Demon Brothers!

It was a simple plan.

A foolproof plan.

The target: Tazuna, an old drunk builder from Wave.

The cover: A harmless puddle in the middle of the road.

The execution: Wait until the ninja team passed, then rise up, chain their Jonin, kill the old man, and disappear before anyone could react.

This was standard work for Gōzu of the Demon Brothers.

He and his brother, Mēzu, had assassinated dozens of people using this same technique.

This was nothing new.

And so, as the approaching Team 7 walked right by them, not paying attention to the ground at all, Gōzu smirked beneath his mask.

Amateurs.

Finally.

He gave the silent signal.

In a burst of motion, he and Mēzu exploded from the puddle, chains flashing through the air as they wrapped around the Jonin—

Their plan was flawless.

Perfect. Foolproof.

Except…

The girl was already behind him.

Gōzu had half a second to process this before—

Thunk.

A senbon was at his throat.

A needle. A single, tiny needle.

How?

Where?

What?

Mēzu turned in panic, ready to back up his brother—

Only to find Sasuke's kunai inches from his eye.

What. The. Hell.

They hadn't even finished fully emerging from the puddle before they were dead to rights.

And then the worst part happened.

That girl.

That pink-haired, coat-wearing, terrifyingly composed girl.

She sighed. Disappointed.

Like their ambush was just… beneath her.

Ding!

 [Aura System]

 +10 AP Gained.

 (Farming Method: Undermining an Assassin's Self-Worth.)

Gōzu wanted to scream.

Instead, he stayed still.

Sasuke and Sakura hadn't even moved. Hadn't flinched. Hadn't reacted.

Because they knew.

They had already known.

Gōzu swallowed. "H-How—?"

Sakura tilted her head just slightly, letting the light filter through the trees to perfectly frame her eyes.

"You're standing on a dry road on a sunny day… and you chose a puddle," she said, voice impossibly cool.

Gōzu felt his soul leave his body.

Ding!

 [Aura System]

 +10 AP Gained.

 (Farming Method: Explaining Basic Meteorology Like It's a Death Sentence.)

Mēzu visibly trembled.

They had to get out of here.

Now.

***

Kakashi who had, at this point, freed himself with zero effort… walked up, glancing down at them with a lazy eye-smile.

"Oh wow, an ambush. How terrifying," he deadpanned.

Naruto, however, was still processing everything.

"H-Hey! I was about to react, y'know!"

Sasuke scoffed. "You screamed and ducked."

Naruto bristled. "I was getting ready!"

Kakashi ignored their bickering, turning his attention back to Sakura and Sasuke, who still hadn't moved.

Not even a flicker of tension.

They hadn't even needed his help.

Kakashi sighed.

Again.

Ding!

 [Aura System]

 +2 AP Gained.

 (Farming Method: Making Your Jonin Feel Useless.)

And that's when he fully accepted it.

Sakura Haruno was going to be cooler than him.

Forever.

Kakashi crouched next to the immobilized Demon Brothers, resting his elbows on his knees like he had all the time in the world.

"Alright, boys," he said, lazily eye-smiling at them. "Who sent you?"

Gōzu and Mēzu exchanged a glance.

Sakura very slightly adjusted her stance, her senbon barely shifting against Gōzu's throat—

Ding!

 [Aura System]

 +10 AP Gained.

 (Farming Method: 'I Didn't Even Move, Why Are You More Terrified?')

Gōzu swallowed. "W-We were hired—"

Mēzu kicked him underneath the puddle.

Gōzu snapped his mouth shut.

Kakashi sighed. "So it's gonna be that kind of day, huh?"

Mēzu tensed—only for Sasuke's kunai to press in a little deeper.

"You should probably answer," Sasuke muttered, eyes sharp and unwavering. "Before I get bored."

An imaginary tear fell out of Sakura's eye.

Even if Naruto wasn't built for this… at least I've taught Sasuke well. My art will be carried on…

Kakashi hummed. "Well, I could make you talk the hard way…"

A long meaningful silence followed.

And then...

Sakura tilted her head.

Ding!

 [Aura System]

 +5 AP Gained.

 (Farming Method: The Most Intimidating Head Tilt in the Elemental Nations.)

Gōzu broke instantly.

"It was Gato! The businessman! We were hired to eliminate Tazuna, that's all we know, I swear!"

Naruto clenched his fists. "Businessman? What kinda businessman hires ninja to kill people?"

"A rich one," Kakashi answered, standing up. "And a cowardly one."

Tazuna shifted uncomfortably.

Kakashi sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he stared down at the two enemy ninja. The Demon Brothers... Chunin-level missing-nin.

That was a problem.

Gato was willing to hire Chunin-level missing-nin.

Which meant—

"This mission…" Kakashi said, turning toward Tazuna, who had the audacity to look sheepish after nearly getting them all killed. "…is not a C-rank."

Silence.

Tazuna coughed awkwardly.

Sasuke's brow twitched. "Meaning?"

Kakashi's visible eye narrowed. "Meaning, if enemy ninja are involved, this is officially above your pay grade. A C-rank mission is supposed to be bandits at worst. The second shinobi get involved, it automatically becomes B-rank or higher. Possibly even A-rank, depending on who else is getting sent."

Naruto's face fell. "Wait… so what? Are we just turning back?"

Kakashi crossed his arms. "That's the protocol. A Genin squad is not—"

But then Tazuna, dirty old liar that he was, struck.

"Ah, I see… So this is the 'Will of Fire' I've heard so much about…"

Kakashi immediately sensed danger.

Sakura's coat shifted. The wind had chosen the perfect moment to billow behind her.

Ding!

 [Aura System]

 +5 AP Gained.

 (Farming Method: Unreasonably Good Timing During Emotional Speeches.)

Tazuna let out a deep, weary sigh. "I understand. I really do. I mean, why would the great and powerful shinobi of Konoha risk themselves for some helpless old man like me? I suppose I'll just… try to make it home on my own. Through enemy-infested roads. Where I will probably… die."

Naruto's eyes widened.

Sakura narrowed hers.

Sasuke muttered, "Oh, come on."

Tazuna wiped an imaginary tear. "And then my poor, sweet granddaughter… will be left without a grandfather. But no, no—don't mind me! I'll just—"

His plight really resonated with Sasuke. After all, he too had lost a grandfather. And a father. An every member of his extended family which included all his neighbours.

Tazuna's self pitying speech soon got interrupted.

"Alright, enough!" Naruto stomped forward, his fists tight. "We're finishing this mission. I am finishing this mission!"

Kakashi sighed.

Here we go.

Naruto clenched his fists. "I'm not turning back. I froze up before, but I won't let that happen again! If this is really about ninja, then fine. I'll just get stronger! So next time, I can fight too!"

Silence.

Tazuna blinked.

Sakura's collar fluttered dramatically.

Sasuke clicked his tongue and looked away, but even he wasn't rolling his eyes at Naruto's words.

Kakashi ran a hand through his hair. "You're all ridiculous."

***

As they continued down the road, Naruto still buzzing from his I will no longer be useless declaration, Sakura glanced at Tazuna, arms still folded, coat still billowing softly in the breeze.

Then, in a tone as casual as if she were discussing the weather, she said,

"You know… you could have just offered partial ownership of the bridge in exchange for a proper A-rank escort. Or taken out a loan from the Fire Daimyo's treasury. Plenty of ways to legally secure higher-ranked protection without… well…"

She gestured vaguely toward the two knocked-out assassins they had tied up and left behind for other Konoha-nin to come pick up.

Tazuna stiffened. "What?"

Kakashi, eager for a cool moment of his own, immediately added, "Oh yeah, it's all in the manual for requesting missions. Section Four, Subsection Three—Alternative Funding Methods for Civilians Seeking Shinobi Assistance."

He pulled out an imaginary book and made a dramatic flipping motion, hoping for some kind of awe.

Tazuna did not react.

Kakashi blinked.

Sakura's coat rippled in the wind.

Ding!

 [Aura System]

 +5 AP Gained.

 (Farming Method: Knowing the Rules Better Than the Jounin in Charge.)

Kakashi narrowed his eye.

"Tazuna…" He stared at him very carefully. "You… did read the mission request manual, right?"

Tazuna coughed loudly and looked very interested in the distant treetops.

Sakura's eyes closed slowly, knowingly.

Naruto squinted. "Wait… old man, did you even read the—"

"HEY, LET'S KEEP MOVING!" Tazuna interrupted, speed-walking ahead.

Kakashi let out a long, exhausted sigh.

Sasuke muttered, "Unbelievable."

Naruto just groaned.

Sakura?

Sakura merely stood there. Arms crossed. Face serene.

Coolness untouchable.

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I swear, how are the demon brothers even Chunin, they're such fodder in everything I read.

And thank you for all the answers on Aura farmers, it'll be important for something after the Wave Arc.

Thanks for the support!

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