Iruka was well aware that in the past, during the era of wars, many freshly graduated Genin were forced to go straight to the battlefield. Kakashi graduated from the academy at the age of five and became a Jonin at twelve, and Iruka knew this was a well-known fact not only in Konoha but throughout the ninja world. However, he believed that the situation was incomparable.
Leaving Kakashi aside, even in a general sense, during the wartime, villages had to send freshly graduated Genin to the frontlines; otherwise, they risked losing the war, leading to severe consequences for the village. There was a need for cannon fodder, and throughout the history of the five great ninja villages, only two ninja, Uchiha Madara and Hashirama Senju, were known to ignore quantity and pose a threat. Even the so-called "strongest" Sanin of the Hidden Cloud Village had perished under a sea of enemy ninja due to their sheer numbers. Therefore, the use of cannon fodder was essential during wartime.
Furthermore, Iruka himself could be considered a person from the end of the war period. He was well aware that sending fresh Genin to the frontlines was akin to sending them to their deaths. He couldn't ignore this fact.
But just as Iruka began to voice his concerns, he was interrupted by the Third Hokage's wave of his hand.
"Iruka, Naruto and his team are no longer academy kids but qualified Konoha ninja," the Third Hokage said. Although his tone was gentle, there was no doubt in his words. This left Iruka momentarily surprised, but he eventually nodded silently.
"Yes, I understand, Lord Third."
Then, with a complex look in his eyes, Iruka turned his gaze to Naruto, not far away. In that gaze, there was a mix of nostalgia, concern, and pride. In that moment, Iruka truly realized how much Naruto had grown. He remembered Naruto's unwavering determination and courage when he stood up to protect Iruka back in the day. Iruka's expression softened.
"You really have grown, Naruto."
Meanwhile, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, who were standing in the front, couldn't hide their smiles in response to the Third Hokage's decision. Sasuke, who was usually reserved, allowed a faint smile to grace his lips. In reality, his thoughts weren't much different from Naruto's. He was tired of the repetitive and unchallenging D-Rank missions and looked forward to taking on C-Rank missions where they could gain real combat experience.
As for Kakashi, an elite Jonin, he wore an indifferent expression. He had faced much more dangerous missions in his career, and this assignment was nothing to him. Sakura, on the other hand, felt a bit uneasy. Over a hundred bandits? Could it be dangerous? She couldn't help but worry about the mission's potential risks.
Sasuke, however, was excited. The mission meant they would get some combat experience, and while these bandits weren't ninja, he looked forward to testing his skills in real combat situations. In fact, facing regular bandits seemed far better than the dull D-Rank missions they had been assigned. He had bigger goals in mind, aiming for B-Rank missions after they gained more experience. Stronger opponents meant faster growth.
Naruto's emotions, on the other hand, were mixed. At this moment, he wasn't sure how to express himself. When the Third Hokage spoke, Naruto's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
[End of Chapter 55]