Super Ninja

Archaeological excavations can either be successful or not. It's difficult for me to assess the success of this particular endeavor because I don't know the metric by which the results are judged. Some might argue the excavation was successful because nothing of interest was found, while others might disagree.

Something similar happened to us. The archaeologists we were guarding finished their work and conducted a final inspection of all the artifacts. They didn't discard the figurine that had broken into several pieces, hoping to restore it for further study. However, I suspect they won't have much success researching it since the artifact lost its power when it attempted to influence my mind.

That mental influence was unexpected, and I couldn't find a way to counter it. If not for the protection I seem to possess, things might have ended unpleasantly. I'm certain that, had it succeeded, my life could have ended in an instant. Fortunately, I had that protection... perhaps it was something I gained after passing through those beings during my reincarnation. It's better not to dwell on this, as it might attract unwanted attention, especially from those with powerful mind-altering techniques or spells.

Once the archaeologists completed their work, they began packing all the artifacts into large crates, which sometimes took up a lot of space and sometimes not so much. It took them about two more days, as expected. There were many crates of historical artifacts. While these finds hold no practical value for us, they are valuable to our employers. I think, upon returning to the capital, they'll study and evaluate the discoveries in greater detail. The important thing is that we are no longer too involved in the matter.

During this time, I continued my personal training because I know my strength is still not enough to be considered a strong shinobi. Yes, I may be stronger than many genin and can hold my own against some chunin, but when it comes to fighting jonin, I still don't stand a chance. As I told the captain, I lack offensive power.

"Finally, we'll be heading back," Shiko said as the archaeologists packed their things into the carts. "I can't wait for tomorrow morning when we leave."

"Don't jinx it," Nara Itton sighed. "We might still run into unexpected problems on the way back."

"Yeah, true," Yamanaka nodded in agreement.

Shiko had been recovering from poisoning for several days and wasn't able to do anything during that time. Later, as her strength returned, she could more easily resume guard duties. At first, she stayed in the camp, but later, she joined us on various guard missions. By the time we returned, the kunoichi had mostly recovered, which was a relief to everyone.

The night passed quietly enough, though it was loud and wet. From sunset to sunrise, a heavy, cold rain fell, accompanied by lightning and strong winds. Standing watch in such weather was far from enjoyable.

In the morning, the weather remained as gloomy as the previous day, but none of us considered staying any longer than necessary. We simply started moving despite the unpleasant conditions. Mud flooded the road, turning it into a slippery mess and making progress difficult. The cold rain, accompanied by a piercing wind, added to the discomfort, turning our journey into something close to torture. Raindrops endlessly pelted our faces and soaked our clothing, while the wind gusts felt like they were trying to knock us off our feet.

We guards spent all our time outside, forced to endure the whims of the weather. Our employer, along with his students and assistants, sat safely inside one of the carts, protected from the elements. But we were being paid for this, so there was no point in complaining. It was what it was.

At night, we didn't stop for a break, which made moving even harder. If not for the Hummers' horns, it would have been very difficult for us to stay organized. However, having at least some point of reference—the glowing horns—allowed us to maintain proper security for the entire caravan.

At the border of the Land of Hot Springs, we were briefly stopped but not delayed or checked for illegal goods. The archaeologists had documented all the artifacts and had no trouble paying the transfer tax. I think the border guards were even surprised at how well-prepared the archaeologists' paperwork was.

Only when we crossed to the other side of the mountain range did I feel the tension lift from my shoulders. The sky was clear, the sun warming the air with its gentle rays. I couldn't help but smile, enjoying the refreshing sunlight. What can I say... rain and cold really aren't my thing; I prefer sunny weather with fluffy white clouds floating peacefully in the sky, creating a calm and joyful atmosphere. We didn't stop in Yui's capital again; instead, we took the bypass road, just like last time.

After passing the capital, we continued on, already feeling a strange sense of relief. It was clear that soon enough, we would reach the Land of Fire. From there, the journey promised to be easier, and we could finally return home.

"Stop!" A shinobi from Konoha appeared in front of us. It was reassuring to see his uniform and forehead protector. His neatly combed brown hair and square glasses gave him a somewhat harmless look. "You're entering the territory of the Land of Fire. I will be your border officer."

Captain Kiochi and the lead archaeologist confidently approached the border control to settle all the formalities regarding our passage. Meanwhile, we, the guards, could finally relax a little. An attack on a large caravan undergoing border control in broad daylight seemed unlikely, especially with shinobi from the same village as the border officers guarding us. Attacking us in such a situation would be neither right nor smart.

When Kiochi and the archaeologist finished discussing matters with the border guards, a group of shinobi approached us to conduct a thorough inspection. One shinobi from the Inuzuka clan drew particular attention. His loyal companion, a large dog with a protector and the village emblem on its neck, carefully sniffed every corner of our carts.

The dog, with its intelligent and focused expression, inspired trust with its professional manner. It inspected each crate and bag as if fully understanding the importance of its task, searching for anything illegal. Its calm and confident behavior demonstrated the high level of training characteristic of the Inuzuka clan's shinobi.

After the inspection was complete, the dog calmly and dignifiedly returned to its owner. Its behavior remained emotionless, showcasing its professionalism and training. The shinobi owner smiled slightly and pulled a bone from his pocket, offering it to his loyal companion. The dog, seemingly forgetting its serious task instantly, joyfully began to chew the bone, expressing its pleasure and satisfaction.

We, the remaining members of the caravan, watched this endearing scene, feeling a certain relief after the successful inspection. But our peace was short-lived.

"So," the border officer turned to us, "tell me more about your encounter with the rogue ninjas."

We began to recount the story. Well, not us, but the jonin. The border officer only asked a few questions to check if we were telling the truth and not trying to pull off some illegal scheme. Since none of us were involved in any illegal activities, there were no difficulties with our story.

"Thank you for the information," the border officer nodded after I finished recounting our encounter with the rogue ninjas. He slowly stepped away and returned to his colleagues, who were gathered nearby.

All we could do now was wait. The wait wasn't particularly tiresome. There was plenty of life around us: other travelers and caravans were also crossing the border, each with their own stories and goals. Some of those crossing attracted special attention from the border guards, with their luggage and documents being inspected more thoroughly, giving the impression that they might be hiding something.

The border guards discussed something among themselves, occasionally glancing at various groups of people. Finally, the same officer who had spoken to us earlier approached our caravan again.

"You may proceed. We have no further questions," he said.

"Thank you," Kiochi-sensei nodded in response.

We exchanged relieved glances. Finally, after all the inspections and delays, we could continue our journey. With light hearts and a sense of accomplishment, we began preparing to depart.

Crossing that line, a sense of relief, which we hadn't felt in a long time, washed over us. Even I felt it, despite not being born in this world but simply reincarnating into the first suitable body. That's it.

We headed toward the border town, where we were supposed to meet this caravan. Could it really be that we were about to complete this mission, and all that was left was the return to Konoha? How nice and pleasant, honestly.

When we approached the fortress, we decided not to go inside but stopped nearby. Captain Kiochi went for one final discussion with the clients. Meanwhile, we waited outside the walls. This waiting wasn't burdensome—our mission had started outside these walls, and it was here that it would conclude.

After a brief conversation, the captain returned to us. The lead archaeologist was signing the last of our mission papers. They shook hands, exchanged a few courteous words, and parted ways. Our mission was complete. Now we could rest. Or rather, no—we had to return home and get paid first.

"Friends," Captain Kiochi addressed us, his face lit with a satisfied smile, "now we can head home. Here are your signed mission papers."

There was no need to ask us twice, so we quickly made our way back to Konoha. Along the way, we encountered several other teams either heading toward the border town or leaving from it.

"Hey!" a female voice called out as we stopped at the edge of the forest. From behind the green leaves, a very attractive and young kunoichi gracefully landed on a branch. Her long black hair fluttered in the wind, giving her a special charm. Her outfit, which looked like a series of bandages, clung to her figure, while a red shirt with wide sleeves completed her look. But her most striking feature was her blood-red eyes with unusual pupils, gleaming with curiosity and confidence.

"Mind if I join you?" she asked with a slight smile.

Captain Kiochi, momentarily puzzled by her sudden appearance, quickly regained his composure and asked:

"May we know your name?"

"Yūhi Kurenai," the kunoichi introduced herself. "I recently became a jonin and wanted to discuss working with genin with you. I hope you can share some important insights with me. You're heading back to Konoha, right?"

"Alright," the captain nodded after a few moments of careful consideration. "You can join us, Kurenai."

"Thank you," Kurenai nodded, her smile brightening her face, adding even more warmth to her appearance.

We continued our journey together, moving at a pace suitable for genin. This gave Kurenai the perfect opportunity to engage in a meaningful conversation with our captain, Kiochi, about working with genin.

"Captain, in your opinion, what is the most important thing when working with genin?" the kunoichi asked. I listened closely too, as the sensei's insights could be useful if I ever had my own team.

"Hmm. The most important thing when working with genin is teaching them to work as a team and developing mutual understanding between them," Kiochi-sensei began, his voice calm and confident. "Each genin is unique, and our job is to help them uncover their strengths and learn to compensate for each other's weaknesses."

This was a fairly simple and obvious answer, to be honest. I think any reasonable jonin would have figured it out. Kurenai nodded in agreement.

"In addition, it's important to strengthen their spirit and teach them to be ready for any challenges," Kiochi-sensei continued. "They must understand that being a ninja is not only about fighting but also about the ability to adapt to different situations, find unconventional solutions, and remain calm in any environment. These points are the most important."

"Alright," Kurenai nodded and glanced at us for a moment. Afterward, she posed the same question to Maito Gai.

"The main thing is hard work," said the captain of the eleventh team. "If genin don't pass out during training, then it's not training—it's playing in the sandbox."

Well, what can I say... Maito Gai, as always, is on his own wavelength. And I won't say I disagree. Of course, such training doesn't leave much room for interaction with other genin, but it significantly increases their chances of survival.

In the evening, when we stopped for a short rest, Kurenai seemed to take advantage of the time to talk to the different genin teams. Her first choice was team twelve, which she approached and began chatting with. From there, she apparently planned to move on to team eleven, and then to us, team thirteen.

I was right in my assumptions. Kurenai indeed followed this order, holding conversations with the other genin. Only when night had already fallen over the camp did she approach our fire, where Shiko, Ayamane, and I had settled after dinner.

"Good evening, team thirteen," she said with a smile as she sat down next to us. "I heard you recently completed your first very successful missions. Could you tell me about your experience?"

Shiko, boldly and decisively—as a leader should—jumped into the conversation, describing our recent adventures and the challenges we faced. Ayamane, more reserved and analytical, added her thoughts, emphasizing the importance of strategy and teamwork in our missions. It all sounded very good, almost beautiful, if not for one "but"... it all falls apart on the fact that they ignored team-building and joint training.

"And what about you?" Kurenai asked, tilting her head slightly.

"What about me..." I sighed. "Everything that's been said is incredibly important and useful. But... sometimes you have to make genin do things, even when they don't want to."

Shiko and Ayamane averted their eyes, fully understanding who that comment was directed at. Kurenai noticed this and gave a barely noticeable smile.

"By the way, Kurenai-san, why don't you tell us a little about yourself?" I asked. "You've been listening and asking us, but haven't told us anything in return."

"Alright, alright," she laughed. "As you already know, my name is Yūhi Kurenai, and I recently became a jonin. I'm a genjutsu master. Probably one of the best in the village."

The last part was said with a bit of pride and a great deal of self-assurance.

"And what's your name, genin?" she asked, addressing me.

"Suzuki Grandvitara," I replied. "I also have a nickname—The Machine."

"I see," Kurenai said with a slight smirk. "And what are you good at?"

"Well... a bit of everything, really," I shrugged, downplaying my achievements and abilities a little. "By the way, would you mind teaching me a bit of genjutsu? I've been trying to develop in that direction, but I haven't been very successful."

"Oh," she replied with slight surprise. "I didn't expect someone to ask me to teach them... just like that."

"Just a few lessons, or even some pointers," I shrugged again.

"Alright, I can do that," she sighed and smiled slightly. "You're quite brave, asking a stranger shinobi to train you."

"Well, why a stranger?" I replied. "You're a shinobi of Konoha... right?"

"Yes, yes," she nodded. "No need to continue. I know where your thoughts are headed."

I just shrugged at that, mentally nodding in satisfaction. No shinobi would call themselves a master of an art unless they truly were—especially not a master of genjutsu. That art is incredibly difficult and demands great effort.

"So, you're the young genjutsu master I've heard about?" Captain Kiochi, who had been relaxing against a tree, asked at this point.

"Um, I guess," Kurenai replied modestly.

"I've heard about you."

There it is! Now the captain says he's heard of the new genjutsu master. This means that her lessons will definitely be incredibly useful for my development.