"What the heck is this?"
A tipsy Tazuna scanned Naruto, Satsuki, and Sakura with a critical eye, a clear look of disdain on his face. "Why did you send a bunch of snot-nosed brats?"
"Hey, are you sure these few can protect my life? They don't look reliable at all!"
Naruto stood with his hands in his pockets, not bothering to pay attention to the old man who was feigning drunkenness to pick a fight. But Satsuki and Sakura, standing nearby, instantly felt deeply underestimated. Satsuki's eyes suddenly turned cold, while Sakura puffed out her cheeks, glaring.
"Mr. Tazuna, I can't pretend I didn't hear that."
Just as the atmosphere grew tense, Kakashi stepped forward at the right moment. Though he still maintained a lazy posture, the visible right eye showed an undeniable seriousness.
"The request you made to Konoha was clearly just a C-rank escort mission. According to regulations, such missions theoretically do not involve combat with enemy Ninja. And Team 7, which I lead, is, without exaggeration, the most outstanding new squad among all of Konoha's new teams this year."
His gaze swept over his three subordinates as he continued. "Each of my three students is an elite among this year's Ninja Academy graduates. Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Satsuki's combat abilities far surpass their peers, even enough to handle many experienced Chunin."
Then, he looked at Sakura. "As for Sakura Haruno, while her current combat experience is insufficient, her theoretical knowledge is universally recognized as the best in the entire school, and her potential and learning ability are excellent. The team formed by these three is fully capable of undertaking your C-rank escort request."
"Oh? Really?" Tazuna's drunkenness seemed to sober up a bit after hearing Kakashi's resounding introduction, and he began to feel a little uneasy.
He looked at the Third Hokage behind the desk with skepticism, as if seeking final confirmation.
"Indeed, Mr. Tazuna, Kakashi speaks the truth."
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly nodded. "Naruto, Satsuki, and Sakura are all excellent Ninja far beyond the ordinary Genin level. Although they have just graduated, their strength and potential are absolutely capable of fighting, even against some experienced enemies."
The Third Hokage's evaluation was actually quite conservative. He knew very well that Naruto was not only extraordinarily talented but also already capable of initially guiding and controlling the enormous power of the Nine-Tailed inside him.
From a certain perspective, Team 7's strongest combat power might not be the supervising Jonin Kakashi Hatake, but Uzumaki Naruto.
Seeing the Third Hokage's undisguised pride and affirmation of his subordinates' abilities in his eyes, Tazuna belatedly realized that he might have gotten an incredible bargain with a C-rank mission's reward.
His drunken expression and disdain instantly diminished considerably, and he immediately changed his attitude, slapping his thigh with a rather cheerful demeanor.
"Alright! Since Hokage-sama says so, then I'll entrust my old bones to these young people with peace of mind! The mission is set!"
Perhaps because Naruto's performance was unexpectedly calm and not impetuous, the old man did not deliberately provoke or target him as in the original story.
However, Naruto himself had no interest in the "getting slapped in the face then slapping back" trope. Since the trip to the Land of Waves concealed many important people and resources that could be "harvested," then this trip was absolutely necessary.
"Alright, you three." Kakashi said to his students, "The mission has been accepted, and we are about to depart for the Land of Waves to carry out this escort mission. This will require a long time away from the Village, so you should go back immediately to pack your necessary luggage and Ninja tools. We will gather at the Village gate in half an hour and depart on time."
——————
In Uchiha Clan Leader's residence, in Satsuki's room.
Satsuki stood by the bed, her face filled with hesitation and difficulty, her gaze fixed on the life-sized custom-made Naruto body pillow on the bed, which she cherished as a treasure. This pillow was an indispensable comfort for her every night, carrying countless secret joys and dreams of peace… But this time, she would be on a long-term mission with Naruto himself…
What if… what if Naruto himself accidentally saw this on the way…
The mere thought of that possibility made Satsuki's cheeks instantly flush, a feeling mixed with extreme shame and a premonition of social death made her almost want to immediately hide this pillow in the deepest cabinet and lock it away.
But on the other hand, she really couldn't bear the thought of so many nights without its company.
Should she… or should she not bring it?
At the entrance of the Clan Leader's residence, Uchiha Fugaku leaned silently against the doorframe, arms crossed. His gaze fell with a complex expression on his daughter's bulging, enormous backpack, which was almost as tall as she was.
As a father, he saw it clearly. Besides Satsuki's own essential change of clothes and Ninja tools, the backpack was filled with supplies far exceeding what a Genin would need for a short-term mission—ample dry food and water, complete medical supplies and military rations, and even many carefully prepared snacks and treats.
Moreover, all these supplies were clearly for two people.
Fugaku knew perfectly well, even without thinking, who the extra portion his daughter prepared was for.
…But why was there only one tent?
His gaze swept over the carefully packed, clearly double-sized tent, and he felt a slight darkening before his eyes, an unspeakable, heavy feeling instantly welling up in his heart.
"Um… Dad, I'm ready."
His daughter's slightly shy voice came from behind him. Fugaku turned his head and saw Satsuki, her small face flushed, laboriously placing an exceptionally conspicuous large package next to the already mountainous pile of luggage.
Ever since her parents accidentally discovered it, Satsuki also understood that her little "hobby" couldn't be hidden, so she simply stopped trying to conceal it.
"Satsuki…"
Fugaku looked at the particularly eye-catching package, his mouth twitching slightly, and finally couldn't help but ask, "Are you… are you sure you want to bring that even on a mission?"
After all, the real Naruto couldn't be hugged to sleep…
Facing her father's question, tinged with helplessness and a hint of confusion, Satsuki thought with a touch of sadness, but she still nodded firmly, giving a soft but stubborn "Mm."
"But how can you carry so many things by yourself?"
Fugaku tried one last effort, bringing up the basic principles of Ninja, "Ninja carrying too many unnecessary supplies on a mission will severely affect their movement speed and stealth."
However, Satsuki gave her father a strange look, didn't answer directly, but carefully took out another scroll from her Ninja tool pouch.
"Dad, did you forget this?" Satsuki said softly, her fingertips gently caressing the scroll's surface. This was a gift Naruto had personally made and given to her, also one of Satsuki's most cherished treasures.
A special storage scroll that could be conveniently used by simply injecting Chakra.
As Satsuki skillfully formed hand signs and injected Chakra into the scroll, the mountain of luggage on the ground, along with the particularly conspicuous body pillow package, was instantly sealed entirely within the small scroll.
With everything packed, Satsuki carefully put away the scroll, preparing to leave for the assembly point. At this moment, her mother, Uchiha Mikoto, also arrived to see her off. She gently smoothed her daughter's bangs, her eyes full of concern.
"Dad, Mom, I'm off to execute the mission." Satsuki stood straight, trying to make herself look more reliable, "Don't worry about me."
"Mm, be careful on the way, and stay safe." Mikoto gently urged, her eyes filled with trust for her daughter.
"Oh, and… that…" Satsuki seemed to suddenly remember something, her voice becoming as tiny and soft as a mosquito's buzz, and her cheeks grew even redder, "Mom… in the desk drawer in my room… the one I deliberately locked… please, please don't open it and look…"
She seemed afraid her mother would misunderstand, and quickly looked up to add, her tone a little urgent, "But there's absolutely nothing suspicious inside! I promise!"
What was treasured in that drawer were countless moments of Naruto, secretly recorded by her with that small camera… although Naruto himself was completely unaware of it. These frozen fragments of time were her most secret treasures.