Hokage Building.
Hokage Office.
Uzumaki Naruto, Sakura Haruno, and Uchiha Sasuke pushed open the door and entered, finding Kakashi Hatake already waiting in the room.
"Third Hokage-sama!"
"Cough…"
Looking at Uzumaki Naruto, a hint of embarrassment appeared on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face.
Yesterday,
just as he was using the "Telescope Jutsu" to peek at Uzumaki Naruto, this guy Naruto suddenly said he had created some new Ninjutsu… This made him very curious.
So,
Hiruzen Sarutobi focused intently on the image on the crystal ball, his eyes unblinking, afraid of missing anything.
But the next second,
the alluring scene displayed in the crystal ball made his nose bleed profusely, almost causing him to faint on the spot.
Thinking about it now,
he still shuddered.
This made Hiruzen Sarutobi make a decision internally:
from now on, he would try his best not to peek at Naruto anymore.
After all,
his body,
couldn't handle many more such ordeals.
"Third Hokage-sama?"
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi lost in thought, Kakashi Hatake couldn't help but speak up to remind him.
"Oh."
"My apologies."
Hearing the voice, Hiruzen Sarutobi snapped back to attention.
Immediately,
he put down the pipe in his hand.
"According to Kakashi's report, all three of you are already excellent Genin."
"So… this time, as an exception, you are permitted to carry out a C-rank mission under Kakashi's leadership."
"C-rank mission?"
Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Uchiha Sasuke's face showed excitement.
Finally,
Finally, he wouldn't have to do those damn D-rank missions every day?
"Sasuke, don't get happy too soon."
"C-rank missions are not like D-rank missions; you could die if you're not careful."
Kakashi Hatake reminded him indifferently from the side.
"Hmph!"
"Kakashi, don't underestimate This Lord."
"This Lord is not the same as before."
Uchiha Sasuke snorted coldly.
He had already activated his one-tomoe Sharingan,
and his Chakra had also increased several times.
Now, he
could also maintain a Shadow Clone for a day to deal with those D-rank missions.
Thinking of this,
Uchiha Sasuke secretly glanced at Uzumaki Naruto.
Naruto,
just you watch,
this time This Lord will let you witness
the powerful strength within the Uchiha Clan's bloodline!
"See, what did This Lord tell you?"
Watching Sasuke's lips curl up again, Naruto shrugged at Sakura Haruno.
Sakura Haruno covered her mouth and chuckled.
She remembered Naruto's evaluation of Sasuke in his diary: Sunny Sasuke!
The sky cleared, the rain stopped, and Sasuke felt he was capable again.
This phrase was truly apt to describe Sasuke.
"Third Hokage, please introduce the mission details to us."
Kakashi Hatake asked.
"This mission is an escort mission."
"The client has entrusted us, Konoha Ninja, to protect the bridge builder until the bridge is completed."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said slowly.
Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Uzumaki Naruto's eyes lit up.
Could it be the Land of Waves escort mission?!
If he remembered correctly,
the Land of Waves,
was a small island nation.
All routes connecting the island to the outside world were controlled by the merchant Gato.
To escape Gato's oppression, the bridge master Tazuna planned to build a cross-sea bridge with the people of the Land of Waves.
Because of this,
Tazuna was hunted by Gato.
To save his life, Tazuna took the money pooled by the villagers to Konoha, hoping to hire Ninja to protect him.
In the original story,
it was Team 7, led by Kakashi, who helped Tazuna successfully complete the bridge.
"This is truly a pillow when This Lord is sleepy; This Lord just happens to be short on money."
Uzumaki Naruto thought to himself.
Gato was one of the few tycoons in the Ninja World; if he controlled him, he would never have to worry about money again.
As a transmigrator,
Uzumaki Naruto did not have the same scruples as other Ninja about not attacking ordinary people.
Gato's money, he was going to take it!
"An escort mission outside the village?"
"Third Hokage, are you sure the mission is C-rank?"
Kakashi Hatake inquired.
The Land of Waves was not close to Konoha, so it was better to ask more questions.
"The mission rank is based on the client's information; you can ask the client about the specific situation yourself."
After Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking, he called out to the door.
"Tazuna, come in."
As his words fell, an old man with glasses and smelling of alcohol walked in.
"Hello, we are the Ninja responsible for escorting you this time."
"We'd like to confirm the mission details with you."
After Kakashi Hatake finished speaking, he briefly introduced Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, and Sakura Haruno to Tazuna.
"What?!"
"I spent so much money, and Konoha is going to send these brats to fob me off?!"
"I don't agree; change them for me!"
After hearing Kakashi Hatake's words, Tazuna immediately yelled.
"Hey, who are you calling brats?"
Sakura Haruno and Sasuke said unhappily.
Especially Sasuke,
he was the last genius Ninja of the Uchiha Clan, shouldering the glory of the Uchiha Clan alone, and now he had even awakened the Sharingan; he was definitely not some brat!
"If you're not brats, then is This Lord an old brat?"
Tazuna snorted coldly.
"Mr. Tazuna, although these three are young, they are all excellent Genin who graduated from the Ninja Academy."
"It's just a C-rank escort mission, they are more than capable."
Kakashi Hatake patiently explained.
"That's still not acceptable."
"This Lord doesn't trust these brats at all."
"If we encounter danger on the way, what use can such brats be?"
Tazuna still shook his head and refused.
"Please rest assured, This Lord will also be accompanying this escort mission."
"This Lord is a Konoha Village Jonin: Kakashi Hatake."
"Normally, the remuneration you paid would not be enough to hire a Jonin."
"Is that so…"
Hearing Kakashi Hatake's words, Tazuna nodded thoughtfully.
Then,
he waved his hand impatiently.
"Then let's do it this way."
"But these brats don't need to come along, do they?"
"If something happens, will you protect me or them?"
Tazuna grumbled.
Hearing his words, Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura Haruno all frowned.
He had already explained it so clearly, how was he still not satisfied?
This drunkard,
was he throwing a drunken tantrum here?
It was just a C-rank escort mission; with a Jonin accompanying them, what was there to worry about?
Just as Kakashi was about to continue explaining, Uzumaki Naruto walked up to Tazuna.
"Hey, what do you want, you yellow-haired brat?"
Tazuna asked somewhat unhappily.
"There's one thing This Lord has always found strange. Even a C-rank mission doesn't necessarily encounter any danger."
"But you seem to be very certain that we will encounter some trouble."
"Even… making you think that as Genin, we would distract Kakashi into protecting us amidst these troubles."
Uzumaki Naruto sized up Tazuna.
"Logically speaking, a C-rank mission would at most encounter some mountain bandits or something, which would pose no threat to us at all."
"But you've been dwelling on safety issues."
Speaking of this,
Uzumaki Naruto narrowed his eyes, a dangerous curve appearing at the corner of his lips.
"This Lord says, old man… you wouldn't be hiding something, would you?"