi among them. The chaotic chatter of the villagers only added to the confusion.
Unable to make sense of it all, Haku stepped forward, raising his voice above the commotion. "Everyone, please quiet down!"
The villagers fell silent. Haku turned to the elderly man at the front and smiled warmly. "You're the village chief, correct?"
The old man puffed up his chest. "Of course! I am!"
(He had paid a hefty sum of 10,000 ryo to ensure this role in the mission.)
Unconcerned about whether the chief was real or part of the genjutsu simulation, Haku asked, "How many bandits are there?"
The chief hesitated, then checked his own information panel. "About 20."
"More like 30!" a villager interjected.
"Last time, there were only a dozen," another argued.
"I heard they've split up, with some raiding other villages!" someone else added.
The conflicting accounts made Omoi groan in frustration. "It seems impossible to get reliable intelligence here."
Haku nodded, raising his voice again to quiet the crowd. "Do the bandits include any shinobi?"
The villagers exchanged uncertain glances. "Uh… probably not?"
"We haven't seen any," another offered hesitantly.
The lack of concrete information left Haku and his team with little choice. After confirming the bandits' general location, the four disappeared into the forested mountains behind the village.
Since they only had a rough direction, Haku divided the squad into two groups, spacing them apart to search more effectively once they entered the mountain.
Fortunately, the bandits had appeared three days ago, and there had been no rain since, making the traces they left behind relatively easy to spot.
The four quickly regrouped after picking up signs and followed the chaotic tracks deeper into the mountains.
"Judging by these traces, there are at least twenty bandits," Omoi said, perched on a tree branch. "And they have a ninja with them."
He pointed to a mark on the ground—clear evidence left by someone with ninja training.
Futakami Ryou chuckled. "It's not surprising for a C-rank mission to involve a ninja. Their skill level probably isn't high."
Omoi remained cautious. "Don't let your guard down."
Marusaki Ichi shrugged. "The mission's difficulty won't change, so there's no need to worry too much. Even if the bandits have ninjas, they're probably just rogue genin."
Futakami Ryou nodded in agreement.
Omoi shook his head. "If their numbers are too large, it still won't be good for us."
Haku decisively said, "Let's expand the search area and confirm how many ninjas they have."
The team spread out further, focusing on finding signs of additional ninjas.
"Something feels off," Futakami Ryou murmured. "These marks seem to have been left by different ninjas."
He frowned and glared at Omoi. "You just had to jinx it, didn't you?"
Marusaki Ichi scratched his head. "It looks like we'll need to take this more seriously."
"Too bad we don't have a sensory ninja on the team."
Haku spoke up, "I know some sensory jutsu. It's not as refined as my other skills, but it will help."
Omoi breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. Try sensing their chakra. It may not reveal their full strength, but it'll give us a better idea of what we're up against."
The squad proceeded more cautiously. Haku paused periodically to perform sensory jutsu, scanning for chakra signatures.
"There!"
As they crested a hill, Marusaki Ichi's sharp eyes spotted movement below. He pointed to a valley where wooden cabins were faintly visible among the trees.
Haku immediately raised a hand for silence, then closed his eyes and focused his sensory jutsu. Moments later, he opened them and glanced at Omoi.
"Captain?" Omoi asked, noticing Haku's expression.
"I sensed one bandit whose chakra level is comparable to mine," Haku replied evenly.
Marusaki Ichi and Futakami Ryou both turned to glare at Omoi.
Scratching his head awkwardly, Omoi muttered, "This means we'll need to be extra careful." He hesitated. "Captain, what's your chakra level like? If we encounter someone..."
Before he could finish, Futakami Ryou clapped a hand over his mouth.
At that moment, a glowing interface appeared in front of Haku's eyes.
[ Mission Level Up: Current Rating—A-rank! ]
The red exclamation mark on the notification made the group fall silent.
Haku dismissed the interface and spoke seriously. "Our mission is to eliminate all the bandits. That means leaving no one behind."
He turned to Marusaki Ichi. "You're skilled in Earth Release. Set up an ambush near the bandits' exit route. If anyone tries to escape, that'll be their first choice."
Marusaki Ichi nodded but hesitated. "With so many ninja among them, shouldn't we focus our strength together instead of splitting up? Taking down the strongest first and then chasing the rest seems simpler and less risky."
Haku shook his head. "If we do that, we risk getting surrounded. With ninjas keeping us occupied, even regular bandits could cause injuries."
Ninjas weren't invincible—arrows and other weapons could still take them out.
Convinced, Marusaki Ichi nodded silently.
Haku then turned to Omoi and Futakami Ryou. "The bandit with chakra comparable to mine is staying in the deepest cabin. I'll launch a surprise attack from behind."
"If my attack alarms the others, you two will flank them from both sides. The goal is to scatter them and prevent them from regrouping."
"Priority target: the ninjas."
Omoi and Futakami Ryou nodded firmly.
With the plan set, Haku gave a quiet command: "Move out!"
(End of Chapter)
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