Inside a narrow alley, Ino had cornered Naruto against the wall.Her golden bangs cast shadows over half her face, while her piercing blue eyes locked onto him.
"Hey! Does Sasuke even like girls or not?"
"What?" Naruto tilted his head, looking confused, as though he had no idea why she was asking.
"Don't play dumb! You were the one who said that!" Ino snapped, clutching his shirt in frustration."Quit pretending, Naruto!"
"Then you should go ask Sasuke directly." Naruto's lips curved into a sly grin, almost playful.
"Ugh! Damn it!" Ino groaned, clutching her head in both hands."Does he, or doesn't he?"
"I've got an idea," Naruto suddenly said, his tone mischievous.
"What idea?" Ino's eyes lit up instantly.
"You know how the Leaf ninjas get that annual hot springs retreat? Just wait for Sasuke to be alone, then sneak into the men's side—"
"Go to hell!"
Her hopes dashed, Ino let out a long sigh and finally gave up.
Since her family's flower shop was nearby, Naruto walked her there before heading back to his apartment. Honestly, his relationship with the Ino–Shika–Cho trio wasn't bad at all.
The next morning marked the end of their two-day break.Kakashi summoned Team 7, telling them their mission had been approved—and that he had taken on their first C-rank assignment.
"Protect a bridge builder in the Land of Waves?" Sakura asked.
"That's right." Kakashi, as usual, looked unbothered, his droopy eyes unreadable as his hands stayed in his pockets."Perk up. This is your first C-rank mission. Normally, C-rank jobs aren't dangerous, but once you leave the village, anything can happen. Bandits, rogue shinobi, pirates, even enemy ninja—all of these can escalate a mission without warning."
"Tch. You sure like to nag, Kakashi-sensei." Naruto wasn't nearly as gloomy as he had been during the rainy day. This morning, he'd tossed a bag of garbage right in front of those same villagers who always glared at him. The moment they noticed his forehead protector, they'd shrunk back in silence. That alone had lifted his spirits.
Kakashi, ignoring his complaints, simply smacked Naruto on the head."Team 7. Half an hour. At the village gate. Dismissed."With a poof, he vanished in smoke.
"I can't wait to see what this bridge builder is like," Sakura said with anticipation.
"Doesn't matter who he is," Sasuke replied coolly. "It's just a protection job. No combat, like Kakashi said.""Boring. Let's just finish it fast."
Naruto glanced at him—and noticed the blue wristband on Sasuke's arm.
"What about you, Naruto? What do you think this bridge builder will be like?" Sakura turned to ask.
"Dunno. Probably a grumpy old man," Naruto answered lazily with a yawn.
Half an hour later, at the village gates—
"You've got to be kidding me! I paid good money for this, and you send me three brats? What kind of joke is this?"
The "bridge builder" in question was a tall, scruffy man clutching a sake bottle, glaring at Kakashi.
"Is this Konoha's idea of protection? How am I supposed to be safe like this? I'm a bridge expert, you hear me!"
Sakura's face darkened as she eyed the unkempt old man. When she glanced at Naruto, his smug expression seemed to say: Told you so.
Kakashi kept smiling patiently, trying to reassure him. But the old man wasn't convinced in the slightest.
"I am Tazuna, master bridge builder of the Land of Waves!" he declared proudly.
Naruto finally lost his patience."Shut it, old man! What's so great about building bridges anyway?"
"You little brat!" Tazuna fumed, but after some effort from Kakashi, he grudgingly agreed to set out.
Half a day later—
The group reached the edge of the Fire Country forest. Ahead lay the ferry crossing to the Land of Waves. Kakashi's eyes narrowed, scanning the surroundings sharply.
Sasuke noticed and tensed as well, his calm expression hiding his alertness.
Naruto had sensed the pursuit long ago. The Mist ninja's tailing skills were laughably bad. Still humming a tune, he kept walking as if nothing bothered him.
Even Sakura began to feel uneasy, her heartbeat quickening as Naruto's odd humming only deepened her anxiety. Just as she opened her mouth to speak—
Two ninjas leapt from the bushes, swinging barbed chains straight at Kakashi!
In that moment, time itself seemed to freeze. The humid air stopped. Sweat on Naruto's skin felt suspended in place.
The strange sensation vanished as quickly as it came—colors flooding back into the world.A metallic chime echoed in his mind.
The scene snapped forward. Kakashi's body was shredded in blood and gore.
But Naruto knew better. A substitution jutsu.
Ignoring Sakura's scream, he watched calmly as the two Mist ninja turned toward him, convinced he was defenseless.
"Naruto, move!" Sakura cried.
But Naruto didn't budge.
"Tch." Sasuke clicked his tongue, flinging three shuriken to intercept the attack, forcing the assassins back for a moment.
Finally, Naruto moved—not backward, but forward, rushing straight at them.
"Idiot! That's dangerous!" Sakura shouted in terror.
Even Sasuke was startled, though he quickly followed, kunai in hand."Sakura! Protect Tazuna!" he barked.
Her heart pounded wildly as she watched them charge ahead. Why aren't they afraid? For their very first mission, they looked nothing like her—hesitant and shaken.
Then came Naruto's furious roar."Damn it! Are you kidding me?!"
"System! Give me my options already!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In moments, the two Mist ninja were left bruised and broken on the ground, while Naruto kept muttering strange words as he pounded them mercilessly.
Sasuke froze mid-run, his eyes wide in disbelief.
And Kakashi—completely unharmed—stood at a distance, watching Naruto and shaking his head.