Chapter 4: Dangerous Mission
After Nami-sensei became our mentor, we spent the initial days completing simple E-rank missions and mastering the fundamentals of jutsu. Gradually, my teammates and I reached the threshold of becoming genin. Then, we received a special mission—one that would take us deep into the treacherous territory of the Land of Water.
Ruki knew this was a suicide mission.
The stakes were high. If we could complete this mission, not only would we earn the coveted rank of chunin, but we'd also receive a significant amount of money—a reward that could change our lives.
Our sensei, Nami, asked us to vote on whether to accept the mission or not.
In the end, I was the only one who voted against going.
And that's how it went.
"Hey, you're being a coward again," Kara said, her voice dripping with disdain.
"Yeah, don't come crying when you regret going there," Ruki shot back with a sarcastic edge.
"Sure, if I regret it, you can have my body," Kara responded arrogantly, pointing a finger at Ruki, her confidence unwavering.
"Nah, I'd rather have Sensei's body—with those creepy insects crawling all over me—than yours," Ruki joked, crossing his arms with a smirk.
Kamizuru Nami's cheeks flushed behind her mask, and it almost seemed like imaginary steam was puffing out of her head in embarrassment.
"Hey, you two, cut it out! Can't you see Sensei's getting uncomfortable?" Juri finally stepped in, her tone firm as she tried to rein in our nonsense.
But the banter didn't stop there.
Once we had finished our little exchange, Nami-sensei spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Okay, let's accept this mission," she said, her tone resigned.
I looked at Nami-sensei, hesitating. "But Sensei, I don't want to—"
Before I could finish, she interrupted me.
"I will do anything you ask if something goes wrong," Nami-sensei promised, her voice tinged with both embarrassment and resolve.
"Sensei?! What did you just say?" we all exclaimed in shock, our eyes wide with disbelief.
"Sensei, you can't say that, can you?" Juri questioned, her eyes widening even further as she tried to comprehend what she had just heard.
Nami-sensei lowered her head, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air.
"Nami-sensei, can I ask you something?" Ruki inquired cautiously, his mind racing.
She lifted her head slightly and nodded. "Hmm?"
"Can I really ask for anything?" Ruki pressed, his heart pounding with a mix of anxiety and curiosity.
She nodded once more, her eyes meeting his.
"Well, then I accept this mission," Ruki declared, his voice steady.
To an outsider, it might have seemed like Ruki was taking advantage of Nami-sensei's vulnerable offer, but we all knew he would never do such a thing.
As we prepared for the mission, Ruki began to ponder how much money he should ask for if the worst were to happen and the mission failed.
Nami-sensei often did this—offering her assistance in subtle, indirect ways—because she understood the difficult circumstances that both Ruki and Juri faced. She had quietly given them money several times before, always without drawing attention to it.