Naruto: Starting with Creating a Genius Persona

A few days later, Class 10 completed several D-level tasks, such as finding cats, weeding, and cleaning up the river.

Tsunade was the first to show obvious impatience with this tedious and repetitive process.

Once again, during the handover of missions in the Hokage's office, when the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, habitually picked up his pen to issue another D-rank mission, Tsunade rudely interrupted the process.

"Alright, old man." She crossed her arms and said directly, "I think these kids have honed their basic skills enough and are ready to carry out more advanced tasks."

The Third Hokage looked up from the documents, glanced at her impatient disciple, and then at the three students behind her with different expressions.

"Since you've put it that way..." The Third Hokage slowly took out another mission scroll from the drawer, unfolded it, and read aloud in a leisurely manner: "Well then, here is a suitable mission. In the past two months, several bizarre deaths have occurred on Izu Oshima Island, located in the eastern sea of ​​the Land of Fire."

"All the victims claimed to have watched a black videotape of unknown origin within a week before their deaths. Their deaths were quite similar, with extremely terrified expressions, as if they had witnessed an indescribable horror. However, there were no obvious fatal wounds on their bodies. The local sheriff was at a loss and suspected that supernatural forces or ninjas were involved, so he sent a request for assistance to Konoha."

Hearing this, Jingyin instinctively hugged her bag tighter, her face pale, and her voice trembling slightly as she said, "A videotape that... will kill you if you watch it? It sounds like something out of a ghost story..."

Tsunade frowned and tapped her fingers on the table: "Izu Oshima? Too far. Going all that way just for a lousy videotape? The travel time is longer than the mission time. Let's find another one."

The Third Hokage nodded without any temper, and then pulled out another scroll: "Well then, how about this one? The Saeki family mansion in Setagaya Ward, Sanban City. Five years ago, a family of three mysteriously disappeared. There were no signs of a fierce struggle at the scene, nor any property was stolen; it was as if they had vanished into thin air."

"In the five years that followed, five people who broke into the house, three sheriffs in charge of investigating the case, and two real estate businessmen who bought the house all died mysteriously in their own homes or temporary residences shortly after entering the mansion. The causes of death varied, but no signs of external intervention could be found."

"The mansion is therefore considered a cursed haunted house, and Sanban Castle hopes that Konoha will send professionals to conduct a thorough investigation."

Shizune's face paled even more. She moved closer to Kurenai and whispered, "A haunted house where you'll die if you move in... this sounds even more like a supernatural story than the last one... and it's about serial murders..."

Tsunade rubbed her temples, her tone disdainful: "Investigating cases involving old cases, serial deaths, and even those rumored to be cursed is the most troublesome. The clues are probably long gone, the scene may have been destroyed countless times, and you have to deal with a bunch of local officials and superstitious people. It's time-consuming, laborious, and purely thankless."

"No, change it again!"

The Third Hokage, in a good mood, changed the scroll again: "So, how about this mission? In Kirisaki Town on the southwest coast, a series of inexplicable murders and conflicts have recently occurred, and many male townspeople, including the son of a local wealthy merchant and the sheriff, have been drawn into fierce battles."

"The target is a black-haired girl who is said to be stunningly beautiful with a beauty mark under her eye. They are jealous of each other, plotting against one another and even killing each other directly, as if they have completely lost their minds. There are already rumors in the area that she is the reappearance of a bewitching fox spirit."

"What fox spirits and ghosts? Isn't it just some illusionist causing trouble?"

Tsunade scoffed after hearing this, but this time she didn't immediately refuse.

Seeing that Tsunade's attitude had softened, the Third Hokage smiled and offered another option: "In the village of Kirimi, which is near the northwestern border, young women have been disappearing one after another on the night of the full moon over the past three months. They are found unconscious in front of the shrine outside the village the next morning. They are not in danger, but they have no memory of the night before and show signs of slight physical deterioration."

"Rumors spread in the village that the mountain god had taken a bride, causing widespread panic. The local garrison investigated without success and reported the matter to request assistance from professional ninjas."

Jingyin's face was still a little pale as she listened, and she muttered softly, "Being married to the mountain god... that still sounds weird..."

"Why is it all just supernatural tales and ghost stories?" Tsunade couldn't help but complain. "Old man, can't you come up with something more normal, like a C-rank mission to wipe out bandits or escort a caravan?"

The Third Hokage shrugged, looking innocent: "Recently, things have been relatively peaceful within the Land of Fire. The regular escort and bandit-suppression missions have all been taken by other teams. What's left are either these kinds of missions with a bit of a supernatural element, which require ninjas to investigate the truth and dispel rumors, or more distant and complex cross-border missions."

He paused, as if suddenly remembering something, and rummaged through the pile of scrolls on the table, pulling out a scroll that looked relatively new.

"Oh, right, there is one here... well, it might be a bit special, but it might be more suitable for your Class 10's current situation."

The third generation unfurled the scroll, his gaze sweeping over the contents, and read on calmly as usual:

"Mission Type: Personnel Escort. Mission Client: Shinichi Higashino, Special Guest Chef of the Taste of Konoha Ninja Village Restaurant. Mission Objective: Escort Shinichi Higashino, the special guest chef of the restaurant, safely to Kyoto, the Land of Fire, and ensure his safety during this period until he completes all the procedures for participating in the Land of Fire's First Culinary Contest. After that, escort him safely back to Konoha. Mission Rank: C."

The Third Hokage read it in a flat, straightforward manner, as if it were just an ordinary escort mission.

However, the moment the words fell...

Everyone in Team 10, including Tsunade, turned their gazes to Shinichi Higashino, who had been standing to the side and had been mostly silent since the start of the meeting!

Everyone's face was filled with astonishment, confusion, and a sense of absurdity, as if they were wondering, "Did I hear that right?"

Is Shinichi a chef or a chef?

Are you going to participate in a food competition?

Shizune and Kurenai were completely dumbfounded, their eyes wide open.

Tsunade blinked, her impatient expression completely freezing. She raised her hand, pointing uncertainly with her index finger at the calm Shinichi, then turned to the Third Hokage: "Old man, is the person you're talking about, Higashino Shinichi, the same person I'm thinking of?"

"If the client did not provide false information, then it is the same person."

The Third Hokage coughed lightly, then smiled and said, "So, Tsunade, how about taking it?"

"Take it! Why don't you take it?" Tsunade no longer hesitated, snatching the mission scroll from the Third Hokage's hand with a swift and decisive motion.

She turned to face Shinichi, a sudden, extremely kind, even exaggeratedly enthusiastic smile spreading across her face, and spoke in a tone as if addressing an important VIP client:

"Mr. Shinichi Higashino, please rest assured! From now on, Team 10 of Konoha Village will do everything in our power to ensure your absolute safety during your trip to Kyoto! We guarantee to deliver you to the arena unharmed and escort you back safely! You can focus on preparing for your match!"

What is this?

Do you assign tasks to yourself?

Shizune and Kurenai thought to themselves.

Shinichi's lips twitched slightly at Tsunade's deliberately quirky yet solemn promise, but he quickly regained his composure, nodded slightly, and replied cooperatively, "Then I'll leave the rest of the trip to you all."