Although Tenshin had already experienced the ways of women before, with his current childlike body and the soul of an adult, the sensation felt distinctly different.
Kurenai didn't notice this at all and happily held Tenshin's hand as they walked forward.
The young ninjas leaving the Ninja Academy looked at them, some with envy, others following along, and some with tears of sadness.
On the road of Konoha, Tenshin and Kurenai walked hand in hand, enjoying the sights.
Tenshin quickly adapted to being with Kurenai, engaging in cheerful conversation as they bought snacks.
Passersby smiled at them, as if they had come to understand something.
After a pleasant stroll, Tenshin escorted Kurenai back to her home.
Standing in front of the door, Kurenai waved at Tenshin. "Be careful, I'll be waiting for you to come back!"
"Don't worry, the mission is simple," Tenshin smiled, then turned to leave.
Kurenai quietly watched him leave until he was out of sight before she closed the door behind her.
The next morning, after a good rest, Tenshin sat up in bed, quickly getting dressed.
Standing by the door, he looked at the rising sun with a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes.
"Hopefully, there will be some danger along the way. My Demon Hand is getting impatient."
After his recent training, his swordsmanship had greatly improved, and he was eager to test his strength in real combat.
Not to mention, the Demon Hand, which had yet to fully reveal its power, he was determined to experience its true strength on this mission.
With the morning sun shining brightly, Tenshin quickly set off, heading straight for the village gate.
Soon, he passed through the quiet streets and saw the village gate open in the distance.
At that moment, he noticed a figure sprinting toward the gate from another street.
"Kakashi!" Tenshin called out.
But after calling, the figure's speed only increased, and in the blink of an eye, he was almost at the village gate.
It was indeed Kakashi.
Tenshin couldn't help but shake his head. He didn't feel like racing to beat him to the gate, a victory that held no real meaning.
After a few seconds, Tenshin stopped and stood in front of Kakashi.
"I'm first," Kakashi said, raising his head with a proud expression.
Tenshin glanced at him indifferently. "Boring."
"Hmph, I'm still first," Kakashi said nonchalantly, rolling his eyes.
The two of them fell into silence when suddenly, Uchiha Fugaku appeared in front of them.
With a serious look, he addressed the two, "Are you ready?"
"We're ready!" Tenshin and Kakashi responded with firm voices.
"Then let's go!" Fugaku gestured with his hand, leading the way as he dashed out of the village gate.
Tenshin and Kakashi followed closely, their expressions becoming more serious in an instant.
Since this was Tenshin and Kakashi's first C-rank mission, Fugaku didn't rush them along relentlessly.
Instead, they kept a steady pace, ensuring they had adequate rest while still maintaining a fast speed.
After all, it was just a simple information-delivery mission, with a deadline to meet but no real danger.
Five days later, the three of them arrived at their destination—Windfire City—without encountering any danger.
Though it was a relief to be safe, both Tenshin and Kakashi appeared somewhat disappointed.
They had been hoping for some conflict, even just the shadow of an enemy, but it seemed they were destined to face nothing.
Fugaku, knowing their eagerness to prove themselves, yet understanding the nature of their mission, spoke up.
"Not facing danger is something many ninjas long for. You should be satisfied," Fugaku reminded them.
"And remember, this is just your first mission. There will be many more chances to prove yourselves."
"And many more chances to die," he added grimly.
The three of them stood outside the city, surrounded by trees, and fell into a moment of silence.
However, Tenshin and Kakashi soon regained their focus, bowing their heads in apology. "Sorry, Fugaku-sensei."
Fugaku nodded seriously before continuing. "For this mission, we need to go to Konoha's Anbu in Windfire City to obtain intelligence they've gathered on Sunagakure over the past six months."
"This mission may seem simple, but we cannot let our guard down. Especially once we meet with them, understand?"
"Understood," Tenshin and Kakashi replied seriously.
"Then let's go. Make sure to change into civilian clothes and hide anything that could expose our identities," Fugaku reminded them, leading the way.
An hour later, the three of them, now dressed in civilian clothes, slowly entered Windfire City.
Windfire City, located at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, was under the jurisdiction of the Land of Fire. It was a bustling city primarily focused on commerce.
People from both the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire lived together here, exchanging goods and fostering a sense of mutual understanding without harboring deep animosity.
Even after the Second Shinobi World War, this border city remained prosperous, seemingly untouched by the conflicts around it.
The streets were filled with people smiling as they went about their day, children running and playing in the streets.
On either side were countless shops—hotels, taverns, and gambling houses—creating a scene very different from Konoha's more subdued environment.
Even though Tenshin had seen tall buildings in modern cities, he couldn't help but be impressed by the sights here.
Kakashi, usually emotionless, seemed equally surprised, his eyes wide open, unable to say anything.
Among the three, only Fugaku had seen similar sights before, maintaining a calm and collected demeanor.
He whispered, "Stay alert. Don't draw attention. There are Sunagakure ninjas here too."
"Got it," both Tenshin and Kakashi responded, making an effort to suppress their curiosity and avoid looking around too much.
After a while, they arrived in front of a building.
Yoshizakura House.
Could this be Konoha's Anbu base in Windfire City? It had a somewhat hidden-in-plain-sight feel to it, though the business seemed unconventional...
Looking at the young women standing by the door and the pink décor inside, Tenshin couldn't help but let his thoughts wander.
"Come on in, guests."
"Hey, you two handsome boys. Let me entertain you well," one of the girls said, laughing as she reached out toward Fugaku.
Without a word, Fugaku smiled and entered the building.
Tenshin and Kakashi exchanged glances before following him inside.
As they walked, two prominent figures of white snow suddenly appeared before them, blocking their path.
Kakashi's face immediately flushed, and he quickly turned his head away.
Tenshin, however, calmly looked up at the girl and said, "You're blocking my way."
The girl, bending over, noticed their reactions and couldn't help but tease, "Little boys, where am I blocking you?"
Kakashi turned even redder, his ears burning.
But to Tenshin, it was nothing. He innocently replied, "The two big buns hidden in your clothes."
(TL: Nice)
"Hahaha! Such an innocent little guy!" The girl laughed loudly, her chest bouncing in the air as if about to fall out of her outfit.
"Can we go in now, sister?" Tenshin asked, blinking his big eyes.
"Go ahead, go ahead," the girl said, her playful mood satisfied.
Tenshin and Kakashi entered the building and saw Fugaku talking to a beautiful woman, though it seemed their conversation was coming to an end.
The woman glanced at them briefly before looking away and walking deeper into the Yoshizakura House.
"Follow me," Fugaku said softly, leading the way further into the building.