In Konoha's forest, Tengen's eyes widened with excitement. He'd received a Dragon Ball video, a rare and thrilling find.
Previously, after defeating Suna-nis, he'd earned half a standard Dragon Ball fragment mission. Now, an HD Dragon Ball video had landed in his hands.
The Dragon Ball world was extraordinary, its power staggering, capable of leveling cities, planets, even universes. Its treasures were bound to be exceptional.
"Gotta be something good." Tengen's taking a deep breath. This rush hadn't hit him in ages.
Ordinary and standard videos had been the norm; HD was a rarity. It could yield junk, but the odds of something valuable were higher.
Tengen felt a mix of anticipation and dread. A dud would be crushing.
"Need a Red Bull to calm my nerves." He summoning a can and chugging it. Refreshed, he steeled himself.
"O' RNGod give me something awesome. Extract!"
[Ding! Obtained two Senzu Beans.]
Tengen stared at the two yellow-bean-like items in his hand, sighing but not disappointed.
Senzu Beans were lifesavers, instantly healing any injury and restoring energy to peak levels. Two beans meant two second chances.
He'd hoped for something grander, like Saiyan blood, but HD videos rarely yielded top-tier rewards. Senzu Beans were still phenomenal, ensuring peak condition in any crisis.
"Store them." Tengen's tucking the beans into the system's storage.
He left the forest. The mission starts tomorrow.
...
The next day, outside Konoha's gates, a gruff, weathered man eyed Tengen's team. "Just a bunch of kids, huh?"
This was Saki, the merchant they were to escort to the Land of Birds.
The route wasn't direct. They'd cross the Land of Fire, pass through the Land of Rain, and then reach the Land of Birds.
A C-rank mission, it wasn't overly dangerous. At most, they'd face chunin-level threats, likely just genin.
With Orochimaru leading, failure would be a joke.
"I'm here, so relax." A chilling voice said. Orochimaru approached, his presence icy.
"Orochimaru-sama." Saki bowed hastily. "I'm in your hands."
"No problem, as long as you're honest. If not…" Orochimaru's serpentine eyes gleamed coldly, his tongue flicking his lips, exuding menace.
"Of course, Orochimaru-sama!" Saki stammered.
"Anko, Tengen, Jurin, move out." Orochimaru ordered. "If we encounter ninjas, I won't interfere."
"Yes, Orochimaru-sensei." Tengen and the others replied, understanding this was their test.
They set off with Saki, leaving Konoha behind.
In the Hokage's office, an Anbu reported to Hiruzen Sarutobi on recent intelligence from the borders.
"I see." Hiruzen said, frowning slightly. "Dismissed. Investigate the other villages' movements."
"Yes, Hokage-sama." The cat-masked Anbu said, vanishing.
"A storm's brewing." Hiruzen gazing out at the Ninja Academy. His eyes flickered with concern.
Since the Third Kazekage's disappearance, the great ninja villages had grown restless. Foreign ninjas, especially from the Land of Wind, were increasingly spotted in the Land of Fire, perhaps suspecting Konoha's involvement.
Hiruzen knew Konoha had no hand in it. The Kazekage's vanishing puzzled him.
"Could it be another village? The Raikage or Tsuchikage?" He mused.
"Orochimaru, I hope you avoid trouble." Hiruzen said, worry in his gaze. Though the mission was low-risk, the ninja world's growing chaos made anything uncertain.
In a corner of the Land of Fire, night had fallen.
A campfire crackled, its orange glow illuminating familiar faces, Tengen's escort team.
"So boring. Not a single enemy." Anko grumbled. They'd traversed the Land of Fire for days, nearing its border with the Land of Rain, yet encountered no threats.
Bandits? Laughable. Their Konoha headbands marked them as ninjas.
Ninjas were beyond ordinary folk. A basic ninjutsu could kill several, even dozens. Advanced techniques could wipe out hundreds or thousands with a few hand signs.
Bandits in the Land of Fire wouldn't dare target a squad like theirs, clearly Konoha ninjas.
"Chill, Anko. Enemies might be waiting at the border when they think we're off guard." Tengen chuckling.
"Got it." Anko's stretching lazily.
"Orochimaru-sensei, I need to step away for a bit." Tengen said suddenly.
Orochimaru gave him a deep look and nodded. "Fine. Return quickly."
***
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