บท 282: 281-Late Bloomer
The faint glow of lanterns added just enough light for the two young shinobi to make out each other's forms, their faces hidden behind the blank stares of their ANBU masks.
Renjiro leaned back against the cold stone wall, stretching his arms as he let out a small sigh. Waiting wasn't his strong suit, especially not when there was a mission on the line.
"So," Renjiro began, glancing at Kakashi, who was standing a short distance away with his arms crossed, his head turned toward the opposite wall.
"How's being a Genin?"
Kakashi remained silent for a moment, his shoulders relaxing as he tilted his head slightly to look at Renjiro. "It's… problematic," he finally replied, his voice carrying that faint monotone that seemed to come so naturally to him.
Renjiro raised an eyebrow beneath his mask, surprised by the response. "Well, that wasn't what I was expecting." He let out a low chuckle. "Why is it problematic?"
Once again, Kakashi took a long pause, his gaze drifting into the middle distance before he answered, " My Genin team."
Renjiro's eyes crinkled with amusement. "You don't like your other Genin teammates?"
"Yes," Kakashi replied bluntly. "They are inefficient."
'Ah, he's definitely in his edgy-kid phase,' Renjiro thought with a smirk.
It was an amusing contrast, seeing Kakashi, who was already a prodigy, reduced to the irritations of Genin's teamwork. Renjiro remembered the awkwardness of working with a new squad well—it required a certain patience, which Kakashi clearly lacked.
"They can't be that bad," Renjiro teased, chuckling lightly. "After all, you guys are still learning."
Kakashi shook his head with a hint of frustration. "They are. Especially Obito. At least Rin is tolerable enough."
Renjiro held back a laugh. He knew Obito well enough to imagine the chaos he might bring to a team dynamic. But Renjiro had also seen the spark of potential in Obito, even if the boy's personality sometimes clashed with the rigours of shinobi life.
"Obito's just a troubled kid," Renjiro said, his tone both reassuring and slightly mischievous. "But he's got a good head on his shoulders. If you slack, he might even surpass you someday."
'Yeah, he is a Late Bloomer,' Renjiro thought.
"Impossible," Kakashi replied flatly, his voice laced with a quiet confidence that almost dared Renjiro to challenge him.
"Trust me, you won't see it coming." Renjiro emphasized the word "see," laughing inwardly at the double meaning. But he knew better than to bring it up openly.
Kakashi sighed softly, his voice almost a murmur. "That's what everyone keeps saying. Sensei says it. My father used to say—" His voice caught, and he paused before continuing in a lower tone.
"Kept on telling me, but I don't see it happening."
The weight of Kakashi's words hung in the air, filling the room with an uncomfortable silence. An ache of sympathy stirred in Renjiro's chest, but he knew that Kakashi didn't need pity.
The silence between them stretched, and Renjiro, trying to break the tension, leaned forward, his voice gentle but firm. "You may not realize it now, but those bonds you form with your teammates will change your life."
Renjiro inwardly winced, feeling like an old man as he said it. 'I sound like Hiruzen,' he thought with a wry smile.
He wasn't sure if Kakashi understood the importance of bonds yet, but he knew from watching the anime that a shinobi's life was filled with moments where these connections became the difference between life and death.
Kakashi, however, didn't seem in the mood for any more words of wisdom. He only offered one-word responses to Renjiro's subsequent attempts at conversation, each answer shorter and less engaged than the last.
Realizing that he was only making things worse, Renjiro sighed and leaned back, resigning himself to silence.
Just then, footsteps echoed in the corridor, growing louder as they approached the room. The door slid open, and a figure stepped in, his face concealed by an ANBU mask and his cloak swaying as he moved.
Despite the mask obscuring his features, Renjiro recognized him instantly from the way he held himself—the slight tilt of his head, the subtle confidence in his stance. It was Yano, their squad leader.
Renjiro and Kakashi immediately rose to attention, saluting their superior in a swift, synchronized motion. Yano returned the greeting with a nod before settling in, his figure exuding the calm assurance of a seasoned shinobi.
"Apologies for the delay," Yano began, his voice carrying an edge of authority that was impossible to ignore. "We have a mission briefing to cover, so let's get to it."
The two young shinobi listened intently as Yano's voice filled the room. "Your next mission will take us both to Kumogakure. There, we'll locate and extract three Konoha spies who have been working undercover in the Land of Lightning. Recently, their identities were compromised, and they are currently in hiding, waiting for us to bring them to safety."
Renjiro's posture shifted, his senses heightening at the mention of Kumogakure. Missions involving other hidden villages were high-risk, particularly when they involved rescuing spies. Kumo's reputation was one of strength and unyielding resolve; this would be no simple retrieval.
"Understood," Renjiro replied, his tone steady. "Is there any information on their exact location, or will we need to search once we arrive?"
Yano nodded, reaching into his cloak and producing a small map. He laid it flat on the table, pointing to a cluster of symbols near the southeastern border of the Land of Lightning. "The last known location of our operatives is here, in the mountainous region. They've established a makeshift camp in an abandoned mine shaft, but they're bound to move soon to avoid capture. Our window for retrieval is tight."
Kakashi studied the map intently, his eyes narrowing behind his mask. "Are there any known Kumo patrols or shinobi squads operating in the area?"
Yano nodded, tapping another mark on the map. "Kumo has deployed several teams in the area. The local patrols are thorough, so you'll need to move carefully. Engaging them directly is not recommended; our objective is a clean extraction."
Renjiro leaned forward, examining the map. "When are we scheduled to depart?"
"Three hours from now," Yano replied. "Use the time to prepare. This mission will require precision and stealth. You'll be equipped with standard ANBU gear, but ensure you're ready for any contingency."
There was a brief pause as the gravity of the mission sank in, the three shinobi exchanging nods of silent understanding. Renjiro knew the stakes. A mission deep in enemy territory meant that even the slightest mistake could have dire consequences.
Yano's voice softened slightly, an uncharacteristic warmth seeping through the usual edge of command. "Also, this is one of your last missions together before you both face your solo-ranking trials. Plan accordingly. Stay sharp, and be prepared for anything."
The weight of Yano's words lingered in the room. Renjiro felt a mixture of pride and anticipation settling within him. The solo-ranking trials were both a mark of recognition and a test of one's individual capabilities—an assessment that every ANBU squad leader had to face alone. It would be a defining moment, a step toward mastery and independence.
Kakashi seemed to take it in stride, nodding slightly before asking, "Any specific information on our extraction route once we have the targets?"
Yano traced a line from the mountainous region to the border. "Once we retrieve the operatives, head east to this point. We've arranged a temporary extraction site on a neutral pathway. If we don't reach it within the designated timeframe, proceed to fallback point C, where additional support will be stationed."
Renjiro absorbed the information, mentally plotting out the best possible approach and retreat. "Understood, we'll be ready."
Yano straightened, his tone returning to its usual stern authority. "Good. Three hours. Make sure you're prepared." With that, he gave them a final nod, indicating that the briefing was over. "Dismissed."
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