The first mission Uchiha Fenghuo received as a genin was classic D-rank drudgery: helping an elderly woman find her missing cat.
The only clue? The cat was thin and had brown fur.
It was, in a word, hopeless.
Konoha is huge. I'm supposed to find a brown cat in this sprawling village?
Fenghuo was already regretting life.
The mission issuer, Matsushima Yamada, had clearly given up trying to hype it up. He smiled cheerfully and said, "If you don't like this one, I've got a few other D-rank missions here. Feel free to take a look!"
Standing beside him, Might Dai (Maitedai), crossed his arms and glared. He came here all the time to collect missions and had never once seen this guy smile at him. Let alone offer options.
Fenghuo didn't bother with politeness. He grabbed the scrolls, flipped through them, and sighed. Trash. Absolute D-rank trash. Low pay, high effort, no glory. And he had to complete twenty of them before qualifying for the Chūnin Exams?
Honestly, one decent C-rank mission was worth more than all of these combined.
Seeing his expression, Dai clapped him on the shoulder. "Fenghuo, don't look down on D-rank missions. They train essential shinobi skills—tracking, evasion, intelligence gathering, stealth. These aren't chores; they're practice. That's why every genin must complete twenty D-rank missions before taking the Chūnin Exam!"
Fenghuo blinked. That made… annoying sense.
"Got it, Uncle Dai."
"Yosh! Let's start with finding this brown cat!"
It didn't take long for Fenghuo to meet the mission client—a kindly grandmother well into her eighties. She clasped Fenghuo's hand with tearful eyes.
"I've raised Xiaohua since she was a kitten, it's been three years… So obedient, always came when I called. I remember once…"
Fenghuo immediately sensed danger. Rambling granny alert. His time was precious. He cut her off gently.
"Grandma, may I ask a few questions?"
"Of course, child! Anything to find my Xiaohua!"
It's just a cat, lady. Calm down.
Dai watched from the sidelines, clearly amused.
"Where does Xiaohua usually like to play?"
"The park. And sometimes the grove outside the east gate."
"Has she ever had kittens?"
The old lady leaned in, whispering like it was classified intel.
"Actually… Xiaohua is a tomcat."
…Why do I even bother? Fenghuo's eyebrow twitched.
Fenghuo collected what little intel he could, including a tuft of Xiaohua's fur from a cushion at the house. He headed straight for the park.
Konoha has too many cats. He quickly gathered a handful of fur samples from various places—none matched Xiaohua's.
"Ugh. I'm such an idiot!"
Shadow clones! Why am I doing this solo?!
He formed the clone seal. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
His clone popped into existence, took one look at the situation, and without needing orders, dashed off toward the grove. Efficiency doubled.
Moments later—
The clone reappeared, cradling a brown tabby in his arms.
"Got him! He was limping, hiding in the bushes with a busted paw."
He gently tossed the cat to Fenghuo.
Fenghuo caught it and grinned. "Nice work! You're as smart as you are good-looking!"
The clone laughed. "Well, I am you."
"Stop! You're making me blush!"
The clone dispelled with a puff.
Dai, watching from behind a tree, covered his face. This kid just praised himself out loud. In public. Without shame.
Fenghuo used basic healing ninjutsu to stabilize the cat's paw and rushed back to the client.
The moment Xiaohua saw her, he leapt into the old lady's arms.
"Meow~!"
"My boy! My sweet Xiaohua!" she sobbed. "Thank you! I don't know how I could've gone on without him!"
Ding!
Achievement unlocked: "Helper of the Helpless – Bronze Tier."
Fenghuo could almost hear the RPG-style system chime in his head.
They returned to the mission desk together. The old woman couldn't stop praising him. She handed over the promised reward: 500 ryō.
After the standard mission tax deduction (20%), Fenghuo pocketed 400 ryō.
Enough for one good bowl of miso char siu ramen…
He paused.
Wait. How much do I still owe Yakushi Nonō for those medical pills…?
Suddenly, immigration didn't sound like such a bad option.
"You see?" Dai said with a thumbs-up. "Feels great to earn your keep!"
Fenghuo stood dramatically, fists clenched. "I'm deeply moved. First, I'd like to thank Konoha for providing such a perfect stage. I'd also like to thank Uncle Dai—your strict training allowed me to reach this moment. And of course, my alma mater, the Academy…"
Dai's proud expression froze.
He's doing a speech? After catching a cat??
Thus began Fenghuo's journey through the trials of D-rank missions.
He chased pets, cleaned up trash, harvested mountain taro, babysat tantrum-prone toddlers, and once received an unusual job: accompanying a widow terrified of thunder through a stormy night.
Fenghuo eyed Dai suspiciously.
With a stern expression, Dai said, "This mission is not appropriate for a boy your age."
He snatched the scroll and threw it into the rejection bin.
Time passed, and two days before the Chūnin Exams, Fenghuo had finally completed all twenty D-rank missions.
All that remained… was one C-rank mission.
"Fenghuo," Dai warned seriously, "C-rank missions can involve combat. You may get injured. Be prepared."
Fenghuo nodded solemnly.
Matsushima Yamada welcomed him again, this time with a gleeful sparkle in his eye. "Fenghuo! Here are three C-rank missions I handpicked just for you. All doable in one day, and perfectly safe!"
Fenghuo checked the scrolls:
– Escort delivery to Tanzaku Town.
– Eliminate a bandit group.
– Capture a wild beast in the forest.
They seemed simple enough.
He selected the bandit subjugation mission.
Dai's expression grew grim. "Don't underestimate them, Fenghuo. Bandits may not have jutsu, but they're desperate and unpredictable. And remember, C-rank missions must be completed solo. I won't be going with you."
"I understand, Uncle Dai. Don't worry. I'll handle it."
Fenghuo returned home, packed his gear, filled his ninja pouch with essentials—kunai, smoke bombs, wire, soldier pills—and departed the Hidden Leaf Village at dawn.
His first real mission had begun.
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