In Konoha's western district, near the back mountain, the houses gradually became sparse.
Maruboshi Kosuke checked the map and stopped in front of one household.
The courtyard gate was half open, and rustling sounds came from inside.
Maruboshi Kosuke knocked on the doorframe. "Is Mr. Tanaka home?"
After a while, an elderly woman with graying hair came out of the house. Her apron was still dusted with flour, so it looked like she had been making something just now.
She narrowed her eyes and looked at the four people at the entrance. Her gaze paused on Maruboshi Kosuke, then moved to the three little beans behind him.
"You were sent by the village, right?" Grandma Tanaka smiled. "Come in, come in. It's hot outside."
Maruboshi Kosuke gave a slight bow. "Sorry to bother you. Lord Third sent us to help water your vegetable field."
"Good, good." Grandma Tanaka smiled warmly and opened the courtyard gate. "How old are these little ones? Why are they out doing missions at such a young age?"
Shin-chan was the first to lean forward and look up at her. "Grandma, I'm five."
"Five?" Grandma Tanaka bent down and reached out to pat his head. "Already so capable at five. How amazing."
She looked at Kakashi and Uchiha Toru too. "Come, come. Go inside and have some water first."
"No, no, we should work first. The mission—"
Before Maruboshi Kosuke could finish speaking...
"What work?" Grandma Tanaka had already taken Shin-chan by the hand and was leading him into the house. "The sun is so strong. What if the children get heatstroke? Come have some tea first and rest a little."
As Shin-chan was pulled along, he turned back and winked at Maruboshi Kosuke, his face clearly saying, See? See?
Maruboshi Kosuke smiled helplessly and followed them inside with Kakashi and Uchiha Toru.
The house wasn't big, but it was very clean and tidy.
Grandma Tanaka seated the three of them around the low table, then turned and went into the kitchen.
"There's no need to trouble yourself."
"It's no trouble." The sound of bowls and plates came from the kitchen. "The old man went to the medical center to get medicine. There isn't even anyone here to talk to. I'm happy you came."
Before long, Grandma Tanaka came out carrying a large tray.
On the tray were four cups of tea and several small plates filled with all kinds of snacks.
Shin-chan's eyes immediately lit up. "Grandma, are these all for us?"
"Of course." Grandma Tanaka placed the snacks onto the table plate by plate. "Eat more. Children your age are still growing."
Shin-chan reached out to grab a glutinous rice dumpling, but Uchiha Toru lightly tapped his hand.
"Thank Grandma first."
Shin-chan immediately pulled his hand back and sat up properly. "Thank you, Grandma."
Grandma Tanaka smiled until her eyes narrowed into slits. "Ah, good boy."
Kakashi and Uchiha Toru also thanked her, then each took a snack.
Grandma Tanaka sat beside them and watched them eat, the smile on her face never fading.
Seeing Shin-chan eat until his mouth was covered, she reached out and wiped the corner of his lips. "Eat slowly. Don't choke."
After finishing the snacks, Shin-chan patted his belly and stood up in satisfaction.
"Grandma, we're going to water the vegetable field!"
Grandma Tanaka quickly waved her hand. "No rush. You just finished eating. Rest a while before you go."
"It's okay." Uchiha Toru also stood. "Don't worry. We'll finish it quickly."
Seeing the three little beans walking outside, Grandma Tanaka suddenly followed them. "That vegetable field is very tiring to water. If you get tired, just rest. You don't need to finish all of it."
"But isn't the mission to finish watering it?" Shin-chan blinked.
"I'll just tell Lord Third." Grandma Tanaka said seriously, "You're all so young. What if you exhaust yourselves?"
Hearing this, Maruboshi Kosuke turned and looked at Grandma Tanaka.
Her expression didn't look like polite courtesy. She was truly worried about these children.
Shin-chan thought about it, then shook his head. "No."
"Why not?"
"Because we promised Grandpa Third we'd complete the mission." Shin-chan looked up at her. "If you promise something, you have to do it."
Grandma Tanaka froze. Then her eyes suddenly turned a little red. She reached out and stroked Shin-chan's head. "You child..."
Maruboshi Kosuke stood beside them, watching this scene without speaking. Only the smile at the corner of his mouth deepened.
The vegetable field was behind the house. Beside it was a well, and a wooden bucket sat near the well.
Shin-chan tried carrying the bucket once. Water spilled all along the way, and by the time he reached the edge of the field, only half a bucket remained.
"How do Grandma Tanaka and the others usually water it?"
"They can't water much." Maruboshi Kosuke shook his head. "That's why they posted a mission."
Shin-chan thought for a moment. "Why can't there be a river here?"
Maruboshi Kosuke's eyebrow twitched. "What? You want to bring the river over?"
"Can we?" Shin-chan's eyes lit up.
"Dig a ditch, all the way from the river to the vegetable field."
"Then why don't we dig one?"
Maruboshi Kosuke looked toward the river in the distance. "It would take a long time, and the mission is only for one day. Besides, for a D-rank mission, there's no need to change the terrain."
Shin-chan ran to the riverside, looked at the height of the riverbank, then formed hand seals.
"Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!"
The ground trembled, and the soil by the riverbank bulged upward a little.
Shin-chan looked at the Earth-Style Wall and scratched his head.
No, that wasn't digging a ditch. That was building a wall.
So he began forming seals again.
"Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu!"
The dirt beneath his feet loosened, and his whole body sank down a bit, up to his knees.
The ditch didn't appear.
He went down first.
Shin-chan lowered his head and looked at his buried legs. He struggled out of the dirt and patted the soil off his legs. "Why can't I dig one?"
"The Earth Style techniques you know aren't for digging ditches." Maruboshi Kosuke shook his head. "Finish the mission first."
"Okay." Shin-chan's face fell, and he obediently went back to watering.
By the time the sun tilted westward, they finally finished watering the whole field. All three of them were exhausted.
Grandma Tanaka came out of the house with a tray holding tea and snacks. "Eat something to fill your stomach. Stay for dinner too."
"Thank you for your kindness, but we still need to go back and report the mission. We won't trouble you any longer."
Maruboshi Kosuke led them back. Shin-chan walked at the very back, head lowered, thinking about something the entire way.
When they returned to the Hokage Tower, they reported the completed mission.
The Third Hokage took the mission form. "Good work."
"Grandpa Third." Shin-chan raised his hand.
"Speak."
"I want to learn Earth Style."
The Third Hokage froze. "Earth Style?"
"Mm." Shin-chan nodded. "The kind that can dig ditches."
"Why do you want to learn Earth Style?"
"Because watering the vegetable field is too tiring," Shin-chan said seriously. "If there's a ditch, Grandma Tanaka will have an easier time watering."
The Third Hokage looked at him, and a smile appeared on his face.
"Then learn it."
"But I don't know which jutsu is good for digging ditches." Shin-chan scratched his head.
...
That night, when Shin-chan got home, he found that a pile of Earth Style scrolls had appeared in the house.