Naruto stopped at the gate, staring out at the bustling street beyond. People moved in streams, their laughter mixing with the clatter of carts and vendors. Above it all, carved into the distant cliff, stood the Hokage Rock—solemn, towering guardians watching over the village.
His heart swelled with excitement.
This… this is it.
"This is the real beginning of taking on missions," he murmured, fists clenching with resolve. "The first step toward becoming a real ninja!"
He grinned widely, eyes full of fire.
"From here on, I'll walk forward—one step at a time—toward my dream of becoming Hokage! All of you better watch closely!"
Kakashi didn't even raise his head from his book as he walked ahead. "Naruto-kun," he called lazily, "you can express your passion later. For now, hurry up and keep up."
"Eh? Ah—coming!"
And with that, Team 7 officially stepped out of the village.
---
The Land of Waves
Tazuna, drunk and stumbling, began speaking freely as they traveled. His breath smelled heavily of liquor, and his cheeks were flushed.
"The Land of Waves… is a miserable little island," he muttered. "We have no ninja of our own. People there survive mainly through fishing. We're not wealthy, but we get by—barely."
Naruto leaned closer. "So what happened? Why do you need help?"
Tazuna's expression darkened. "Everything fell apart when that man appeared. Gato."
Sasuke frowned. "Gato? The shipping magnate?"
"Hmph," Tazuna scoffed. "A magnate? He's nothing more than a filthy tyrant. Gato controls both legal and illegal trade. He uses his money to hire criminals, gangsters, and rogue ninjas. Smuggling, trafficking, drugs—you name it."
Hinata shuddered slightly at the cold malice in the old man's voice.
"He took complete control of our shipping routes," Tazuna continued. "If an island loses its shipping, it loses its lifeline. People can't sell, can't buy, can't live."
Naruto clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles cracked. "That bastard! If I meet him, I'll beat him so hard even his mother won't recognize him!"
Tazuna looked him up and down with an unimpressed expression. "Kid, don't brag. Gato commands thousands of bandits. The man's wealth could rival a small country. You think a rookie brat like you could even scratch him?"
Naruto practically exploded. "HEY! You drunk old geezer! Don't underestimate me!"
Hinata stepped in quickly, flustered and waving her hands. "I-It's not like that, Mr. Tazuna. Naruto-kun is really strong…"
Tazuna nodded—then promptly pointed at Sasuke.
"I think that kid looks like the strongest."
A vein popped in Naruto's forehead.
"That idiot?! Sasuke only looks cool. I'm the real deal!"
Sasuke snorted. "Hn. As if I'd lose to you."
Their bickering echoed through the trees.
Meanwhile, Kakashi was still reading, though his tone subtly sharpened. "Alright, enough. Young people should be energetic, but we're on a mission. Stay alert. Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata—protect the client and watch your surroundings."
He glanced sideways at Tazuna with meaning.
Tazuna suddenly gulped and drank again, looking guilty.
Naruto, however, brightened instantly. "Not simple? Yes! Maybe it is a B-rank mission!"
He couldn't hide his excitement—danger meant experience, and experience meant completing system tasks. Sasuke looked equally eager, though his motivation was different. The promise of real combat lit a cold determination in his eyes. He was itching to measure his strength, to face enemies strong enough to push him.
Hinata nodded quickly at Kakashi's warning. She activated her Byakugan discreetly, scanning the forest around them.
Kakashi caught her movement and gave her a small approving nod. She nodded back, cheeks pink, but her expression remained diligent.
Soon, the group passed a small puddle on the road—strange, considering it hadn't rained for days. Kakashi's eye flicked to it, unreadable behind his mask.
When they walked past—
Two figures burst out from the water like rising demons.
Their faces were hidden behind gas masks, and on their foreheads shone the symbol of the Hidden Mist.
---
The Demon Brothers Strike
Naruto spun around wildly. "Where are the enemies?! Why aren't they showing up already?! I'm fired up—let me show you what I can—"
Kakashi smiled behind his mask. "Don't worry, Naruto-kun. With me here, you probably won't have to do any—"
Chiiiii—
CLANG!!!
Two barbed iron chains suddenly shot out with deadly speed, crossing each other. They wrapped around Kakashi before anyone could react.
The Demon Brothers—Gozu and Meizu—pulled with their full strength.
SHRIIIP—!!!
The blades immediately tightened. In one brutal instant, the chains sliced through Kakashi's body—splitting him cleanly into two halves.
Blood splattered violently onto the ground.
Naruto froze, face pale.
"Ka… Kakashi-sensei?!"
But he had no time to panic. With perfect coordination, the two Mist ninja yanked their chains back.
Meizu barked out orders.
"Gozu! Take care of the brats!"
"I'll kill Tazuna myself!"
"Right!"
Gozu lunged forward like a beast unleashed, chain whipping toward Naruto first.
Naruto's heart pounded.
His first real life-and-death battle.
And Kakashi—his teacher—was just killed before his eyes.
"How strong are these guys…?!"
Rage burned through him. Not just because Kakashi seemed dead—but because Gozu had judged him the weakest and chosen him as the first target.
"You bastard…"
"You think you can look down on me?!"
Naruto roared, chakra exploding around him. He twisted his body and kicked upward.
"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
His leg struck the incoming chain with a violent impact.
BOOM—!!!
The force was so overwhelming that the chain snapped backward in a curve, slamming into Gozu's gauntlet and making his hand bleed.
Gozu's eyes widened. "What—?!"
He had underestimated him. This blond kid looked ordinary, but the raw power behind that kick was monstrous.
Naruto didn't have combat experience—but he had countless hours of simulated battle. His instincts were sharper than most genin.
Before the enemy could recover, Naruto charged and unleashed an even stronger kick.
"Leaf Strong Whirlwind!"
The timing was perfect—Gozu had no chance to defend.
THUD—!!!
Gozu was blasted off his feet, sent flying into the trees.
"Gozu! What are you doing?!" Meizu snapped. "You can't handle one brat?!"
Hinata, meanwhile, had already moved to protect Tazuna.
Meizu hurled his chain toward the bridge builder—
—but Hinata's Byakugan caught every movement.
She stepped forward, Byakugan veins bulging as she struck.
"Guardian Gentle Fist – Eight Trigram Palm!"
BANG—!
Her chakra-infused strike hit the chain's weak point, rebounding it with explosive force straight back toward Meizu.
"What—?! That girl too?!"
At the same time, Sasuke formed hand seals.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
A flaming dragon roared to life, spiraling straight toward Meizu. The enemy barely dodged, but Sasuke had already predicted his movement. He closed in, kunai drawn.
Hinata stayed at Tazuna's side, blocking any possible angle of attack with her Gentle Fist stance.
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged quick glances—competitive fire burning between them.
They both rushed toward the Demon Brothers at the same time.
Naruto, furious from Kakashi's "death," didn't hesitate to use one of his trump cards.
"Wind Release: Whirlwind Fist!"
Wind chakra wrapped tightly around his fist as he slammed it into Gozu's abdomen.
BOOOOOOM—!!!
The Mist ninja's body convulsed. His organs were battered, breath crushed out of him as he flew backward and collapsed—unmoving.
Seeing Gozu fall, Sasuke's eyes sharpened. He refused to fall behind.
He inhaled deeply and unleashed flames with twice the intensity from before.
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
A colossal fire dragon took shape, roaring with open jaws as it shot toward Meizu—
—and the battle raged on.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)