Chapitre 216: 215-I have An Announcement
With this new role as squad leader, Renjiro received a full quota of missions that he was expected to complete within a certain timeframe.
But with his impending exit from the force, Renjiro wanted to finish his squad's quota before then, ensuring that they got enough field experience that his exit wouldn't affect them.
But something about today's mission felt different, and he couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't going to be just another routine assignment.
As they approached Fugaku's office, Renjiro's thoughts drifted to the conversation he'd had earlier with his immediate superior, Iwata.
Usually, when a mission came up, it was Iwata who briefed Renjiro and his squad. They would receive a selection of missions that had been carefully chosen by Iwata himself, and Renjiro, as the squad leader, would pick the one that suited their skills and availability. However, today had deviated from that norm.
So, when Renjiro had voiced his intentions to Iwata earlier that day, he had expected the usual routine—a quick briefing and a mission selected from Iwata's list.
But instead, Iwata had given him a different set of instructions.
"You'll need to go to Fugaku's office for your next mission," Iwata had told him, his tone unusually formal.
"He'll brief you directly."
Renjiro had been surprised, to say the least. Fugaku was a senior figure within the force, someone who rarely dealt directly with squad leaders like Renjiro when it came to issues regarding the force.
The fact that Fugaku was personally involved in this mission briefing suggested that this was something more significant than the usual assignments they undertook.
As Renjiro led his team down the final corridor toward Fugaku's office, he couldn't help but wonder why things were different this time.
What made this mission special? Why had Fugaku decided to take a direct hand in it?
Finally, they reached Fugaku's office. Renjiro paused for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady himself before he knocked on the door.
There was a brief silence, and then a deep voice called out from within, "Enter."
Renjiro pushed the door open and stepped inside, followed closely by his squad.
The room was spacious but sparsely decorated, with a large wooden desk dominating the center where Fugaku was currently sitting behind.
"Thank you for coming, Renjiro," Fugaku said, his voice even and controlled. "I understand Iwata sent you for a mission brief."
Renjiro straightened and met Fugaku's gaze. "Yes, Fugaku-sama. We're here to receive our next mission."
Fugaku nodded, his expression unreadable as he reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a scroll.
Without hesitation, he handed it to Renjiro, who accepted it with both hands. Fugaku then turned his attention to the rest of the squad, his eyes sweeping over them as he began to explain the mission.
"You are to travel to Shimogakure, a village in the Land of Frost," Fugaku began,
"The village has received intel that there might be attacks on various village leaders by shinobi from Kirigakure."
Renjiro's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he listened.
'But why are we getting involved? Isn't the village closer to Kirigakure than it is to us?'
The question buzzed in his mind, but he kept his expression neutral, not wanting to interrupt Fugaku's briefing.
As if sensing Renjiro's unspoken question, Fugaku continued,
"Kirigakure has been making a few suspicious moves recently. Konoha plans to fortify its standing and to do so, we must ensure that Shimogakure allies with us. If Kirigakure makes a move on them, we can limit the paths they could use to attack Konoha."
Renjiro's eyes narrowed slightly as he processed this information.
'I'm not sure if that's a smart move since the Land of Frost does not border the Land of Fire, but I'm sure Hiruzen and the rest have already thought this through,' he surmised, trusting that the village's leadership had considered all possible outcomes.
Fugaku continued, "Shimogakure has been playing neutral for the last couple of years. However, if Kirigakure is indeed planning an attack, it is only fair that Konoha takes advantage of this situation. We need to secure their alliance before Kirigakure does."
The senior Uchiha's gaze turned more intense as he explained the strategic importance of the mission.
"The scroll I handed you contains the names of clans within Shimogakure that favor Konoha. If you get the opportunity, reach out to them. Outwardly, this will be Konoha sharing information and shinobi as a gesture of goodwill to gain Shimogakure's favor. However, your primary objective is to thwart any attacks from Kirigakure and, if possible, bring the attackers back to Konoha, whether alive or dead."
Renjiro nodded, absorbing the weight of their task. It was clear that this mission was not just a simple information-sharing exercise; it was a crucial strategic move in the delicate balance of power between the villages.
"Do we have any intel on how strong the attackers might be?" Renjiro asked, his tone serious as he sought to prepare his squad for what they might face.
Fugaku shook his head slightly, a small frown creasing his forehead.
"Unfortunately, the intel we have doesn't provide specifics on their strength. However, since this would be the first round of attacks, it's likely that they will be probing attacks—tests to gauge Shimogakure's defenses and reactions."
Renjiro acknowledged the response with a thoughtful nod.
"Understood. When are we to leave for Shimogakure?"
"As soon as possible," Fugaku replied, his tone final.
"Time is of the essence. You are dismissed."
Renjiro and his squad bowed once more before turning to leave the office. As they walked out into the corridor, Renjiro's mind was already racing, planning the logistics of their journey.
Once they were back in the main part of the base, Renjiro turned to his team.
"You have one hour to prepare," he instructed, his voice firm but calm.
"Meet me at the village gate. We'll depart from there."
The squad members nodded in unison before dispersing to gather their gear and make any final preparations.
Renjiro then made his way to the village gate, arriving there ahead of his team since he had already prepared ahead of time. He stood there, waiting patiently, his thoughts focused on the mission ahead.
One by one, his squad members arrived, each of them fully equipped and ready for the journey. They gathered around Renjiro, their expressions serious and determined.
However, before they could start, Renjiro cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "I have an announcement to make," he began, his tone measured.
"I will not be the one leading this mission."
The statement hung in the air for a moment, the squad members exchanging surprised glances.
This was not something they had expected, and it was clear from their expressions that they were struggling to process the news.
Before they could voice their confusion, Renjiro continued, "Kudo will be leading the mission."
Kudo looked up in surprise. The other members of the squad turned to him, their eyes wide with shock.
'What?' The chunin wondered.
"But, Renjiro-sama," Shoda, one of the squad members began, his voice tinged with confusion,
"Why wouldn't you be leading us?"
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