Before long, the water-fetching task was done.
"Another task!"
"Huh?"
Bimino stood dazed, but after meeting Jiraiya's gaze, he immediately assigned another D-rank task.
This time, it was chopping firewood.
However...
It didn't take long again.
"Another one."
...
Half a month later.
"Lord Third, this is really not working! Please, have him stop. If this keeps going, we'll run out of D-rank tasks!"
Bimino couldn't hold back and went upstairs to complain to the Third Hokage.
There was no helping it.
It wasn't that he wasn't giving out tasks, but over the past half-month, Jiraiya's team had completed more than half of the village's D-rank tasks.
At this rate, in a few days, the village's D-rank tasks would be cleared.
What would happen to other teams and regular genin?
Would their income be cut off?
It was indeed a serious problem.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was troubled, thinking for a moment.
Jiraiya's team was truly powerful.
No need to mention the leader.
Among the members, there was Kakashi, who was already a chunin, and Yūhi Kurenai, who was skilled in genjutsu, along with Ryōmine Kyōen...
C-rank tasks were nothing for them.
"Next time, have him take a C-rank task."
"Yes, sir."
Bimino breathed a sigh of relief.
C-rank tasks...
It wasn't that he didn't want to assign them, but the situation was still unclear.
Although the various nations were at peace, there were still small skirmishes between them.
Furthermore,
There were many wandering warriors and bandits after the war.
Right now, taking on C-rank tasks was far more dangerous than in peacetime.
Bimino was just the one assigning tasks, and didn't have the authority to decide which tasks the new team would take.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded; there was no need to argue further.
...
[As Hokage, you actively contribute to the village, and your efforts are widely recognized.]
[Reward: Water Release - Water Chaotic Wave skill upgraded by 1 level.]
Huh?
That morning, Kyōen stood in front of the Hokage building, confused.
What's this?
Where did this reward come from?
After grinding through D-rank tasks, he unexpectedly received a reward he didn't know about.
He glanced at his panel.
[Name: Ryōmine Kyōen]
[Age: 7]
[Bloodline Limit: None]
[Skills]:
Transformation Technique (Master), Clone Technique (Master), Substitution Technique (Master), Body Flicker Technique (Master), Water Release - Water Chaotic Wave (Master), Water Release - Water Barrier (Proficient)
Over the past half-month, Kyōen mainly focused on practicing his taijutsu and two water-style ninjutsu, but they were only upgraded to proficient.
Now, Water Chaotic Wave was directly at the Master level.
A wealth of knowledge about Water Chaotic Wave flooded his mind, including how to better control and use water chakra.
Water Chaotic Wave was a basic technique without any complex changes to its nature transformation.
However,
At the "Master" level, the chakra needed to perform the technique was greatly reduced.
Theoretically, with the same amount of chakra, he could expel 30% more water than before.
Not only that, many techniques in the water release style shared similarities.
Especially Water Chaotic Wave and Water Barrier.
The basic versions didn't have complicated nature transformations, and as long as one mastered the basic nature transformation and could extract water chakra, the technique could be easily performed.
Both of these techniques were like that.
The knowledge attached to mastering Water Chaotic Wave also had useful applications for Water Barrier.
Kyōen secretly felt pleased.
This was a huge improvement!
Although ninjutsu would be less useful in large-scale battles later on, right now, his primary concern was the Third Great Ninja War.
At the level of regular ninjas, water release techniques were extremely useful.
"Kyōen-kun."
A soft female voice approached from behind.
Kyōen turned around—
Kakashi and Kurenai were quickly approaching.
The three gathered together.
"You're here so early?"
Kurenai was panting.
"Not long. I ran past here and decided to wait."
Kyōen answered.
Kakashi looked hesitant, about to speak, but he caught something in the corner of his eye and swallowed the question he was about to ask.
"Haha, looks like everyone is here early!"
Jiraiya arrived.
He held two ice creams, broke them in half, and handed one to each person.
"Let's go. We're starting today's mission. The quicker we complete enough tasks, the sooner we can take on more challenging C-rank missions."
Jiraiya was fed up with D-rank tasks.
For a regular ninja team, D-rank tasks might help with teamwork and skill development, but for their team…
Forget it.
As a chunin, Kakashi understood the importance, but his personal issues were still unresolved, and Jiraiya didn't have a great solution yet.
Kyōen—
This kid was the least of Jiraiya's worries.
Kurenai's only shortcoming was her ability, but when it came to being the team leader, she still had a long way to go.
For them, missions above C-rank, where they could face wandering warriors, thieves, or even other ninjas, would be where they truly learned things that would improve their skills.
Since they wouldn't let them take C-rank missions, they'd clear out all the D-rank ones.
Jiraiya had made up his mind.
He entered the hall and went straight to Bimino.
"Give me..."
"Lord Jiraiya, Lord Hokage said you can take C-rank missions now."
Bimino reported immediately.
Jiraiya smiled. "Oh? We don't have to do D-rank anymore?"
"Not anymore. You've completed enough D-rank tasks. You can look at the C-rank tasks now."
Bimino smiled wryly and handed over the new task board.
Kyōen glanced at it.
It seemed the previous reward came from them.
Then, he looked at the task board.
Most of the tasks were escort missions for merchant caravans.
As for the escort destinations...
They were generally to places like the Land of Rivers or the Land of Waves, where conflicts still simmered, so they likely wouldn't be considered C-rank missions.
"This one."
Jiraiya pointed at one line—
"Head to Tanaka Street and protect the creditor while collecting debts."
He grinned.
"This one. Where's the client?"
"This task was just posted yesterday. You need to go to the Qīnghuā Hall in Tanaka Street and find someone named Matsuyama Kōji."
Bimino replied.
He hesitated for a moment and added, "However, the reward for this task is almost at the level of a B-rank mission. I suspect collecting debts might not be as simple as it sounds."
"Doesn't matter. As long as the money's good, I know the way to Tanaka Street."
Jiraiya waved his hand, his smile wide.
Kyōen's expression turned strange.
Tanaka Street was not a nice place.
Ninjas going there were likely to break one of the three ninja rules.
It was hard not to suspect—
His teacher was taking this mission just as an excuse to enjoy himself.
He couldn't help but mutter inwardly.
Kakashi and Kurenai were both expressionless, either because they didn't know about Tanaka Street or just didn't care.
In any case, Jiraiya happily accepted the task.
However,
As he was leaving the task hall, a figure blocked his way.
"Lord Jiraiya, Lord Hokage requests your presence upstairs."
An Anbu ninja.
Jiraiya sighed, nodded, said goodbye to Kyōen and the others, and headed upstairs.
"Kyōen, Kakashi!"
Just as they were waiting, a voice called from inside.
Kurenai's expression grew a little complicated—
Here we go again!
Might Guy.