"in Digie."

  "in Simon."

  The other two in introduced themselves oer the other.

  “in Link.” Link’s expression was calm, but internally, he was menting that he hadn’t brought his special height-boosting shoes on this mission.

  Though he was rapidly growing due to proper nutrition, he was still only nine years old and hadn’t even reached 140 cm. In the vilge, he could wear his secret shoes to fake a taller height, but for missions, open-toe sandals were far more practical.

  Ensui-sensei was nearly 180 cm tall. The other two in were around 170 cm, and Kurenai Yuhi was 169 cm...

  While none of the adults paid attention to his height s, Digie marveled at the talent of today’s youth. Being a Genin was easy, but advang to in required both skill and intellect. He himself had struggled for years to achieve the rank.

  “The t has upgraded the mission to an A-rank,” Nara Ensui announced bluntly, dropping a bombshell. “Protect the t while he pletes the gold mine purchase.”

  The two supp in didn’t react visibly, while Link remained silent. As expected, the situation was taking a troubling turn.

  in didn’t have the authority to speak during mission discussioween Jōnin.

  “Does he have fidence?” Kurenai Yuhi asked. “How long will it take?”

  “He does,” Ensui firmed. “With the Land of Rain mert dead and the Sunagakure having bribed Land of Rivers officials for priority, the Land of Fire mert expects to secure the purchase within a week—before any additional merts from the Land of Wind arrive.”

  Kurenai nodded, aowledging the feasibility of the mission.

  “Link, any thoughts?” To everyone’s surprise, Nara Ensui specifically sought his subordinate’s opinion.

  Simon’s expression turned slightly odd, though he remained silent. A Jōnin’s choice of whom to sult was not something he could question.

  “...”

  Liated briefly, realizing that Ensui’s inquiry stemmed from his earlier demonstration of being able to instantly incapacitate or kill a Jōnin. It was a sign that Ensui valued his input.

  After a moment of deliberation, he asked, “What about the Sunagakure? Would they take issue with this?” He paused before adding, “I’ve heard their ey relies heavily on gold dust sales. Losing the gold mine could destabilize their ey.”

  Eic issues ofteed on expectations rather than actual outes. Even if the gold mine hadn’t yet been fully exploited, the Sunagakure’s inability to secure it would likely impact their ability to sell gold dust at petitive prices.

  Kurenai and the two in appeared puzzled, uo uand why Link had ected the gold mio gold dust sales.

  Nara Ensui, however, gave Link an ued look. He had already thought highly of his talented subordinate, but this level of fht and uanding er geopolitical implications was rare even among many Special Jōnin and Jōnin.

  Ensui shook his head. “Even among allies, such s are not ours to address. In fact, weakening an ally in a trolled manner sometimes be us.”

  What ally? When war begins, everyone bees an enemy.

  [So, they’re not worried about pushing the Sunagakure into desperation?]

  Link didn’t press further. He had already said more than enough to make his case. Expining the Konoha Crush Pn, which relied on Orochimaru’s manipution, would sound like pure fantasy to anyone else.

  Under normal circumstahe weakened Sunagakure wouldn’t dare act recklessly—but with Orochimaru involved, everything ged.

  “That’s all,” Ensui cluded sternly. “For the week, I’ll be ting on all of you.”

  …

  Five Days Later – Outside the Land of Rivers Official’s Residence

  “An A-rank mission!”

  Iris excimed, still in disbelief. He had never imagihat in his first year as a Genin, he’d participate in an A-rank mission—and they were close to pleting it.

  Ami toyed absentmindedly with her kunai, seemingly lost in thought.

  One Jōnin stayed openly by the Land of Fire mert’s side, while the other acted as a hidden guard. Two in patrolled the area, leaving Link’s team to wait with the voy, ready to provide support if needed.

  Since Iris and Ami, as Genin, weren’t eligible for B-rank missions, let alone A-rank ones, and Link was a newly promoted in, their team had essentially bee a backup force.

  [We probably won’t see much of the A-rank mission payout either.]

  [I’ve already proven enough during this mission. o overexpose my abilities.]

  Link thought to himself, vihat if Orochimaru was behind all this, the Land of Fire mert’s acquisition of the gold mine would proceed suspiciously smoothly.

  Still, even if they failed to secure the mi wouldn’t ge the underlying causes of the Konoha Crush Pn: years of dissatisfa and the Sunagakure’s weakeate. Without a way to eliminate Orochimaru, year’s pn was iable.

  Yet, chaos could also be a dder fress…

  Link exhaled slowly, his thoughts drifting to the jutsu he had requested from the Third Hokage. [I wonder how many of them will be approved? Hopefully, a good number.]

  The voy had dwio just a handful of surviving members capable of driving the carts. Most of the samurai had perished, and the few who survived were recuperating iel.

  Though the Land of Fire mert was cold-blooded, he had hired physis to treat the injured samurai ohe situation stabilized. Most had survived.

  “Boss,” Ami spoke hesitantly, as though she had made a decision. “I... I have a friend who’s always been harsh to a cssmate back at the academy…”

  This ‘friend,’ huh?

  “If she feels she was wrong, she should apologize,” Link replied pinly.

  Ami hesitated briefly, then nodded. “I uand.”

  “Want us to go with you?” Link offered, sensing her disfort. Admitting mistakes was a signifit step forward, and she shouldn’t have to face it alone.

  Iris, realizing te what was happening, turo Ami. “Wait, this ‘friend’ you mentioned—”

  “Shut up!” Ami snapped, her face hardening.

  “No way. Oh, I remember now! Ba school, you used to bully—”

  “Shut up!!” Ami lu him, hands around his neck, shaking him furiously.