The journey continued in silence, the dirt road stretching endlessly ahead as the wind rustled through the trees.
Tazuna shuffled along with a slight hunch, grumbling under his breath about 'a bunch of kids' protecting him.
Kakashi walked leisurely, his nose buried in Icha Icha Paradise, though his single exposed eye was as sharp as ever.
Sasuke walked with his usual cool demeanor, his arms crossed as he surveyed the surroundings.
Sakura, however, kept sneaking glances at Naruto, who strode confidently beside her, hands resting behind his head.
But even amidst their casual walk, one person never let his guard down.
Naruto's keen senses picked up on something unnatural. A puddle.
His sharp eyes narrowed slightly.
A puddle? When it hasn't rained in days?
It was subtle—something the untrained eye might overlook. But to Naruto, trained in Observation Haki and battle instincts honed through relentless training, it was as obvious as the sun in the sky.
He let out a soft exhale, a smirk creeping onto his lips.
Sloppy!
Rustle...
Two figures emerged from the puddle, clad in dark clothing and concealed masks. Their movements were silent, and calculated, yet Naruto and Kakashi had already seen them coming.
They waited only for a few seconds, ensuring the group had moved forward, before slipping onto solid ground, their hands moving swiftly as they prepared to strike from behind.
But they never got the chance.
Because before their feet could even settle.
BOOM!
Naruto exploded into motion, his body vanishing in an instant. One second, he was walking beside his team and the next he was already behind them.
BANG!
A fist crashed into the first ninja's gut, a deep, sickening thud echoing in the quiet forest. The man barely had time to gasp before his consciousness was stolen from him, his body launching backward like a ragdoll.
His partner barely had time to react. He turned sharply—only for a blur of blonde to appear behind him.
BANG!
A devastating kick connected with the side of his head. His body twisted unnaturally in the air before collapsing onto the ground in an unconscious heap.
All of this happened in less than three seconds.
And when the dust settled, Naruto stood in the middle of the road, one ninja hanging over each of his shoulders like sacks of potatoes.
The scene was surreal.
Silence.
The only sound was the gentle rustling of the wind.
The group turned around, their reactions priceless.
Sasuke's jaw dropped.
Tazuna's mouth hung open so wide that an entire egg could fit inside.
Even Kakashi, who had been turning a page in his book, paused for a brief moment, his single visible eye crinkling in amusement. He had expected Naruto to react, but this level of speed and efficiency?
That was beyond even his estimations.
As for Sakura...
Her eyes sparkled like the night sky.
Master is just... amazing!
Her heart thumped as she watched Naruto, his toned arms flexing slightly as he carried the unconscious men with ease. His golden hair caught the sunlight just right, making him look nothing short of a warrior out of a legend.
Naruto strolled towards the group casually, as if he had just gone out to pick up groceries rather than obliterate two trained assassins.
And then, he stopped in front of Tazuna, dropping the unconscious bodies with a careless thud before tilting his head with a smug grin.
"You said something about doubting our skills to protect you?"
Tazuna swallowed thickly, sweat forming on his forehead.
"I... uh…" The old man was at a loss for words, his face pale. He looked down at the two defeated ninjas, then back up at Naruto.
That speed… that power… that wasn't normal for a kid!
He had expected a bunch of weaklings—fresh-faced Genin who couldn't even tie their own headbands properly. But what he had just witnessed was not the work of amateurs.
Tazuna nervously scratched the back of his head, letting out a forced laugh. "Haha… well, y'know… I was just, uh… testing you guys! Yeah, just making sure you were the real deal!"
Naruto smirked. "Oh? Is that so?"
Tazuna nodded rapidly, his head moving like a bobblehead. "Y-Yeah! Of course! You passed! With flying colors!"
Sakura giggled at the scene.
But Sasuke gritted his teeth as his hands clenched into tight fists, his knuckles turning white. His body trembled—not from fear, not from exhaustion, but from frustration.
His heart pounded violently in his chest, his breath coming out in ragged, uneven bursts. His muscles felt tense, his mind replaying the moment over and over again, a cruel, endless loop of regret.
I didn't even move…
The realization ate at him like a venomous snake sinking its fangs into his pride.
BAM!
Sasuke slammed his fists against the dirt, the impact sending a shockwave up his arms. A cloud of dust exploded around him, but he didn't care. He welcomed the sting in his knuckles, hoping that the pain would somehow lessen the fury boiling inside him.
But it only fueled the fire.
Damn it… Damn it!...
His nails dug into the ground as his jaw clenched so hard it ached. His Sharingan wasn't strong enough yet. His body wasn't fast enough. His reflexes weren't sharp enough.
While Naruto had reacted instantly. He had moved before anyone else even realized what was happening. He had defeated them before Sasuke could even raise his damn hands.
How?!
A flicker of something dark twisted inside his chest.
It wasn't jealousy. No—he refused to call it that. But the bitterness in his throat, the sting of being left in the dust—it felt too familiar.
I refuse to be left behind.
His fists trembled against the dirt.
Never again… I won't let anyone stand above me. Not Naruto. Not anyone!
Sasuke inhaled deeply, forcing himself to calm the storm inside. His heartbeat slowed, but the burning determination within him only grew hotter.
This was just the beginning.
The next time, he would be the one to act first.
Kakashi, meanwhile, sighed, closing his book. "Well, I guess we have a little more to discuss now."
His gaze turned sharp as he crouched down, inspecting the ninja. He pulled back the metal plate on their headbands, revealing a symbol of Kirigakure, the Hidden Mist Village.
"Kiri-nin," He murmured, his tone shifting into something more serious.
Sasuke, regaining his composure, crossed his arms. "So this wasn't just a simple escort mission after all."
Tazuna flinched.
Kakashi's eye lifted to the bridge builder, his usual lazy demeanor gone. "Mind explaining why Hidden Mist assassins are after you, Tazuna-san?"
Tazuna hesitated. His fingers clenched into fists.
Naruto, however, was still watching him with amusement.
"You might want to be honest with us, old man," He said, his voice smooth yet firm. "Because if more of these guys are coming, I'd rather know before they get here."
Tazuna looked around at the group—at Kakashi's sharp gaze, at Sasuke's narrowed eyes, at Sakura's concern, and finally, at Naruto.
And in that moment, he realized that Naruto wasn't just some brat.
Naruto Uzumaki was dangerous. Not just in strength, but in presence. His entire aura radiated confidence, a certainty that was rare even among experienced warriors.
This boy… he wasn't normal.
Tazuna exhaled heavily.
"Alright, alright… I'll tell you the truth…"
And just like that, the real mission had begun.
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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