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*Morning*
In the Hidden Leaf Village was a quiet, peaceful time—at least for most people.
The sky was painted in soft hues of pink and orange as the first light of dawn stretched across the village, casting long shadows over the rooftops. A cool breeze drifted through the streets, carrying the scent of fresh dew on the grass and the faint aroma of breakfast being prepared in nearby homes.
The village itself was just beginning to wake. Shopkeepers were setting up their stalls, dusting off their displays, and greeting early risers with sleepy nods. Birds chirped from the trees, their songs mixing with the distant chatter of merchants and shinobi starting their daily routines.
But for Team 7, morning was anything but peaceful. Instead of enjoying the calm, they were crashing through the woods, covered in scratches, trying to capture a demon disguised as a house cat.
For them, the morning was just another battlefield.
"This is ridiculous!" Sasuke muttered, leaping from branch to branch, his sharp eyes scanning for an opening. "It's just a cat. Why is it this fast?"
"Because it's evil!" Naruto shouted, practically throwing himself through the branches in pursuit. His face was covered in scratches from the last time he got too close. "I swear this thing has some kind of bloodline limit or something!"
"Stop whining and focus!" Sakura called out, already forming a plan. "We have to corner it! If it gets past us again, we'll lose it for good!"
Perched atop one of the trees, just outside the Hokage's office, Kakashi Hatake sat with one leg lazily dangling over the edge, his nose buried in his ever-present orange book—Icha Icha Paradise. Its students struggle to catch one stupid cat, but Kakashi barely noticed. His one visible eye scanned the pages intently, the world around him fading into the background.
Then—
"Heh… heh heh. Oh Keko-chan your one naughty girl."
A quiet giggle escaped him.
Most of the time when walking in the village, passersby would slow their steps, shooting him odd glances before hurrying along, unsure if they really wanted to know what him so amused. But Kakashi remained oblivious, flipping to the next page with eager anticipation.
"Oh my… Jiraiya-sama, you truly are a genius." As his voice held a rare note of admiration as he turned another page.
He leaned forward slightly, completely invested in whatever steamy scene was unfolding in the book. His masked face betrayed nothing, but the way his shoulders shook ever so slightly hinted at just how entertained he was.
*Meanwhile with the Genin*
Below them, the brow-furred menace with a ribbon, known only as 'Tora', bolted through the underbrush with the grace of a seasoned escape artist. Its tiny legs were a blur as it slipped between roots and bushes, showing absolutely no intention of being captured.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Enough of this." He flicked a kunai, aiming just ahead of the cat's path—not to hurt it, but to spook it into changing directions. As expected, Tora skidded to a stop, ears twitching as it turned sharply—right toward Naruto.
Naruto grinned, arms outstretched. "Nowhere to run now, you furry little—!"
A single swipe. A blur of movement. A bloodcurdling scream.
Naruto staggered back, clutching his face as new claw marks burned across his cheeks. "IT GOT ME AGAIN!"
Tora launched off his head like a trained assassin, spiraling into the air. But before it could escape—
THWAP!
Sasuke appeared in an instant, snatching the cat mid-air by the scruff of its neck. The small feline hissed and flailed, but Sasuke held it at arm's length, unimpressed. "You're not going anywhere."
"YES!" Sakura cheered. "Finally! Mission complete!"
Naruto lay on the ground, groaning. "You don't understand… it's a "demon"…" muttering to himself.
Tora let out a long, pathetic meow, clearly not pleased with its capture.
"Let's just get this over with," Sasuke muttered.
—
**Konoha Administration Office **
Back at the Hokage's office, Team 7 stood in front of the Fire Daimyo's wife, Madam Shijimi, a rather *large* and extremely emotional woman who immediately burst into tears upon seeing her beloved cat.
"Oh, my precious Tora-chan! I was so worried about you!" she sobbed, squeezing the cat so tightly that it let out a strangled, wheezing noise. "You must have been so scared out there all alone!"
Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto all stood there in complete silence, watching in disbelief as the very creature they had suffered for was now being suffocated in a hug.
"I love you so much!" the woman continued, pressing her face against Tora's fur as the cat twitched in silent suffering.
Naruto twitched too, his eye twitching in particular. "Maybe we should let him stay lost next time…" he muttered under his breath.
Sakura elbowed him.
The Hokage, watching the scene unfold, simply chuckled and marked the mission as complete. "Well done, Team 7. I'll have your payment processed shortly."
Naruto sighed in exhaustion, while Sakura straightened up, trying to look professional. Sasuke, as always, just shoved his hands into his pockets, already thinking about something else.
After my first encounter with the Hokage I stopped going to the ramen shop for a while. It might be the way he tried to lecture me or the personality of being Indra's reincarnation taking over my body. As that's the only way I can justify why Hiruzen's words affected me so much. Not to mention I could see the way he tried to bring Ayame into the situation. It was like he was using her to keep me under control. Just like this damn team configuration.
You have me Sasuke Uchiha, the last Uchiha male (that they know of) who's a flight risk. But is a powerful military asset. Naruto Uzumaki, the son to the fourth Hokage and last male Uzumaki who holds the nine tails. Sakura Haruna, a girl who has some talent but is the love interest to Naruto and who has a crush on me. Either way the girl would be the matriarch to one of our clans, keeping us tied to the village for another generation. With our sensei being Kakashi Hatake, a man who arguably has just as much trauma built into his kit, he could compete with both me and Naruto in a 'who had it the worst', contest. Kakashi can teach me how to use the Sharingan, control Naruto's tailed beast and train us how to be loyal Anbu level to Kage level ninja. In the Hokage's eye this team is perfect for creating reliable ninja who'll settle down in the village, being so far past the stages of brainwash they willingly die for the village.
To uphold the 'will of fire'.
Hiruzen takes a puff from his pipe while going over the missions. "Ah for squad 7's next mission we have several available tasks such as, babysitting the chief civilian councilors three-year-old, helping his wife to do the shopping, digging up potatoes-"
But before he can finish Naruto interrupts the Hokage yelling, "No! I want to go on a real mission, not some little kid stuff." Using his arms to make an X.
"Come on old man!"
"I can't help but think that Naruto has a point."
Sakura finishes Sasuke's thought as if she can read his mind, she agrees but thinks Naruto is such an annoying brat.
Kakashi groans as he knows what's coming next with this.
Bam! Iruka erupts "How dare you! Trying to demand a harder mission when you're a fresh Genin with no experience. Just like everyone else you settle with basic missions and work your way up like everyone else."
Are you serious babysitting is not a mission, it's just a stupid---Bam!
Kakashi gives him a smack on the head telling him it's too early in the morning to be yelling at the top of his lunges.
The Hokage yells," NARUTO! It seems you need to be taught why these missions are so important, as many missions come in through the village-"
As Hiruzen is giving his lecture on the ninja system Naruto turns to us and tells us a story about him having some ramen the other day, leaving his back to face the old man.
"Silence!!" The Hokage roared as no one was paying attention to his lecture!
Naruto turns back around still on the floor "Come on gramps your always lecturing me like I'm your grandchild or something. Stop treating me like the little kid I was, I'm a ninja now and I want a real ninja mission."
Watching this I have to come to the conclusion that only Naruto could talk to the most powerful man in the ninja world like this and get away with it. As instead of suspending him or outright refusing his plea, the men in the room laugh and eventually decide to give in to his request.
Fine I'll give you a C rank mission, you'll be bodyguards. Send in our visitor.
The door to the room slides open and in walks the old drunkard Tazuna. As the first thing he does is take a large gulp from his bottle with no cork. What the hell is this, I paid good money for ninja's and you give me three little kids and a guy with an eye patch.
He takes another moments to sloppily gulp down his alcoholic beverage, straight from the glass bottle. "Huff, and you the little one. with the idiotic face, you really expect me to believe your a ninja."
Hahahahaha..whos the little one with the idiotic face. Naruto puffs out his chest laughing, looking around asking who the old man is talking about. But then he stops seeing that both Sakura and Sasuke look at him. They then walk close to him, to show their both taller than him by some inches. Naruto begins to sweat as his suspicions are confirmed.
Naruto immediately bristled, running to go beat up the client. "WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY, OLD MAN?!" The entire time Naruto is yelling obscenities at the man.
Kakashi swiftly grabs Naruto's jacket to keep him in place, effortlessly keeping him in place. "Now, now Naruto, you can't hurt the client."
The old man takes another heavy swig of his drink, when he finishes, he introduces himself. My name is Tazuna the master bridge builder and I must return country to build a bridge, with it having the ability to change our life. I expect you to get me there safely even if it cost you your life.
*30 Minutes later*
The giant gates to Konoha open and Team 7 walks out ready to start their first C rank mission. The group begins to walk at a civilian pace for Tazuna's sake. But they can't make it more than two minutes walking until-
"Alright! Yeah!" Yells an excited Naruto.
"Why are you so happy Naruto." Says Sakura
"This is the first time I've been outside the village and now I get to explore. I'm a ninja now Believe it!" says the boy in a kill me now jumpsuit.
Tazuna sighed, rubbing his temple. "I don't know what the Hokage was thinking, assigning kids to protect me. I need real protection! My life is on the line here!"
Kakashi chuckles understanding where the man is coming from, trying to save the situation he responds, "I'm a Jonin and he's with me you have nothing to worry about."
Sakura stepped forward with a polite smile. "Don't worry, sir. We may be young, but we've been trained as shinobi of the Hidden Leaf. You're in good hands."
Tazuna glanced at her, unimpressed. "Hmph." Then his gaze shifted to Sasuke. "What about you, kid? You at least look like you have some brains. Think you can handle this mission?"
Sasuke's expression remained flat. "I don't need to prove anything to you."
Tazuna scoffed. "Tch. Great. An arrogant one."
Sometime later while walking Tazuna was unmoved when Naruto went on to boast about how he'll be the Hokage and the strongest ninja, as to him a civilian he didn't see the title of Hokage being anything special or worth his respect.
Naruto pointed a dramatic finger at him. "I swear if you insult us one more time—!" With him running to tackle the man.
Kakashi uses one hand to grab the boy again. "What did I tell you about not attacking the client. Tazuna don't worry you'll be safe on this mission."
Tazuna exhaled loudly, muttering under his breath. "Guess I don't have much of a choice…"
With that, their journey had officially begun.