With the Daimyo's Wife ushered out and the promise to send a search team soon, the Hokage's office fell quiet again, save for the scratching of Hiruzen's quill and the thick smell of smoke from his pipe. Team 7 stood in silence. Sasuke was impatient, Sakura was nervous, and Naruto stood calmly, his Qi Concentration focused, filtering out the unnecessary noise.
"A C-rank mission?" Kakashi looked up from his book, his single visible eye arching in surprise.
"Correct," the Third grunted, setting down his brush. "The task is simple: escort a client to his country. Standard protection against bandits, nothing serious."
At that moment, the door opened, and into the office walked... a smell.
First, a thick, acrid reek of sake wafted in, followed by the client himself. He was an elderly man in a simple tunic, with a towel casually tied around his head and thick grey eyebrows. He took an unsteady step, hiccuped, and looked over the team.
"Huh?" He stared at the three genin, his gaze clouded. "What is this bunch of snot-nosed brats?"
The Hokage sighed.
"Tazuna-san, this is Team 7. They will be escorting you."
"Escorting?" Tazuna scoffed incredulously, taking a swig from a flask he immediately and shamelessly produced. "They're just kids! Especially this one..." he pointed a finger directly at Naruto, "...the short one with the stupid look on his face!"
"What?!"
Sakura flushed instantly. How dare he? Especially in front of Sasuke-kun!
"Who does he think he is to talk like that?!" she hissed.
Sasuke, standing beside her, didn't move, but his lips curled into a barely noticeable sneer of disgust. He was annoyed not by the insult itself, but by the fact that he, an Uchiha, was being forced to waste time on this drunk, old fool.
Naruto remained unfazed.
The insult was crude, but his Qi Concentration, honed over years, allowed him to filter it out. He didn't hear malice in Tazuna's voice. He "saw" something else.
He activated his Qi Sensory at its lowest power level. Tazuna's aura was dirty and murky, like Mizuki's, but different. Mizuki had the murk of betrayal and killing intent. Tazuna had the murk of pure, all-consuming fear, desperately drowned in alcohol.
He's scared, Naruto noted calmly to himself, analyzing the man's trembling hands and shifting gaze. Very scared. And drunk. Trying to act tough, but he's terrified.
Naruto simply met Tazuna's gaze without saying a word.
Hiruzen cleared his throat.
"Tazuna-san, despite their age, these are capable shinobi under the command of an elite jonin, Kakashi. They will ensure your safety."
"Well, since I paid..." Tazuna grumbled. "Just try not to die before we reach the bridge."
...
An hour later, they gathered at the massive main gates of Konoha. The day promised to be hot. The chunin on guard duty waved them through indifferently.
Sasuke was checking his pouch of kunai, his impatience almost tangible. Sakura adjusted her headband, constantly glancing at Sasuke.
Naruto silently adjusted the straps on his sandals. He touched the protector on his forehead and took a deep breath.
The air here, at the village border, was different. It smelled of dust, the road, and the vast, unexplored forest. Behind him was the hum of the village—safe, familiar, full of people who despised him, and the few who were dear to him.
Ahead lay silence. The unknown. Real danger.
This was his first real mission outside the village. He remembered his Oath—to become strong to protect. He remembered Ayame's warm, sincere smile when she saw him wearing this protector. Then, it was a victory. Now—an opportunity to prove he didn't wear it for nothing.
He was ready.
Kakashi cast a glance at his team. Sasuke tense as a wire, ready for the mission. Sakura nervous but trying to hide it behind enthusiasm. And Naruto...
Kakashi frowned beneath his mask. The Hokage's report said "loud, attention-seeking." But this boy was the complete opposite. He was calm. Collected. Hmm, the jonin wondered for the umpteenth time.
"Well then, team," Kakashi drawled lazily, closing his book. "Move out."
...
An hour passed. The road wound through the forest, leading them further and further away from the safe walls of Konoha. Kakashi walked in front, nose buried in his novel again. Tazuna trudged behind him, looking around nervously.
Sakura, as usual, tried to start a conversation with Sasuke.
"Sasuke-kun, the weather is so nice today, isn't it? Not too hot, not too cold, perfect for..."
"Shut up," Sasuke cut her off without even looking at her. He was focused on the trees, on every shadow. He was determined to complete this mission perfectly.
Sakura slumped instantly, her cheeks reddening with embarrassment. She slowed her pace, falling back level with Naruto, who brought up the rear. She was ready to snap at him, but... he was silent.
She looked at him. Unlike her, he wasn't trying to attract Sasuke's attention. And unlike Sasuke, he didn't look annoyed or gloomy. He just walked, quiet and vigilant, though his gaze also scanned the trees on both sides of the road.
It's strange, Sakura thought.
She remembered that he had always been this quiet in class. In recent years, he never shouted, never goofed off, and never tried to draw attention to himself like he did before the Academy. She and Ino had always written it off as him being "beaten down." That he was an "outcast" afraid to even raise his head.
But now, watching him walk... he didn't look "beaten down" at all. His back was straight. His gait confident. This silence... it wasn't from fear. It was... purposeful. Almost like Sasuke's, but without his oppressive coldness.
It was... weird. It confused her.
Naruto didn't notice her gaze. His mind was calm but active; at the moment, he was using his senses.
He used his Qi Sensory, passively "feeling" the road ahead within a radius of fifty paces. Maintaining a wider range while moving was too costly for his current reserves. It was like lowering an invisible net into a river. He felt the vibrations of the forest, filtering out the birds singing, a squirrel running on a branch, the rustle of leaves. He listened to the symphony of life, searching for even a single false note.