D-ranks were getting on everyone's nerves. Not because the missions were hard—far from it. They were just chores. Pointless, mind-numbing chores. Babysitting loud kids, pulling weeds, scrubbing graffiti, catching cats—always catching that cat. It wasn't work for ninjas. It was work for civilians too lazy to do things themselves.
Sasuke had enough.
"This is a waste of time," he declared as they trudged back to the Hokage's office after another humiliating morning of doing a farmer's yard work.
Sakura, brushing dirt off her gloves, nodded. "I have to agree. Sensei, we've been doing D-ranks for weeks now. Shouldn't we get something more serious?"
Kakashi barely looked up from his book. "Mmm, that's up to the Hokage."
That was all the encouragement Sasuke needed. The moment they entered the office, he didn't even wait for formalities. "I want a C-rank mission."
Hiruzen raised a brow. "Is that so?"
Sakura chimed in. "Hokage-sama, we've done so many D-ranks already. We're ready for something harder."
Naruto blinked. A C-rank. A real mission. The kind where things could go wrong. The kind where people could die.
What if they had to kill? What if he was hunted?
Hiruzen's gaze settled on him. For a moment, Naruto just stared back, then shifted his eyes away. He wasn't sure if he was ready.
Hiruzen looked to Kakashi. "And what does their sensei think?"
Kakashi hummed, snapping his book shut. "I think D-ranks are... not exactly suited to their abilities."
The Hokage exhaled through his nose, mulling it over. "Very well." He picked up a scroll from his desk and unrolled it, skimming its contents. "Send in Tazuna."
Naruto froze.
Uh-oh.
A minute later, an old man stumbled into the room, the smell of alcohol clinging to him like cheap cologne. His skin was tanned from years of hard labor, his graying beard unkempt. He took one glance at Team 7 and made his disgust very clear.
"These brats are supposed to guard me?" He snorted, taking a swig from his liquor bottle. "That pipsqueak of a malnourished pinkie? That boy who looks like he's having a bad stomach? And that brat with tomato hair and glowing eyes?"
Sasuke twitched. His fingers curled into fists. Sakura's eye twitched even harder.
Naruto, ever blank-faced, just stared at him.
Kakashi, unfazed, chuckled. "Don't worry, Tazuna-san. I'm more than capable of watching over both them and you."
Tazuna huffed. "You better be."
Hiruzen ignored the exchange. "Your mission is simple—escort Tazuna to the Land of Waves and ensure his safety until his bridge is complete."
Kakashi turned to his students. "You have until tomorrow morning to gather everything you need. Meet me at the northern gate by sunrise."
Naruto walked away with the rest of them, hands in his pockets, deep in thought.
Another step to becoming a real shinobi.
—
The next morning, Naruto arrived early. Not because he was eager, but because he had always preferred getting to places ahead of time. Less noise. Less people.
The northern gate was quiet, the village just barely beginning to wake. He leaned against the wall, staring at the sky as the last traces of dawn faded.
Sasuke arrived next, looking as serious as ever. Sakura followed shortly, dressed in practical travel gear instead of her usual attire.
Kakashi, naturally, arrived late.
"Sorry, sorry," he said, scratching the back of his head. "I got lost on the road of life."
Sasuke rolled his eyes. Sakura sighed. Naruto just stared at him.
Tazuna was already there, grumbling about brats and irresponsibility and how he should have asked for a better team.
Kakashi ignored him. "Alright, everyone ready?"
They all nodded.
"Good. Let's go."
And with that, they set off.
—
The first few hours of travel were uneventful.
Naruto listened to the birds, the rustling leaves, the sound of their footsteps crunching against dirt. He liked nature. It was predictable, unlike humans.
Tazuna, meanwhile, wouldn't shut up.
"Man, you brats don't look like much, but I guess you'll have to do."
Sakura smiled, trying to be polite. "Don't worry, Tazuna-san. We won't let anything happen to you."
"Hmph. You better not. I have a bridge to build, and I'm not dying before it's finished."
Sasuke, walking beside Naruto, whispered, "Is it too late to request a different client?"
Naruto shrugged. "Probably."
They walked for a few more hours, the forest growing denser.
Then, Naruto saw it.
A puddle.
A completely out-of-place puddle in the middle of the road, despite the dry weather.
He didn't say anything. Just watched as they passed it.
Then, suddenly—
Chain whip!
Two masked figures burst from the puddle, chains flying toward Kakashi.
Naruto didn't even flinch as the chains ripped through their teacher, cutting him to shreds.
Sakura screamed.
Sasuke's eyes widened, but he reacted instantly, jumping back.
Naruto just sighed. "That's a clone."
Sure enough, Kakashi appeared behind them, completely unharmed, while the shredded "corpse" disappeared in a puff of smoke.
The two attackers barely had time to react before Sasuke moved.
Kunai flashed. One enemy staggered back, barely dodging.
Naruto, unfazed, stepped forward. He didn't bother drawing a weapon. He just... moved.
And suddenly, one of the masked men found himself slammed into the ground.
Sasuke stopped mid-strike, staring. "What the—"
Naruto had flipped the man effortlessly, his movements precise, almost animalistic.
The other attacker tried to run. Kakashi appeared behind him in an instant, slamming him down as well.
And just like that, it was over.
Tazuna was shaking. "What—what the hell was that?!"
Kakashi turned to him. "That's what I'd like to know. Tazuna-san, care to explain why two Chūnin-level assassins were waiting for us?"
Tazuna paled.
Naruto just sighed.
Yeah. This wasn't going to be a simple mission.
TBC