A week had passed since then, and Daniel kept to his training schedule as usual. After collecting his thoughts, he periodically absorbed all of his clones to fully integrate their knowledge into himself, since they weren't all shadow clones. He then made new clones to run his lab—fifty clones were enough, and if more were needed, they would just make shadow clones.
"During the past week, I've trained under the Hokage for two days," Daniel remarked as he did push-ups in his backyard. "June is around the corner, and the preliminary exams will commence," he mused, standing up and wiping his sweat with a towel. He went to freshen up and dress before heading to the mission assignment desk.
"Daniel! Long time no see!" a cheery yellow-haired boy approached as Daniel was walking. Turning towards the voice, Daniel saw Naruto and his team as Naruto rushed up ahead.
"Oh, it's you," he responded.
"Hey, what's with that response?" Naruto bickered. "I'm gone for weeks and that's all you have to say when you see me?" Naruto ranted.
"You don't have to act like you're my girlfriend," Daniel responded as Team 7 caught up to Naruto.
"A friend of yours, Naruto?" Kakashi remarked.
"Oh, Kakashi-sensei. Yeah, this is Daniel. He actually also helped me train a little bit," Naruto replied, slightly brushing his hair.
"Can I help you, kid?" Kakashi asked as Daniel glanced at him, then slowly approached.
"Can you sign this for me?" Daniel pulled out his bingo book, opening it to Kakashi's page. It was a hobby he had developed recently—to get as many ninja as he could to sign his bingo book.
"Ahhh, sure," Kakashi said, flustered by the kid's first response to him, something he wasn't expecting. Sakura looked at Daniel with slight disdain, while Sasuke was more or less indifferent.
"I have to say, I wasn't expecting the genin who became the Hokage's student to be like this," Kakashi remarked after signing the book.
"Huh! What's that supposed to mean, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked, not understanding what Kakashi was referring to. Daniel simply raised a brow in response.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he echoed.
"Well... don't let it get to you, kid. I meant nothing harmful by that," Kakashi said as he walked past Daniel, with Team 7 following along. Naruto followed as well, confused by what Kakashi meant.
"Uh, sensei. What did you mean back then?" Sakura asked.
"Oh, nothing much. I was just impressed by Naruto's friend," he responded. "Apparently, he is now a student of the Hokage," Kakashi added, putting a little shock among his teammates. Sasuke glanced back for a minute before continuing to walk.
"Hey, long time no see," Daniel smiled, greeting his old friend at the assignment desk.
"Great, the kid's back," the man grumbled inwardly. "Here for a mission?" he asked.
"Of course, this is the mission assignment desk after all," Daniel replied, leaning on the desk.
"Hold on for a moment, I saved one for you," the receptionist said, quickly getting up, not wanting to converse with Daniel. "Here," he presented.
"An infiltration mission..." Daniel remarked as he went through the mission details. "All the way in the Land of Stone," he added. "This'll be fun," Daniel grinned as he shunshined from the desk, heading to the Land of Stone.
Daniel stood at the edge of Konoha, the village he once called home, now a distant memory. With a deep breath, he activated his instant transmission, vanishing in a blink and reappearing on the outskirts of the Land of Stone. The rugged terrain stretched out before him, a stark contrast to the familiar forests of Konoha.
His mission was clear in his mind: infiltrate, gather intelligence, and, if necessary, eliminate the target. The defected medical nin had been a ghost, slipping through the cracks of every search. Daniel's task was to observe the nin's actions, report back any findings, and, if the opportunity arose, ensure the threat was neutralized.
As he moved silently through the rocky landscape, Daniel's thoughts were a whirlwind of trying to decide on which approached to use. He wouldn't be considered as the culprit if he let loose here, and he wanted to more of his powers than he currently was. The success of the mission wasn't a factor since he knew that his targets fate was decided the moment he became a target.
Target: Riku Hayashi
Background
Village of Origin: Konohagakure (Hidden Leaf Village)
Current Affiliation: Iwagakure (Hidden Stone Village)
Rank: C-Rank Missing-nin
Special Abilities:
- Earth Release Mastery: Exceptional control over Earth Release techniques.
- Chakra Scalpel: A medical-nin technique adapted for combat, allowing precise and deadly strikes.
- Camouflage Technique: Ability to blend into surroundings, making him nearly invisible.
Appearance
Riku is a tall, lean man with sharp features and piercing green eyes. His hair is a mix of brown and grey, tied back in a loose ponytail. He wears a modified Iwagakure uniform with a hooded cloak that helps him blend into rocky terrains.
Personality
Riku is calm and calculating, often preferring to observe and plan before taking action. He has a deep sense of loyalty to those he considers allies but harbors a strong resentment towards Konohagakure.
After finally deciding on his approach, Daniel took a deep breath and summoned his mask. Placing his palm on his face, a blank mask materialized, adhering seamlessly to his skin. "Let's go with this look," he muttered. The mask transformed from a featureless white to a digital display, pixelated Sharingan eyes appearing where his own should be. Whenever Daniel spoke, a pixelated mouth would form, adding an eerie touch to his appearance. "Yoshi," he whispered, satisfied with the transformation.
With a swift motion, Daniel waved his hand down his body. His usual ninja attire morphed into a sleeker, more combat-ready outfit. He then began his waltz towards the Hidden Stone Village, each step exuding an intimidating confidence.
As he approached the gate, the guards eyed him warily. "State your business," one of them demanded.
"I'm simply here to pay my debt," Daniel replied, the pixelated mouth on his mask forming a cheery expression. This only served to irritate the gatekeepers further.
"Is this some kind of joke? If you're not..." the guard's voice trailed off, clearly agitated by Daniel's unsettling appearance and cryptic words.