Naruto: Konoha's Psychic

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Inoiki sighed, muttering to himself, "Looks like I don't have time for a steam bath… I guess this will have to do."

As soon as he finished speaking, water began swirling around him, forming a spiraling whirlpool. The liquid moved with precision, trapping him inside for a brief moment before cleansing away every trace of sweat and dirt. Within seconds, he was refreshed.

With that taken care of, he headed to his room, dressed in his usual attire, tied his forehead protector in place, and made his way toward the Hokage's office.

At the Hokage's Office

As Inoiki stepped inside, he immediately noticed he wasn't alone. Besides Tsunade and her assistant, Shizune, Kakashi was also present. That meant this wasn't just any mission—something serious was happening.

Tsunade wasted no time. "You remember I told you I'd find a good mission for you as soon as possible?" she said, her sharp eyes meeting his. "Well, I found one."

She leaned forward, placing her elbows on the desk. "We have a situation at the Fire Country border. Iwagakure ninjas have been harassing our Konoha forces there, and the situation is escalating. Our shinobi are at a disadvantage."

Her expression darkened slightly. "We don't want this turning into an all-out war, but they've already killed a number of our men. They need to pay the price for their actions."

A tense silence followed her words.

Inoiki's gaze sharpened. This wasn't just a mission—it was a statement. A warning to their enemies that Konoha would not be pushed around.

He took a breath, then gave a firm nod. "Understood. When do I leave?"

Tsunade's expression was serious as she spoke. "This is an S-Rank mission, Inoiki. Your first one. Until now, you haven't taken on anything this high-level, so Kakashi will be accompanying you."

She leaned forward slightly. "But keep this in mind—Kakashi hasn't fully recovered yet. We're low on available personnel, so he'll be coming along, but only as a guide. The mission execution will be on you."

She then picked up a sealed scroll from her desk and handed it to Inoiki. "This contains all the details you'll need."

Inoiki took the scroll without hesitation. He and Kakashi exchanged a glance before responding in unison, "Understood."

With that, the two vanished in a blur of movement, disappearing from the Hokage's office.

After leaving the Hokage's office, Inoiki and Kakashi met outside the Hokage building to go over the mission details. Inoiki unrolled the scroll, scanning through the information, memorizing the key points about their destination and objectives.

Kakashi glanced at him and said, "This mission might take a while, so make sure you prepare accordingly. Bring everything you'll need. We'll meet at the village gate in two hours."

He stretched slightly before adding, "I need to make some preparations myself."

Inoiki gave a firm nod. "Understood."

Without another word, Kakashi disappeared in a blur of motion, using the Body Flicker Technique, leaving behind only a fading cloud of white smoke.

Inoiki exhaled, rolling the scroll back up.

Inoiki rubbed his forehead, his fingers pressing into his temples as a wave of unease settled over him. Damn, he thought, I didn't expect to be sent on a mission with Kakashi. Of all people, why him? His mind raced, piecing together fragments of memory from what he knew of the original timeline. It's not like I got any problem with Kakashi but…According to the plot, on the day Kakashi left Konoha for his mission, Sasuke also left the village. If Kakashi's being sent out today, that means Orochimaru's subordinates might show up to convince Sasuke to leave with them. But… is it today? I can't be sure.

He clenched his fists, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. What can I even do? I can't just walk up to someone and say, "Hey, Orochimaru's lackeys are coming today to recruit Sasuke." They'd ask me how I know, and what would I say? That I know the plot? That I've seen this all play out before? They'd think I've lost my mind. His shoulders slumped as the weight of his helplessness pressed down on him. All I can do is hope Sasuke makes the right choice and doesn't do anything foolish. But hope isn't exactly a strategy, is it?

With a heavy sigh, Inoiki pushed the thoughts aside. There was nothing he could do to change the course of events, not without revealing too much. For now, he had to focus on his own mission. An S-Rank mission, he reminded himself, a flicker of pride cutting through his anxiety. My first one. I can't afford to mess this up.

He left the area around the Hokage building, his footsteps echoing softly against the cobblestone path. The village was alive with its usual bustle—vendors calling out to passersby, children laughing as they darted through the streets, shinobi moving with purpose. But Inoiki's mind was elsewhere, his thoughts a tangled web of worry and determination.

When he arrived home, he found his mother in the kitchen, humming softly as she prepared lunch. His father, surprisingly, was seated at the table, a cup of tea in hand. It was rare to see him home during the day; the intelligence department usually kept him busy from dawn till dusk. Inoiki hesitated for a moment, then stepped inside.

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