Chapter 38: Tora

Konoha Training Grounds

Hearing Kakashi's words, Naruto and Sasuke were a little stunned. Kakashi explained, "Missions are carried out as a team. For ninjas, exceptional individual skills are certainly indispensable, but teamwork is even more important. Lone wolves who don't understand teamwork will put their comrades in danger, and might even get them killed. You all performed very well."

"Sakura, you didn't rely solely on your individual strength to fight alone, but instead chose to cooperate with your teammates, which shows you have a strong sense of teamwork," Kakashi said, looking at Sakura.

"Sasuke, you clearly recognized your own abilities and chose to seek cooperation with Sakura. That's very good," Kakashi said to Sasuke.

"Naruto, although you were a bit slow to understand, you were able to quickly integrate into the team's strategy. You did well, too, and in the end, you even made a difficult decision, not hesitating to sacrifice your own chance at graduation," Kakashi said to Naruto.

Sakura had expected a tough battle, but Kakashi had unexpectedly passed them directly. "Kakashi-sensei, did you see through our strategy from the very beginning?"

"Not at all, which is why you all truly surprised me," Kakashi said. "But as a ninja, you must always be vigilant, never letting your guard down against any enemy. That's the final lesson I want to teach you. The exercise is over. You all pass. Starting tomorrow, Team 7 will begin taking on missions."

"Alright! I'm a ninja!" Naruto jumped up excitedly.

"Okay, go home," Kakashi said, turning and waving goodbye before leaving.

Deep in the Konoha Forest

"This is Sasuke, I'm at point B."

"This is Sakura, I'm at point C."

"This is Naruto, I'm at point A."

"Too slow, Naruto. Okay, Team 7..."

"The target has moved! Go after it!"

"Good, it's right there."

"How far are you from the target?"

"Five meters. I'm ready to go at any time."

"I'm ready too." "Me too."

"Okay, go!"

Team 7 sprang from behind the trees, forming a triangle and surrounding... Tora the cat.

"Got you!" Naruto lunged forward, scooping Tora into his arms.

"Meow~~~~ Meow~~~~ Meow~~~~~"

"Right ear, ribbon. Is the target confirmed to be Tora?" Kakashi's voice came through the three genin's earpieces.

"Target 'Tora' confirmed," Sasuke replied.

"Very good. The lost pet 'Tora' capture mission is complete," Kakashi's calm and serious voice came through their earpieces again.

"Couldn't we have a more exciting mission?" Naruto's roar immediately followed.

Thwack! Sakura delivered a fist to Naruto's head. "Idiot, can't you be quieter? You're going to make me deaf."

"Ow!" Naruto said, a bit aggrieved. "Sakura-chan, we're always doing these low-level missions. It's so boring! Don't you think it's boring? I want to do a higher-ranked mission."

"Hmph, idiot," Sasuke muttered from the side, glancing at Naruto.

"You bastard, Sasuke! You wanna fight?" Naruto immediately jumped up, waving his fists at Sasuke.

"Naruto, can't you have a little patience? These low-level missions are also part of building up a ninja's experience. Being a ninja isn't just about fighting strength; you also need experience from everyday life. That's how you can complete missions better. If you were to go on an infiltration mission and couldn't disguise yourself properly, that would be a failure. All of that comes from life experience," Sakura explained patiently to Naruto.

"I guess that makes sense, but I still want to do a higher-ranked mission. These missions are too boring," Naruto persisted.

"Then go talk to Kakashi-sensei about it," Sakura said, shrugging, indicating she couldn't help him.

"Hehe, Sakura-chan, can you come with me to ask Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked, putting his hands together in a pleading gesture.

"No way. I don't care about the rank of the mission. Any kind is fine. The simpler, the better," Sakura said, expressing her indifference. For Sakura, having already mastered the Strength of a Hundred Seal, she was constantly training, so there was no such thing as wasting time.

"Sakura-chan, why are you so unmotivated? You're just like Shikamaru," Naruto said, a little disappointed. He turned to Sasuke and said, "Hey Sasuke, do you want to go with me to ask Kakashi-sensei?"

"I'm also getting tired of these low-level missions," Sasuke said.

"Hehe, Sakura, see? Sasuke agrees. Let's go together later," Naruto said, smiling at Sakura.

"Sigh... Fine, whatever," Sakura said无奈ly, seeing that Sasuke was also somewhat interested.

Konoha Mission Assignment Desk

"Oh, my beloved Tora! I was so worried!" A plump woman hugged Tora tightly, rubbing her face against the cat. This was Lady Shijimi, the wife of the Fire Country's Daimyo.

Sakura looked at the tormented Tora. No wonder it keeps running away. If I were treated like that, I'd run away too.

"Alright, Team 7, Kakashi's squad, your next mission is... babysitting Lord Yoshishige's child, or maybe shopping in the neighboring village, or helping to harvest sweet potatoes," the Third Hokage said from the side.

"No way! Don't give us those kinds of missions! I want to do a more impressive mission! Give us a different one!" Naruto immediately shouted at the Third Hokage upon hearing his words.

"Idiot! You're all still inexperienced rookies! Everyone starts with the simplest missions to build up experience!" Iruka, standing next to the Third Hokage, stood up and scolded Naruto.

"But, but, we've been doing boring missions all the time lately!" Naruto protested immediately.

Kakashi then punched Naruto on the head. "Stop causing trouble, Naruto."

"Naruto, it seems I need to explain what missions are. Listen carefully. The village receives many requests every day, ranging from babysitting to assassinations. The job list records the various tasks we accept. These missions are divided into four ranks based on difficulty: A, B, C, and D. The ninjas in the village, led by me, are divided into four ranks based on ability: Kage, Jonin, Chunin, and Genin. Missions are assigned by us, the leadership, to ninjas with suitable abilities. If the mission is completed successfully, the client pays a reward. You have just become genin, so you can only take on D-rank missions at most. Do you understand?" the Third Hokage explained to Naruto, puffing on his pipe.

"The old man is always lecturing me like I'm a child. I've grown up, you know! I'm not the same mischievous kid you think I am," Naruto grumbled, turning his head away.

"Alright, I understand. Since you're so insistent, I'll assign you a C-rank mission. You'll be protecting someone," the Third Hokage said, looking at Naruto with a hint of satisfaction.

"Really?" Naruto turned back, his face lighting up with excitement. "Who is it? Who is it? A feudal lord? A princess?"

"Don't be so impatient. I'll introduce you now," the Third Hokage said, then turned his head towards the door. "Would you please come in?"

The three genin's gazes focused on the doorway. An old man carrying a bottle of sake walked in. "What? They're all just kids," he said. He took a swig from his bottle.

"Especially that short, stupid-looking one. Are you really a ninja?" the old man said, pointing at Naruto.

"The shortest one? The stupidest one? Who? Who?" Naruto looked around at Sakura and Sasuke, confused.

Sakura and Sasuke took a step closer to Naruto. It was clear that both Sakura and Sasuke were about half a head taller than Naruto. Naruto finally realized the old man was talking about him. Furious, he rolled up his sleeves, ready to attack. "You bastard! I'll kill you!"

Kakashi grabbed Naruto, holding him back. "Do you want to kill our client? Idiot."

"I am Tazuna, a master bridge builder. Until I return to my country and complete the bridge, I'm putting my life in your hands," Tazuna said, taking another swig of sake.

"Naruto, this is a C-rank mission. Meet tomorrow morning at 8 AM to begin the mission," the Third Hokage said to Naruto.

"Hmph," Naruto grunted, turning his head away in dissatisfaction, but he didn't refuse.

"Then, Hokage-sama, we'll take our leave," Kakashi said.