The next morning, at Training Ground Three.
When Shin arrived, he was surprised to see Ken and Yumi chasing each other around the field, laughing and having far more fun than usual.
'Strange… have those two always been this close?' Shin muttered inwardly.
"Shin!" The moment Ken noticed him, he immediately stopped running and rushed over with an excited grin plastered across his face.
"Shin! Why are you always the last one here?!"
Shin casually swept his gaze across the still-empty training ground before replying calmly: "Isn't Yamato-sensei also not here yet either?"
Ken scratched the back of his head and laughed awkwardly, immediately tossing the matter aside as he leaned closer with sparkling eyes.
"The more I thought about it after going home last night, the more I realized something!"
He clenched his fist dramatically. "Since Yamato-sensei promised to treat us to Yakiniku Q tonight, we absolutely have to make him pay a fortune for it!"
Yumi, who was standing nearby, could not help but join in the moment she heard the words "Yakiniku Q."
"I just hope Yamato-sensei doesn't suddenly pretend he forgot," she said expectantly.
Shin looked at the anticipation on their faces regarding tonight's dinner and merely smiled faintly.
Yakiniku Q…
The taste there was undeniably excellent. The meat was tender, the sauces were rich and flavorful, and it was one of the most popular places for Konoha Ninja to celebrate after completing missions.
Of course, the only downside was the price.
Eating there even once was enough to make an ordinary Genin's wallet cry. Now that Yamato was the one paying, opportunities like this were naturally rare.
Just then, Yamato's figure silently appeared in the middle of the training ground.
"You're all here." His gaze swept across the three of them before lingering briefly on Shin's face.
After confirming that Shin looked perfectly calm and unaffected by yesterday's events, Yamato secretly let out a sigh of relief.
"Sensei!" Ken immediately straightened up, though the anticipation for tonight's barbecue was still practically written across his face.
"Good morning, Yamato-sensei," Yumi greeted respectfully.
Shin also gave a slight nod.
"Good." A faint smile appeared on Yamato's face. "Then let's begin today's official business."
The moment he finished speaking, Ken immediately raised his hand impatiently. "Yamato-sensei! You didn't forget about tonight, right? Yakiniku Q!"
Although Yumi remained silent, the expectation in her eyes clearly showed she wanted the exact same answer.
Yamato looked at the two of them, chuckled softly, and shook his head. "I'm afraid… I may have to disappoint you."
The smile on Ken's face instantly collapsed.
"Eh?! Why?!" He looked utterly devastated. "Yamato-sensei, you can't take back your word!"
Even Yumi could not stop herself from complaining, disappointment obvious in her tone. "Yeah… we've been looking forward to it since last night."
Yamato's expression gradually became serious. "No, it's not that I'm going back on my promise."
He paused for dramatic effect before slowly continuing: "It's because today… You'll be carrying out a C-Rank Mission."
---
"A real… C-Rank Mission?!"
Inside the Hokage's Office, two shocked voices rang out simultaneously.
Ken's eyes widened so much they nearly popped out of their sockets, while Yumi subconsciously tightened her grip on her Ninja pouch.
Even Shin showed a trace of surprise in his eyes.
Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the reactions of the three young Genin with a faint smile.
As expected, after spending only one day performing tedious D-Rank chores, they were already eager to experience something closer to the true life of a Ninja.
"That's right," Hiruzen said calmly. "A C-Rank Mission."
He picked up a scroll from the table.
"Hozumi Village, located in the eastern region of the Land of Fire near the border of the Land of Hot Water, has recently suffered repeated harassment from a group of bandits. The villagers pooled together enough money to issue a commission to Konoha."
He pushed the scroll toward Yamato.
"Your mission is to escort a shipment of medicinal herbs and daily supplies safely to Hozumi Village. After arriving, you are to assist the villagers in driving away or eliminating the bandits causing trouble in the area."
His gaze swept across the team before stopping on Yamato.
"Yamato, you are fully responsible for this mission. Assess the risks properly and ensure their safety."
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Yamato stepped forward and accepted the mission scroll.
"Border region… bandits…" Ken licked his lips excitedly, practically rubbing his hands together already.
Yumi took a deep breath, excitement shining brightly within her eyes.
"The mission details and route are all inside the scroll," Hiruzen continued. "Go make your preparations. You depart this afternoon."
"Yes!" The four of them saluted before leaving the Hokage's Office together.
The moment they entered the hallway, Ken nearly jumped into the air. His face was overflowing with excitement. "Did you hear that?! A C-Rank Mission! A real one! Finally! No more cleaning rivers or picking up trash!"
Yumi, though far more restrained, still could not hide the excitement in her eyes. "Finally… something beyond D-Rank Missions."
She turned toward Shin. "What do you think, Shin?"
Shin raised an eyebrow slightly before replying calmly: "At least it sounds more interesting than cleaning garbage."
"More than interesting!" Ken exclaimed excitedly. "Shin, don't you think we're probably the first Genin team from this year's graduates to receive a C-Rank Mission?"
Yumi also nodded in agreement. "That's very possible. After all, it's only been two days since graduation."
Yamato looked at his eager team members and spoke calmly: "Don't get too excited too soon. A C-Rank Mission involves real danger. You could encounter combat… and you could get injured."
His expression became serious. "So stay alert and don't let your guard down."
"Yes!" Ken and Yumi immediately straightened themselves and responded in unison.
Shin merely nodded slightly, his gaze already drifting toward the direction of Konoha's main gate.
"Alright," Yamato said, clapping his hands together once. "Go prepare your Ninja tools and any supplies you need. Meet at the Village gate in one hour. We leave on time."
"Understood!"
The three of them answered together before splitting up and heading off in different directions.