"Ah~ That Aida Maki really looks down on people. It's just a C-rank escort mission, yet he still finds reasons to complain."
"Damn guy, how dare he ignore me!"
On the street, the boy walking behind Uchiha Itachi had his hands behind his head, grumbling as they moved along. Born and raised in Konoha, he felt no particular reverence for the high-ranking officials of the Daimyo's Mansion.
"Tenma, don't say that. He was just taking the mission seriously," a girl with gray twin ponytails said, pouting slightly as she subtly gestured toward the young man walking ahead of them. She was hinting for him to be more careful with his words, as their guide might take offense.
Beside the two young genin, an elderly man carrying an iron pot on his back simply smiled, choosing not to comment. Meanwhile, at the front of the group, Uchiha Itachi walked alongside a young man, conversing as they navigated the busy streets.
The young man was a guide sent by Aida Maki to escort them to the warehouse. The girl, Xinzi, had tried to warn Tenma to avoid causing trouble, but he merely scoffed.
"Xinzi, why should I hold back?" Tenma huffed. "You saw his attitude—he completely looked down on us!"
Itachi, still walking ahead, offered a polite smile to the young guide before turning slightly toward Tenma.
"Tenma, go ahead and buy some supplies. We're leaving tomorrow, so we need to prepare in advance."
"Xinzi, go with him."
Then, Itachi turned to the elderly man behind him.
"Uncle Kosuke, let's head to the warehouse together."
Itachi was smart—rather than scolding Tenma in front of an outsider, he simply assigned him a simple task to defuse the situation. Tenma seemed dissatisfied at first, but upon hearing that Xinzi would accompany him, he immediately brightened up and agreed.
As the two left the group, Kosuke Maruhoshi nodded approvingly. His gaze toward Itachi was filled with admiration.
Kosuke Maruhoshi, the old man in their group, was a veteran of the Ninja Wars, known as one of Konoha's strongest ninjas. Namikaze Minato had placed him in this team for a reason. A nine-year-old leading a mission—even with Itachi's talents—was a concern. Having Kosuke accompany him was a safeguard.
Under the young guide's lead, Itachi and Kosuke soon arrived at the warehouse where the mission's supplies were stored.
A Dangerous Cargo
Since this was an escort mission, their objective was to transport supplies.
Inside the warehouse, the guide directed several workers to move a massive wooden crate sealed with a protective jutsu. Before them, he unsealed the crate.
As the lid was lifted, Kosuke's pupils shrank in shock. He immediately recognized the item inside.
"This... could it be?!"
Inside the crate was a large, square piece of metal—roughly the size of a standard computer case. It was secured within a wooden frame, keeping it suspended in the center of the box. Around the frame, black sealing marks were inscribed, indicating the presence of hidden mechanisms. However, at the moment, they seemed inactive.
"You recognize it, I see," the young guide noted. "This is star iron, a rare metal with exceptional Chakra conductivity. Just a small amount added to a weapon can drastically enhance its power."
"This piece of star iron needs to be transported to the Daimyo's Mansion in the Land of Craftsmen. In return, they've promised to forge a batch of weapons for the Land of Fire. That is your mission."
Kosuke Maruhoshi frowned deeply.
"A piece this size… if used for ninja weapons, it could easily equip an army of a thousand men."
"Why would the Land of Fire need so many Chakra-enhanced weapons?"
Kosuke had never seen such a massive quantity of star iron before. He couldn't help but wonder what the Daimyo intended to do with it.
"That's not for you to concern yourselves with," the guide replied. "I've told you all you need to know. Your mission is to escort it safely."
"Two enchanters will be traveling with you. This crate requires a special method to be opened, and only they can unseal it upon arrival in the Land of Craftsmen. Escorting them safely is also part of your duty."
At first, Itachi hadn't realized the mission's difficulty. He wasn't familiar with the strategic significance of star iron. However, Kosuke's reaction immediately made him reconsider.
This mission wasn't as simple as it seemed.
How could escorting such an important resource—one capable of arming an entire battalion—be classified as a mere C-rank mission?
Aida Maki had deliberately hidden the mission's true difficulty!
"This can't be a C-rank mission," Kosuke muttered, his face dark. "If enemy forces learn about this shipment, they'll definitely send a large force to intercept us. There's no doubt that Jōnin-level threats will be involved."
"Based on the actual risk, this should be classified as an A-rank mission!"
Kosuke's expression grew more serious. Missions were assigned by the Fifth Hokage himself, but clearly, Minato hadn't been fully informed about what they were escorting. If he had known, he would have dispatched Jōnin-level ninjas instead of a team led by a nine-year-old Chūnin.
However, the guide remained calm.
"There's no need for concern. The only ones aware of this mission's true objective are the Daimyo, Aida-sama, the Fifth Hokage, myself, and now you two," he explained.
"This is just a simple escort mission. The secrecy surrounding it ensures that no one will target you."
"The mission's C-rank classification was intentional—to avoid drawing unwanted attention."
"This plan was discussed with Hokage-sama."
Kosuke's expression shifted slightly. He had initially assumed that Hokage didn't know what the mission entailed, but this statement contradicted his assumption. If Minato had agreed to this mission knowing its significance, then he must have had immense faith in Itachi.
How much trust did the Hokage have in this young captain?
"...I understand. We'll handle it," Itachi said, his tone composed.
"We'll depart at dawn."
Departure
The night passed in silence.
Early the next morning, a small convoy set out from the Daimyo's Mansion.
The team consisted of only eight people. Itachi led at the front, while Tenma and Xinzi guarded the flanks. Kosuke Maruhoshi took position at the rear.
At the convoy's center, a pair of porters pulled a cart carrying the sealed crate. Two enchanters, their faces concealed by light veils, walked beside the cart. These were the spirit formation masters responsible for unsealing the crate upon arrival.
The convoy moved at a steady pace, gradually leaving the city behind.
Itachi's attire for the day was simple—black clothing, a forehead protector, and two ninja pouches fastened to his waist. A short sword rested on his back. Though still young, he carried himself with the confidence of a true Chūnin.
Their destination was the Land of Craftsmen.
This neutral island nation, located in the southeastern seas of the Land of Fire, was known for its masterful weapon-smiths. Most of the ninja tools used by the Five Great Shinobi Villages were forged there.
Because of its significance, the Land of Craftsmen was also a hotspot for ninja spies from various countries, all seeking intelligence on their rivals' weapon production.
And now, Uchiha Itachi's mission was to safely deliver the star iron to this highly contested territory.
(End of chapter)