Haruto Saito woke up early, washed up, changed his clothes, and went out to eat.
News of his upcoming mission had already spread throughout Konoha Village, but no one knew the exact details of what he was assigned to do. Assassination missions were classified, and Konoha had made sure to keep the information sealed. Even if someone had learned about it, they wouldn't dare to spread it openly.
At the usual window seat in Jiang Chuan Wei Ramen Shop, a fully armed Haruto Saito was slurping down his meal. The restaurant's main hall was buzzing with gossip about him, but Haruto had mastered the ability to tune out the buzzing of these flies like background noise.
"Ah!" A voice filled with childish surprise sounded as someone suddenly sat down across from him.
"Hmm?" Haruto looked up in confusion and was met with an even greater shock.
It was a little girl.
She looked to be around seven or eight years old, with bright red hair, a round and adorable face full of baby fat.
It was Uzumaki Kushina!
She sat on the chair, her hands propping up her chin, her big eyes blinking rapidly as she stared at Haruto like he was some sort of rare creature.
Haruto instinctively adjusted his sunglasses, looking her up and down. After a brief moment, he asked cautiously, "Something you need?" His eyes flickered to the side, scanning the surroundings. Sure enough, the ANBU operative codenamed "Shinsuke" was present, sitting at the table next to them, pretending to order food.
"Big pervert, I heard you're going on a mission, right?" The little girl asked, smiling mischievously.
"Yeah..." Haruto felt something was off. Since when was Kushina so friendly? The last time they met, she had screamed at him, calling him a pervert. This time, she was still using the nickname, but her tone was completely different. She was even smiling.
"Oh, so it's true," the little girl said with a nod.
"What do you mean? How do you know?" Haruto asked, feeling wary.
"White Fang-sama told me. I was visiting Granny Mito when I ran into him," Kushina said, her smile growing even wider as she dramatically sighed. "Ah, what a pity."
"Pity what?"
"Pity that you're so young, and yet your life is about to be over."
"Huh?" Haruto was taken aback for a moment before he finally understood what Kushina meant. He slammed his hand on the table. "Hey! Brat! Where are your manners?!"
"Hmph!" Kushina suddenly stood up on her chair, mimicking his action by slamming her little hands on the table. She shouted in a shrill voice, "You big pervert! It's not like I'm the one making you go on this mission! Why are you yelling at me?! You're the one running off to die, and now you're blaming me? Hmph! Serves you right for tricking my aunt Tsunade so many times! You're finally getting your punishment, you bastard!"
"Oi, oi, oi! Brat, you looking for a beating?!"
"You're the one who deserves a beating! If White Fang-sama hadn't told me himself, I wouldn't have believed it! A useless genin like you taking on an A-rank assassination mission?! Do you even know the meaning of the word 'death'? Want me to teach you how to spell it?! Hmph! Aunt Tsunade told me before she left that if I got the chance, I should frame you for something so that ANBU would arrest you. But now, there's no need! You're running off to die all on your own! Honestly, big pervert, I feel bad for you! Wait... no, actually, you totally deserve it!"
Crack!
Haruto crushed the chopsticks in his hands out of pure frustration. He was so enraged he could barely think straight.
This brat was too venomous with her words!
And worst of all, he couldn't even lay a finger on her.
"When Tsunade comes back, I'll make sure she beats you up. She still owes me!" Haruto threatened.
"Bleh!" Kushina stuck her tongue out at him, making a funny face. Then she added, "Just make sure you actually come back alive!" With that, she hopped off the chair and moved to the next table, sitting across from Shinsuke.
Shinsuke glanced at Haruto but said nothing. Instead, he looked at Kushina and scolded her in a quiet voice, "You're being mischievous."
"I'm just helping Aunt Tsunade get some revenge," Kushina whispered back with a giggle.
Haruto let out a long sigh, tossed the broken chopsticks on the table, and leaned back, staring blankly out the window.
The excitement he had felt about going on his first mission had been completely ruined by Uzumaki Kushina. To make things worse, her words had stirred up even more gossip in the restaurant.
After a brief silence, the other diners finally processed what had just happened—Haruto Saito was about to undertake an A-rank assassination mission!
"He's insane!"
"Assassination missions are some of the most dangerous among A-rank missions."
"How did he even get an A-rank mission? Is his rank high enough?"
"I heard he has to redeem himself. Maybe the Hyuga clan pulled some strings?"
Meanwhile, Kushina was happily slurping her ramen. The waiter placed a steaming bowl in front of her, but before she could even take a bite—
Plop!
A steaming bowl of half-eaten ramen landed upside-down on Kushina's head.
She froze.
Shinsuke froze.
The restaurant fell into complete silence.
Haruto, with a blank expression, turned and walked away as if nothing had happened.
A few seconds later, Kushina's scream pierced through the restaurant.
"AHHHH! YOU BASTARD!! IT'S SO GROSS!!! AHHHHH!!!"
A childish act of revenge, but it made Haruto feel much better.
No one chased after him, as Shinsuke was too busy wiping Kushina's face and hair with a napkin.
...
At the western gates of Konoha.
Haruto rushed out of the village, where six or seven Uchiha shinobi were waiting at the edge of the forest. Among them were Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto, along with a few elite Uchiha jounin, two of whom had reputation scores exceeding seven thousand, making them among the best in their rank.
"Ready to go?" Haruto jogged up to them.
"Yes, let me introduce you. This is Uchiha Iwa and Uchiha Tohu. They're our top jounin," Fugaku said, motioning to the two powerful shinobi. "You already know Mikoto, so I won't introduce her. The three of them will accompany you throughout the mission and supervise you."
"Got it!" Haruto nodded, glancing at Iwa and Tohu.
"Haruto Saito, let me remind you—this mission is extremely dangerous. And it's your responsibility alone. Whether you succeed or fail, it has nothing to do with us. You must complete the mission yourself. Understood?"
"I—" Haruto started, but suddenly, he stiffened. His eyes flickered toward the village. Then, he abruptly turned back to Fugaku. "No time for chit-chat! Let's go, now! Move it!"
Without another word, Haruto sprinted into the forest.
Fugaku frowned.
Mikoto looked confused and glanced at Fugaku.
"Go," Fugaku ordered.
Mikoto, Iwa, and Tohu all dashed into the forest after Haruto.
Fugaku turned back just in time to see a red-haired girl storming toward the village gate, screaming at the top of her lungs.
"YOU BIG PERVERT! COME BACK HERE! YOU'RE DEAD!!!"
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