Toshiro accepted the scroll, feeling a bit surprised. He hadn't expected that for their first C-rank mission, their instructor wouldn't be accompanying them, leaving this group of 'novices' to complete the task independently.
"Alright! So who will be the captain for this mission?" Toshiro couldn't help but ask when he saw that Sensei Shigemasa's decision seemed final and unlikely to change.
Deciding who among the three of them would be responsible for this mission and serve as the temporary captain was an extremely important task. A bad choice could disrupt the harmony between the three of them. If a quarrel broke out, completing the mission would be out of the question; they'd be lucky if they didn't end up fighting each other.
"That's something you three need to decide for yourselves!" Shigemasa said with a playful smile, leaving the decision up to them before he vanished, leaving the three of them staring at each other.
Holding the mission scroll, Toshiro rolled his eyes as he looked at the expectant gazes of Yami and Tetsu. He was helpless against his teacher's penchant for creating such situations. It seemed like the only way Shigemasa wouldn't pull some prank was if the sun rose in the west.
"How about letting Yami be the captain?" Toshiro suggested nonchalantly. He had no particular desire to be the temporary captain. It was better suited to someone with 'aspirations' like Yami. He was content to go along for the ride without much responsibility. After all, he wasn't influenced by the 'Will of Fire' to be overly enthusiastic.
Why choose Uchiha Yami? Wasn't it obvious? Why pick the straightforward Yami over the more impulsive Tetsu? Judging by Tetsu's usual behavior, it would be asking for trouble, and any slip-up could bring disastrous consequences.
"Really? Do you think I'd be a good captain?" Uchiha Yami asked, her tone suddenly humble.
"Why not you, Toshiro? You're the strongest among us, making you the most suitable for the role," Yami suggested, the slight curve of her eyes and the grin on her lips betraying her amusement. It was almost laughable to Toshiro how his sensei had left without designating a captain, clearly intending to see them flounder.
Nonetheless, Toshiro handed over the task scroll to Yami, who was delighted to be selected as the temporary captain. She, unlike him, wasn't overthinking it, finding that the usually 'annoying' person was surprisingly agreeable today.
As Yami eagerly unfolded the scroll to read the mission details, Toshiro couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. He glanced around at a large, common tree in the wild, but found nothing, eventually dismissing it as a false alarm. A mere Genin like him wouldn't easily detect the scrutiny of a skillful Jonin.
Meanwhile, hidden among the treetops, Uchiha Shigemasa rubbed his chin thoughtfully, reflecting on how Toshiro might have sensed his presence. Although it should have been nearly impossible to be detected, Toshiro might have noticed something, which explained why he didn't compete with Yami and Tetsu for the captain role. Such keen perception warranted grooming his latent sensory abilities, even though it could result in him becoming a jack of all trades.
"Alright! Do you have any plans?" Tetsu impatiently asked Yami, who was intently examining the mission scroll.
Feeling a mix of anxiety and excitement, Uchiha Tetsu looked expectant. However, Yami, frowning slightly after reading the mission details, appeared a bit at a loss. The scroll vaguely mentioned recent bandit attacks on traveling merchants and nearby villages, providing only an approximate number and a vague assessment of their strength.
Yami, at a loss for direction, handed the mission scroll to Tetsu. "Here's the mission scroll. If you have any suggestions or plans, let's discuss them together," she declared, managing to maintain a righteous tone despite her confusion.
(End of Chapter)