Chapter 6: The Drunkard's Mission
Team 7's excitement for their first real missions quickly fizzled. The "glorious" tasks assigned to them were a string of D-rank chores: catching runaway cats, pulling weeds, and cleaning yards. By the end of the week, Naruto's patience had worn thin, and his frustration boiled over in the Hokage's office.
"I don't wanna do D-rank missions!" Naruto wailed, rolling on the floor like a tantruming toddler. "No more catching cats! It's too boring!" He thrashed, arms flailing, a one-man chaos show.
Renji stood nearby, watching the squirming blond blob at his feet. The scene reminded him of a kid from his past life, throwing a fit over a toy in a store. He glanced up, catching the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, staring at him with a curious expression.
Renji flashed a sunny, stitched smile, his mismatched eyes glinting.
Hiruzen blinked, taken aback. This is Danzo's kid? He couldn't reconcile the bright, almost angelic smile with the cold, scheming Danzo. Shouldn't he have a sinister smirk, like his mentor? Sweat beaded on the Hokage's brow, his thoughts spiraling.
Oblivious to Hiruzen's confusion, Renji bent down and hauled Naruto up by the collar, pulling the "unknown creature" off the floor. Naruto huffed, turning his head away to sulk at the Hokage.
Hiruzen sighed, defeated. No one could withstand Naruto's tantrum assault—not even the leader of Konoha. "Alright," he relented, rubbing his temple. "I'll give you a C-rank mission. You'll be protecting someone."
Naruto's eyes lit up, his sulking forgotten. "Is it a feudal lord? Or a princess?!" he asked, practically bouncing.
Renji bit back a smirk. Neither, you idiot. It's a drunkard. He didn't need to say it—the client stumbled in the next second, reeking of sake and clutching a bottle like a lifeline.
The drunkard, Tazuna, sized up Team 7 with a scowl. "What?! Just a bunch of brats?" The stench of alcohol filled the room, making Sakura wrinkle her nose. "Especially the shortest one! He looks super dumb. Is he really a ninja?"
Naruto burst out laughing, turning to Renji with a grin. "Hahaha! Renji, this uncle's making fun of you!"
Renji stepped silently to Naruto's side, towering half a head taller. Naruto's laughter died in his throat, his face flushing as he realized his mistake. Kakashi, suppressing a chuckle, held Naruto back as he snarled at Tazuna. "Idiot old man! Drunken old man! You're the fool!"
Tazuna swayed, unfazed. "I'm the super famous bridge builder, Tazuna. You brats better protect me with everything you've got until I get back to my country and finish my bridge!"
Renji mentally dubbed him Drunken Man. The name suited him better.
...
At Konoha's gate, Naruto was a bundle of energy, his bag slung over his shoulder. "Alright! Let's go!" he shouted, touching everything in sight and craning his neck to take in the world beyond the village. "I've never left Konoha before! I'm gonna see everything!"
Renji trailed behind Tazuna, keeping an eye on the swaying client. Sakura stuck close to Sasuke, stealing glances at him, while Sasuke walked with his usual cool detachment. Naruto bounded ahead alone, and Kakashi stayed near Tazuna, scanning their surroundings.
Predictably, Naruto started bickering with Tazuna, his energy clashing with the old man's grumbling. Their voices carried through the air, a mix of insults and complaints.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +1000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +1000!]
[Chakra (8,900 / 100,000,000)]
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +1000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +1000!]
[Chakra (9,900 / 100,000,000)]
Renji's head snapped up, his senses sharpening. That much malice? He scanned the surroundings, his mismatched eyes narrowing. They're already here. The intense killing intent suggested enemies who wouldn't hesitate to slaughter them all. Perfect. More malice, more power.
"Um, Mr. Tazuna," Sakura asked, breaking the tension. "Your country is the Land of Waves, right? Are there ninjas there too?"
Tazuna grunted, barely coherent. Kakashi answered for him, his tone casual. "No, the Land of Waves isn't influenced by other nations. A small island like that doesn't need ninjas."
Sakura nodded, absorbing the information. Ninja Academy taught plenty about the Five Great Nations, but small places like the Land of Waves were barely mentioned.
Kakashi patted her head lightly. "Don't worry, Sakura. C-rank missions don't involve ninja battles."
Renji glanced at Tazuna, catching the old man's guilty blink. Liar. He stepped closer, his voice dripping with mock sincerity. "We trust Mr. Drunken Man completely. But if Mr. Drunken Man's playing a prank and deceiving us, well… let's just say he'll die a miserable death. I'm really looking forward to it!"
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +50!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +50!]
[Chakra (9,950 / 100,000,000)]
Tazuna flinched, his sake bottle trembling. Malice from his own lies? Pathetic.
"Wow, Renji, that was kinda scary!" Naruto said, wide-eyed with surprise.
Kakashi shot Renji a sidelong glance, his eye narrowing. Did he sense something? He stepped over a puddle, his gaze lingering on it for a split second, his expression unreadable.
Screech!
A sharp, birdlike cry pierced the air, followed by a chilling presence behind Kakashi. Iron chains whipped out, wrapping around him, twisting his body apart in a gruesome display. Blood splattered, shocking the genin.
"First one, eliminated!" a voice growled.
"Second one…" The sound of death loomed over Naruto.
Naruto froze, his body drenched in cold sweat, limbs numb with fear. He knew he had to move, or he'd die, but his body refused to obey.
Renji reacted instantly. Monster farming time! His figure blurred, left hand steadying Naruto's shoulder as his feet lashed out, aiming vicious kicks at the throats of the two attackers—rogue ninjas. They rolled away, deflecting his force with a punch, creating distance. Their throats swelled, pain silencing them, cold sweat dripping down their backs. One second slower, and we'd be dead.
Crack!
Iron chains whipped through the air, coiling toward Renji with lethal intent. Dodging would be foolish—the real target was Tazuna. If Renji moved, the Drunken Man was done for.
Bang!
Renji flicked a shuriken from his ninja pouch, pinning the chain to a tree trunk with pinpoint accuracy. In the same breath, he unleashed the move that had staggered Kakashi—a fist wreathed in black and red electric light, distorting the air as it smashed through the chests of both ninjas.
His small frame, lightning-fast and precise, coupled with the spatial distortion of Black Flash, left the enemies unable to track him. Their bodies crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
Kakashi stepped out from the shadows, unharmed. The "blood" on the ground was just wood—a substitution jutsu.
"Kakashi-sensei, you're alive!" Sakura exclaimed, relief flooding her voice.
"…"
Kakashi sighed. He surveyed the scene. Sakura, despite her fear, had positioned herself protectively in front of Tazuna. Sasuke, seeing Renji's overwhelming power, had stayed vigilant, watching for more ambushes. Renji needed no praise—his performance spoke for itself. Naruto, though…
"Naruto, I'm sorry I couldn't save you right away," Kakashi said, his tone gentle but firm. "I didn't expect you to freeze like that."
Naruto stood motionless, head bowed, silent. From Renji's perspective, he looked broken, his usual spark dimmed.
Kakashi turned to the others. "Renji, Sasuke, Sakura—you all did well." His praise was genuine, his eye crinkling slightly.
Renji approached Naruto, his voice soft. "It's okay. The first time's always rough." He remembered his early days in ROOT, helpless against Owl and Nightjar's relentless attacks. "You'll get there."
Then he turned to Tazuna, his smile sharp. "You hid the mission's true rank, and we almost died. Like I said, Mr. Drunken Man, a miserable death awaits."
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +100!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +100!]
[Chakra (10,050 / 100,000,000)]
Tazuna shrank back, fear in his eyes. "It's okay if I die," he mumbled, playing the pity card. "But my poor grandson, only eight years old, will be left alone."
Renji twirled a kunai between his fingers, unmoved. "Since you're so ready, I'll help you."
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +100!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +100!]
[Chakra (10,150 / 100,000,000)]
Tazuna stumbled back, panic rising. "I had my reasons! I could only afford a C-rank mission!"
Renji's expression didn't waver. "That's your problem."
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +500!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +500!]
[Chakra (10,650 / 100,000,000)]
"You evil brat!" Tazuna shouted, his voice cracking.
Kakashi chuckled, stepping in. "Alright, Renji, stop scaring him."
Renji tilted his head. Scaring? I was serious. But the Malice Value was worth it.
...
Thick fog cloaked the sea as their small boat glided through the mist. The boatman, poling nervously, kept glancing around, as if expecting an attack at any moment. Under Kakashi's intense stare, Tazuna finally spilled the truth.
"My life's been targeted for a while," Tazuna admitted, his voice low. "By a man named Gato, a wealthy shipping company owner. On the surface, he's legitimate, but he deals in drugs and contraband, using thugs and ninjas to take over businesses and even countries."
He took a shaky sip of sake. "About a year ago, Gato set his sights on the Land of Waves. He used his wealth and violence to monopolize our maritime transport. For an island nation, controlling the seas means controlling everything—wealth, politics, people."
"The only thing he fears is the bridge I'm building. It's been under construction for years, and it's nearly done. That's why I'm in his way."
"The Land of Waves is dirt poor. Even our feudal lord has no money, and I'm flat broke. I had to lie about the mission rank—I couldn't afford anything higher."
Renji dipped his hand in the water, his expression unreadable. He glanced at Kakashi. "So, are we continuing this mission?"
Kakashi rubbed his temple, a headache forming. "No choice. If we abandon him, he's dead the moment he lands. And as he said, his eight-year-old grandson will hate Konoha ninjas forever."
Renji's lips twitched. "How shameless."
Kakashi didn't argue, his eye flicking to Tazuna, who hid under his hat, guilt radiating off him.
"Kakashi-sensei," Renji said suddenly, "can you teach me a powerful ninjutsu?"
Kakashi paused, studying him. Despite Renji's ties to Danzo, there was something oddly likable about the kid. He ruffled Renji's blue hair. "After the mission, I'll teach you something good."
Renji blinked, startled, then nodded, his gaze dropping to his hands. So many abilities still locked away…
"We're almost there," the boatman said, his voice tense.
They passed under an arch bridge, the mist parting as sunlight broke through. Trees rose from the sea, and the boat docked at a wooden pier. To reach Tazuna's home, they'd need to cross a dense forest on the island.
Kakashi's expression grew serious. The next attackers won't be Chunin. Jonin, maybe. His headache worsened, especially with Naruto's newfound paranoia. After the ambush, Naruto was jumpy, hurling kunai at every rustle.
Sakura hammered Naruto's head, scolding him. "Stop freaking out!"
Sasuke snorted, muttering, "Idiot."
Tazuna took a swig of sake, ignoring the chaos. Kakashi sighed, lost in thought, his mind on the dangers ahead.