A flash of lightning briefly illuminated the training ground, followed by a low rumble of thunder. Sasuke stumbled back, his spiked club held loosely at his side as he struggled to catch his breath.
'Just what kind of monster did Danzo raise in Root?' Kakashi thought, his visible eye wide with disbelief as he watched Karin systematically dismantle Sasuke. He was still trying to process Yamato and his Wood Release, and now he had to contend with another prodigy of the same caliber. He'd seen Sasuke's strength firsthand, the boy's taijutsu was powerful, and his fundamentals were solid. But Karin's were somehow even better, more proficient. In terms of raw power, she completely overwhelmed him. Sasuke's club and Karin's hammer met again and again, the clash of metal ringing through the air.
*CLANG! CLANG!*
Their fight was far beyond what he'd expect from genin. He'd seen Jonin-level bouts with less intensity.
'Are these really genin fresh from the Academy?' he wondered. 'Weren't they supposed to know the three basic techniques, how to throw a kunai, and maybe a little taijutsu? Naruto is sensei's son and getting training from Root so he might've received specialized training, but Hokage-sama is especially protective of Sasuke when it comes to Root.'
He felt a genuine sense of disconnect. 'How are they both so strong? Or am I the one falling behind, out of touch with the times?'
Sasuke, Karin, Naruto... every genin he'd met recently seemed more monstrous than the last. If Sakura weren't there, a reassuringly normal rookie, he might have started to seriously question his own abilities. He remembered how his peers had looked at him when he made Jonin at twelve, their expressions a mix of awe and bewilderment. He supposed this was how they felt. The decade and a half he'd lost to grief and stagnation was a gap that was becoming harder and harder to ignore.
The spar didn't last much longer. It was a practice match, not a fight to the death, and the outcome had been clear for some time.
"Hmph, nothing special." Sasuke forced out the words. He was sporting two impressive black eyes, a clear sign of who had won. Karin truly was ruthless, she'd specifically targeted his face. He'd been completely suppressed throughout the entire fight, even more thoroughly than when he'd sparred with Kakashi. It was as if she'd been trained specifically to counter him. Sasuke was clearly just talking tough.
The high chakra reserves of the Uzumaki clan, combined with her unique ability to heal by biting her own skin, gave Karin an unparalleled advantage in taijutsu. Sasuke may have trained for years, but she had closed the gap in a fraction of the time. It was an innate talent that couldn't be taught. Sasuke stared at her deceptively slender frame, unable to comprehend where all her strength came from, not realizing her body was packed with dense, powerful muscle. The Uchiha's gifts lay in their dojutsu and their affinity for Yin Release, oerhaps influenced by Naruto, Sasuke seemed to take an unnecessary pleasure in comparing taijutsu with othersin a contest of pure physical might, which, for him, was purely asking for trouble.
"Sasuke-kun's strength is truly remarkable," Karin said, her voice warm and generous. Her tone and expression perfectly mimicking his old sensei, the Fourth Hokage. "I could barely keep up."
Kakashi found himself staring, an absurd thought crossing his mind. 'Is she Minato-sensei's illegitimate daughter?' The resemblance in her manner was just that striking. With her formidable power acknowledged by everyone, Karin fit seamlessly into Team 7.
The next day, under Kakashi's leadership, the Genin squad officially began its missions. Ninja mission ranks typically range from S-Rank (highest) to D-Rank (lowest). Genin squads generally undertake simpler tasks, usually C-Rank or D-Rank. Chunin, on the other hand, handle C-Rank and B-Rank missions, while Jonin are assigned A-Rank. S-Rank missions, highly classified international matters, were also generally carried out by Jonin.
Genin primarily focused on D-Rank missions, occasionally taking on C-Rank. While this was touted as accumulating experience, it mostly involved handling miscellaneous chores. Trivial tasks like weeding, babysitting, and searching for lost pets all fell under the D-Rank category.
For Team 7, these tasks were trivial. Naruto could often resolve an issue in minutes with his Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu, and since Karin and Sasuke could also use the technique, they burned through the village's D-rank missions at an unbelievable rate.
In just one week, the three of them had completed a hundred jobs, clearing out a backlog that had been piling up for over a month. After they returned a perpetually escaping cat named Tora for the fifth time, they were told the mission board was temporarily empty.
"You've accumulated plenty of basic experience," the Third Hokage said, taking a slow puff from his pipe. "So, I've arranged a C-rank mission for you." He pulled a scroll from his drawer and placed it on the desk. The gesture seemed casual, but it felt entirely premeditated. When a coincidence feels this deliberate, it usually is.
"Thank you, Grampa Hokage," Naruto said politely.
Hokage nodded kindly before outlining the mission. "You will be escorting a client to the Land of Waves. His name is Tazuna, and he is a master bridge builder."
Not long after, a man reeking of sake stumbled into view. This was their client. The mission itself sounded simple: escort Tazuna safely to his home and protect him until his bridge was complete. Though it was time-consuming, the difficulty seemed low.
However, it was an escort mission that required them to leave the village.
A mission outside the village was a complicated matter, especially for a jinchuriki. Minato had once explained the sheer complexity of the procedures, warning Naruto that leaving without authorization could see him branded a rogue ninja. Yet here the Third Hokage was, assigning the Nine-Tails jinchuriki to a simple C-rank escort. Even with Kakashi leading the team, it seemed impossibly reckless.
The Land of Waves bordered the Land of Water, where Kirigakure's bloody reign had only recently ended. Sending Konoha's jinchuriki so close to their border could easily be seen as a provocation. Perhaps the Sandaime was testing Kirigakure's new leadership. Or perhaps it was about the wealthy merchant trying to seize control of the Land of Waves, a man known for being rich, powerful, and notoriously cheap when it came to hiring proper protection. An easy, tempting target.
Naruto nudged Sasuke, sending silent message. 'Sasuke, we're taking the mission.' If Sasuke wanted to grow, he couldn't avoid battles. The upcoming confrontations would be perfect for him right now, real battles between ninja.
"Team 7 will handle it," Karin confirmed, seeing the unspoken agreement between them. As for Sakura's opinion, it wasn't really a factor, she would follow their lead.
"Hic!" The drunken Tazuna, completely unaware he was a pawn in a much larger game, blinked his hazy eyes at the four children assigned to protect him. He let out a foul-smelling burp before lifting his flask for another long drink.
===============
Dear Readers and Fans,
For those eager to dive into next chapters earlier before others, I invite you to join us on Patreon. By becoming our Patron, you not only gain access to exclusive advanced chapters but also help us continue this endeavour and expand it further.
https://www.pat reon.com/8Ashes8
(no space)
You can read upto 7 Chapters in advance.