The life of a ninja is not interesting.
Especially for Genin.
For Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke, it means constantly repeating boring low-level tasks: dredging river garbage, cleaning streets, retrieving pets for nobles and wealthy people, and at best, driving away wild animals from farmland.
Naruto realized that these tasks were not as simple as they seemed.
Either they were dealing with the public or with nobles.
This was intentionally raising their reputation within the village.
So far, there was no significant effect.
Only many nobles and wealthy people recognized them and greeted them when they met on the street.
In this month or so, this was their only achievement.
Naruto's impression of Kakashi worsened.
As their team leader Jonin, he almost ignored these Genin.
He was an unqualified leader.
Even Uncle Shunsui wasn't as bad as him.
Sasuke once asked Kakashi about the source of his Sharingan but was brushed off and never asked again.
Naruto also straightforwardly asked if he could teach them some ninjutsu.
But Kakashi's response was to first teach Sasuke and Sakura tree climbing and water walking.
Then he left them to their own devices, very lazily.
Until the day they completed their mission and reported to the Hokage.
"High evaluations, Team 7." Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled, looking very satisfied with the mission report. "High efficiency and well-handled."
No one replied.
All four of them stood properly.
"How do you feel after doing these tasks for a month?" Sarutobi Hiruzen took the pipe from his mouth and tapped it on the table, scattering the ash.
"Do you find it boring or tedious?"
Naruto was indifferent.
Sasuke remained silent. He felt that he had been getting stronger during this time, which was what he wanted; the nature of the task didn't matter.
Haruno Sakura did think so but didn't dare to speak up.
"With your abilities and performance, it's time to try more difficult tasks." Sarutobi Hiruzen picked up a scroll from the table. "Let me see..."
"This one then."
"A C-rank escort mission."
He said, tossing the scroll over.
Kakashi turned aside.
Naruto reached out and caught it, reading the contents: The mission objective was to protect the bridge builder Tazuna of the Land of Waves until the completion of the bridge.
They left to prepare.
At Sarutobi Hiruzen's signal, Kakashi followed him into another office.
"Hokage-sama, any instructions?" Kakashi asked.
"That mission cannot be considered a C-rank." Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe. "The intelligence gathered by Anbu indicates that the client lied, and there will be ninjas involved in this mission."
"Perhaps even Momochi Zabuza might be involved."
Kakashi said softly, "Then this mission should be classified as A-rank."
"Isn't it too soon to let them execute it?"
"Naruto is capable, but Sasuke and Sakura..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen interrupted him: "In a month, we have the joint Chunin Exams with the Sand Village."
"According to the information, they will be sending the One-Tailed Jinchuriki to participate."
Kakashi was shocked: "The One-Tail?"
The joint Chunin Exams between allied nations were like a war without smoke, a display of village power.
The Sand Village's ambition was clear by sending their Jinchuriki.
They wanted to outperform Konoha in this display to gain more support from the Land of Wind and a higher status in the alliance.
Sarutobi Hiruzen did not continue this topic but instead asked an unrelated question: "How has your observation of Naruto been lately?"
Kakashi shook his head: "No anomalies."
"His performance is excellent."
"Personality, ability, talent—I can hardly find any flaws."
"Currently, Team 7 can actually be said to be led by him."
Sarutobi Hiruzen, deep in thought, spoke decisively: "Is that so?"
"This joint exam is crucial; Konoha cannot lose to the Sand Village. Naruto must participate."
"So we need to eliminate any last risks."
"Confirm Naruto's current strength."
"Ensure he has no connections with outsiders."
"Even confirm the seal on the Nine-Tails..."
"And recently, the only C-rank mission that involves leaving the village and fits the current situation is this one."
"I will send Anbu to follow and ensure Sasuke and Sakura's safety."
Kakashi bowed his head for a while before saying, "Naruto has the sensory ability of the Uzumaki clan."
"I will ensure they proceed with caution," Sarutobi Hiruzen said softly. "Observe closely, Kakashi. You are the one closest to Naruto."
At the gate of Konoha Village.
Naruto and his team met their client.
Tazuna, a drunken old man, said, "Three kids... I paid so much, and Konoha sends these people to solve my problem?"
Haruno Sakura was furious, clenching her fist.
Uchiha Sasuke gritted his teeth, feeling disrespected.
Naruto calmly responded, "Genin are sufficient to complete a C-rank mission."
"Additionally, a Jōnin instructor will accompany us. Please rest assured."
Tazuna looked at Naruto, shivering with the influence of alcohol, and muttered, "You kid really are different from those two."
As expected, Kakashi was late again.
His frivolous excuse made Tazuna's heart pound. Is this really a Jōnin?
He didn't seem very reliable.
Among the four, only the shortest blonde boy gave him a feeling of steadiness.
"In that case, let's depart," ordered Hatake Kakashi.
Shortly after leaving the village, Naruto turned his head to look at the forest beside the road.
He sensed several chakra presences mingled together, some strong, some weak, some moving through the forest, others staying still in the trees.
But soon, these chakra presences moved away and disappeared.
Just passing by?
Naruto withdrew his gaze.
The road remained peaceful, except for Tazuna's incessant complaints about the hardships and suffering in his village. He kept saying that only by building the bridge could the people of the Land of Waves leave that impoverished island and gain a new life.
Without the bridge.
They would die in the sea along with the Land of Waves.
Until Tazuna complained for the third time.
Naruto suddenly moved, standing in front of Tazuna, his gaze fixed on a puddle not far away.
"What is it?" Tazuna was startled. He looked around but saw nothing. He burped and couldn't help but complain, "What is it, kid? You scared me..."
Naruto whispered, "Ahead, two ninjas."
"When we left the village, I sensed their chakra presence."
"Appearing here now, they must be lying in ambush for us."
Sasuke unhesitatingly pulled out a kunai and threw it at the puddle.
He knew Naruto had a sensing ability.
Clang—
An iron claw suddenly emerged from the water, deflecting the kunai.
"A kid with sensing ability?" A voice came from behind an iron chain that whipped out, accompanied by a shout, "That's rare."
Naruto drew his sword.
He slashed at the chain, "Hadō #11. Tsuzuri Raiden (綴雷電, Bound Lightning)," golden light transmitted.
The two men standing in the water were instantly paralyzed, still cursing.
Naruto then moved in a flash.
Instead of swinging his sword, he lightly waved his hand, and a golden chakra rope emerged from his palm, flexibly binding the two men tightly.
Kakashi squinted his eyes.
Another unfamiliar technique.
And still no hand seals required.
The golden rope looked somewhat like the sealing technique "Adamantine Sealing Chains" that his teacher's wife used to favor, but different. One was a rope, the other was a chain.
In an instant, the enemy was subdued.
Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura had only managed to shield Tazuna.
And this drunken old man hadn't even had the time to be surprised by the ninja attack.
Naruto calmly placed the sword against one of the men's necks, "Speak. Who is the mastermind behind the attack on Tazuna?"
He wasn't sure of their target.
It could be Tazuna, it could be himself.
Uchiha Sasuke was also valuable.
This method of questioning, asserting a specific "result," was an interrogation technique. Captain Yoruichi had taught him this aspect.
~~~
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