Back to the Village
"Sensei, were you just with Lord Mizuno?"
Kurenai Yuhi couldn't hold back her curiosity and asked about what had just happened.
"Heh… just playing a part. That kid Kakashi, though..."
Jingyi shook his head and sighed.
Asuma Sarutobi thought for a moment and gave a small nod.
"Yeah. Kakashi's… complicated."
"If I were Uchiha Obito, on the same team as him, I'd probably find it hard to work with him too. He's... kind of strange."
Shisui Uchiha stayed quiet for a few moments, then asked, "Sensei, did you really work with Kakashi before?"
"Mm. About a year and a half ago. Right after I made Chūnin, I got assigned a temporary squad with him. We went on a mission together… Two teammates didn't make it back."
Shisui's eyes widened. "Two? That many? On one mission?"
Jingyi shook his head and didn't elaborate. Kurenai explained softly, "Kakashi's been through a lot. He believes that a shinobi's duty is to complete the mission, no matter what. He's… strict about it."
"I see…"
Shisui fell silent, his mind quickly piecing things together.
The suicide of the White Fang…
He had only been a baby when it happened, but stories had spread as he got older. The pressure, the disgrace… and the weight it had left on Kakashi's shoulders.
"Alright," Jingyi said, straightening up. "Forget about Squad Seven. Starting tomorrow, Squad One gets to work. Meet me at the mission desk in the morning. Dismissed!"
The sooner they started missions, the sooner they'd earn money.
Being a ninja wasn't cheap chakra weapons, gear, even basic supplies added up fast. Jingyi had the Thunder God Sword, but it wasn't suited for Iaido. Saving up for better gear was essential.
"Already starting tomorrow?" Asuma asked, surprised.
"Sensei probably wants us to start building our mission record. That way we can take on C-rank missions sooner," Shisui guessed.
"That makes sense. The war's been dragging on, and sensei's probably worried. We need to get stronger quickly… and live up to his expectations."
"I'm going to start morning runs and train my taijutsu daily!" Kurenai declared, clenching her fists.
She might not become a taijutsu specialist like Tsunade-sama, but she was determined not to be the weak link like Rin, who'd sometimes been a liability in physical combat.
"Sensei," Shisui said thoughtfully, "I want to focus on kenjutsu."
He had been unsure, but after seeing Kakashi's refined ninjutsu today, he felt it was right.
Ninjutsu? Jingyi had that covered.
As for him his skills leaned toward speed and swordplay. Ninja kenjutsu… fantasy-inspired techniques… it suited him.
"You'll focus on kenjutsu? Then I'll prioritize taijutsu," Asuma replied with a grin.
He preferred hand-to-hand combat anyway. Ninjutsu would be his secondary skill.
Swordsmanship wasn't for him he liked trench knives more than long blades.
"I'm not great at close combat either," Kurenai added. "But Sensei said something to Rin today that stuck with me… Illusions and medical ninjutsu both need high chakra control. Maybe I can train in both."
She had an idea.
With strong chakra control, she could specialize in genjutsu, and pick up some medical skills on the side. It might work.
---
The Next Day
At the Hokage Building, when Jingyi arrived, his three students were already waiting.
From across the room, a shadow clone of Namikaze Minato was coordinating another squad's assignment.
"Let's go. Time to pick up some missions." Jingyi yawned.
Last night, he had checked the system panel barely any growth.
Expected.
That trip with Kakashi and Obito had taken time, but yielded little return. Kakashi's mindset was deeply rooted, and Obito… unless something truly traumatic happened like Rin's death he wouldn't change either.
Handholding those two wasn't efficient.
So, today, he was shifting focus to something more worthwhile his own team.
Inside the mission room, the Chūnin at the counter looked puzzled.
"Uh, sir… who are you?"
"We're Squad One. Just established yesterday. Assign us a D-rank mission or three, actually. I'm sure there's a backlog."
"Three? Today?"
He stared blankly.
New genin usually only took one. Was this for practice… or money?
"Is there a problem?" Jingyi asked casually.
"Uh, no, no problem. Since it's you, Jingyi, I'll assign them."
Three missions were handed over. Jingyi gave a nod of thanks.
Outside, Kurenai asked, "Sensei, are we really doing three?"
"Yep. So, did you all decide on your specialization paths from yesterday?"
They nodded and shared their choices. Jingyi listened, nodding with approval.
Just as he'd hoped.
None of them were problem children like Kakashi or Obito. If they had been, he'd be ready to slap them silly teaching them would've been a nightmare.
He held out the mission slips.
"Perfect. Here's the plan. Shisui you're chopping wood. Asuma go fetch water. Kurenai you're catching a runaway cat."
"What?"
They all froze. Separate assignments?
"Sensei, aren't missions usually done together?"
"Normally, yes. That's for building teamwork. But you've already factored teamwork into your specialization plans. These D-rank missions don't need team coordination. Think of them as individual drills."
Jingyi grinned.
Three people doing one task? Wasteful.
Let them multitask like real shinobi. This was efficient and good training.
"I get it!" Shisui's eyes lit up.
Woodcutting would sharpen his sword skills. Water hauling would build Asuma's strength. Catching a cat would hone Kurenai's reflexes.
Smart division.
"I'll follow Kurenai," Jingyi added. "Her task's the trickiest. If she needs help, I'll step in."
"Yes, Sensei!"
They understood now.
Kurenai had the least physical strength, but with her sharp perception and developing genjutsu skill, she had the tools to handle a nimble target like a cat.
"Let's move."
"Right!"
They split up and got to work.
Jingyi followed Kurenai at a relaxed pace.
He briefly wondered if he should get a novel or magazine to pass the time. Maybe something light, like what Kakashi would eventually get obsessed with...
But at this point in time, Jiraiya's Icha Icha series hadn't even debuted. He was still on the battlefield.
What a shame.
The cat mission required them to leave the village, so Jingyi stayed close. But D-rank assignments never strayed far within a short walk of the gates.
Kurenai wasn't fast, but she had other strengths.
Her sensory perception was sharp. She understood how genjutsu could influence movement. If she applied her illusions just right…
Catching a cat wouldn't be that hard.