章 160: 160
Haruto woke up early, the morning light filtering into his small apartment. Today, there was a sense of anticipation in the air, but he knew better than to let it distract him. After a quick meal to prepare himself for the day, he ran through a few fūinjutsu theories in his mind. He'd been thinking about storage seals lately, particularly how he could combine his knowledge as a medical-nin to create seals that could store medical supplies or even chakra for quick deployment. But today wasn't a day for experimentation—it was a mission day, and there was no room for distractions.
After getting ready, Haruto made his way to the mission hall. As he approached, he spotted Daichi Uzumaki waiting outside, leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed and his signature grin already in place.
"About time you showed up," Daichi teased, pushing off the wall and walking to meet him. "You'd think with how much training you do, you'd be the first one here."
Haruto smirked and shook his head. "Yeah, well, someone's gotta keep the mystery alive."
They began walking together toward the mission hall. Daichi glanced over at Haruto, his usual grin softening slightly. "By the way, Kushina wanted to check in on you again. Asked how your fūinjutsu practice was coming along. She seems pretty excited about your progress."
Haruto nodded. Kushina Uzumaki, Daichi's distant relative and one of the most skilled fūinjutsu masters in Konoha, had taken an interest in his fūinjutsu studies. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and Haruto appreciated her advice, though he wasn't used to such direct mentorship outside of medical ninjutsu.
"Thanks. I'll see her after the mission then," Haruto replied, storing the thought for later.
About a third of the way to the mission hall, the two were joined by Shisui Uchiha. The young Uchiha appeared out of nowhere, as usual, his movements silent and precise. He gave them a brief nod of acknowledgment before falling into step beside them.
"Morning," Shisui said quietly, his eyes scanning their surroundings as if it were second nature.
"Shisui, you're way too quiet for your own good," Daichi complained, half-jokingly. "You know, one day, you're gonna give someone a heart attack."
Shisui shrugged, a faint smile on his lips. "Keeps people on their toes."
As they walked, the trio made small talk. Daichi, always the conversationalist, filled the silence with stories of his recent sparring matches, exaggerating his victories as usual. Haruto listened quietly, offering the occasional comment, while Shisui mostly observed, though he threw in a dry remark now and then.
Ten minutes passed, and soon their sensei, Sakumo Hatake, arrived, stepping out from the shadows almost as quietly as Shisui. His calm, composed presence immediately shifted the tone of the group. He gave them all a nod, his expression serious but composed.
"Good morning," Sakumo began, his tone even. "Today's mission is a C-rank—a takedown of a group of smugglers."
Haruto's ears perked up. C-rank missions were usually straightforward, but something about the way Sakumo said "smugglers" made him pause.
Sakumo continued, his gaze shifting to each of them. "These aren't ordinary smugglers. They're involved in human trafficking."
The weight of the words settled on the group instantly. The trio exchanged glances, and the atmosphere shifted from casual to somber. Smugglers were one thing, but human trafficking… that was something darker, something that left a bitter taste in their mouths. They had trained for these moments, but even so, the reality of the mission hit them hard.
Daichi's expression hardened, his usual grin fading. "I hate people like that," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
Shisui's face remained calm, but his eyes grew sharper, his focus already shifting to the mission ahead. "Do we have any details on their location?"
Sakumo nodded. "We have intelligence that places them near the outskirts of the Land of Fire, close to the border. There are reports of several captives being held, so the priority is to eliminate the smugglers and secure the captives safely."
Haruto's mind sharpened, the seriousness of the mission settling in. This wasn't a job where they could afford any mistakes. He knew they were ready—they had to be.
"We leave in thirty minutes," Sakumo said. "Prepare yourselves."
The trio nodded, the weight of the mission hanging over them as they mentally prepared for what lay ahead. Today's mission wasn't just about stopping smugglers; it was about facing one of the ugliest aspects of their world.
There would be no room for hesitation.
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