"All D-rank missions? Are you sure?" Yue Guang Ji Dian asked, surprised by Lin Yu's request.
The missions posted outside were the latest D-rank ones, but many old, unassigned, or incomplete D-rank missions were also collected. While some had been canceled, a significant portion remained, as the commission fee was not expensive, only a few hundred or thousand ryo.
"Yes, I'm sure. Please help us sort them out, Senior. We should be able to take them on," Lin Yu said, a hint of worry in his voice.
Yue Guang Ji Dian hesitated. "You can, but you..."
"Please help us, Senior. We'll do our best to complete them," Lin Yu's tone was extremely sincere. He was going all out for the missions, though it might be tough for Mikoto and Might Guy.
"Alright." Yue Guang Ji Dian, seeing Lin Yu's earnest gaze, reluctantly agreed and turned towards the archive room.
After a while, Yue Guang Ji Dian brought out an old wooden box and took out stacks and stacks of mission request forms. He blew on them, dusting them off.
Mikoto frowned slightly, her small nose tickled. She took a couple of steps back, hiding behind Lin Yu.
Yue Guang Ji Dian, forgetting there was a girl present, cast an apologetic glance at Mikoto. Then, he vigorously dusted off the area near Might Guy.
Might Guy: ...
"Ahem, I've counted. There are 168 D-rank commission missions in total, all accumulated over the years. Some cats and dogs have gone missing or even died, and the ninjas couldn't find them, but the owners refused to withdraw the commissions, so they've all piled up. I don't think you should get your hopes too high."
Yue Guang Ji Dian fanned his hands; the dust had gotten to him too.
Might Guy, covered in dust: ...
Lin Yu frowned. If all the missions were like this, no one could complete them. Was he really going to take it slow?
Lin Yu felt he was being too greedy, wanting to complete a hundred D-rank missions in a few days. It was wishful thinking. For now, he'd test it out. If it worked, what did a few days matter, since he wouldn't be the one doing them?
Lin Yu pondered for a moment and said, "Then, remove all the missions about finding cats and dogs. We'll take the rest."
"Is that so? Let me sort them... If you do that, there are only 24 left."
Lin Yu was speechless. Was the pet loss rate in Konoha so high? Out of 168 missions, 146 were for missing pets. Wouldn't the pet association come knocking on their doors!
"Can we also take the D-rank missions posted outside?"
"No! Giving you these old missions is already bending the rules. Forget about the ones outside." Yue Guang Ji Dian protectively hugged the mission board, as if afraid Lin Yu would take away his livelihood.
"Alright, just these then. Please register them for us." Lin Yu was a little helpless. It seemed trying to get a good deal wasn't going to work.
As they walked out of the Hokage's office, Mikoto curiously asked Lin Yu, "Lin Yu, why are you taking so many D-rank missions?"
Mikoto knew Lin Yu wasn't short on money, so he couldn't be taking so many D-rank missions just for the commission fees. Lin Yu must have his reasons!
Lin Yu turned around, took Mikoto's small hand, and looked into her beautiful eyes. "Mikoto, I'm taking so many missions so that you can gradually adapt to ninja life. We'll start with D-rank missions, then C-rank, then B-rank, and work our way up. You'll definitely become an excellent ninja!"
Mikoto was suddenly held by Lin Yu in front of Might Guy, and she immediately became nervous. She quickly pulled her hand back, blushing. "It's... it's because of me, isn't it? Lin Yu, you don't have to do this. I can adapt slowly."
Lin Yu didn't mind Mikoto withdrawing her hand. Girls were shy, he understood!
"Um... you're Uchiha Mikoto, right? I think Lin Yu is right. There's no better way to adapt to ninja life than by doing missions!" Might Guy, with his slightly graying beard, winked and smiled at Lin Yu.
"But..." Mikoto's face was still red. If she were facing Lin Yu alone, she wouldn't be like this, but in front of Might Guy, who was as old as their parents, she felt a little awkward.
"There's no 'but.' I've agreed too. We'll do these D-rank missions together." Might Guy remembered he had promised Lin Yu to let his new teammates experience ninja life. He might be at the bottom for other missions, but D-rank missions were his specialty!
Might Guy looked at Mikoto with the eyes of someone viewing his future daughter-in-law, full of satisfaction. What a good girl, they were a perfect match!
If Might Guy knew that Lin Yu had Kushina, who was infatuated with him, back home, his thoughts would surely be: All the good cabbage is being gobbled up by pigs! Lin Yu is such a scoundrel!
"Alright, let's not waste any time. Let's start now!"
Seeing this, Mikoto reluctantly compromised, but her beautiful eyes were full of excitement. She was finally a ninja, and a little thrilled about her first day of missions. She wondered if this outfit was suitable. Should she say hello and go back to change before coming back...
"For the first mission, let me see... searching for the missing Wang Ergou..."
Lin Yu almost dropped the mission request form. Konoha, you've gone too far! The missions are either about lost pets or lost people. Is there no new variety!
Why don't they lose that old man Sarutobi Hiruzen!
It's infuriating!
As for missions like farming or pulling radishes, they certainly wouldn't have accumulated. Lin Yu continued to flip through them, looking for something easier.
"Cleaning mission: Clear the Qing Shui ditch ten li outside the village, and help Uncle Liu find his engagement ring, treasured for over twenty years."
Lin Yu: What the heck! This is clearly a search and rescue mission disguised as cleaning. They're so tricky.
Lin Yu knew Qing Shui ditch. Its name was Qing Shui (clear water), but it was actually Konoha's largest sewage outlet, and the smell was... unforgettable. After a day in there, one would need ten days of bathing to get rid of the odor.
Indeed, there was a reason why these old missions were left undone. Lin Yu looked at his two teammates, feeling a bit anxious. "How about we go back and take those recently posted D-rank missions?"
Mikoto: ... You took away my fighting spirit!
Might Guy: ... Wasn't my dusty face wasted!
In the end, Lin Yu compromised with reality. Under Yue Guang Ji Dian's disdainful gaze, he accepted a D-rank mission from the board: "Search for Grandma Wang's missing pet cat, Xiao Ju. Commission fee: 1000 ryo."
...
Uchiha Fugaku had been tracking Lin Yu all along. Seeing them enter the Hokage's building, he waited for an opportunity and observed them from the side. After seeing Lin Yu's group go in and out for a while, his expression turned strange. However, when he saw the mission request forms in Lin Yu's hand, his expression changed slightly.
"Why is Mikoto on a mission with that brat? Is he Mikoto's team member? And is that uncle next to them their guidance teacher? No, that's Might Guy, that simpleton. How can Mikoto be teamed up with them? This is impossible."
Uchiha Fugaku was filled with indignation. If Mikoto was teamed up with that brat, wouldn't they see each other every day? He understood the principle of "the closest person gets the advantage." He couldn't let Lin Yu succeed. He had to find a way.
Uchiha Fugaku slowly retreated. He needed to find a foolish person, or rather, a helper!