Naruto : Shadow King

This is a mission which I will be adding between ch 45 and 52. I have shortened a few chapters and made some changes, and thus there is a gap between chapters which will be there. 

I haven't made the changes yet but I'll be making it once this 6 ch side mission is completed.

I'll be uploading it here as the latest ch for the time being for everyone to read and later when it's complete it will take place from Ch 46 to 51. 

This mission take place in between the three month timeskip before the Chunin exams. Hope you like it...

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[Shika's POV]

Another day and another mission, though I was living the peaceful grind and now that I have enough money to retire and leave the world saving bullshit on both sons of destiny, I still wish to get stronger.

Part of the reason why my insecurity about my own strength comes from is my own existence. I definitely have changes things, in ways which I have no idea, the moment I came to this world or a character like Shika Nara appear in this world who wasn't there in the anime, things could go horribly wrong.

What if the war happen and this time the so call destiny doesn't work out, what if this wasn't that one future which Steven saw ?

I have no magical stone to see the future but even if I have one I plan not to leaf my happy life here on some prophecy which I don't believe and half cooked plot line due to my arrival here.

And thus, even after not getting pressed for money I'm taking yet another mission out of the village, you can improve so far by just training after all, real life experience is priceless no matter the case.

It was still the usual boring C rank mission and I would pray that it remains this way, though my past experience with C ranks are not very good but fingers cross.

Why C rank some might ask ? after all I'm strong enough now to at least take a B rank mission right ? Well yes but my own rank doesn't let me take one you see.

Only Chunin are allow to take B rank or above missions, as a Genin I can'. Yet another reason to quickly grind and take the Chunin exam.

Though don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with C rank missions, they are perfectly fine. Not as dangerous as some A rank and S rank missions and no where as boring as D rank mission.

It's just my past with C ranks with has the tendencies to turn way higher than my pay grade which is bothering me on taking this mission.

Sigh…

Whatever, as I got closer to the Hokage office, I saw the familiar hustle and buzzle of Shinobi's, I didn't knew most of them, it haven't been more than 2 months since I came here and I devoted majority of my time on grinding my as off so there was little to no time for socializing.

I'm no good at small talk and here people got no time for that either. Many keep to themselves if its work time, in fact, it's not very different than real life Japan in that regard.

Ignoring most I directly went to the mission lady, that what I have been calling for better or for worse.

"Another C rank mission please." I said while slowly nodding my head to greet her. In all this time I have seen that she wasn't the kind of a lady who will waste her time on casual talk, the first time I came for a mission was a exception, she was chaty but rather was looking out for me.

So, I too keep it professional though building a good rapport with the person responsible for handing out mission ranging from "I have to clear someone's law, How boring…" to "Why the fuck a Genin like me getting gang by this mission nin or have to infiltrate into enemy nation"…

Yeah, if there is one person who you wanna have a good relationship then it has to be her, not just me but everyone should.

"Another C rank huh ? you really are not like any other Nara I have encounter…" She gave me another look, typical Nara would never look for a mission by themselves or take the most simple D rank boring missions and be happy with the mergre pay over taking a troublesome draggy mission out of the village.

Of course once you go above the Rank of the Genin then C rank mission not not available for you period, D ranks are only for Genin, it's villages way to help them out financially.

"It's been twenty days since I took a mission Umiro San." I replied with a smile, knowing that it was just her way to say hello long time no see…

Grunting she took out a mission and hand it over to me. I took took it and went through it quickly.

"An Escort mission again…" I can't help but let out a grunt remembering what happen in the land of waves.

"You have to escort some merchants from the land Konoha to the capital. They are hiring to protect themselves from any kind of bandit attacks, you up for it." Umiro asked knocking her eye brows ups.

'Hmm… on paper it's sound simple, but even for a ninja bandits could be dangerous, let alone a solo genin like me.

Of course I also get why the woman show me this in the first place, if there is one person who get to know about he missions done and handed out beside Hokage himself then it's her. She knows what's I'm capable of.

Part because almost all the mission I took have heavily altered reports and when that happens it the missions are directly handle by Hokage's end and not her a usual. Just the simple fact that all my report were handle by Hokage would be enough for her to believe that I'm stronger than your usual genin.

"Thank you, I'll take the mission." Smiling I wave my hands and existed. She was right, I was no ordinary Genin. I can take the mission.

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Once again in my hurry I didn't saw the mission reward, though I wasn't doing this mission for reward, I got enough money but I would have taken the mission if I knew that the payment it not that great in this mission. Make sense why the merchant was waiting in Konoha for so long and none of the Shinobi took the mission.

"45,000 Ryo" I can't help but sigh, it was still better then the first mission I took so there was that. And I can't complain when I have so much money thanks to Gato so I guess I'll just take the mission for the experience purpose.

With that in my mind I finally reach the hotel where the client was staying, he was an lightly obese man with big moustache.

Nothing out of the blue, simple escort mission from Konoha to the capital. Will take 3 days at the pace the Merchant vagants will move and it is pretty safe seeing we are going to move with the most developed road in the entire land of Fire.

After all it only would be an idiot who wouldn't make a road between the Capital of the kingdom and the military stronghold.

Good connectivity between the Capital and Konoha is super important or in war times, things could go dire.

Shinobi's might not use the roads but carts do, people do. So the possibility of facing bandits in that road would be almost nill.

"Ready…" Asked the fat merchant to which his entire crew nodded. There was only three charts and 7 men beside the merchant. It makes sense why he was so stingy when it comes to the mission price, his business was relatively small in nature.

"Ready…" I too nodded and and took a step out of the Konoha's gate for yet another adventure waiting for me…