Chapter 19: A C-Rank and Unwanted Company
The air in the Hokage's office was thick with the scent of old paper and pipe tobacco. Hiruzen Sarutobi listened as Kakashi laid out his request, his aged fingers steepled under his chin.
"So, you believe a C-rank mission is necessary to foster team cohesion and engage Naruto's true capabilities?" the Third Hokage summarized, exhaling a slow, thoughtful plume of smoke.
Kakashi stood firm. "Lord Third, Naruto's talent is exceptional. His current combat prowess is easily on par with a chūnin. With myself, a jōnin, a chūnin-level asset, and two standard genin, we are more than capable of handling a standard C-rank mission without significant risk."
Hiruzen's gaze was heavy. He took another long draw from his pipe. "Kakashi, you are focusing on the mission objective. The true danger of a C-rank for new genin lies not in the task itself, but in the act of leaving Konoha's walls." He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. "The Land of Fire may be our home, but the roads between villages are far from safe. C-rank missions are deceptively perilous for those fresh from the Academy."
He fixed Kakashi with a stern look. "Furthermore, as the Jinchuriki, it is preferable that Naruto remain within the village's protective boundaries."
"But he is a shinobi, Lord Hokage," Kakashi countered, his voice calm but insistent. "He will have to leave the village on missions eventually. It's an inevitability."
Hiruzen sighed internally. He knew Kakashi was right. This was, in fact, part of the reason he had assigned the famed Copy Ninja to Team 7. Kakashi's vast arsenal—his mastery of taijutsu, ninjutsu, genjutsu, and even fuinjutsu—made him one of the few shinobi capable of both protecting the Nine-Tails vessel and preventing a potential defection.
"Since you are so insistent," Hiruzen relented, turning to a stack of mission scrolls. He selected one and handed it to an ANBU agent, who passed it to Kakashi. "Very well. I have a C-rank for you."
Kakashi unsealed the scroll. His eye scanned the contents: Eliminate the bandit group preying on a mountain village. It was straightforward, localized, and as safe a C-rank as one could hope for.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage." Kakashi gave a slight bow.
"See that you bring them all back safely, Kakashi," Hiruzen said, his tone leaving no room for failure.
As the door closed behind his former student, Hiruzen let out a weary sigh, his shoulders slumping. The burden of his office felt heavier each day. The new generation was promising, but the gap in power was still vast. He could only hope they would grow strong enough, fast enough, to bear the weight of the future.
Meanwhile, on a sun-drenched Konoha street, the mood was considerably less weighty, though no less tense for some.
Behind a popular restaurant, Inuzuka Kiba and Aburame Shino of Team 8 were scrubbing a mountain of dirty dishes, their expressions a mixture of boredom and simmering resentment. The source of their irritation was not the grime, but the scene unfolding a short distance away.
Uzumaki Naruto and Hyūga Hinata sat at a small, clean table, sharing a plate of dango.
"Try this one, Hinata. The red bean paste is supposed to be the best," Naruto said, offering her a skewer.
Hinata took a small, delicate bite, her cheeks flushing. "It's... it's delicious, Naruto-kun."
"And this green one?"
"Also delicious!"
"Really? It tastes pretty plain to me."
Hinata's face fell instantly. "Oh... I-I suddenly don't feel so good about it anymore."
Inuzuka Kiba scowled, his grip tightening on a greasy plate. "Grr... I can't take this anymore! Why is he always following us on our missions?" he muttered to Shino. "Doesn't his own team have D-ranks to do?"
Akamaru, perched on his head, let out a supportive "Woof!"
Naruto, hearing the complaint, glanced over. With a casual one-handed seal, a Shadow Clone poofed into existence beside him, immediately picking up a sponge and joining the dishwashing.
"My team's D-ranks are handled," Naruto explained with a infuriatingly calm smile. "The perks of a proficient Shadow Clone user."
Kiba's eye twitched. "Tch. Even if your sensei is okay with it, what about ours?!" He looked pleadingly at their sensei, Kurenai Yūhi, who was leaning against the wall, observing the scene with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
Kurenai met Kiba's desperate gaze and promptly found a fascinating cloud in the sky to study. She had long since given up trying to deter Naruto.
Kiba stared at her, his expression the very picture of betrayed loyalty.
Kurenai finally relented, clearing her throat. "Naruto, while your... dedication is noted, constantly joining our team isn't beneficial. It hinders your own growth with Team 7, and it draws... attention from the Hyūga clan."
Naruto didn't even look up from the dango. "Mine and Hinata's growth has plateaued on D-ranks. As for the Hyūga clan," he said, his tone dropping slightly, "their opinion is not my concern."
It was true. Under his subtle guidance, Hinata had already mastered the Thirty-Two Palms of the Gentle Fist and was diligently working towards the Sixty-Four Palms, her progress far surpassing her canonical self.
Seeing the futility of the argument, Kurenai simply sighed. This was a weekly ritual. She had to admit, however, as she watched Naruto effortlessly correct Hinata's stance during breaks, that his own abilities were frighteningly advanced for a genin. Dressed in his simple white shirt, he carried an air of latent power that was impossible to ignore.
'This year's Rookie of the Year...' Kurenai mused to herself, a wry smile touching her lips. 'It should have been him. With strength like that, Uchiha Sasuke isn't even in the same league.'
(End of Chapter)