Takuma led them deeper into the command tent, past rows of busy Intelligence Division personnel, until they reached a long table near the back. A wooden placard reading "Mission Assignment" sat on the surface.
"These are the instructors for the newly graduated genin teams," he said to the ninja stationed behind the desk. "They're here to collect their squad assignments."
The man barely glanced up. He gestured for them to follow him to the rightmost workstation, where he pulled out a thick registry book and began checking names against mission allocations.
"Team 10, squad leader: Chunin Yamanaka Kenji."
Kenji stepped forward when his name was called. The assignment officer retrieved a scroll from a stack of documents, unrolled it briefly to verify the contents, then handed it over.
The scroll listed his squad information in neat handwriting:
Konoha Year 37, First Term, Team 10
Squad Leader:
Yamanaka Kenji, Male, Age 14, Chunin
Team Members:
Tsukishima Haruto (Male, Age 10, Genin),
Hoshino Aoi (Female, Age 10, Genin),
Hinoyama Kaede (Male, Age 10, Genin)
"Your team's mission is classified as C-rank," the officer said in a flat tone. He pulled out a second scroll and placed it on the table. "You'll be stationed at Supply Point 73 for a duration of two months. Location, operational protocols, and communication procedures are detailed in this mission scroll. Review the contents and sign the registry to confirm receipt."
Kenji took the mission scroll. Supply point duty was logistics work, safely behind the front lines. They weren't throwing him and three Academy kids straight into active combat. At least the higher-ups had some sense.
He glanced around at the other instructors receiving their assignments. Similar missions across the board, all logistics and support roles. This entire batch of early graduates was being kept away from direct combat.
Still, he knew better than to relax completely. Supply points might be behind the front lines, but they were high-value targets. Enemy ninjas loved hitting logistics. The odds of seeing combat weren't exactly low.
And there was the rank consideration. C-rank was the highest mission level genin teams were normally allowed to take. But the moment enemy ninjas showed up, the mission automatically upgraded to B-rank. That was how battlefield promotions worked. Every fight could be a life-or-death test that determined whether you moved up or got buried.
He signed the registry, tucked both scrolls into his vest, and headed back outside.
His three students were sitting together in the waiting area, looking exhausted. Dirt smudged their uniforms, and their hair was a mess from the travel. They perked up when they saw him approaching.
"Alright, good news," Kenji said. "We're heading to the mess hall for a proper meal. After that, you can rest. We leave for our assignment first thing tomorrow morning, so tonight's yours. Eat, sleep, and relax."
"Yes!"
"Finally! My legs are killing me!"
"I almost fell asleep standing up during the inspection!"
The mention of food and sleep transformed them instantly. All three were grinning and talking over each other. Kenji couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm. For tonight, at least, they could just be kids.
The mess hall was exactly what you'd expect from a military camp. Long wooden tables, benches packed with ninjas eating quickly, and the constant clatter of bowls and utensils. The food itself was basic. Just rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and pickled vegetables. Nothing fancy, but after two days of travel rations, it tasted incredible.
His students ate like they'd been starving. Haruto finished three bowls of rice. Aoi ate more delicately but still cleaned her plate. Kaede kept eyeing the pickled vegetables with suspicion before finally trying them and deciding they were acceptable.
After dinner, he showed them to their assigned barracks, which were four bunks in a small room. The kids were asleep within minutes of lying down.
He stayed up a bit longer, reviewing the mission scroll by lamplight. He memorized the route to Supply Point 73, studied the terrain maps, and noted the emergency contact procedures. When he was confident he had everything committed to memory, he finally went to sleep.
---
Dawn came too early.
He woke his students before sunrise. They groaned and complained but got moving once he reminded them they could eat breakfast before leaving. Another quick meal at the mess hall, then they gathered their gear and headed for the camp's north gate.
The journey to Supply Point 73 would take most of the day. The supply point was located inside the Land of Rain, one of dozens of small outposts along Konoha's logistics network supporting operations against Iwa.
He set a moderate pace as they left the camp. His students had improved significantly over the past two days. They'd learned to conserve chakra during travel, maintain steadier breathing, and move more efficiently. Still kids, but at least they weren't completely hopeless anymore.
The landscape changed gradually as they traveled northwest. The forests thinned out, replaced by rockier terrain and sparse vegetation. Then they crossed the border into the Land of Rain, and everything changed.
The rain started immediately. The sky was gray, and the clouds were so thick they blocked out most of the sunlight. Water pooled on every surface, turned dirt into mud, and created a constant noise that made it harder to hear approaching threats.
"Stay alert," Kenji said quietly. "From here on out, assume everyone we encounter is hostile unless proven otherwise."
His students nodded silently.
He activated his sensory technique, extending his awareness as far as he could manage. The Land of Rain was a war zone, plain and simple. Every major village was fighting here. Ame was at war with Konoha, Iwa, and Suna simultaneously. Konoha was fighting Ame, Iwa, and Suna. Kumo was tangled up with Iwa. And wandering through all of it were missing-nin taking advantage of the chaos to prey on whoever looked weak.
In this environment, paranoia wasn't a character flaw, it was a survival skill.
They traveled in silence for hours. Twice, he sensed unfamiliar chakra signatures in the distance and immediately diverted their route to avoid contact. No point taking unnecessary risks with three genin in tow.
By late afternoon, they reached Supply Point 73.
The entrance was well-hidden. A narrow cave mouth concealed behind thick bushes and hanging vines, barely visible unless you knew exactly where to look.
Two ninjas were waiting just inside the entrance. Both looked tired and ready to leave. The handover process was quick. They verified his identity, confirmed the mission scroll details, went over the supply inventory together, and exchanged communication codes.
"Quiet posting," one of them said as they prepared to depart. "Couple supply runs came through without incident. We had no enemy contact in three weeks. You should have an easy rotation."
Kenji nodded but didn't let himself believe it. "Quiet" postings had a way of going loud at the worst possible times.
Once the previous team left, he led his students deeper into the supply point.
The interior was larger than it looked from outside. The main cavern had been divided into distinct sections: A storage area filled with crates of food, medical supplies, weapons, and other essentials. And a living quarters with basic sleeping mats and a small cooking area. Even a tiny medical room with bandages, antiseptics, and basic surgical tools.
Everything you needed to survive in hostile territory.
"Alright, listen up," Kenji said once they'd dropped their gear. "Our mission has three main components. First, daily patrols around the perimeter to make sure our location stays hidden. Second, assisting with supply transfers when transport teams show up. Third, defending this position if we get attacked."
He paused and looked at each of them.
"That third one is mostly on me. You're not ready for real combat yet. If we do get hit, your job is to follow my orders immediately and without hesitation. Understood?"
"Yes, sensei," they responded in unison.
"Good. Now, Aoi, you mentioned you like cooking. Think you can handle meal prep for the team?"
"Absolutely!"
"Excellent. Haruto, Kaede, you'll rotate with her on cleaning and maintenance duties. We're going to be here for two months. Keeping the place organized will make everything easier."
They nodded agreement.
For their first meal at the supply point, Aoi really showed off. She took the basic ingredients from storage and somehow turned them into something that actually tasted good. Rice with properly seasoned vegetables, miso soup with nice flavor, and she'd even found some dried fish to grill. Both boys ate enthusiastically, and he had to admit she had talent.
After lunch, he gathered all three students.
"Time for your first patrol. Grab your gear."
They equipped themselves quickly and followed him out of the cave. The rain had lightened to a drizzle but hadn't stopped completely. Probably wouldn't stop at all while they were stationed here.
He pulled out the mission scroll and reviewed the marked patrol routes. There were three different paths, each designed to cover the surrounding area without straying too far from the supply point.
"The purpose of patrolling is twofold," he explained as they started walking. "First, early detection. If enemies are moving through this area, we need to spot them before they spot us. If they get too close to the supply point, we eliminate them quietly before they can report our location."
He led them along the first patrol route, moving slowly and stopping frequently to point out details.
"Second purpose is concealment. We can't draw attention to ourselves. If enemies notice our presence, they'll investigate. That leads them straight to the supply point. So we move carefully, minimize our tracks, and avoid unnecessary contact."
Haruto raised his hand. "But sensei, if we're supposed to stay hidden, won't the enemy just find the supply point anyway? I mean, they must know Konoha has logistics bases in this area."
"They know we have bases. They don't know where," Kenji said. "The Land of Rain is huge. There are dozens of supply points scattered throughout the region. The enemy can't check every cave and hillside. As long as we don't give away our specific location, we're safe."
He stopped and pointed at the ground. "Look here. See those footprints? Too deep, heel strike too heavy. You're walking like you're on a casual stroll through Konoha. On patrol, you need to step lighter, distribute your weight more evenly."
Haruto adjusted his stride, trying to mimic the lighter footfalls Kenji demonstrated.
"Better. Keep practicing."
They continued along the route. Kenji corrected their mistakes in real time. Aoi was turning her head too much, scanning randomly instead of with purpose. Kaede kept his hand too close to his kunai pouch, telegraphing nervousness that would make enemies suspicious.
"If you look nervous, you make people nervous," Kenji said. "Move with confidence but not aggression. You're just another ninja doing routine work. Nothing interesting happening here."
They were all civilian-born kids. The Academy had taught them basics, but there was a massive gap between classroom theory and practical fieldwork. Every small detail he corrected could mean the difference between life and death later.
The patrol took about two hours to complete. By the end, his students were starting to understand the fundamentals.
When they returned to the supply point, all three were exhausted.
"Tomorrow we'll run the second patrol route," Kenji said. "After that, the third route. Once you've learned all three, we'll start running them daily in rotation. Questions?"
None of them had questions. They were too tired to think of any.
"Get some rest. Dinner is in a few hours."
As his students retreated to the living quarters, Kenji remained at the entrance for a while, staring out at the rain.