091: Tazuna! Setting Off to the Land of Waves!

C-Rank. Tazuna! It really is this escort mission. A sharp glint flashed across Natsuki's eyes.

This was originally Team 7's mission, the main characters' mission. 

Although it was listed as a C-rank, that was because Tazuna couldn't afford the proper payment and lied about the mission's rank. 

In reality, it was a B-rank mission, involving combat against other ninja.

This mission even included Zabuza Momochi, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and that gentle little angel, Haku, whose gender was always a mystery. 

In the original anime, they looked female but were said to be male. 

As the Dimensional Lord, Natsuki felt obligated to verify the truth. Whether human or demon, a simple investigation would reveal the answer.

The butterfly effect was growing stronger. Even the original team's growth missions were being intercepted. 

Natsuki wondered how Naruto and Sasuke would grow now. Or rather, his own arrival had already subtly influenced them, making them stronger than in the original story. 

Sasuke, after being frightened by Natsuki's Super Invincible Thunderbolt Fireball at the Academy, had already awakened his Sharingan early. 

Although during the Uchiha massacre, he was still as useless as in the original story, only managing to awaken a single tomoe Sharingan after witnessing the death of his clan. 

But his eye's evolution still surpassed its original state at the same period.

As for Naruto...

"Teacher Kakashi, this time we have to take on a challenging mission!" Naruto's booming voice echoed through the Hokage's office before he even appeared. "No more cat-catching missions! That fat cat scratched my face so many times!"

"Natsuki and his team are already defeating monsters and saving Konoha, while we're still playing house!"

Speak of the devil...

"Your face is so thick, and you're afraid of scratches?" Sakura retorted habitually, then agreed with Naruto. "But D-rank missions are really annoying. I don't want to do any more weeding."

The next moment, Team 7, led by Kakashi, also stepped into the Hokage's office.

"Natsuki!" Sakura and the others' eyes lit up, and they greeted him excitedly.

"Natsuki, is it true that you defeated the Blazing Evil Beast that even Lord Hokage couldn't defeat?" Naruto crowded in, his face filled with excitement.

"Get lost! Don't ask about things that everyone knows already!" Sakura kicked Naruto away, sending him flying into the wall with a 'PIA!'

She then flashed in front of Natsuki, her eyes sparkling. "Natsuki, are you hurt? I have ancestral healing ointment at home. If you're injured anywhere, you must tell me!"

As she spoke, she took Natsuki's right hand and clasped it as if in praying for his well being, she had a not so pure smile on her face though.

'Hehe, I'm holding my Natsuki's hand!' she thought triumphantly. 'I found such a good excuse, even Sasuke can't say anything, right?'

'Natsuki gets more handsome as he grows up. He's much more handsome than Sasuke, powerful, and a genius too.'

'He's just perfect!'

She slid her fingers along Natsuki's, as if trying to rub something off.

'Disgusting.' Hinata's Tenseigan seemed to flash red as she slightly raised her palm, aiming it at Sakura.

PIA!!

The next moment, Sakura was also sent flying into the wall beside the Hokage, landing in a heap next to Naruto. 

On their flight route, they knocked off the Third Hokage's hat, revealing a shiny bald head.

Instantly, the room fell silent.

Hiruzen's face darkened, veins bulging on his forehead.

Just as Hiruzen was about to lose his temper and yell, a voice from an ANBU member came from outside: 

Tazuna had arrived.

The Third Hokage forcibly suppressed his anger, his expression shifting from stormy to overcast, and plastered a friendly smile on his face once more. 

He quickly picked up and put on his hat.

The next moment, a short, stout, and half-drunk old man stumbled in.

"Good morning, Lord Hokage," Tazuna slurred. "Don't tell me these shorties are going to escort me back to the Land of Waves?" He pointed at Naruto, who had just gotten up, looking like a disheveled child.

"Who are you calling a shortie, you old geezer?! Don't flatter yourself, who wants to protect you?!" Naruto yelled, about to rush over and give the old man a piece of his mind. 

However, Kakashi stopped him midway, pressing down on his head, preventing him from moving forward.

"Not all of them. Kurenai's Team 8 has accepted the mission." The Third Hokage gestured towards Team 8, led by Kurenai Yuhi.

"Tch, aren't they still a bunch of brats?" Tazuna grumbled deliberately. "I bet I'll have to take care of them on the way back, as old as I am." He knew that on their return journey, they would definitely encounter ninja sent by Gato to intercept them. 

Could these newly graduated kids really protect him? At least there was a Jonin teacher; that was somewhat reassuring.

"Rest assured, Team 8 has two top students, and their overall combat strength is the highest among their graduating class," Hiruzen said, expressing his strong approval of Team 8. "Besides, it's only a C-rank mission. Generally, there won't be any danger that can threaten ninja."

This made Naruto's eyes widen. "What? Natsuki and the others can take on C-rank missions already?"

"Grandpa Hokage, can we also take a C-rank mission?" Naruto asked with a pleading expression, then pointed at Tazuna. "Of course, not this kind of old man protection mission."

"Bastard, who are you pointing at, brat? Just looking at you, I can tell you're barely weaned! How could you possibly protect anyone?" Tazuna retorted angrily, his breath reeking of alcohol. 

The two shorties started bickering.

Then, looking at the composed Natsuki and the others, Tazuna said, "Look, you all graduated from the same class, but look at the difference! They are much more mature than you brat."

As soon as he finished speaking, Natsuki stepped forward. "Let's go. My Eyes of Death has already seen that this journey reeks of evil. It's time for me to purify them." Wearing his eye patch, Natsuki glanced at Tazuna and then walked out of the Hokage's office.

"Yes! Purify!" Hinata clenched her fists, seeming to cheer everyone on, and quickly followed behind Natsuki.

"I wonder if there will be monsters," Kiba said, also following.

"Woof!!!" Akamaru, on his head, barked in agreement.

Tazuna's face stiffened. "What kind of ninja are these? Are they a bunch of lunatics?" 

He became worried about the upcoming journey. 'As expected, you get what you pay for,' he thought. 'A C-rank mission's reward can only attract these people?' 

'Damn it, this payment is already the entire village's savings. Building the bridge has used up everything.' 

'Fortunately, there's a normal Jonin. Though she's a woman, a woman who can become a Jonin must have something special.'

"Mr. Tazuna, please rest assured. Although they are usually a bit rambunctious, when it counts, you'll see that they are indeed excellent ninja," Kurenai reassured him.

"Well then, Lord Hokage, we'll be off." Kurenai greeted the Third Hokage and led her team out.

"I'm so envious. I want to do a C-rank mission too!" Naruto said, looking at Team 8's departure with envy.

"Alright, since you all want to challenge more difficult missions, let me pick one for you." Hiruzen opened the large mission scroll. After a while, he found one.

"Here we go!" He announced. "Two days ago, Maple Town in the Land of Fire was attacked by a group of bandits. Team 7, your mission is to investigate the whereabouts of these bandits!"

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