After becoming Orochimaru's assistant, Setsuna's life became even more full and substantial. He carried out missions and trained during the day, and after finishing his training at night, he went to Orochimaru's place to assist with experiments.
And so, time passed day by day.
In the blink of an eye, ten months had passed. During this time, Setsuna's team completed a large number of D-Rank missions, occasionally taking on a few C-Rank missions as well.
Although these missions were very simple for Setsuna, he didn't resist them. All missions were training. One shouldn't just focus on the destination, as the scenery along the way was also important.
One day, Hizashi appeared in the Hokage's office.
After inquiring about the recent situation of Setsuna and the others, the Third nodded with pleased expression: "I have an A-Rank mission here that I plan to assign to your team."
"An A-Rank mission?" Hizashi didn't doubt his team's strength but was still puzzled. "Hokage-sama, according to the rules, the highest mission level Genin can undertake is C-Rank, right?"
The Third nodded, tapping his smoking pipe on the desk: "In recent years, the competition for missions among our great Ninja Villages has become increasingly intense. It seems everyone is preparing funds for war. Although Konoha has no ambition to invade other countries, we must also prepare in advance. We absolutely cannot fall behind in this mission competition."
The Third paused, then continued: "Konoha has the highest credibility and receives the most missions. But right now, there aren't many teams in the village capable of carrying out high-rank missions. It's time to give you more responsibility. I believe you can successfully complete the mission."
Hizashi nodded slightly. Indeed, formal teams like theirs, led by a Jonin and with assigned numbers, were much stronger than those ad-hoc teams composed of three Chunin.
Especially Setsuna. What he lacked was only experience fighting Ninjas from hostile Ninja Villages. Once that was filled, he had no doubt that Setsuna alone could complete S-Rank missions.
"Yes, we will definitely complete the mission." Hizashi first affirmed his attitude, then asked, "Hokage-sama, what are the specific details of the mission?"
The Third said: "It's a request for help from Yugakure. An organization called the Jashin Cult has appeared there. That organization kills indiscriminately, using villagers as sacrifices to their Jashin, causing widespread panic among the locals. So they asked us to eradicate that organization."
"Yugakure, the village known as 'the village that has forgotten wars'?" Hizashi sighed, "Advocating peace is good, but reducing military strength doesn't bring peace."
"Correct. Peace cannot be achieved just by wishful thinking." The Third shook his head slightly, then said, "That Jashin Cult doesn't have many Ninjas, and their strength isn't too great. But you still need to be cautious. It's said their Ninjutsu is quite strange."
"Yes!" Hizashi answered loudly.
…
Soon, the three of them learned about the new mission from Hizashi.
"It's actually an A-Rank mission! I never thought the village would value us so much! We must go all out to repay the Hokage-sama's attention to us!" Guy was so excited that tears and mucus flowed, feeling like he was already burning up.
Shizune, however, was somewhat worried: "We haven't even taken a B-Rank mission yet. Can we really handle an A-Rank mission?"
Hizashi glanced subtly at Setsuna, then smiled: "Don't worry. Although it's an A-Rank mission, it won't involve interaction with the other four great Ninja Villages. Those small Ninja Villages have shallow foundations. Their Jonin might not even be stronger than the Chunin of the Five Great Ninja Villages. And in my opinion, all of you already have the qualifications to become Chunin."
Shizune indeed felt much more relieved: "So, even for the same A-Rank mission, the difficulty could be worlds apart depending on whether Ninjas from the Five Great Ninja Villages are involved or not."
Setsuna nodded slightly. Looking at the data from twenty years in the future, Orochimaru completed 491 A-Rank missions and 108 S-Rank missions. Jiraiya completed 614 A-Rank missions and 138 S-Rank missions. This shows that not all S-Rank missions involve fighting Kage-level opponents, nor does every A-Rank mission involve Jonin.
Otherwise, since there aren't that many powerful individuals in the entire Ninja World, there would be such amount of high-ranked missions.
Hizashi nodded: "You don't need to worry too much, but you also can't be too dismissive. The Ninjas from those small villages might be weaker than you in strength, but their experience in poisoning, traps, and such areas is far beyond yours. We won't do extra training today. I'll tell you about the possible ambushes and types of poisons you might encounter in Ninja Combat, and how to prevent them."
"Yes!" Setsuna also became serious. His frontal combat power was undoubtedly top-tier, and his physical defense was unquestionably strong. But his resistance to mental effects was much weaker, and his resistance to abnormal status effects was even worse.
In the Dragon Ball World, even someone as powerful as Goku, who could transform into a Super Saiyan, could die from a heart virus.
Goku, who could transform into a Super Saiyan God, could also fall unconscious from a poisoned needle. This shows that the Ki System offers almost zero resistance to abnormal status effects.
In the Naruto World, Ninjas' abilities to use poison were numerous. He had to take this seriously.
Seeing that Setsuna wasn't arrogant because of his great strength but listened to his explanations with utmost seriousness, Hizashi couldn't help but sigh inwardly. As expected of the future [Darkness of the Ninja World] chosen by the Hokage-sama. This temperament is so stable it's unlike a rookie.
…
The next day, the four of them set off for the Land of Hot Water.
The Land of Fire bordered the Land of Hot Water, so the journey wasn't too far. It only took the four of them two days to reach the Land of Hot Water.
As soon as they entered the Land of Hot Water, the four immediately felt the difference between it and the Land of Fire.
While bandits and robbers in the Land of Fire had to hide everywhere, bandits in the Land of Hot Water almost openly claimed territories.
In less than half a day after entering the Land of Hot Water, the four had already encountered three groups of bandits.
"Hizashi-sensei, isn't Yugakure known as the Village of Hot Springs? No war, no worries? Why are there so many bandits within the country?" Shizune was very puzzled, feeling her beautiful fantasy was shattered.
"The beauty of Yugakure and the harshness of the Land of Hot Water are not contradictory. In the Ninja World, those with the ability to travel abroad to enjoy hot springs are either big merchants, great nobles, or people like us… Ninjas, samurai. Bandits can't hinder us, but robbing commoners is easy for them." Hizashi explained.
Setsuna was also quite touched with emotion. Even on Earth in his previous life, all wars and conflicts hadn't been quelled. The most advanced technology couldn't eliminate disagreements between people.
Shizune still couldn't understand: "Doesn't the Daimyo of the Land of Hot Water manage them?"
Hizashi shook his head helplessly: "Daimyos generally don't bother with these trivial matters."
Setsuna asked: "Hizashi-sensei, I've always had a doubt. Why do we obey the Daimyos' orders?"
Hizashi answered without thinking: "It has always been that way."
"Just because it has always been that way, does that make it right?" Setsuna shook his head slightly. "What special contribution do they have to the Ninja World? Or is their leadership particularly wise? When the First Hokage founded Konoha Village, I never heard that the Daimyo of the Land of Fire provided any help to Konoha. Why do we actively put shackles on ourselves?"
In Setsuna's view, the political structure of the Naruto World was even more absurd than that of the One Piece World. The Celestial Dragons were trash, but at least they had nominal contributions and secretly held great power. What about the Daimyos and nobles in the Naruto World? They had nothing yet still held power.
Moreover, the Daimyos of various countries were not puppets.
For example, the Daimyo of the Land of Wind, in the original work, cut Sunagakure's military budget, and even the Kazekage could do nothing about it.
Hizashi was stunned by this series of questions. He hesitated, pondered for a long time, then said: "Perhaps it's because we Ninjas don't have time to learn how to govern a country, so we let the nobles handle it?"
Setsuna had no objection to the first part. Most Ninjas lacked political wisdom. For example, letting someone like Uchiha Itachi govern a country would undoubtedly be a disaster among disasters. But that wasn't a reason to transfer power to those parasites.
Setsuna said disdainfully: "Rather than calling them nobles, wouldn't it be more accurate to call them vermin?"
Hizashi was shocked by Setsuna's boldness. This statement seemed even more frightening to him than Setsuna killing Danzo. He hurriedly said: "Let's not talk about this anymore. We should hurry to Yugakure."
Setsuna didn't say more. Actually, he didn't care about the goodness or evil of the nobles. After all, it was hard to find a few truly good people in the entire Ninja World. Ninjas were specially trained killing machines, and almost every Ninja's hands were stained with blood.
What truly discontented him was that he had crossed over to a world where power belonged to the individual.
If he still had to be constrained by so-called powerful elites, then didn't he transmigrate for nothing?
'This world doesn't need too many voices. While I'm climbing to the pinnacle of the world, I might as well correct this world.' Setsuna said to himself in his heart. 'First, set a small goal for myself: become Hokage.'