The First A-Rank Mission

The Konohagakure, four months later, the third training ground.

The third training ground is a portion of land located inside of Konoha. There is a view of mountains in the landscape and a large and deep river with forests on both of its sides.

A red-haired boy was currently standing on the grassland in the center of that training ground.

He was panting hard and his face was full of sweat.

Suddenly his hands moved and made some kind of seals in the air.

Then, he put his hands down as if waiting for someone to hold them.

All of sudden, in a puff of smoke, two more identical red-haired boys appeared beside him while holding his hands next.

Then, two more holding their hands, then two more, and the chain continued growing like that until there were twenty-one different red-haired boys holding their hands. Everything happened in an instant.

"Multiple Shadow Clones: Exploding Flames Jutsu!"

Yoshi shouted inwardly and signaled his clones to move forward.

The clones started running ahead, they were all really fast.

After a few moments, when they were about to run into the nearby deep river, they suddenly exploded with loud bangs and released a torrent of flames onto it. But, all of the damage soon evaporated into the river.

'This technique is surely in the S-rank category!'

The user of this technique first creates two shadow clones around him, inscribing them with the explosive fuinjutsu runes, formulae, and kanji, the same ones used for creating explosive tags.

Then those two clones continue to make more shadow clones in their other directions, all the while inscribing them with the same fuinjutsu runes, instructed by the caster.

This time around, Yoshi decided to make twenty of them.

Infused with chakra, those clones will automatically explode after a set amount of time determined by the caster of the jutsu.

Furthermore, they can also be activated manually and remotely, at any time, when the user is in the right range.

When a clone is detonated remotely and manually, the caster must use the "Snake" hand seal.

Similarly, when used remotely, those clones can be detonated in sequence, allowing them to be used to trap opponents. But, that's not all, Yoshi improved this fascinating technique, even further.

By infusing a little bit of chakra of fire nature into the clones, he makes them even more potent and powerful when they explode,

With adding a little bit of fire into the mix, the explosion undoubtedly becomes even larger and stronger!

In the same way as someone could add a little bit of fire chakra into his sword or shurikens, he instead, just adds it onto his clones.

But, he adds it in very minuscule and concealed amounts, so that his clones get even more potent, without his enemies realizing.

This is accomplished by the changes of chakra's nature and shape.

To successfully change chakra's nature and shape, you must first be very accomplished and good in chakra control, which he, undoubtedly is!

After four months of hard work, he finally managed to completely finish this technique like he initially envisioned.

Regarding the first part of this technique, making the clones explode like the explosive tags, that really wasn't that much hard for him,

After all, the runes and kanji constituting the explosive tags, are one of the first fuinjutsu lessons you learn in the Uzumaki clan basic textbooks for kids.

And he already mastered the knowledge and skills of that basic fuinjutsu scroll, his father left him with, one year ago during the war.

Thanks to Itachi's and his own creative ability, he managed to create this ingenious and amazing S-rank jutsu at just eight and a half years old!

He is confident that this will be one of his main abilities later on the battlefield. Like his father had those amazing S-rank Adamantine Chains that no one survived to tell the tale about,

Like Minato had the Flying Thunder God, this will also be one of Yoshi's signature techniques he will be famous for in the future.

However, for the current him, there is still one adversity he has to face while using this technique.

Namely, this jutsu just requires too much chakra to use, too much chakra for one boy still in the development to have.

He can make around three hundred ordinary shadow clones in a battle, thanks to his Uzumaki bloodline,

And, that really wasn't that much. Naruto could already make two thousand clones in the first part of the series during the chunin-exam thanks to the Nine-Tails.

Not to mention that he can now make only about fifty of those special explosive clones in the battle, before collapsing from the chakra exhaustion.

But, the potential of this technique will exponentially grow in the future with his body aging, and his chakra reserves increasing with age as well.

He is now full of confidence in himself. His first step towards the real strength, already completed!

'I should go back and rest for a while now, the uncle said there will be a new B-rank mission later!'

Later that day, in one of the forests near the outskirts of Konoha.

Sakumo was running quickly, alongside Anko, Kakashi, and Yoshi.

"So you finally managed to complete it, Yoshi?" He asked curiously while running.

"Yes, uncle, I hope I get to try it in action on this mission," Yoshi replied expectingly.

"That's good to hear, Kakashi already completed his nature and shape transformations. And Anko learned the Body Flicker partially."

Kakashi and Anko nodded from the side, and Anko asked suddenly, "Uncle, do you think this mission will be a bit more interesting?"

"Maybe," Sakumo just plainly answered.

Later that day, they arrived at the location where they were supposed to meet with their client.

At the arrived location at the specified time, there was an only middle-aged man standing there.

The man's name is Seto, and he is a traveling merchant requesting protection while carrying out this important load this time around in the Land of Fire.

Once he saw them appear in front of him, he was flabbergasted, 'I-is that the legendary, White Fang?'

He requested just a B-rank mission, never expecting the legendary White Fang to actually appear in front of him.

All these changes, however, didn't escape from Yoshi's eyes. But, he just thought that the man was too surprised after seeing the legendary White Fang.

"Are you our client this time, Seto?" Sakumo asked while observing the man.

"O-oh, yes, but may I ask something? Are you that legendary Konoha's White Fang?" Seto asked excitedly.

Sakumo nodded, and Seto's expression changed in an instant once again.

Yoshi noticed all of this and thought, 'This guy is full of deceit.'

'Maybe this will really be a little interesting mission like Anko said.'

After talking for a while with this man, Sakumo, Kakashi, and Yoshi, all of them realized something was wrong, but they still tactfully remained silent.

This man, Seto, introduced himself as an ordinary merchant carrying a precious item with himself this time around. So, that's why he currently needed protection.

While on their walking a little slower than usual and protecting Seto, they talked about various topics. But, Seto was just mainly trying to suck up to Sakumo.

The sun has gone down, and the whole day was over. They remained logged in the woods.

Anko and Yoshi were sitting by the fire and talking about something.

"What!? Are you sure?" Anko shouted a little, but then started whispering near the end.

"Yes, that man is full of lies. I feel like this mission will be more dangerous than just an ordinary B-rank..."

"Yes, so finally an interesting mission!" Anko replied excitedly.

"Haha, if everything goes well, I'll show you my new S-rank jutsu tomorrow!" Yoshi laughed and boasted a little then.

"Ha, aren't you just bragging again?" Anko replied teasingly.

"Hmm, you'll see who is bragging tomorrow!"

Yoshi replied confidently, and after a while, they both went to sleep.

Tomorrow, when the sun shone brightly, they already woke up promptly.

They were nearing one of the smaller ordinary towns on their roads.

They all continuously talked happily and were all full of laughter.

'These three kids are truly lucky to have Sakumo as their teacher, their future is bout to be bright.'

'Huh, Sakumo...??'

His eyes suddenly grew really wide, he noticed the Sakumo who was talking and laughing with himself a minute ago, suddenly disappeared,

He also looked at the three kids, but they didn't appear to be much fazed.

Suddenly in the distance, he noticed three shadows walking in their way as if approaching them. Gradually, their faces started becoming visible as well!

Looking at them being fully visible now, Seto suddenly grew ghastly pale in an instant.

When finally coming really close to them, the man in the middle sneered, and while disregarding the kids around Seto, he spoke fiercely," Seto you dog, just what gave you the courage to pass through this route? Are you crazy?"

He asked mockingly and then finally looked at the kids properly, "Or are you relying on these three little kids to help you?"

The two other men around him started laughing madly themselves. They were all wearing plain samurai outfits and their swords were hanging from their waists.

"W-where is Mr. Sakumo?" Seto looked at the three of them, his face full of panic.

He knows who they are! They all worked for his previous boss, from whom he stole a large amount of money and valuables before, and then swiftly escaped!

He planned to enter the one specific big city in the Land of Fire and escape by blending in the crowd with his unique transformation jutsu,

Living a new life full of leisure and richness!

As for why he decided to enter this most famous route on his way there, it was because of who was in his entourage, until just a moment ago, the legendary Konoha's White Fang!

These ordinary goons just couldn't compare to him in any way,

But now, it looks like he's in big trouble!

"It's okay Mr. Seto, just leave these three goons to us!" Yoshi suddenly patted him on the shoulder.

Seto was even more insecure now, already imagining how his life would end thereafter.

"I'll take the one in the middle. You two take the samurai. Kakashi once you finish your enemy go and help Anko," Both Kakashi and Anko looked at him a bit worriedly.

"Don't worry, that guy doesn't know the specifics about my jutsu. I have a clear advantage!"

They were already pretty familiar with this routine. Sakumo left them to fight alone as soon as the enemies came during all of their previous missions.

"What are you talking about, brats?"

"Do you want to try and resist this?"

The man in the middle asked menacingly, then signaled the samurai beside him to start acting.

They sprung into action immediately.

Yoshi first made a fast shadow clone to take the Seto back to safety.

Anko and one of the samurai already clashed.

"Pretty fast for a little girl," The samurai in question licked his lips as Anko parried his sword with her chakra enhanced kunai.

"But, I can do that too!" Suddenly he infused his own sword with chakra too.

Anko's arm felt a little painful now as she thought already, 'I can't hang on for much longer, I hope they finish their battles soon!'

Kakashi and the other samurai clashed their swords as well.

"You're pretty good, kid," The samurai felt as if this kid fighting him right now was of equal strength as him.

"I don't have time for you now!" Kakashi exclaimed, as all of a sudden, his sword started emitting electricity and glowing light blue in color.

On the other side of the battlefield, Yoshi dragged his enemy, of clear jonin strength, into a secluded area.

"What are you planning, kid?" The man was clearly stronger than Yoshi, but he always felt that this little guy in front of him was scheming something and that it won't end well for him.

"You'll see in just a second.. ."

The jonin watched as the red-haired boy in front of him, held his hands down as if waiting for someone to hold them then,

The jonin immediately sprung into action, having a feeling of intense danger, this sense of his being honed through many years of constant battles on the edge of life before!

However, as he was coming closer to him, the red-haired boy clearly pulled his hands upwards all of a sudden, abandoning his previous position, and run towards him as if wanting to clash next.

And, just as they were a meter from one another, the red-haired boy suddenly exploded with a loud bang into a puff of blazing flames!

But, instead of the jonins body being torn to bloody piece, it was instead torn to many parts of earth and mud,

It was just an earth shadow clone!

The first rule when going into the battle with enemies of unknown capabilities is to send a clone to test the waters first. That's why Yoshi used a clone first as well.

The real Yoshi was the one who returned Seto to safety before!

That Yoshi was currently holding hands with thirty other little red-haired boys seemingly encircling something or someone.

In fact, Yoshi now that the jonin used an earth clone from the beginning. He also knew where the real body was located. All thanks to his amazing sensory ability.

And, while the jonin was looking at how his earth clone would perform and what will he unravel regarding Yoshi's abilities,

Yoshi already laid him a trap here where his real body was located, with his own real body!

"Multiple Shadow Clones: Exploding Flames Jutsu!"

The man watched in shock as thirty little Yoshi's started jumping towards him from seemingly nowhere.

Thinking that they were just ordinary shadow clones, as any normal person would,

He decided to fight them head-on first with his jonin-class taijutsu skills.

But, all of a sudden, the clones started weirdly exploding one by one, not giving him any chance to perform jutsu, he could only try and helplessly dodge them in hurry, 'What kind of devil magic is...'

After all thirty clones finished exploding,

Not even one piece of his body remained to be seen on the scene,

It was as he seemingly vanished, truly a scary sight!

Kakashi managed to finish the two samurai from before, and he together with Anko watched the incredible explosions happening in the distance.

'Is that Yoshi...? He's currently this strong?' Anko thought incredulously, but also feeling a little proud and happy for him.

'Incredible, Yoshi. It seems that you always walk one step ahead of me,' Kakashi thought, his fighting spirit ignited again.

Sakumo from the distance also watched all of this with interest. He was ready to shoot and save his disciples at any time if the situation turns dire, 'Yoshi, you've truly grown strong today, your father would certainly be proud if he saw you today!'

Seto from the distance also looked at all of this, feeling incredulous himself.

'I don't remember seeing that guy use that jutsu before?'

'Wait was that one of those little guys?'

'No, impossible. Mr. Sakumo must've shot to save them.'

After a while, they all gathered together and looked at Seto inquiringly,

Giving false information to a ninja in regards to his mission, was a big taboo and a serious offense!

Soon, they all understood it completely.

Seto wasn't a traveling merchant at all, he was actually a former gang-member!

Seto looked at Sakumo and them pleadingly, hoping that they would be lenient on him.

"Alright, seeing that my disciples got some valuable battle lessons from this encounter. I won't pursue it anymore. We'll just drop you off to the specified location and leave!"

"But, just so you know, that was actually an A-level mission in nature! Don't do stuff like that in the future or you'll be blacklisted or possibly even more..."

"I understand Lord Sakumo, thank you for this mercy. Thank you guys, too.." Seto bowed nearly down to his knees and thanked them fervently.

"Haha, no problem, I have to thank you for giving me the opportunity to try out my new technique," Yoshi exclaimed and grinned a bit while looking at Anko.

She looked back at him grinning as well, "It seems that you truly weren't bragging, Yoshi!"