The life of a ninja is hardly exciting, especially for a low-ranking one. For Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke, it consisted of a monotonous cycle of low-level tasks: fishing out debris from rivers, cleaning up city streets, and helping wealthy nobles retrieve their lost pets. The best they could hope for was to scare off wild animals near farmlands.
Naruto realized these tasks were not as simple as they seemed. Dealing with the public or nobles was not just about completing chores; it was a way to intentionally cultivate their reputation in the village. So far, the effect had been minimal. A handful of wealthy nobles and merchants recognized them enough to exchange greetings when they crossed paths. In the course of more than a month, that was their only gain.
Naruto's perception of Kakashi had worsened. As their leader, the jōnin leader barely took care of them. He was an incompetent leader; even Uncle Harusui didn't fall behind him in that regard. Sasuke had once asked Kakashi about the origins of his "Sharingan," only to be fobbed off, and so he stopped inquiring. Naruto had also straightforwardly asked whether they could be taught some ninjutsu, but Kakashi's response was that he would first teach Sasuke and Sakura how to climb trees and walk on water—an incredibly lax approach.
Until the day they finished their tasks and went to report back to the Hokage.
"Your evaluations are quite high, Team Seven," Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a smile as he looked over the mission report, clearly satisfied. "Efficient and well-handled."
No one replied. The four of them stood obediently.
"Having done these tasks for a month, how do you feel about it?" Hiruzen asked while tapping the ash off his pipe. "Do you find it tedious or boring?"
Naruto shrugged. Sasuke remained silent, feeling like he was becoming stronger during this time, which was the result he aimed for. The specific tasks mattered little to him. Sakura shared this sentiment but was too timid to voice it.
"With your abilities and performance, it's time you attempted higher-difficulty tasks," Hiruzen said, picking up a scroll from the table. "Let's see."
He tossed the scroll over to them.
"A C-rank protection mission," he stated as Kakashi turned sideways to take a look.
Naruto reached out to grab the scroll and read the mission objective: protect the bridge builder, Tazuna, from the Land of Waves until the completion of the bridge. They left to make preparations. Kakashi followed Hiruzen into another office at the Hokage's gesture.
"Hokage-sama, do you have any orders?" Kakashi inquired.
"This mission cannot be regarded as a simple C-rank," Hiruzen said, puffing out a stream of smoke. "The intel collected by the Anbu indicates that the issuer lied. There will be other ninjas involved in this mission."
"Perhaps the notorious rogue, Zabuza Momochi, will rear his head."
"That would mean this mission should be rated A-rank."
"Isn't it a bit premature to send them?"
"While Naruto is capable, Sasuke and Sakura…"
Hiruzen interrupted him, "There's still a month until the joint Chunin Exams with Sunagakure."
"According to the information, they plan to send a Tailed Beast to participate."
Kakashi was taken aback. "A Tailed Beast?"
The joint Chunin Exams between allied nations served as a non-violent battlefield for showcasing national strength. Sunagakure's ambition, sending a Jinchūriki, was clear to all. They sought to outperform Konoha in this display to gain greater support from the Land of Wind, elevating their status in the alliance.
Saruobi Hiruzen didn't pursue that topic further but posed an unrelated question, "What have you observed of Naruto during this time?"
Kakashi shook his head. "Nothing unusual. His performance has been excellent. I can hardly find faults in his temperament, abilities, or talent. Team Seven can effectively be said to be led by him now."
Hiruzen fell into thought, his tone resolute. "Is that truly the case? This upcoming joint exam is vital; Konoha cannot afford to lose to Sunagakure. Naruto must participate."
"Thus, we need to assess the remaining risks."
"Confirm Naruto's current strength."
"Ascertain whether he has any connections with other villages."
"There's only this one C-rank mission available that aligns with our current circumstances."
"I will dispatch the Anbu to ensure Sasuke and Sakura's safety."
Kakashi lowered his head, contemplating for a while. "Naruto has the sensory abilities of the Uzumaki Clan."
"We will ensure they act cautiously," Hiruzen replied softly. "Pay close attention. Kakashi, you are the closest to Naruto."
At the gates of Konoha, Naruto and the team met up with their client.
Tazuna was a drunken old man. "Three little brats! I've paid so much, and Konoha sends this guy to solve my problems?"
Sakura's temper flared, her fists clenched tightly. Sasuke gritted his teeth, feeling slightly insulted.
Naruto remained calm. "A low-ranking ninja is sufficient for a C-rank task. Plus, we have a jōnin accompanying us, so you can rest assured, sir."
Tazuna locked eyes with Naruto, startled. He mumbled, "You little brat are quite different from those two."
Kakashi, as expected, was late once more. His casual excuses made Tazuna doubt that he was truly a jōnin. Among the four of them, only the shortest blonde boy gave Tazuna a feeling of reliability.
"Then let's set off," Kakashi commanded.
Not long after leaving the village, Naruto turned his gaze toward the woods beside the road. He sensed several chakra signatures mingled together—some strong, some weak—some moving through the trees while others remained stationary.
But soon enough, those chakra signatures dispersed and vanished. Were they just passing by?
Naruto redirected his attention. The journey remained calm, though Tazuna rambled incessantly about the hardships of his country and his longing to construct the bridge that would enable the people of the Land of Waves to escape their barren island and attain a new life.
Without that bridge, they would perish alongside the Land of Waves in the sea.
It wasn't until Tazuna began his third complaint that Naruto abruptly turned, positioning himself in front of him and focusing on a area ahead where water pooled.
"What's the matter?" Tazuna exclaimed in surprise, glancing around and finding nothing unusual. He let out a drunken burp and complained, "What is it, brat? You scared me."
Naruto whispered, "Up ahead, two ninjas."
"When we left the village earlier, I sensed their chakra presence."
"Now that they've shown up here, they must be laying an ambush for us."
Without hesitation, Sasuke produced a kunai and hurled it toward the water's edge. He was aware of Naruto's sensory talent.
Clang—
A metallic claw burst from the water, deflecting the kunai away.
"A little brat with sensory abilities?" A metallic chain whipped from behind Naruto, accompanied by a voice that chastised, "How rare."
Naruto drew his blade, swinging it toward the iron chain, unleashing. "Way of Destruction No. 11: Light of Thunder." The golden light surged forward.
The two figures standing in the water instantly froze.
Naruto blinked and moved like a flash, but rather than striking, he effortlessly swirled gold chakra ropes from his palm, wrapping them tightly around the two ninjas.
Kakashi squinted his eyes, witnessing yet another never-before-seen technique. It was executed without hand seals.
The golden ropes resembled the sealing technique "Diamond Lock" favored by his late sensei, but they had distinct appearances—one was a rope and the other a chain.
In an instant, the enemy was subdued. Sasuke and Sakura barely had time to shield Tazuna. The drunken old man hadn't even had a moment to feel shocked about being attacked by ninjas.
Calmly, Naruto pressed his blade against the neck of one assailant. "Speak—the one who ordered the attack on Tazuna is who?"
He wasn't sure whom the targets were—it could have been Tazuna or even himself.
Sasuke also held value. This direct method of questioning was a tactic he had learned from Captain Yoruichi regarding interrogation techniques.