When Naruto arrived at the meeting point at Konoha's village gates, Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura were already waiting.
It was rare, but Kakashi had actually shown up on time today. Clearly, when it came to official missions, he could be punctual.
"Good morning, Naruto!" Sakura raised her hand in greeting.
Sasuke leaned against a tree with his arms folded, giving Naruto a calm but sharp glance. "Hmph, you're late."
"S-sorry, something held me up." Naruto scratched his head and stuck out his tongue in embarrassment.
Kakashi glanced at the time and nodded. "It's fine. At least you didn't keep us waiting long."
Just then, a drunk old man staggered toward them.
His face was flushed red, his breath reeked of alcohol, and though he could barely walk straight, he still clutched a bottle of sake in his hand.
When he spotted the three young members of Team 7 from a distance, he froze for a moment before frowning in displeasure.
"Oi! What are these brats doing here?" he slurred, burping loudly. "I paid Konoha a fortune for this mission, and you send a bunch of kids to fool me?"
His drunken gaze swept over the team one by one until it landed on Naruto, the shortest of the group.
"That short, blond kid who looks clueless can he even be considered a ninja?" the old man muttered, pointing at Naruto with open disdain.
Naruto's face instantly darkened. He looked around and realized with horror that, yes, he really was the shortest one.
"Damn it! You drunk old geezer "
Furious, Naruto nearly charged at the man to teach him a lesson.
But Kakashi was faster. He grabbed Naruto by the back of his collar and hauled him into the air. "Calm down! That's our client. What do you think you're doing?"
Dangling midair, Naruto still glared furiously at the old man. "Tch… How dare you look down on me!"
Inside, his frustration burned hotter. In the dream, he had been the strongest!
Meanwhile, the old man remained oblivious to the tension. He kept muttering, "Hmph. Has Konoha really fallen so far? They're sending children on missions now… This trip is doomed."
Kakashi set Naruto back on the ground with an awkward cough. "Mr. Dazna, please introduce yourself."
At that, the drunk old man stopped his grumbling and cleared his throat.
"Ahem! I'm the world-famous bridge builder Dazna." He proudly pulled out a letter of commission and waved it in front of them. "Until I return to the Land of Waves and complete my bridge, you brats are responsible for protecting me at all costs. Understood?"
"Hmph!" Naruto snorted, wiping his nose with his hand and tilting his chin up. "Don't underestimate me, you drunk old man! I've already mastered a super powerful jutsu. I'm no ordinary genin! A C-rank mission like this is nothing just leave it to us!"
Sasuke gave a dismissive snort at Naruto's boasting, but a confident glimmer flickered in his dark eyes.
After all, what he had gained from the dream was no less than what Naruto had. He too was ready to face the challenges ahead.
Seeing the two kids puff themselves up with arrogance, Dazna oddly felt a bit reassured.
However, Dazna remained stubborn, curling his lips and muttering, "Hmph, confidence is one thing… just don't end up holding me back."
After the brief handover, Team 7 officially began their journey to escort Dazna to the Land of Waves.
As Naruto stepped out of Konoha's towering vermilion gates, a surge of excitement rushed through his chest.
He instinctively turned back, his gaze lingering on the gate engraved with the symbol of the Leaf. His heart pounded with a mix of nerves and anticipation.
A new journey begins!
Naruto clenched his fists, silently encouraging himself.
For someone who had grown up his entire life within the village walls, this was his first time truly stepping outside of Konoha and into the wider world.
His excitement showed with every step.
By noon, the sun was blazing overhead, and the group found a spot under the shade of a large tree to rest.
Naruto, who had rushed out of the house that morning without eating properly, was already starving. He devoured two rice balls in no time.
Sasuke and Sakura calmly replenished their food and water, while Dazna nibbled halfheartedly at some dry bread before returning to his wine gourd, earning a frown from Naruto.
After their short break, they set off once more.
As they traveled, Naruto couldn't help but look everywhere, curiosity shining in his eyes at every new sight.
On both sides of the wide road stretched lush fields, while rolling green hills lined the horizon. White clouds drifted lazily across the brilliant blue sky.
The fresh air carried the scent of earth and grass, making Naruto on his first journey far from home feel relaxed and happy.
At the same time, he forced himself to remain on guard. Every so often, he pretended to be serious and mature, scanning the roadside bushes for signs of an enemy.
He pushed branches aside to peer into the undergrowth or hopped onto roadside rocks to look into the distance, moving about like a restless little fox.
"Hey, kid, you're way too excited! What, you've never seen the world before?" Dazna teased with a chuckle, shaking his wine gourd.
Naruto snorted but didn't get angry. "Hmph, what do you know, you drunkard?"
Watching this exchange, Kakashi narrowed his eye with amusement. "Naruto, watch your step."
"Ah?!" Startled, Naruto immediately looked down at the road beneath his feet, making Sasuke shake his head with a snort while Sakura covered her mouth to stifle her laughter.
Seeing his student so flustered, Kakashi let out a helpless sigh. "Relax, Naruto. We're still in the Land of Fire. There won't be any enemies here. But staying alert is good. Keep it up."
"Yes!" Naruto straightened his back, patting his chest proudly as if to prove his determination.
The sun dipped lower, painting the sky with shades of orange. The first day's journey passed smoothly without a hitch.
The group traveled safely through the Land of Fire, encountering no enemies or hidden threats along the way.
It wasn't until dusk, when the sky grew dark, that everyone finally stopped, weariness beginning to show on their faces.
Kakashi surveyed the surroundings carefully before selecting an open clearing in the woods near a stream as their campsite.
After a quick division of tasks, the team began setting up camp.
Night soon fell. Stars glittered above the treetops, casting a silver glow over the forest clearing.
The crackling bonfire drove away the evening chill, its warm light flickering across their slightly tired faces.
The night wind rustled gently through the trees, and the chirping of insects echoed faintly from the bushes.
Dazna slumped against the bundle of luggage, taking several heavy swigs from his wine gourd. His face flushed, and before long he had dozed off, snoring loudly.
Kakashi glanced at him and shook his head helplessly before leaning back against a tree trunk. With his visible eye half closed, he seemed relaxed, though his mind was quietly alert.
Even with his eyes shut, Kakashi's sharp senses were spread wide, attuned to every sound and movement in the forest around them.
Across the fire, Sasuke and Sakura organized their packs and supplies before lying down to rest.
...
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