Mission Assignment office
Shiranui Hanshou, who had assigned the escort mission to Kaede, waited all the way until evening. Yet the merchants from the Land of Grass never showed up to request a team change, nor did Kaede or Might Duy return to pick a new mission.
Having waited this long with no response... did that mean the merchants actually accepted Kaede and Might Duy as their escort team?
"The merchants didn't ask for replacements?"
As time passed, Hanshou became increasingly baffled.
He started to second-guess himself.
Kaede might be a prodigious Chunin, but this would be his very first mission. And as for Might Duy... well, no explanation needed there. The pairing just didn't inspire confidence.
Escort missions like this, if failed, would damage Konoha's reputation.
"Forget it."
After a moment of hesitation, Hanshou decided it was best to report the situation up the chain.
ordinarily, C-rank missions didn't need to be escalated to Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, but given the odd circumstances, this was an exception.
Soon after—
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen was going through a stack of documents when he received the report.
"A C-rank escort mission, huh..."
He raised his eyebrows, genuinely surprised, and a bit puzzled as to why Kaede would team up with Might Duy.
With Kaede's abilities and temperament, he should have no trouble completing a C-rank mission. But if an unexpected situation arose, things might get tricky, especially with Might Duy in the team.
Still, after some thought, Hiruzen chose not to intervene.
No mission was ever truly without risk. Besides, with tensions rising across the ninja world, this kind of non-combat mission was actually a good experience for Kaede.
If something did go wrong, it would be a lesson, a reminder not to overestimate one's abilities or carelessly select teammates.
…
Later that day
After parting ways with Might Duy, Kaede returned home and packed his things.
Standard ninja gear: explosive tags, kunai, shuriken, all prepared. His most important weapon, the White Fang blade, was also placed carefully with his belongings.
Kakashi appeared at the doorway, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed.
"...You're really teaming up with Guy's dad?"
"Yeah," Kaede replied calmly. "I once learned a technique from him. I owe him a debt, and now's the time to return the favor. Technically, you owe him too, the technique I taught you, the Eight Gates, is the one I learned from him."
After mastering the first two gates himself, Kaede had passed the technique on to Kakashi.
Though the later gates might not suit Kakashi's style, the first two were still immensely beneficial. Even in the original timeline, Kakashi had learned the basics of the Eight Gates.
"That taijutsu technique came from him?"
Kakashi looked skeptical. He'd always assumed Kaede developed it on his own. Learning such a high-level technique from a "forever Genin" like Duy? Seems impossible.
Seeing his expression, Kaede chuckled softly.
"There's no reason to lie about it. And Duy-senpai is far stronger than you think. Since you've trained in the Eight Gates yourself, you should have an idea of what it's capable of. I'll tell you this, he can open the final gate. The Death Gate."
Kakashi's pupils contracted slightly.
Had he not trained in the technique, he might have dismissed it entirely. But he had, he could barely open the first gate himself. And he knew, opening all eight would unleash power beyond that of even most Jonin.
His first instinct was disbelief. But Kaede had no reason to lie. That meant it had to be true.
"But... isn't he just a forever-Genin?"
"Don't underestimate Konoha's Genin."
Kaede gave him a meaningful look.
After a short pause, he finished packing and turned to Kakashi.
"So, how's your training coming along?"
"I just started cell activation. I've already mastered Lightning Slash. And I can open the First Gate," Kakashi reported.
"Not bad," Kaede said with a hint of praise.
When it came to ninjutsu talent, Kakashi had nothing to be ashamed of. He'd mastered Lightning Slash, the jutsu Kaede created, with relative ease, and cell activation wouldn't be a problem either.
With that technique alone, Kakashi's chakra reserves would no longer be a limiting factor. Even without a Sharingan or Sage body, he'd likely reach the level of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
At the very least, he'd surpass Sakumo Hatake.
"If Duy-senpai is really that strong... then I guess there's nothing to worry about. oh, by the way, our team will be heading out on a mission with Minato-sensei soon."
Kakashi paused, then added thoughtfully:
"Also... Uchiha Obito seems to have a crush on Rin."
Kaede smiled.
"Rin's a sweet girl. It's only natural. Are you asking if I plan to interfere? That's up to you."
"What do you mean 'up to me'?" Kakashi rolled his eyes.
If Kaede weren't his brother, Kakashi might've scolded him. Lately, it wasn't just Rin and Kurenai who kept visiting their house, there were others too.
Then again, it wasn't really Kaede's fault. He wasn't chasing after any of them, they were all coming to him. Still, his brother's sheer popularity was... problematic.
"Right," Kaede said, suddenly remembering. "If you're going on a mission with Minato, see if you can ask him about the Flying Thunder God Technique."
Kakashi gave him a strange look.
"Flying Thunder God? How do you know Minato-sensei can use that?"
"Let's just say... I came across some intel."
Kaede didn't elaborate.
Anyone who knew of Minato's future reputation as the Yellow Flash, wielding the Flying Thunder God technique and feared across the ninja world, would hardly need an explanation.
Given Minato's personality, if Kakashi asked, he might just share the method. Whether Kakashi could master it was another matter entirely. Space-time ninjutsu was on a different level from something like the Eight Gates.
Still, no harm in trying.
…
The Next Morning
Kaede arrived early at the village gates.
Before long, urube Daisuke and the rest of the merchant team arrived with their light travel gear. After about fifteen minutes, Might Duy showed up at last.
"Sorry, sorry! Looks like I'm late!"
"You're not late, we were just early," Kaede replied with a friendly smile. "Now that you're here, we can get moving."
He turned toward the Chunin guarding the gate.
The guard nodded, registered Duy's name, and waved them through.
"You're all set. Safe travels!"