Kakashi Hatake, the reincarnation of Indra and Asura everyone's got a cheat, except Sakura.
But too bad. My cheat is stronger than all of yours.
While Neji and his team were sizing up Team 7, the other group was doing the same. Perhaps it was an unspoken instinct between rivals. Still, Sasuke and the others didn't seem to care about Neji's team in the slightest. They were... unusually aloof.
"Hmph. Frogs at the bottom of a well. They think they're strong." Neji scoffed at Sasuke's arrogance, thoroughly unimpressed.
Sakura, on the other hand, kept glancing Neji's way now and then. And Lee kept sneaking looks at Sakura, though he didn't act on it this wasn't the time or place.
I'll find a chance to confess, Lee thought to himself with quiet determination.
Just then, a worn, gravelly voice cut through the air it was Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Well now, since you're back, Guy, why don't you take a look at this mission and see if your team wants to take it?"
He then called toward the entrance. "Bring in Mr. Tazuna."
Hearing that name, Neji's eyes gleamed with an unfamiliar light.
Tazuna the Land of Waves mission.
In the original timeline, Team 9 missed out on this mission, likely because they hadn't returned yet. What a twist of fate to stumble upon it now.
This was a golden opportunity. After all, Neji had yet to test himself against a real jonin. And this one wasn't just any jonin, but an elite among elites.
Moments later, a scruffy, disheveled middle-aged man stumbled in, clutching a sake jug and reeking of alcohol.
"What is this? You're seriously sending a bunch of kids to protect me? What can they possibly do?" Tazuna grumbled in annoyance.
He took a long swig of his drink, then muttered again, "I'm the client, you know..."
Neji shot him a disdainful glance. Tazuna may have had good intentions and a loyal heart, but that didn't give him the right to disregard others.
Had this mission fallen to Kurenai's team instead of Kakashi's, it could've cost Konoha dearly.
This kind of irresponsible behavior yet he still dares to act superior? If not for my desire to face Zabuza, I'd expose his lies right here and now.
"That's enough, Mr. Tazuna. Please calm down," said Hiruzen.
"This is a C-rank escort mission. So, who wants it?"
C-rank?
Naruto and Sasuke's eyes lit up.
After a lifetime of pulling weeds and chasing cats, they were finally getting a real mission.
"Kakashi-sensei, take it, take it!" Naruto and Sasuke all but shouted, pleading with their teacher.
But the lazy look in Kakashi's eye made it clear he wasn't too keen on accepting.
Still, with his students so fired up, he reluctantly stepped forward.
"Haha! Kakashi, I never thought I'd see the day when you'd stoop to taking C-rank missions. My team's already completed an A-rank, you know!" Might Guy boomed with laughter. After all these years, he'd finally outdone Kakashi, fair and square.
An A-rank mission?!
Naruto and Sasuke gaped at Neji's team in shock.
"Old man! Why do they get A-rank missions?" Naruto protested, but Hiruzen ignored him.
"A-rank... Why is it always someone else? At this rate, how will I ever get strong enough to take revenge... to kill that man?"
Sasuke's inner voice roared with frustration, his nails digging into his palms without even realizing it.
Kakashi looked back at his three students. Sakura was the only remotely reliable one. As for the other two... sigh.
Then he glanced over at Guy's team. A twinge of melancholy settled in his heart.
But before Guy could enjoy his brief moment of triumph, a voice rang out behind him, disrupting the mood.
"Guy-sensei, let's take the mission," Neji spoke, calm but firm.
Lee, Tenten, and Guy all blinked in surprise. It was the first time Neji had voiced his opinion so directly.
Guy's face twitched. That slap came a little too fast.
"Well, Kakashi, looks like I'll have to compete with you for this one. My students are bursting with youthful energy!" Guy grinned and scratched his head.
Kakashi, however, was too wrapped in his own gloom to notice anything being said.
"So... both teams want this mission?"
Hiruzen glanced at both teams and came to a swift decision.
"Then I'll assign it to Team 9."
"What?! We got here first!" Sasuke and Naruto shouted in unison.
Hiruzen remained calm. "Team 9 graduated a year ahead of you. They've excelled in every area and even completed an A-rank mission. If you had their level of skill, I'd give you a C-rank task too. But right now, you're not ready."
Chuckling, Guy walked up to Tazuna. "Well then, Mr. Tazuna, let's get going."
Escort missions weren't short trips they had to be prepared for the long haul.
Neji and the others went home to pack before heading to the village gate.
There, Tazuna was pacing restlessly.
"What took you so long? Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting?" he grumbled on and on.
Annoyed, Neji shot him a sharp glare. A man who lies about a mission's rank has no right to criticize others.
One glance from Neji, and Tazuna immediately quieted down, suddenly feeling very small.
After leaving the village, Neji kept stealing glances at Tazuna, making the man increasingly uneasy.
Why does it feel like this white-eyed kid can see right through me? Tazuna thought, unable to meet Neji's gaze.
Guy and the others noticed but brushed it off, assuming it was just a quirk of the Byakugan.
After all, the Byakugan did seem pretty strange to ordinary folks.
Neji watched the sweat trickling down Tazuna's face and sneered inwardly. Keep acting. I want to see how long you can keep up the charade.
"Haha! Don't worry, Mr. Tazuna. I swear on my youth we'll protect you with everything we've got!"
Guy gave the old man a hearty slap on the back, his smile beaming with confidence.
"Y-yeah..." Tazuna replied with a stiff, uneasy grin.
By midday, they arrived at a bridge.
Unsurprisingly, there it was that puddle.
Neji looked around at the parched land and the blazing sun overhead, then back down at the suspicious patch of water.
As expected. These two idiots again. Neji snorted.
Any shinobi with half a brain wouldn't choose this spot for an ambush.
As soon as they spotted the puddle, Guy, Lee, and Tenten immediately circled around it. They weren't newbies like Team 7 this kind of anomaly stood out like a sore thumb.
"Hmm... Something feels off here..." Guy muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"Should we test it?" Tenten asked, pulling out a handful of shuriken, ready to throw.