Welcome back to the Smoke and Mirrors AU.

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It took the Hanae less than two days after having received instruction on the Endan no Jutsu to reach what the Founder’s System classified as Low-Chunin. Hattori noted down that was probably her talent.

Weeks flew by as the entire Clan shifted their training schedules. By now, almost everyone had gotten good enough with a single Ninjutsu to use it relatively quickly. Hattori ran through the scrolls Tako had given him.

Katon: Endan no Jutsu – The Fire Bullet Technique

Suiton: Suidan no Jutsu – The Water Bullet Technique

Doton: Dodan no Jutsu – The Earth Bullet Technique

Futon: Fudan no Jutsu – The Wind Bullet Technique

Raiton: Boruto no Jutsu – The Lightning Bolt Technique

Hattori himself had become passable with Boruto no Jutsu, and what he considered ‘advanced’ with Endan no Jutsu. His lightning-release Jutsu could be released in around six seconds. His fire-release Jutsu could be released in under four. His handseals had made considerable improvement, since Ninjutsu was most of what he had been training for the last few weeks.

Like this, several months passed. The start of a new year began again, and with it, Hattori Yanmaru was now nineteen years old. The rest of his clan was eleven. It was January 15th when something notable had happened.

The Clan Rankings were a bit better than they had been, last he had checked.

[Yanmaru Clan Rankings]

* Hattori Yanmaru (Jonin)

* Yuki Yanmaru (Low-Jonin)

* Yuta Yanmaru (Low-Jonin)

* Mei Yanmaru (High-Chunin)

* Sasori Yanmaru (Chunin)

* Asahiro Yanmaru (Chunin)

* Izumi Yanmaru (Chunin)

* Seigo Yanmaru (Chunin)

* Amanai Yanmaru (Chunin)

* Mitaro Yanmaru (Chunin)

* Hanae Yanmaru (Low-Chunin)

Mei Yanmaru had fallen behind Yuki, and Yuta. Not by much; Hattori was certain the girl would claim the rank of Jonin within a few days. It was a week later when he had been proved right; Mei, Yuta, and Yuki were all classified as Low-Jonin. He decided to call everyone together.

“Clan Meeting!” His voice was heard over the intermittent blasts of Ninjutsu, clashes of blade and fist, and general battle noise from the ten while they trained. Within seconds, everyone had gathered in front of him.

“It is now that I think our clan could benefit from a shift in operations.” Hattori had been… browsing the rewards for C-Rank, and B-Rank missions. He was more than impressed with what he had seen. “Up until now, all we have been doing is training, and doing what I have called D-Rank missions.”

The children all nodded and shared glances. They knew the ‘special title’ Hattori had given the chores they completed in Bukai. “I believe it’s time we, as a whole, advance. From now on, the Yanmaru Clan will be forming a set of three main teams. When I call your name, please step forward.”

Now, the children all looked excited.

“Yuki Yanmaru.” The girl stepped forward, a proud look on her face.

“Yuta Yanmaru.” The boy stepped forward as well, an indifferent look on his face.

“Mei Yanmaru.” The girl stepped forward. She looked surprised to be included. Of the three called, she was the weakest; although not by much.

“I am assigning you the rank of Jonin. For now, you don’t particularly need to know the significance of the title other than the fact that it allows you to lead some of your fellow clanmates on missions of much higher difficulty, risk, and reward.”

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The three nodded, all of them having at the least a small smile on their face. Hattori did a little bit of mental math in his head. Three Jonin. Seven Chunin. That leaves… two Chunin per team, with one having three.

His instinct told him three was a good number. Like always, it was his instinct he trusted most. He had begun to care for these children, even if he regarded them moreso friends than family. They weren’t truly being of this earth. At least, not to his knowledge. They were artificial.

He sighed, and shoved that dilemma away. It had been brewing for a long time. He still didn’t know how he felt about them, or the fact they weren’t born like he was.

“Yuki Yanmaru. Your team will consist of a full three members, aside from you.” He watched her smile, and bow politely.

“Sasori Yanmaru, please step forward.” Hattori waited until the boy stood in front of him. “I grant you the rank of Chunin. Your team leader will be Yuki Yanmaru. Please, stand by her.”

“Mitaro Yanmaru, please step forward.” He did, and so Hattori continued. “I grant you the rank of Chunin. Your team leader will be Yuki Yanmaru. Please, stand by her.”

“Amanai Yanmaru. I grant you the rank of Chunin. Your team leader is Yuki Yanmaru. Please, stand by her.”

Like that, three teams were formed.

Team Yuki – Jonin Yuki Yanmaru, Chunin Sasori, Mitaro, and Amanai Yanmaru.

Team Yuta – Jonin Yuta Yanmaru, Chunin Seigo, and Asahiro Yanmaru.

Team Mei – Jonin Mei Yanmaru, Chunin Hanae, and Izumi Yanmaru.

Hattori felt excited as he pulled up the Clan Missions function. Somehow, it knew that teams had been established, and had updated to show them. Hattori just shrugged it off, accepting it. Without hesitation, he queried a C-Rank Mission.

Finding Mission . . .

. . .

[C-Rank Mission]

Patrol the three-kilometer territory around the Yanmaru Clan.

As a Clan, you cannot allow your borders to remain unchecked, and undefended.

This is a repeating mission, assigned at least once daily. If the mission is not completed once daily, the Clan Territory Function will be locked until it has been completed again.

[Rewards: 75 Ryo, Clan Territory Function unlocked]

[Time Until Mission Expires: 12hrs]

[Territory To Be Patrolled: 3km Radius]

[Team Assigned: Team Yuki]

Without hesitation, Hattori told them the parameters of their mission. Hattori had been planning on doing this at some point already, but unlocking another system feature, and one that sounded extremely useful at that, was too good to pass on. It seems like there would have to be one patrol every 12 hours. Hattori estimated that there would be another twelve hour window for a second patrol to be sent out, or it would be a twelve hour cooldown until the mission could be repeated. Only time would tell.

By the time he assigned the next mission, Team Yuki had already began their first patrol. Hattori had given them a map, and told them to mark down their patrol routes to establish a routine patrol.

Finding Mission . . .

. . .

[C-Rank Mission]

Yamatari City is looking for a group to escort a high-profile politician.

Protect the politician and his Caravan from any potential attackers.

[Rewards:300 Ryo, Clan Fame Feature unlocked]

[Time Until Mission Expires: 5 Days]

[Estimated Mission Duration: 1 Week]

[Team Assigned: Team Yuta]

Although Hattori felt there was more danger than necessary in accepting this quest, the rewards were too good to pass on – again. This time, it was a second System Feature. He imagined Clan Fame was exactly as it said. An easy way to measure the fame of the Clan as a whole, or potentially the fame of specific members. The possibilities were innumerable, and so he had to unlock it.

Hattori briefed Yuta, telling him that he should leave by the end of today. Yamatari was three days West from here at his top travel speed. With the rest of them attached, they should still arrive before the mission expires. He turned to his last team, who all had expectation drawn across their faces.

Finding Mission . . .

. . .

[C-Rank Mission]

A growing Clan must be established on paper.

Report your Clan’s existence, population, and the province you’re primarily based in at the nearest Capital City. Undocumented Clans with more than twenty members are considered a threat to the Daimyo’s rule. Any Samurai who discovers such a group is report to superiors, and prepare for attack.

[Rewards:100 Ryo, 2 Clan Members]

[Time Until Mission Expires: 1 Week]

[Mission Requirements: 16 Documents]

[Team Assigned: Team Mei]

Hattori’s breath had hitched when he saw the reward. Two new clan members? He could grow his Clan by taking on missions? Was this a one-time thing, or was it a common reward? With no hesitation, he informed them of their mission. They all groaned, clearly frustrated. His emotions spiked for a moment, before he calmed himself.

“This mission is of absolute importance. The top priority, out of all three. If our Clan was even a little bigger,” he pinched the air to show how little he meant – and although it was an exaggeration since they’d have to essentially double in size – they grew serious. “any Samurai that find us would report back to their superiors, and come back as a war party.”

Mei Yanmaru bowed to her Clan head, acknowledging the importance. “Thank you for entrusting us with this, Clan Head Hattori.” She used a formal dialect, indicating that she was really taking this as a matter of importance.

Hattori felt soothed. With that said, Hattori told her to leave by tomorrow. The day seemed to take much longer, before the sun finally began to set. A scant few minutes after Team Yuta had left, Team Yuki had returned.

With her arrival back at the two cabins that served as the Yanmaru Compound came the arrival of a blue flash.