After their initial formation, Kakashi did not specifically test the strength of the Seventh Squad. It was unnecessary—Sarutobi Hiruzen himself had tasked him with mentoring this group, and Kakashi already had a fair understanding of their abilities.
The so-called teamwork assessment had always been a formality. Even if Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura failed spectacularly, Kakashi wasn't going to send them back to the Academy.
Once the Seventh Squad officially began their missions, Kakashi assigned them the usual D-rank tasks: retrieving lost pets, farming chores, and cleaning work. Though monotonous, these activities kept the team occupied, and all three of them endured the routine surprisingly well.
Despite the dull nature of their tasks, Naruto was not one to waste time. He used his Shadow Clones to practice constantly. Through his experiments with the Rasengan, Naruto refined his chakra control skills, progressing at an impressive rate. Compression, cohesion, and chakra release—the fundamentals of mastery—all came together in his relentless training.
---
A New Mission
One day, the monotony broke. Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned the Seventh Squad to his office and introduced them to their first notable client: a gruff, middle-aged man named Tazuna.
Tazuna carried the scent of cheap sake and skepticism.
"Are you sure you brats can protect me?" he asked after draining half a bottle of liquor.
Kakashi gave his trademark eye smile. "The mission success rate of Konoha shinobi is quite high, Tazuna-san. Rest assured."
Tazuna grumbled something under his breath but reluctantly accepted Kakashi's assurances.
Unbeknownst to the team, Tazuna had withheld key details about the mission. His actions had drawn the attention of Kado, a ruthless businessman who had already sent mercenaries after him. But Tazuna lacked the funds for a higher-level mission, and so, the truth remained hidden.
The group left Konoha the following day, setting out on their journey to the Land of Waves.
---
A Curious World
For Naruto, stepping out of Konoha Village felt like entering an entirely new dimension.
"So this is the outside world?" Naruto muttered, his eyes darting to the surrounding woods. Though the landscape was not particularly remarkable, Naruto couldn't contain his excitement.
The others, however, were less impressed.
As they moved along the trail, Tazuna sipped from his bottle, occasionally casting wary glances at the young team assigned to guard him.
"Hey," he grunted, "you sure these kids are up to the task? They look more like they should be at home doing homework."
Kakashi didn't miss a beat. "Don't worry, Tazuna-san. My team is more than capable of handling anything we might encounter on the road."
---
An Unwelcome Surprise
The journey was uneventful until they encountered a suspicious puddle in the middle of the path. Naruto stopped abruptly, his gaze fixed on the water.
Sakura noticed his hesitation. "What's wrong, Naruto?"
"Something's off," Naruto muttered, narrowing his eyes. "It hasn't rained in days, and the ground around here is bone dry. So why is there a puddle of water in the middle of the road?"
Kakashi glanced at Naruto and gave a subtle nod of approval.
Sakura, on the other hand, laughed nervously. "Maybe someone spilled some water? Don't overthink it, Naruto."
Naruto didn't respond. He extended his senses, scanning the area with heightened vigilance.
"I know you're hiding in there," he called out, his voice steady. "Show yourselves!"
The puddle rippled ominously.
"Kid's sharp," a gravelly voice muttered from within.
---
The Demon Brothers
Two figures erupted from the puddle—masked shinobi wielding barbed chains. These were the infamous Demon Brothers of the Hidden Mist.
Before Sakura could react, the pair launched a coordinated attack, their chains glinting dangerously as they closed in on Naruto.
"Naruto!" Sakura screamed, frozen in terror.
But Naruto was ready. With a sudden burst of chakra, he stepped forward and threw a devastating punch. The force of the blow sent one of the brothers hurtling into the woods. The chain snapped taut, dragging the second brother along with him.
The forest echoed with the sound of their impact.
---
A Hidden Strength
Everyone stared, dumbfounded.
Tazuna's jaw dropped. "W-What just happened?"
Sakura's face turned pale. "Naruto… How did you—"
Even Sasuke, always composed, was momentarily stunned.
Kakashi's visible eye widened in astonishment. That wasn't just a punch—it was a display of strange force chakra control, a technique reminiscent of Tsunade's legendary strength.
Naruto exhaled slowly, shaking out his hand.
"Good thing I was cautious," he muttered under his breath. "Condensing chakra on my fist in advance really paid off."
Inside him, the Nine-Tails stirred.
"You're ridiculously cautious for a brat," the beast growled.
Naruto smirked. "Hey, you never know what could happen out here. Better safe than sorry."
---
Reactions from the Pure Land
Elsewhere, the Pure Land buzzed with activity.
Momochi Zabuza, watching the events unfold, groaned. "Tazuna again? That old drunk's ghost must be haunting me!"
Beside him, Haku chuckled softly but said nothing.
Meanwhile, the other Kage shared their thoughts.
Ōnoki of the Stone: "The kid's perceptiveness is impressive. He caught on to the trap immediately. Not bad for a fresh Genin."
Fourth Raikage: "He's got potential, sure, but let's not overstate it. He's still green when it comes to real combat experience."
Terumi Mei: "He's sharp and observant. You have to give him credit for that."
Tsunade, however, was fixated on the technique.
"That wasn't just brute force," she muttered. "He used chakra control to enhance his punch. It's a proper strange force technique!"
Jiraiya leaned back, a grin spreading across his face. "Looks like Naruto's been training harder than we thought."
---
The Journey Continues
Back on the trail, Naruto turned to Kakashi.
"Sensei, why didn't you step in?"
Kakashi chuckled. "You seemed to have it under control. Besides, this was a good learning opportunity for you."
Sasuke scowled. He wouldn't admit it, but Naruto's performance had impressed him. The idiot who used to paint graffiti on the Hokage Monument had just defeated two trained shinobi without breaking a sweat.
"Don't get cocky," Sasuke muttered.
Naruto grinned. "What's the matter, Sasuke? Jealous?"
"Hardly."
Sakura, meanwhile, was still recovering from the shock. She resolved to improve herself, realizing she couldn't rely on her teammates forever.
As for Tazuna, his confidence in the team grew slightly—though he still couldn't shake the nagging feeling that more trouble lay ahead.
Unbeknownst to the group, a far greater threat awaited them in the Land of Waves: the rogue ninja Momochi Zabuza.
---
With Naruto's first real fight under his belt, the Seventh Squad continued their journey, each member silently bracing themselves for the challenges yet to come.
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