We are standing in the Hokage's office. All four of us, the full team. Today is our first C-rank mission. Two months have passed since my ordeal with placing seals. Twice more, I donned the mask and picked up the stencil, applying seals on shinobi returning from long-range reconnaissance and missions. It turned out my seals were incredibly effective – their effect exceeded the basic parameters by 12 times. 360 kilometers – that's the distance at which the signal from my seals stopped. Compared to the usual 30-50 kilometers for most people. The masters were clutching their heads and crying with envy. The bloodline legacy gives an enormous advantage. I now had plenty of money, but I wasn't rushing to spend it; I still had a district to restore! I only started eating properly and bought some clothes. In total, I had completed 30 D-rank missions, two B-rank missions, and one A-rank mission.
My chakra control no longer caused people to grab their heads and run in terror. I walk up trees and walls with ease, and can manage standing on water decently. When trying to master the first stage of the Rasengan, my clones don't explode as reliably as before. I've "restored" my kunai-throwing skills.
– So, your mission. The target is an arrogant merchant. According to intelligence, he started dealing drugs from the Land of Tea. His guards are regular mercenaries, no shinobi. He is only two days away from the village. Kill him and return.
– Understood, Hokage-sama, – Kakashi replies.
– We meet at the village gates in an hour. We won't wait for latecomers. – A glance in my direction. You picked the wrong person! I return a very skeptical look at the commander. He shrugs and leaves using the Body Flicker Technique.
– Hokage-sama, if the commander fails to show up for the mission, may I take command? – Sarutobi bit his pipe and smiled slyly.
– Naruto-kun, if the commander is absent, you can take command as the most experienced member of Team 7.
– Most experienced? – Sakura blinked in confusion.
– Hmph. Hokage is joking, Sakura.
– Sasuke-kun, I'm not joking. If the commander is absent, follow Naruto's lead. – A mischievous smile and genuine mischief in his eyes.
A complete mind-break. Leaving the team to meditate, I went to pack. Black pants, comfortable shoes, a gray T-shirt, and a gray jacket. Shuriken pouch on my left thigh, kunai on the right. A medical kit and ANBU poison set go into the backpack, along with two sets of spare clothes and rations for four days. A backup won't kill me, and trouble loves to happen. In the hidden compartment of the backpack go a mask and a couple of large bills. I was allowed to add the first mark to the mask. Now I have one red whisker on the left side. I hope to grow into the Fox over time.
We met at the gates, and no one was late. I expected sensei to be hours late, but on the contrary, he was overly punctual and polite. A completely different person than the one shown in the anime.
– Naruto-kun, why did the Hokage say you have more experience? – Sakura began asking.
– I've already completed a similar mission. – I lied.
– You... have already killed someone? – Fear filled her eyes. Sasuke turned. A wave of attention came from sensei.
– Yes. I've killed before, Sakura-chan. No more questions. I don't want to remember. – I cut off the conversation.
Sasuke turned away with a strange expression. I strain my empathy. The answer comes, though muffled: envy! What is this idiot envious of? He's clearly not all there if he's envious of killing. Damn it... how am I supposed to work with him?
– Kakashi-taicho, maybe we should take the upper paths? At this pace, we'll never get there.
– Sakura doesn't know how to move that way, Naruto-kun. – Kakashi's voice had a tinge of regret, he wasn't thrilled either. – She has perfect chakra control and knows the theory well. – The girl began to glow with pride. – However, despite my efforts, she's completely useless in practice, – sensei crushed her.
– I'll carry her,– I suggest because walking is painfully slow.
– No! Sasuke-kun, tell him! – What exactly is he supposed to tell me? His nerves might be shot, but his brain still works somewhat.
– Hmph. – Seems I was too quick to praise him. I start getting irritated.
Facepalm. What a mess!
– Guys, you're a team! – Sensei, I wish the gods would hear you. – Sakura, stop being silly; nothing will happen if Naruto carries you.
– Let Sasuke carry me! – the pink monster insists.
– Sasuke, can you manage? – I ask him.
– Hmph!
– To hell with your 'hmph.' Should I strap her onto your back? Will you carry her or collapse on the way?
– I'll carry her. – His voice drips with enough contempt to load a freight train without it budging.
I take Sasuke's backpack, and we move to the upper paths. After an hour, our black-haired superman starts gasping for air. Ten minutes later, he crashes from a branch with Sakura. Kakashi barely manages to turn and catch them. No injuries.
I headbutt a tree in resignation. This isn't a team, it's a punishment. I wish I had Hinata and Shikamaru. One would be doting on me, the other is no fool... I think. Though, I've never seen them in real life, so it's unfair to judge. Sasuke just needs a bit of shaking up, and he could turn out okay. As for Sakura, I'll have to push her to open her eyes. Oh well. We work with what we've got.