From that day on, Kyuushin and his two companions lived a disciplined life of daily beatings. However, despite the constant aches and pains, their taijutsu skills improved at a remarkable rate. As Tsunade would say, it was all about muscle memory. With a medical expert like her by their side, they didn't have to worry about serious injuries. It truly hurt, but they weren't actually injured. In fact, after each training session, they felt particularly energetic.
After about a month, both Minato and Nawaki finally met Tsunade's strict requirements for chakra control, and they officially began their training in medical ninjutsu. It had actually taken Nawaki the longest to reach the standard, which also led to him receiving more of Tsunade's "iron fist" greetings.
Unfortunately, plans couldn't keep up with changes. Tsunade was temporarily conscripted by Konoha Hospital for what was said to be a mission lasting several months, so their training had to be suspended. The reason for her sudden departure stemmed from the shifting political landscape of the ninja world. The war between the Land of Rain and the Land of Iron had been ongoing for months, and recently, a victor had finally been determined. Hanzō, the formidable leader of Amegakure, defeated Mifune, the de facto second-in-command of the Land of Iron, with an almost invincible display of power. The defeat of the Land of Iron became a foregone conclusion. This, of course, was not good news for Konoha. After defeating the Land of Iron and obtaining a large amount of resources, no one could guarantee that Hanzō's next target wouldn't be the Land of Fire. Therefore, in addition to conventional troop deployment, Konoha also had to pay extra attention to the various toxins often used by Amegakure. As the most skilled medical ninja in Konoha, Tsunade naturally had to participate in the work of analyzing these poisons.
Fortunately, such days didn't last long, as their other instructor, Orochimaru, returned to the village after completing a mission.
However, Orochimaru was not as lenient as Jiraiya or Tsunade. His first words upon seeing the team were sharp and direct: "Your training has been too lax. I have taken a B-rank mission for you. Complete it within three days, then find me." He threw a mission scroll at them and then disappeared instantly, the whole process taking no more than five seconds, leaving the three bewildered.
Kyuushin was the first to recover. He picked up the mission scroll and said, "It's been months since we've had a challenging mission. This is a good opportunity to put our training to the test."
Nawaki and Minato also nodded. Kyuushin opened the scroll and read the mission aloud: "B-rank mission: Capture a B-rank rogue ninja from Sunagakure who is on the run within the Land of Fire."
After he finished, Nawaki breathed a sigh of relief. "A B-rank rogue ninja won't be stronger than a Chunin at most. With our combined strength, there's nothing to fear."
Minato shook his head. "Don't forget, according to the intelligence, this rogue is currently hiding in a small town. If we make a big fuss, he might use civilians as hostages, which would be troublesome."
Kyuushin nodded. "Minato's point is valid. We need to proceed cautiously this time and avoid alerting our target. However," he added, a curious look on his face, "according to the intelligence, this rogue has been in town for five or six days. A rogue ninja shouldn't stay in one place for so long."
"Indeed," Minato agreed.
"Who cares? When we catch him, we'll just ask," Nawaki said carelessly.
"Don't be so reckless, Nawaki," Kyuushin said helplessly. "On a mission, intelligence is always paramount. If we don't figure out this rogue's purpose, what if it's a trap he set for pursuers?"
"Since the intelligence doesn't say, we'll need to investigate on-site. How about we head to the destination first?" Minato suggested.
"Alright," Kyuushin looked at the sky. "It's still morning. We'll pack and depart at noon. We should be able to reach the destination by night. Any problems?"
The three quickly left, packed their belongings, and obtained their exit permits from the Hokage's Office. After lunch, they departed the village together. The destination was Bailu Town, a relatively ordinary small town in the southern part of the Land of Fire. At dusk, the three finally arrived. It was autumn, and the fields outside the town were golden. Inside, smoke curled from chimneys, presenting a peaceful scene.
Due to the unknown variables, they decided not to enter the town yet. Instead, they would wait until nightfall to infiltrate and investigate.
As the last lights in the town winked out, the three of them moved like shadows, slipping into the town to begin their reconnaissance. The town was not very large, and it didn't take long for them to complete a sweep before regrouping outside.
"Strange, I didn't detect anything out of the ordinary," Nawaki was the first to speak.
"That's right. It seems this rogue hasn't taken control of the town. But this makes it a bit difficult for us to track him," Minato said.
"No matter," Kyuushin said. "I recently learned a sensory ninjutsu. Although I haven't fully mastered it, the town isn't large, so the detection range should be sufficient." As he spoke, he closed his eyes, activating the Kagura's Mind's Eye. An invisible wave of mental energy expanded outwards from him, silently sweeping across the entire town.
Seeing this, Nawaki and Minato also slowed their breathing, afraid of disturbing him. Kyuushin's investigation didn't last long. Soon, he opened his eyes, and looking at their inquiring gazes, he nodded gently.
"I found two chakra signatures. One is faint, but the level is roughly that of a Chunin. That has to be our target." Nawaki and Minato's eyes instantly lit up with surprise.