MTLNOVEL Chapter 443: The Mission Assigned by the Hokage
"Damn that Minato. He just took office and he's already ordering me around. The guy becomes Hokage and forgets his brothers."
"What happened to 'don't forget each other when we get rich'?"
"Hmph! When I get back, I'm giving him a piece of my mind!"
Kazuyama walked along the road with his wife Pakura in his arms, followed by the three little ones carrying their luggage.
Pakura chuckled softly and comforted him.
"Come on, it's not like we're the only ones out on a mission. Fugaku got sent out too."
"Plenty of other Jōnin have teamed up and started taking missions."
"The war's over, but ninja still need missions to make a living."
Her words earned a round of nods from the kids.
Kakashi and the others didn't mind at all. It had been a while since they'd gone on a mission with their teacher. This time, they were genuinely excited.
But Kazuyama wasn't nearly as pleased—because this wasn't a normal mission.
It was the war's closing ceremony.
They were tasked with delivering the ceasefire agreement to Kirigakure and retrieving the signed document from the Mizukage.
Kirigakure—of all places.
The Village Hidden in the Mist!
Why did he, Kazuyama, have to go there for a mission? Not a trip—a mission!
Pakura just had to bring up Fugaku. If she hadn't, maybe he could've let it slide. But now? He was fuming.
Why did Fugaku Uchiha get to go to Iwagakure, huh?
Why did Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Chōza, and Yamanaka Inoichi get to go to Sunagakure?
And Kumogakure? Tsunade was heading there herself!
Every other destination was better than Kirigakure!
Wait... Kirigakure?
Kazuyama suddenly turned and stared hard at Kakashi and Obito behind him.
The intensity of his gaze made both boys bristle.
"Kazuyama-sensei... what's with that look...?"
"I didn't do anything, I swear..."
Obito shifted the backpack on his shoulder, suddenly uncertain of himself.
Kakashi stayed quiet, but his puzzled expression said enough.
Kazuyama finally pulled back his gaze and said calmly, "It's been a while. You two have bulked up a bit."
"Looks like the war helped you grow."
"Good. Keep it up. Aim to become great ninja."
The praise made Kakashi and Obito exchange a pleased look.
But Rin, standing nearby, looked a little miffed.
"Kazuyama-sensei, what—only they get praise? I don't count?"
Hearing her disgruntled tone, Kazuyama laughed, and Pakura shot him a glare.
"Rin, your teacher knows full well how much you've improved. He's just being annoying."
"Don't mind him."
"The three of you are a team—encourage each other, grow together."
After spending so much time with him, Rin knew her teacher's personality all too well. He was absolutely doing it on purpose—saving the compliments for Pakura to say instead.
He really was such a troll.
"Alright, let's keep moving."
"This time we're going to Kirigakure by boat. Ugh, just thinking about all that fog already makes me sick."
"I honestly don't know how that village manages to survive."
In truth, Kazuyama wasn't happy about Kakashi and the others because of their progress.
His thoughts were elsewhere—on what Kirigakure might offer him.
There was no way he'd take a trip to the Village Hidden in the Mist for free. He expected something in return.
Minato, now the Fourth Hokage, had given him plenty of time for this mission. After all, Konoha was the victor. It needed to maintain its image.
So Kazuyama wasn't in any rush. They took their time on the journey.
It took them three days to reach the easternmost coastal city of the Land of Fire.
When the endless sea came into view, the kids were thrilled—though that excitement barely lasted half a day.
The moment they boarded the ship, all three immediately wished they could run back to Konoha.
"Oh man..."
"I feel awful..."
Obito Uchiha slumped over the railing, face pale as a sheet. Next to him, Kakashi and Rin weren't doing much better.
The three of them had never been on a boat before, and the moment they boarded, seasickness hit them hard.
Meanwhile, Kazuyama and Pakura were completely unfazed, sitting comfortably on the deck munching on fruit.
"Hey, Kakashi, Obito, Rin! Come have some watermelon!"
"Hahaha, sweet and juicy watermelon, so refreshing!"
As soon as they heard Kazuyama's voice, a wave of nausea surged straight to their heads. The dizziness hit like a jutsu. They couldn't even muster the energy to complain—just turned to face the ocean and began another round of indescribable suffering.
[Ding! Detected that the host is messing with his own students while they're clearly suffering. Shameless! Special reward: Physique +1.]
With the familiar chime from the system ringing in his mind and a slice of watermelon in hand, Kazuyama leaned back, totally content.
He casually pulled up his status screen.
[Name: Kazuyama Gekkō]
[Identity: Seven-Tails Jinchūriki, Konoha Jōnin, Head of the Gekkō Clan]
[Traits: High Vitality, Enhanced Damage Resistance]
[Kekkei Genkai: Transparent Escape, Crystal Release]
[Ninjutsu Proficiency: Fire Release, Water Release, Wind Release, Earth Release, Summoning, Sealing Techniques, Snake-style Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, Forbidden Techniques]
[Senjutsu: Ryūchi Cave Senjutsu (Unique!)]
[Tailed Beast: Seven-Tails Chōmei | Affinity: 100% | Tailed Beast Transformation: 100% | Tailed Beast Ball (Mastered; Optimization 70%; Skills: Handheld Burst, Compressed Bomb, Tailed Beast Ball Beam) | Transformation Sync: Chakra Consumption -40%]
[Base Attributes: Strength 77, Speed 85, Chakra 96, Constitution 93, Taijutsu 78, Genjutsu 85, Hand Seals 84]
[Resistance: Six Paths Resistance 20%]
[Ninjutsu Amplification: +50% | Power & Nature Transformation Enhanced]
Looking at his slowly increasing stats, Kazuyama couldn't help but grumble in his heart.
"Ugh, system, your rewards are getting stingier and stingier."
"At this rate, when am I supposed to stomp Madara Uchiha and kick Kaguya Ōtsutsuki in the face?"
[Ding! Host, that attitude? I don't like it.]
[Have you done anything earth-shattering lately? No, right?]
[The fact you're getting any reward at all is thanks to your hard work. Be grateful!]
[Stop whining!]
Kazuyama sighed. The system had a point. He hadn't done anything notable recently—and it was all because of those two bastards, Hanzō of the Salamander and Danzō. Thanks to them, his motivation to farm rewards had tanked.
With that thought, Kazuyama dropped his slice of watermelon, stuck out his finger, and began drawing sulking spirals on the deck.
If they were going to ruin his mood, then no one would be happy.