Konoha Notes

Chapter 105 Great Name
Inside the ninja apartment, Itachi is frying eggs, Anko is standing guard next to three buckets of instant noodles, and Shuji is calculating the time.

Just as the three fried eggs were ready and served, the three of them suddenly ripped open the lid and started slurping the noodles.

After the perfect first bite of noodles, accompanied by a perfectly cooked egg, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief.

"Shuji," Anko asked, her mouth still full of noodles, "Tsunade-sama really came back? Everyone on the street is saying it."

"Yes, I'm back." Shuuji took a sip of soup.

"Our senior's vacation is over, do we need to rejoin the team?"

"No need. Itachi, continue with the Chunin Exams first. Anko, too, continue your training."

The following tasks are individual missions issued by the village, not external assignments, and they don't need to be carried out in a team. This gathering is mainly to explain this matter.

Many people on the road were discussing Tsunade's return, especially after news of her taking over Konoha Hospital began to circulate, which increased people's anticipation.

After all, that's Tsunade, the most outstanding medical ninja.

When he saw Hiruzen Sarutobi again, his gaze was somewhat complicated. The Tsunade matter was manageable, but the fact that he had managed to subtly and quietly deal with Fugaku Uchiha was truly an eye-opener for Shuji.

However, these are things that Shuuji did not explain beforehand, and the Third Hokage will not bring them up in detail.

"Your mission is to go to the City of Fire to meet the Daimyo and deliver a letter. After receiving a reply, return." After handing over the secret scroll, he mentioned another matter, "The Daimyo has recruited twelve ninjas, known as the Twelve Guardian Ninjas. If you have the chance, go and see them."

"Yes."

"No matter who you meet, you don't need to have any worries."

After Shuji agreed, the Third Hokage made a special point of emphasizing it.
-
The City of Fire is one of the few major cities in the Land of Fire, and it is even more prosperous than Konoha Village.

At the entrance to the capital, a figure leaned against the wall, a half-smoked cigarette between his fingers. He wore a dark coat and a waistband embroidered with the character for "fire".

Shuuji knew him; they had met several times in the village. He was Sarutobi Asuma, the son of the Third Hokage. After he left the village, Hayami and the others even told him he had mental problems.

"Shuji." Asuma exhaled a smoke ring as a greeting, "I've come to pick you up on the orders of the Daimyo."

“Asuma-senpai,” Shuuji nodded in response.

Facing the villagers, especially the unfamiliar younger generation, Asma, who had left the village, was not very talkative and fell silent after a brief greeting.

Asuma stubbed out his cigarette, turned, and led the way, with Shuji following slowly. They walked in silence, the only sounds filling the space between them the clamor of the capital city.

The daimyo of the Land of Fire was an ordinary-looking man with no power and no imposing presence.

The lord sat in the main seat, with several people standing on his left and right sides. They were dressed in different styles, but without exception, they all wore waistbands with the character "fire" on them.

One of the bald monks was quite conspicuous, costing thirty million... He was from the Land of the Earth, which cost twenty million more than the monks of the Temple of the Earth.

Asma received the secret scroll from the monk and presented it respectfully.

Daimyo did not immediately open the book, but instead turned her gaze to Shuji with great interest.

"Oh, you're a Jonin from Konoha, Shuji, right?" the Daimyo said in a gentle tone. "So young, and already a Jonin."

"I heard that last year, a young ninja led a delegation to Sunagakure and stabilized the alliance. Was that you?"

"You flatter me, Your Excellency." Xiu Si bowed slightly. "I was merely following orders and did not fail in my duty."

"Compared to my meager skills, those who protect you are truly exceptional and shoulder heavy responsibilities."

The daimyo chuckled twice, but before he could answer, a man beside him, dressed in particularly luxurious clothes and bearing a resemblance to the daimyo, suddenly spoke up. "Jonin Shuji is too modest. The Konoha ninja who protect the peace of the Land of Fire are exceptionally strong. As a Jonin, you must be among the best. If..."

Huh? A standard provocative opening? Am I going to experience a face-slapping scenario too?
Xiu Si looked up and saw that the man had a faint smile on his lips, but his eyes held a scrutinizing gaze that was hard to detect.

“Masamune,” the daimyo interrupted him gently, his tone still calm, “the progress of the domestic mineral exploration should be reported by now, shouldn’t it? Go and inquire about it.”

The man named Masamune's expression stiffened slightly, but he quickly recovered and bowed, saying, "Yes, I will take care of it immediately."

Daimyo then picked up the secret scroll and slowly unfolded it. After reading it for a moment, he nodded.

“The reply needs some preparation. You may come again at this time tomorrow.” He looked at Xiu Si, his tone casual. “Let him rest at the manor tonight. Asma, help him settle in.”

“Yes,” Asma replied.

Xiu Si bowed and took his leave.

Asma led him to a secluded room.

"Right here."

Seeing Asuma turn to leave, Shuji suddenly spoke up: "Asuma-senpai, how does the job of protecting the ninja feel?"

Asma paused, turned his head, and frowned slightly.

"For example, the intensity of the task, the salary and benefits," Xiu Si added naturally.

"It's alright." Asuma replied casually, though he felt the question came out of nowhere. "Naturally, it can't compare to the Jonin in the village. After all, the rewards for high-level missions are much more generous."

"Oh, looks like he's much stronger than a Chunin..."

Are you usually busy with tasks?

"Fortunately... the village itself regularly sends ninjas to protect the daimyo, so there's usually nothing serious..." Asuma said, then suddenly realized something and his face darkened. "Hey, you're not actually falling for him, are you?"

"Wake up! You're still on your mission to leave the village."

"No...no, I was just curious. After all, it was the end of last year, and I was rushing around to complete missions. It was really exhausting." Xiu Si waved his hand and complained, "I just applied for leave this year, but I was canceled early."

The younger man's complaints seemed to evoke a sense of shared suffering in Asuma, and his tone softened: "These past two years have indeed been eventful, but things will get better. And..."

Once he started talking, Asma wasn't in a hurry to leave.

He listened to Shuji's seemingly casual complaints, occasionally offering a few words of agreement.

"Speaking of which, where do most of the Guardian Ninjas come from? Apart from the senior, I've never heard of them in the country."

"Ah? They are actually all from the Land of Fire."

"Some are disciples trained by wandering ninjas, some possess family secret techniques, or are descendants of clans who never joined a ninja village in their early years."

“I see. But, that distinguished person just now, the one standing next to the daimyo…” Shuji brought it up as if it were unintentional.

Asuma was silent for a moment before whispering, "That's the daimyo's younger brother... Lord Masamune..."

"Shuji, get some rest." He seemed unwilling to talk more and ended the conversation. "After you finish the mission, go back to the village as soon as possible."

(End of this chapter)