"Stop smiling like an idiot and get dressed."

  Soren snapped his eyes open to find Matsuri standing at the foot of his bed with her arms crossed. She was wearing her standard Sunagakure outfit: a purple short-sleeved blouse with a high collar and matching pants. Her brown hair was pulled back in its usual practical style.

  "Matsuri! What are you doing here so early?"

  "It is eight in the morning, Soren. We are supposed to meet Baki-sensei, remember? The mission?"

  "Oh," Soren sat up slowly, wincing as his ribs protested. "Right. I completely forgot about that."

  "Of course you did," Matsuri stepped closer and tossed a bundle of clothes at him. "I brought a clean uniform from your apartment. Get dressed. We are already late."

  "How did you get into my apartment?"

  "I have had a spare key since we were twelve. You always lose yours, remember?"

  Soren caught the clothes and looked at them with gratitude. His standard genin uniform: a dark blue short-sleeved shirt with the Sunagakure symbol on the back, beige pants, and his forehead protector. Everything was clean and neatly folded.

  "You are the best, Matsuri."

  "I know. Now hurry up before Baki-sensei decides to fail us for being late."

  She turned around to give him privacy while he changed. Soren moved as fast as his battered body allowed, pulling on his clothes and trying not to groan too loudly when his shoulder complained.

  "So," Matsuri said without turning back, "how are you feeling? Honestly."

  "Like I was run over by a stampede of ninja. But also wonderful."

  "Wonderful?"

  "I got what I wanted, didn't I?"

  Matsuri’s shoulders slumped slightly. "You really are hopeless."

  "Hopelessly in love!"

  "Please stop talking before I change my mind about helping you."

  Soren finished dressing and grabbed his equipment pouch from the nightstand. The weight of it on his hip felt comforting. He had restocked it yesterday before the fight, even though none of his tools had been much use against Temari’s overwhelming skill.

  "Ready," he announced.

  Matsuri turned around and gave him a critical look. "You look terrible."

  "Thanks for the honesty."

  "But you will survive. Let’s go. We have to leave."

  They moved through the hospital hallways, passing medical staff and other patients. Chiyo was nowhere to be seen, which Soren considered a small blessing. The old woman definitely would have had something to say about him leaving so soon after treatment.

  The streets of Sunagakure were already busy with morning activity. Merchants were setting up their stalls, shinobi were heading to their assignments, and civilians were starting their daily routines. The heat was already making itself felt despite the early hour, promising another scorching day in the desert.

  Their usual training ground was located on the outskirts of the village, a wide expanse of sand and rock formations that served as the perfect environment for combat training. As they approached, Soren could see two figures waiting in the center of the field.

  Baki was standing with his arms crossed; his distinct appearance made him easy to spot even from a distance. He wore the standard Sunagakure jonin uniform with his face partially covered by a cloth that only revealed his eyes. His dark hair stuck out at odd angles, giving him a perpetually annoyed air.

  Beside him was Yukata, their teammate. She wore her gray vest over a short shirt that left her stomach exposed, along with her arm protectors and her usual skirt. Her black stockings and Sunagakure forehead protector completed her outfit.

  "Soren! Matsuri!" Yukata waved enthusiastically when she saw them approaching, a bright smile on her face. "You’re finally here! I thought I’d have to start the mission without you!"

  "You are late," Baki said as they drew near.

  "Our apologies, sensei," Matsuri bowed respectfully. "Soren was recovering in the hospital."

  Baki’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Soren. "Hospital? What happened?"

  "I, uh..." Soren rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I had a training accident."

  "A training accident," Baki’s tone made it clear he didn’t believe a word of it. "Does this training accident have anything to do with the reports I heard about you challenging Temari to a fight?"

  Soren felt his face heat up. "News travels fast."

  "This is Sunagakure. Everyone knows everything in less than an hour," Baki shook his head. "I’m not even going to ask why you thought that was a good idea. But we have more important matters to discuss right now."

  "Is it about the mission?" Matsuri asked.

  "Yes," Baki reached into his pouch and pulled out a scroll. "As you know, your usual jonin instructor, Kaito-sensei, is currently on a mission at the border of the Land of Earth. He will be away for at least two months, possibly longer depending on how the reconnaissance mission develops."

  Soren nodded. He had been expecting this news. Kaito-sensei had mentioned the possibility of an extended mission before leaving.

  "During this time," Baki continued, "I will assume temporary command of your team. The Kazekage has decided that, despite your regular instructor's absence, you need to maintain an active mission schedule. The Wind Daimyo has finally begun to assign more work to Sunagakure after months of... let's call it political hesitation."

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "Political hesitation?" Matsuri asked cautiously.

  "The Daimyo was not happy with how certain operations were handled in the past. He reduced our mission allocation as a form of pressure," Baki’s expression darkened slightly. "But recent events have convinced him to give us another chance. This means more work for everyone, including genin teams."

  "That sounds exciting!" Yukata exclaimed optimistically. "Finally something interesting to do!"

  "What kind of mission did you have in mind, sensei?" Soren asked.

  "This is a C-rank mission," Baki held up the scroll. "Normally I would ease you into this gradually, but circumstances require otherwise. The mission parameters are straightforward: you will travel to the Land of Birds, locate and recruit an ornithologist named Isamu, and escort him safely back to Sunagakure."

  "An ornithologist?" Yukata tilted her head, looking confused. "Is that like... someone who studies birds?"

  "Correct. The Land of Birds is famous for its migratory patterns and abundant water sources. The Sunagakure council believes that by studying these patterns, we could locate underground water sources in our desert. Water is life in the desert, and finding new sources could be crucial for the future of our village."

  Soren felt the weight of those words. Water was always a concern in Sunagakure. The village survived thanks to carefully managed wells and oases, but the desert was harsh and unforgiving. New water sources could mean expansion, growth, and security for generations to come.

  "This Isamu," Matsuri said, "where exactly is he in the Land of Birds?"

  "According to our information, he operates from a research station near Lake Kiyoshi, about a three-day journey from here. You will meet him there, convince him to accept our contract, and escort him back. The trip should take approximately one week in total, accounting for travel time and any unforeseen delays."

  "Seems simple enough," Yukata said with a carefree smile. "So we just have to talk to a bird expert? Sounds easy!"

  "The catch is that several other villages are also interested in Isamu's expertise. We have intelligence suggesting that members of Iwagakure are also attempting to recruit him. You must get there first and make our offer the most attractive."

  "So it’s a race," Soren said.

  "Essentially. But remember, this is also a diplomatic mission. You represent Sunagakure. How you conduct yourselves will reflect on the entire village."

  Soren shifted his weight, feeling his ribs protest the movement. A week-long mission. Three days there, negotiations, then three days back. He had just earned Temari’s attention yesterday, and now he would potentially disappear for a week or more.

  She is going to think I was just playing with her. That the whole challenge was a joke.

  The thought made his stomach churn. And there was another problem. Chiyo had explicitly told him not to do anything strenuous until he was fully recovered. Going on a mission to another country definitely qualified as strenuous. If he came back injured...

  She really will kill me. With her own hands.

  "Sensei," Soren raised his hand hesitantly. "I have a concern."

  "What is it?"

  "I’m not exactly at a hundred percent right now. Chiyo-sama told me to rest for at least a few days. If I go on this mission and come back worse..."

  "I am aware of your condition, Soren. When I heard you fought Temari, I assumed you wouldn't come out in one piece. That is why I made special arrangements."

  "Special arrangements?"

  Baki turned slightly, looking back toward the village. "Given the importance of this mission and the current composition of your team, I requested additional support. The Kazekage approved my recommendation to assign one of our more experienced genin to accompany you."

  Soren’s heart suddenly started beating faster. The way Baki said it, the slight emphasis on "experienced genin"...

  "Who?" Matsuri asked.

  "Me."

  The voice came from behind them. Soren turned around so fast his ribs screamed in pain, but he hardly noticed.

  Temari was standing there, her large folded fan hanging across her back. She wore her usual combat attire: a sleeveless black dress with a purple sash, and her signature four-pigtail blonde hairstyle. Her teal eyes appraised them all with a professional gaze.

  "Temari-sama!" Soren blurted out before he could stop himself.

  Her eyelid twitched. "I told you to stop calling me that."

  "Temari-chan!" Yukata exclaimed excitedly, completely oblivious to the tension. "How cool that you’re coming with us! This is going to be super fun!"

  "This is the additional support?" Matsuri looked between Temari and Baki. "Not that I'm complaining, but isn't she a bit overqualified for a simple escort mission?"

  "Temari has experience in diplomatic missions, and her combat skills ensure the team’s safety," Baki explained. "Furthermore, she specifically volunteered for this assignment."

  "You volunteered?" Soren couldn't hide the surprise in his voice.

  Temari’s cheeks colored slightly. "I had my reasons."

  Matsuri slowly brought a hand to her face, rubbing her temple in a gesture of deep resignation. The irony was not lost on her. Yesterday, Soren had been desperately trying to win Temari’s attention. Today, he was going to be stuck with her for an entire week on a mission.

  The universe has a twisted sense of humor, Matsuri thought.

  Meanwhile, Soren looked like someone who had just been told he won the lottery. His eyes were practically glowing with excitement despite the pain radiating through his body.

  "This is incredible!" he exclaimed. "We’re going to work together! This is even better than training! We’ll be partners on a real mission!"

  "Calm down," Temari said. "This is still a professional assignment. You are expected to act like a shinobi, not a fanboy."

  "I can do that! I can be totally professional!"

  "I somehow doubt that," Yukata whispered with a mischievous grin, earning a glare from Soren.

  Baki cleared his throat. "Now that you are all here, let me make the team composition clear. Temari will serve as the team leader for this mission due to her experience, also serving as the liaison between you and the ornithologist. Soren, Matsuri, and Yukata, you will follow her orders as if they came from me directly. Understood?"

  "Yes, sensei!" the three genin replied in unison.

  "Good," Baki handed the mission scroll to Temari. "You have two hours to prepare and gather supplies. Meet at the village gate at noon. Dismissed."

  As Baki walked away, the four of them stood in awkward silence for a moment. Finally, Yukata broke it.

  "Wow... this should be interesting."

  "That’s one way to put it," Matsuri agreed.

  Temari unrolled the mission scroll and scanned its contents. "We’ll travel light and move fast. Pack only the essentials: five days of food, water, medical supplies, standard combat gear. We’ll restock at the border town if necessary."

  "Five days of food for a week-long mission?" Yukata questioned, scratching her head with a confused expression.

  "We can buy supplies at Lake Kiyoshi if needed. I’d rather move fast than be weighed down," Temari looked up from the scroll. "Any questions?"

  Soren raised his hand. "Are we taking the direct route through the canyon or the longer path around the rock formations?"

  "The direct route. Timing is important," Temari’s eyes lingered on Soren for a moment, noticing his slightly stiff posture and the way he favored his left side. "Are you going to be able to keep up?"

  "Absolutely," Soren said with more confidence than he felt. "I’m already feeling much better."

  "Liar," Temari said bluntly. "But fine. If you slow us down, I’ll carry you like a sack of potatoes. No arguments."

  The mental image made Yukata giggle. Matsuri just sighed.

  "Anything else?" Temari asked.

  "Yes," Yukata raised her hand enthusiastically. "What’s our cover story if we run into representatives from other villages? Do we pretend to be civilians or just represent Suna openly?"

  "Good question. We will represent Sunagakure openly. Trying to hide our affiliation would only create suspicion. However, we won’t publicize our mission parameters. If asked, we are simply traveling to the Land of Birds for diplomatic discussions."

  Matsuri nodded in approval. It was a solid approach.

  "Two hours," Temari reminded them. "Don’t be late. I hate waiting."

  With that, she turned and walked away, her fan swaying slightly with every step. The three genin watched her go.

  "She’s terrifying," Yukata said once she was out of earshot, though her tone was more admiring than scared. "But in a cool way, you know?"

  "Totally cool," Soren agreed with a dreamy smile.

  Matsuri just sighed louder.