Konoha's Back Mountain.
By the river.
Occasionally, the sound of explosions could be heard, startling countless birds.
Naturally, the commotion here caught the attention of Konoha's ANBU.
However, when they discovered that Tenya Gekkou was blowing up fish by the river, they were speechless.
This genius boy, who achieved astonishing results in the Chuunin Exams, had such a peculiar hobby.
After observing for a while, they noticed Tenya occasionally throwing something that looked like an apple bomb into the river.
As he threw them, he seemed to be calculating something.
The ANBU member hidden in the shadows was completely baffled.
After observing for a long time and finding nothing worth watching, the ANBU member left.
Not long after the ANBU left, Tenya stopped what he was doing.
The [Exploding Apples] he had made over the past few days were almost all used up.
However, the gains were substantial.
After several rounds of experiments, Tenya found the optimal manufacturing method.
From now on, the [Exploding Apples] he produced would reach the best extreme state.
Their explosive power was comparable to, if not greater than, explosive tags by about thirty percent, and the cost was significantly reduced.
If [Exploding Apples] were introduced to the market, explosive tags would have no competitiveness.
However, Tenya currently had no intention of putting [Exploding Apples] on the market.
He didn't want to attract attention or spend too much time on it, so he didn't want to spend too much time on it.
Although [Exploding Apples] were good, they were nothing more than auxiliary tools for him.
If needed in the future, he could use them to make some money.
For now, improving his strength was the priority.
During this period, Tenya finally fully digested the three newly unlocked skills.
As for the skill [Explosive Star], Tenya was at most at the beginner level and had a long way to go.
Having mastered the method of making [Exploding Apples], creating more powerful weapons in the future shouldn't be a problem.
As for the A-Rank sword technique scroll he got from Orochimaru, he hadn't had the chance to look at it yet.
He needed to find time to learn this sword technique.
He wondered how much progress he would gain once he mastered this sword technique.
He was quite looking forward to it.
Suddenly, a figure appeared on a tree trunk not far from Tenya.
Tenya noticed it immediately.
He turned his head to look at the person.
The visitor was dressed in an ANBU outfit.
One ANBU had just left not long ago, and now another one was here.
Would it never end?
Tenya couldn't help but be puzzled.
Were Konoha's ANBU really this idle now?
"Tenya Gekkou, the Hokage summons you, please follow me."
The Third Hokage is looking for me?
Tenya wondered what it could be about.
Without thinking much, he followed the ANBU to the Hokage building.
Entering the Hokage's office.
He was surprised to see someone already standing there.
The person wore a familiar mask. Who else could it be but Kakashi?
"Kakashi, you're here too?"
Tenya curiously looked at Kakashi.
"Mission."
Kakashi simply said the word and didn't elaborate.
Tenya didn't ask further, instead looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi with questions in his eyes.
"Alright, since you are both here, I'll get straight to the point."
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't waste words and got straight to the point, "Recently, the village received a commission from the Daimyo of the Land of Snow. This is the detailed mission description; you can take a look first."
Land of Snow, Kazahana Sousetsu, Kazahana Koyuki...
After reading it, Tenya found that the client's request was simple, just to escort Koyuki Kazahana safely out of the Land of Snow.
"At the request of the Daimyo of the Land of Snow, the village plans to send a team of elite ninjas to carry out this mission. However, due to recent instability at the borders, the village's elite forces are a bit stretched thin, so I called you two."
Hiruzen Sarutobi paused for a moment, then continued, "Currently, this commission is classified as an A-Rank mission, with Tenya Gekkou as the team leader, and Kakashi as a team member. As for the remaining team member, you can recruit one yourself. Here is the list of currently available elite ninjas in the village."
After speaking, Hiruzen Sarutobi handed Tenya a list.
Taking a look, Tenya saw that most of them were unfamiliar ninjas, with hardly any recognizable names.
These were all background characters, not suitable for major responsibilities.
Tenya couldn't help but frown, feeling dissatisfied.
"Hokage-sama, may I recruit ninjas outside this list?"
At this moment, a person came to Tenya's mind: Might Duy.
As the father of Guy, Might Duy was also a ninja who was passionate about taijutsu.
He had even trained the Eight Gates to the point of being able to open all eight gates.
However, at this point, Might Duy was still an unknown genin in Konoha, and not well-regarded.
Tenya was probably the only one who knew Might Duy's true strength in the whole village.
This was a highly underestimated high-end combat force.
With Might Duy's addition, Tenya felt that completing the mission would be no problem.
In the original story, it was mentioned that Kakashi had undertaken a mission to the Land of Snow and almost didn't make it back.
During that mission, he successfully escorted Koyuki Kazahana out of the Land of Snow.
With the addition of himself and Might Duy this time, Kakashi wouldn't be as miserable as in the original story.
Pushing through the enemies wouldn't be a problem.
"Oh? Do you have a suitable candidate?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his eyebrows slightly, showing a rather interested expression.
"Yes!"
Tenya nodded affirmatively.
Kakashi, on the side, suddenly became interested as well.
A ninja who could catch Tenya's attention must not be ordinary.
When it came to missions, the stronger the teammates, the better.
No one wanted to carry a burden.
If a powerful ninja joined, it would undoubtedly be a great thing, and Kakashi naturally wouldn't refuse.
"Alright, you can decide on your own!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said, then emphasized, "Once you find your teammate, depart immediately. Understood?"
"Understood!"
"Alright, you may leave."
Just as they left the Hokage building, Kakashi couldn't help but ask, "Tenya, who is the teammate you want to find?"
"Want to know?" Tenya teased.
Kakashi remained silent.
"Follow me. Once we get there, you'll know who it is."
With that, Tenya strode off.
After a moment of silence, Kakashi quickly followed.
One after the other, they soon arrived at their destination.
It was the Konoha Ninja Affairs Office, also known as the Mission Assignment Hall.
There were many commissioned missions here, mostly lower-level ones. High-level missions, due to their confidentiality, were rarely posted here and were generally handled by the Hokage.
So, this was also where most of Konoha's genin were.
Kakashi was puzzled as to why Tenya would come here.
Could it be the person he was looking for was here?
This thought had just surfaced when Kakashi dismissed it.
They had just received an A-Rank mission, which ordinary genin weren't qualified to undertake. Even if they reluctantly accepted it, they wouldn't be of much use and would mostly be a burden.
He didn't think Tenya would do something so foolish.
But then, what was Tenya's purpose here?
For a moment, Kakashi was quite confused.