Chapter 069

(A Week Later)

Kakashi and Team 7 were back at the Hokage Tower. They were in the room with the Sandaime and other officials and ninja that were assigning mission. Iruka was also among the ninja giving out missions.

"Team 7," Hiruzen said, "you completed your mission to bring back the daimyo's wife's cat Tora rather quickly. Well done."

"Save your thanks," Naruto spat, "I'd rather it be a failed mission with the cat impaled with one of my kunai than be forced to chase after it again!"

"Naruto," Iruka scolded, "show proper respect to our Hokage!"

"Don't worry, Iruka," Hiruzen assured. "There hasn't been one team that took pleasure in retrieving that cat after it ran away."

"So this isn't the first time that cat ran away," Sasuke acknowledged.

"No," Hiruzen confirmed, "To be honest, I lost count how many times it ran away from its owner."

"Not hard to see why it'd run away after seeing how that woman was hugging and squeezing it nearly to death," Naruto remarked.

"Well then," Hiruzen continued, "We still have time to assign you guys to another mission. Kyoutaro's restaurant is having a-"

"Enough!" Naruto interjected angrily. "Enough of these ridiculous chores you people call "missions"!"

"Naruto!" Iruka cut in. "Know your place and address the Hokage with proper respect!"

Naruto ignored Iruka and continued, "For the last two months, we've been doing nothing but be these useless chores that our clients are too lazy to do themselves! I'm sick of wasting my time with these worthless D-rank tasks! I want a real mission! Not gardening, babysitting, carrying groceries, or any other mediocre tasks! None of these so-called missions have given us the chance to test our ninja training and show what we can truly do or where we stand in the shinobi world!"

"For once," Sasuke spoke up, "I'm with the dobe. I too have grown weary of these D-rank missions, and I for one would like to have a mission that truly challenges our skills and abilities."

"You guys have only graduated from the academy a little more than two months ago!" Iruka argued, "You're not ready for the advanced types of missions yet!"

"And when will we be?" Naruto asked. "When we're at war or something? These D-ranks do nothing to sharpen our talents as ninjas!"

"Naruto," Hiruzen said patiently, "these D-rank missions do serve a purpose, believe it or not. They're designed to strengthen teamwork dynamics and plan formations. And since you seek to become Hokage, you must cultivate an intense love for the village and view everything about it as precious and worth taking care of, as a father nurtures and takes care of his children. When it comes to raising, caring for, and protecting his children, no task is too tedious, too small, or too great for the father."

"That's a touching speech, Jiisan," Naruto remarked offhandedly. "Now give us a real mission!"

Hiruzen took a breath to control himself, seeing how Naruto disrespectfully brushed his words off. It amazed Sasuke and everyone else in the room how Naruto was still standing without the Hokage suddenly upon him ready to strike him down and to remind him of his place. Then again, Naruto took out the Hokage before, twice in fact.

"Forgive Naruto's behavior, Sandaime-sama," Kakashi said. "I'll be sure to have a word with-"

Hiruzen raised his hand to cut Kakashi off.

"Based on the progress your Genin team has made," Hiruzen said. "I'll give them a different mission to further improve their expertise. Kakashi, I will assign your team a C-rank mission. You'll be going to Nami No Kuni to escort an elderly man home and also to protect him from bandits and the like as he builds his bridge."

"Sandaime-sama," Iruka said, "do you think they're ready for such a mission?"

"Don't underestimate us, Iruka-sensei," Naruto said. "We're stronger than others believe us to be. Isn't that right?"

Sasuke and Sakura nodded in agreement.

"Then it's settled," Kakashi said. "My team accepts the mission."

Hiruzen nodded to the secretary to bring in the client. A moment later, the secretary returned back into the office with their partially drunk client.

"Tazuna," Hiruzen said, "these four will be your escort to Nami No Kuni."

The man turned and looked at the group in front of him.

"You got to be kidding me! (Hiccup) I asked for a skilled ninja escort, and all I get is a team filled with children who just hit puberty and a spiky-haired Cyclops? (Hiccup)" said Tazuna.

Naruto and the other Genin looked less than happy upon seeing what kind of client they had to put up with. Tazuna went to drink from his bottle when…

"My team and I are capable of completing the task, Tazuna," Kakashi said. "After all, this is just a basic escort mission, so please refrain from underestimating us or our abilities."

"Team 7," Hiruzen said, "you are to meet at the East Gate at 8 a.m. sharp tomorrow to head out for Nami No Kuni with Tazuna. Use this time to make all of your preparations. Till then, you're all dismissed."

Everyone left the office and went about their business.

"Our first C-rank mission," Sakura said, "I wonder what we're going to run into along the way."

"We'll only know if we see the mission through," Sasuke remarked, "You're not thinking of chickening out, are you?"

"No, no," Sakura said quickly, not wanting any form of disapproval from Sasuke. "I'm just surprised that we actually got a C-rank mission after so many D-rank ones."

"It's thanks to me we got one," Naruto said. "Otherwise, we'd be doing dishes again for hours at that same restaurant like last time."

"Don't remind us," Sasuke replied.

(The Next Morning)

Team 7, geared up with supplies and equipment, was ready and waiting at the East Gate. Kakashi appeared with their client at 8 o'clock on the dot.

"You're on time for once," Sakura remarked.

"I know I'm tardy for team training," Kakashi said, "But missions outside Konoha's walls assigned by the Hokage take higher priority."

"So we see," Sasuke replied wryly.

"Well," Kakashi said. "Now that we're all here, we'll leave now and start our trek to Nami No Kuni."

The three Genin of Team 7 formed a protective circle around Tazuna while Kakashi took the lead in the front as they started on their journey from Konoha to Nami No Kuni.

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