Naruto: Faint Smile - CH 73

[Third Person POV]

After two weeks of intense training, Konoha’s trio were ready. Mr. Yamato led his team through the streets of Konoha, heading toward the designated meeting point for their mission. The day was clear, and while anticipation lingered in the air, the atmosphere was surprisingly relaxed. Takeshi, Shisui, and Itachi followed closely behind, quietly discussing what the mission would entail, each of them excited about their first Chunin assignment.

As they approached the small training ground where they were supposed to meet the rest of their team, two figures came into view. One was an eyepatch-wearing man with a rugged, no-nonsense look, leaning against a tree with a cigarette hanging from his mouth. The other was a woman with short, light brown hair and a cheerful expression, waving as soon as she spotted Yamato’s group approaching.

Mr. Yamato stopped in front of them, giving a brief nod. "This is my team," he said. "Shisui Uchiha, Itachi Uchiha, and Arata Takeshi. You must be Kohinata Mukai and Shuri Mashiro."

The man, Kohinata Mukai, barely looked up as he exhaled a puff of smoke, his expression completely indifferent. "Yep, that’s me," he muttered, taking another drag from his cigarette. "Don’t expect much conversation from me. I’m just here to get the job done."

Shuri, on the other hand, smiled brightly and stepped forward, giving a friendly wave. "A pleasure to meet you all! I’m Mashiro, your medical specialist for this mission! It’s nice to meet you all!" she said cheerfully. "I’m really looking forward to working with you guys. I’ve heard a lot of great things about your team, Yamato. So young, yet so talented!"

Yamato gave a slight smile in return. "That they are."

Mukai grunted, still not looking overly interested in the conversation. He flicked the ashes from his cigarette and sighed. "Just follow my lead, and we’ll be back at home in no time."

Takeshi glanced at Mukai, mildly amused by the man’s behavior, while Itachi and Shisui remained largely uninterested.

"Understood," Mr. Yamato said, turning to his team. "This mission is important, and I expect all of you to give it your best."

Shuri smiled, clapping her hands. "Don’t worry! I’m sure the kids will complete this mission with flying colors. And if something goes wrong, I’ll make sure everyone stays healthy and in top form!"

Mukai simply grunted again, his cigarette hanging loosely from his lips as he observed the younger shinobi without much concern. "That’s nice and all, but our priority is the Fire Daimyo… don’t forget that. We’re all expendable."

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[Arata Takeshi - POV]

Following our mission leader, Mukai, we made our way to the Fire Daimyo's estate. The place was massive, larger than anything I’d ever seen before, filled with ornate decorations and signs of wealth. Yet, as we approached the man himself, I could already sense something odd about the atmosphere. The guards around him were serious, as expected, but the man they were supposed to protect—the Fire Daimyo—had an air of innocence and almost childlike excitement to him.

I expected a spoiled noble or the stereotypical annoying rich guy, but not this.

The moment he spotted us, his eyes lit up like a child on their birthday.

"Oh my, oh my!" The Daimyo exclaimed, clapping his hands together with excitement. "These are the young shinobi everyone has been talking about, aren’t they? Sarutobi! Is this them? Are these the famous young geniuses of Konoha?"

I blinked, not sure how to respond to his over-the-top reaction. The guy didn’t exactly look like a noble who controlled the economy of an entire country. He was dressed in bright, flashy robes, almost garish, and his hair was styled in a way that made him look more like a doll. He seemed out of touch with reality, but his excitement was real. His gaze was practically glued to us, like he’d been waiting for this moment all day.

Wait a second, did he just say Sarutobi?

Standing near the Daimyo, a man with a more serious air nodded in confirmation. Asuma Sarutobi. So, this is where the Third’s son had been hiding. He looked strange without his signature beard and haircut.

"That’s right, Daimyo-sama," Asuma said respectfully. "This is Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Itachi, and Arata Takeshi. They’re the Chunin accompanying me for your escort, just as you requested."

The Daimyo rushed over, his robes swishing with every step. He practically bounced on his heels as he examined each of us. "Amazing! Simply amazing! So young and already gathering so much fame! It’s not every day I get to meet Konoha’s finest prodigies. You’re all exactly as I imagined—small, adorable even, but deadly! How fun!"

I exchanged glances with Itachi and Shisui, who were both equally confused by the man’s behavior. It wasn’t every day you saw one of the leaders of an entire country act like an overexcited child.

Shisui smiled awkwardly. "Thank you, Daimyo-sama. We’re honored to be here."

The Daimyo beamed at us. "I’ve heard all the stories! The Chunin Exams—what a spectacle! My advisors keep telling me all about your team. They say you three wiped the floor with the competition! How exciting! The other Daimyos are beyond jealous!"

I opened my mouth to respond, but honestly, I wasn’t sure what to say. His level of enthusiasm made it hard to gauge how seriously he took us. It honestly threw me off.

The Daimyo wasn’t finished. "And look at you! So serious, so strong!" he said, practically gushing over us. "I feel safer already just knowing you’re here. Truly, Konoha never ceases to amaze me. You’re going to be my personal bodyguards for this journey, and I couldn’t be happier! I do apologize for the questions I will ask though—I have a million of them!"

I smiled politely, while Shisui and Itachi gave respectful bows. This mission was definitely shaping up to be more interesting than we originally thought. The Fire Daimyo might have been a bit out of touch with how people normally interact, but his excitement was infectious. Besides, I suppose that being the one making the cash flow through the country gave him certain liberties.

"So, tell me, is it true you fought twenty shinobi at the same time?" The Fire Daimyo asked, his eyes wide with excitement as he pointed at me.

"Yes, Daimyo-sama," I replied, nodding.

"And you managed to escape from a cave full of explosive tags?" he questioned again, this time directing his gaze toward Itachi, who gave a modest nod in return.

"Indeed, Daimyo-sama," Itachi responded calmly.

"And you," the Daimyo turned to Shisui, his grin widening, "used a stuffed animal to traumatize the other contestants—is that true?"

Shisui’s smile brightened, and he chuckled, "Guilty as charged, Daimyo-sama."

The Daimyo let out a hearty laugh, clapping his hands in delight. "What an interesting group! I’ve never felt safer! Do consider joining my personal guard once you’re older!"

Thanks, but no thanks, I thought. As fun as the Daimyo was turning out to be, I couldn’t even humor the idea. From what I’d seen, this is where talent went to die. You couldn’t get stronger if you weren’t facing real threats, and I seriously doubted the Fire Daimyo was a target for any major attacks. Politically, killing the Daimyo was just stupid. Villages might hate each other, but they didn’t usually extend that hate to the Daimyos—after all, they represented economic stability.