Chapter 57 (Patreon)

After becoming a Chūnin, Nerona Mihawk’s life did not change very much.

The only obvious difference was the green flak jacket he now wore, officially confirming his position as the leader of Team Eight.

Mihawk’s promotion also left Kurenai Yūhi with far less to do.

Before the Chūnin Exams, Team Eight had only been permitted to accept D-rank and C-rank missions. Regardless of the mission’s rank, their jōnin instructor had been required to accompany them and personally oversee its completion.

Now, however, their situation was different.

Mihawk had been promoted to Chūnin, the members of Team Eight had spent half a year developing their teamwork, and Kurenai understood Mihawk’s strength better than almost anyone. With all of that in mind, she felt comfortable entrusting the team to him.

For most of the following half month, Mihawk led Team Eight through three separate C-rank missions.

Each mission was different.

The first involved escorting a merchant caravan departing from Konoha and protecting it from bandits along the road. The other two required them to hunt down wild animals that had been destroying crops and attacking nearby villages.

Tonight was the night of the full moon.

Countless stars dotted the cloudless sky while silver moonlight spilled through the forest and illuminated a small clearing.

Three tents had been set up around the campsite. In front of them, Mihawk, Hinata, and Shino sat beside a crackling campfire as they prepared their dinner.

“It’s a beautiful night,” Shino said calmly as he looked up at the sky. “Yet for some reason, I can’t shake this feeling of unease.”

Hinata turned one of the fish roasting over the fire. Blinking her pale eyes in confusion, she asked, “There aren’t any dangerous animals nearby. Our mission is also very simple, and unlike Tazuna-san, our client didn’t conceal the mission’s true rank. Everything seems normal.”

“Perhaps I’m imagining it.”

Shino adjusted his sunglasses, feeling that he might simply be overthinking things.

His insects had not detected anything unusual, and Hinata’s Byakugan had found nothing either.

Even in the unlikely event that something did happen, Mihawk was with them.

Even if an elite jōnin attacked, they would have nothing to fear.

He was probably worrying over nothing.

However, Shino’s words caused Mihawk to frown.

An uncomfortable feeling suddenly surfaced in his mind.

His thoughts felt strangely empty, as though he had forgotten something important.

While turning the fish over the fire, Mihawk casually asked, “Hinata, how long has it been since we graduated?”

Hinata raised her head toward the starry sky and placed a finger near her lips as she calculated.

“We graduated in March, and today is October fifteenth, so it has been seven and a half months.”

After answering, she looked at him curiously.

“Mihawk-kun, is something wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing.” Mihawk handed her the metal skewer holding his fish. “Hinata, hold this for me.”

He stood and walked over to Hinata’s tent, where he retrieved a notebook from his backpack. He then returned to her side and opened it beneath the light of the campfire.

It was the notebook in which he had recorded everything he remembered about the future.

His eyes swept rapidly across the childish handwriting covering the pages as he silently reviewed the timeline.

In March of Konoha Year Sixty, Konoha’s new generation graduates from the Academy. Team Seven undergoes its survival exercise, and the Land of Waves incident begins in May.

On June twenty-third, the new generation meets the requirements to register for the Chūnin Exams. The exams begin on July first, followed by a month of training after the third stage.

After the Konoha Crush, Uchiha Itachi returns to the village and traps Kakashi in Tsukuyomi.

Jiraiya then takes Naruto Uzumaki with him to search for Tsunade, and Naruto begins learning the Rasengan along the way. They are expected to find Tsunade on August twenty-third.

On September first, the negotiations between Tsunade and Orochimaru fail, leading to the battle between the Legendary Sannin.

Around the middle of September, Tsunade becomes the Fifth Hokage.

This was the period of the original story that Mihawk remembered most clearly, and he had written it down when he was still a child.

However, when his finger turned to the next page, the information became far less detailed.

After that, Team Seven carries out another mission. Their target is apparently Morino Ibiki’s younger brother, and they encounter a ninja wielding the Sword of the Thunder God.

Then comes the battle between Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha on the hospital rooftop. After that…

Mihawk’s finger stopped.

His eyes sharpened slightly when he reached the next line.

On the night of the full moon in October, Uchiha Sasuke leaves Konoha.

So that was it.

No wonder he had felt as though he had forgotten something.

Without him even realizing it, the conflict between the reincarnations of Asura and Indra in this era had already begun.

Mihawk closed the notebook and looked at Hinata and Shino.

“Once we finish eating, get some rest. We’ll increase our pace and return to the village tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

Hinata and Shino immediately answered.

Both of them had noticed the change in Mihawk’s expression, but neither asked him what he had read.

Not even Hinata pressed him for an explanation.

After dinner, Hinata briefly left the campsite to wash up at the lake beyond the forest. Mihawk and Shino returned to their tents to rest.

Early the following morning, the three packed away their tents and began travelling back toward Konoha at a much faster pace.

By the time dusk settled over the land, Team Eight had reached the village gates.

Mihawk immediately took Hinata and Shino to the Hokage’s office.

“You returned at the perfect time.”

The moment she saw the three members of Team Eight enter, Tsunade visibly relaxed. Her expression quickly became serious again.

“I have an important mission for you.”

Upon hearing the Fifth Hokage’s words, Hinata and Shino immediately straightened.

Mihawk alone remained calm.

Tsunade looked directly at him.

“According to a report from Haruno Sakura of Team Seven, Uchiha Sasuke left Konoha last night after being lured away by Orochimaru.”

Her tone grew heavier.

“Early this morning, I ordered Shikamaru to assemble a five-man squad and bring Sasuke back. However, most of the village’s jōnin and Chūnin have already been sent out on missions. Shikamaru’s team has no senior shinobi accompanying them, and Orochimaru’s forces from Otogakure are involved.”

Tsunade’s brow furrowed.

“I’m not comfortable leaving this entirely to them.”

She then focused her gaze on Mihawk.

“Your timing couldn’t be better, Mihawk. I am assigning Team Eight a new mission. Leave immediately, catch up with Shikamaru’s squad, and support them in retrieving Sasuke.”

“Yes!”

Mihawk, Hinata, and Shino answered without hesitation.

After leaving the Hokage’s office, Shino spoke.

“While we were inside, my insects detected Nara Shikamaru’s scent. Judging by how strong it still is, they cannot have left more than a day ago.”

He turned toward Mihawk.

“Should we begin the pursuit immediately?”

Mihawk nodded.

“We leave now. Shino, you’ll lead the way.”

“Understood. My insects have already found their trail.”