Chương 83: Is the Hokage clearing out his inventory of D-rank missions?

"Are we just going to let them go like this?"

Little Naniu looked at Yang Cheng, who was leaving with Lacia as if no one else was around, and asked Riva beside her with a somewhat displeased expression.

"If you have any different opinions, you can try to stop him. But don't blame me for not reminding you, he is not your subordinate, nor is he one of your kind. In addition, he has long been unhappy with some of your quirks."

If you actually choose to fight him, don't expect him to show you any mercy.

Upon hearing what Riva said, Daidas, who had originally wanted to try and fight Yang Cheng, immediately gave up his original idea.

While he is indeed a battle maniac, he is not a fool who seeks his own death.

Regarding the discovery of Yang Cheng in the Imperial Capital, Riva felt it necessary to write to Esdeath and let her make a decision.

On the other side, Yang Cheng brought Lycia and the others back to the Night Raid base and told them not to return to the capital for the time being. He himself was also pulled aside by Najenda.

"What? You want me to go back to Esdeath's side and become a traitor?"

Seeing Yang Cheng's somewhat agitated reaction, Najenda nodded awkwardly, then explained, "I think you are quite aware of how great the threat Esdeath poses."

I've predicted the outcome: even if Night Raid manages to win against Esdeath, it will definitely be a Pyrrhic victory.

As her only remaining clansman and childhood sweetheart, you wouldn't want her to perish along with the empire, would you?

Najenda was also a former friend of Esdeath, and she knew very well that trying to persuade Esdeath, who held an opposing view, was undoubtedly an impossible task.

But if this person is Yang Cheng, Najenda thinks it's worth a try.

After all, it's a win-win situation; Yang Cheng successfully turned Esdeath to the side, so everyone is happy.

If they fail, Yang Cheng, who is by Esdeath's side, can at least provide them with some intelligence to prevent them from clashing head-on with Esdeath. On the other hand, Esdeath, who is at the border, also smiled slightly after receiving Riva's letter. She suppressed the border tribes as quickly as possible and then set off to return to the capital.

Konoha Village, Hokage Building.

Teams 6 and 7, who have recently graduated from the Ninja Academy, are currently receiving their mission here.

"Why is it another D-rank mission like this, catching cats and taking care of kids?! Kakashi-sensei, we're ninjas, right?"

Why have I been doing all sorts of odd jobs and tiring work for the past month or so?

Since graduating from the Ninja Academy and officially becoming a ninja, Naruto was extremely excited and happy, believing that he had taken a big step closer to his dream of becoming Hokage.

However, his month-long ninja experience with Team 7 shattered his original illusions about ninjas.

Despite becoming ninjas, they haven't left the village at all in the past month. Their daily tasks consist of cleaning the sewers or catching cats.

Let alone the Crown Prince, even the proud and arrogant Second Assistant and the infatuated Sakura were finding it hard to resist.

Faced with the three restless kids, Kakashi was about to explain something when he heard a woman's voice arguing fiercely with the Third Hokage in the Hokage's office.

When they pushed open the door, they discovered that Class Six was also there.

The person arguing heatedly with the Third Hokage in front of him was none other than Mitarashi Anko, the Jonin instructor of Team 6.

"So, what am I supposed to do with them on these boring D-rank missions? What are we even doing?"

Faced with the agitated Anko, the Third Hokage calmly took a puff of his pipe and then explained, "Anko, you have no experience as an instructor for Jonin. You should learn more from Kurenai and the others."

The reason we send newly graduated genin on these D-rank missions is primarily to toughen them up; it's entirely for their own good.

As the Third Hokage answered Anko, Kakashi also looked at the three little ones behind him and shrugged, indicating that they now knew the reason.

"I understand the point about cultivating one's character; Hong has mentioned it to me before."

But this phase has been going on for far too long. More than a month has passed. Hokage, you're not using this as an excuse to train them, but rather to have them help clear out the backlog of Konoha's D-rank missions, are you?

D-rank missions offer little reward and are exhausting, so experienced genin generally won't take them.

If you don't even do genin, you'll naturally accumulate a lot of these kinds of missions over the years, and then you can clear out the backlog when new students graduate each year.

"Ahem, alright, I understand. Since you're the Jonin instructor of Team Six, you also believe they're capable of going out for training."

"Then this C-rank mission to clear out the bandits and vagrants will be yours."

Looking at the mission scroll that the Third Hokage threw over, Anko glanced at it briefly and said, "This mission is too easy. Are there any missions that require fighting against ninjas?"

Leaving aside Ling and Wu's words for now, Yang Cheng's temperament and strength have long surpassed those of his peers. Such a simple task won't be of much help to their growth.

Hearing Anko complain that the mission was too easy, the Third Hokage stood up solemnly and looked at Anko, saying, "Anko, you need to understand that not all ninjas possess extraordinary talent."

Even the most gifted ninjas must hone their skills gradually to become truly excellent.

Your experiences are different from theirs, so you can't use your own standards to judge them.

Want to take on a more difficult mission? Sure, but let's talk about it after you've perfectly completed this C-rank mission.

Upon hearing the Third Hokage's words, Anko initially wanted to say something, but after Yang Cheng and his two teammates exchanged glances, they quickly stepped forward and pulled Anko away from the argument.

"Teacher Hongdou, let's hurry up and finish the mission. This is my first time leaving the village."

"Don't worry, Grandpa, we will definitely complete the mission perfectly."

"Lord Third Generation, then we shall take our leave."

Watching Anko being dragged away from the office by her three students, the Third Hokage sighed deeply.

He suddenly regretted letting Hongdou be his mentor, because she was simply not cut out for it.

Anko's own strength and experience go without saying; she is more than capable of serving as an instructor for three genin.

The crux of the problem is that Hongdou's personality is too unconventional and sometimes too childish.

Guiding Jonin requires qualities such as calmness, composure, and the ability to think deeply; however, it is clear that Anko is completely devoid of these qualities.

Even her three students just now showed a more composed personality than she, their mentor.

After seeing Yang Cheng and his Class 6 successfully receive the C-level mission and leave.

Naruto, eager to get started, ran to the Third Hokage's desk and said, "Old Deng, we need a more advanced mission too!"