Chapter 51: No Mercy for the Wicked

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After some discussion, Naruto and Sasuke decided to take on the mission together. On their way to the Hokage's office, they ran into Sakura, who had been looking for them.

Naruto raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Sakura, you haven't been training much lately. Are you sure you want to come on this mission?"

"Of course!" Sakura marched forward and grabbed Naruto's arm. "I'm part of this team too!"

Naruto gently pulled his arm free. "Alright, fine. It's just a low-rank mission anyway."

Truthfully, Sakura's real growth would only begin once she became Tsunade's apprentice. That was why Naruto hadn't rushed to create a training plan for her. Still, some field experience beforehand wouldn't hurt.

The three of them made their way to the Hokage's office. Normally, ninjas didn't receive missions directly from the Hokage, most tasks were handled by mission assignment desks. However, newly graduated teams were an exception. Having the Hokage personally assign their missions allowed him to monitor their progress and identify prodigies early.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes lit up when he saw them. "Ah, Naruto! Finally decided to take on a mission, have you?"

Naruto shrugged. "Well, I don't need training, but my teammates do." He walked over to the mission scrolls and began flipping through them casually.

Hiruzen didn't stop him. If this stubborn boy was actually willing to take on a mission, that was already a win. As for failing? Unlikely. Someone who could converse with the Nine-Tails as an equal and outmaneuver Danzō twice wasn't going to struggle with standard assignments. Besides, with Minato and Kushina as his parents, talent was practically guaranteed.

After a moment of browsing, Naruto pulled out a specific scroll.

"This one looks good."

[Mission Details: Eliminate or drive out the bandits plaguing Ruhai Village in the eastern Land of Fire.

Rank: A

Reward: 750,000 ryō]

Naruto rubbed his chin thoughtfully. An A-rank mission could take days, and the payout would be split among the team. Not exactly lucrative, but it beat chasing cats or walking dogs.

The mission also reminded him of something amusing—back in his past life, the protagonists of those transmigration novels always seemed to start with bandit-hunting quests. Now, it was his turn.

He handed the scroll to Hiruzen.

The Hokage's expression shifted. "Naruto, A-rank missions require a jōnin or higher to lead the team."

Naruto tilted his head. "So we're stuck with D-ranks? Cat-chasing and dog-walking?"

Hiruzen coughed. "Consider it... building mission experience."

Naruto wasn't convinced. Whether it was D-rank or A-rank, the process was the same. What was the point?

"But I'm Team 7's instructor, right?" Naruto pointed out. "Only a jōnin can be an instructor, no?"

Hiruzen sighed.

'Fine. I'd already bent the rules once, what was one more exception?'

Still, he wasn't entirely comfortable sending Naruto out unsupervised, especially after yesterday's incident. "I'll allow it," he said, "but given recent tensions, I'm assigning a jōnin to accompany you."

Naruto nodded. "Fair enough."

Hiruzen summoned an ANBU and gave the order.

While they waited, Sakura tugged at Naruto's sleeve. "Naruto, who did you offend? I didn't hear about this."

"Some old fossil," Naruto replied dismissively.

Sakura's eyes flicked toward Hiruzen.

The Hokage: "?"

Bonk.

Naruto flicked Sakura's forehead. "Not him."

"Ow! Okay, okay..." Sakura rubbed her head and dropped the subject.

Soon, Kakashi arrived, looking as sleep-deprived as ever.

Hiruzen massaged his temples. "Kakashi, as a shinobi, your current state is hardly regulation-compliant..."

Kakashi waved a hand. "Maa, my bad. I'll do better."

Hiruzen exhaled. "Kakashi, Naruto's team is taking an A-rank. Given village circumstances, I want you to accompany them."

Kakashi's visible eye sharpened slightly. "Understood."

With the mission accepted, the next step was meeting the client at a nearby inn.

As the most experienced among them, Kakashi led the team to the address listed on the scroll. After introductions, they agreed to depart at noon.

That left the team with some downtime, checking gear, planning strategies, and preparing mentally.

At midday, the group set out from Konoha, heading east into the Land of Fire.

Their client was a burly, sun-weathered man, clearly no stranger to hard labor. His pace was steady, keeping up easily despite the long journey.

As they traveled, Kakashi addressed the genin. "A-rank missions often involve combat with enemy shinobi. Be prepared."

Sasuke's fingers twitched in anticipation. After years of training, he was finally getting real action.

Sakura, however, tensed. She knew her limits. But one glance at Naruto's calm demeanor steadied her nerves. If he wasn't worried, why should she be?

As for Naruto? He felt nothing. His simulated battles had been forged in blood and chaos. This was nothing new.

Konoha might be small, but the Land of Fire was vast. Two days of hard travel brought them to a modest village, just thirty or so buildings clustered together.

The villagers swarmed them the moment they arrived.

The village chief, mistaking Kakashi for the leader, clutched his arm desperately. "Shinobi-sama, you must help us! These bandits, they're targeting our children! Half are already missing!"

Kakashi gestured toward Naruto. "Ah, sorry. He's in charge."

The chief's face fell. They'd pooled their savings for this mission, and Konoha sent a child?

Kakashi cleared his throat. "Don't let his age fool you. If he's leading, he's qualified."

The chief forced a smile. "O-Of course! Little shinobi, you've had a long journey. Rest today, and tomorrow..."

Naruto cut in smoothly. "We'll start now. Tell us everything, locations, patterns, numbers. The more we know, the faster we can end this."

The chief blinked, then nodded slowly. Maybe... just maybe, this kid knew what he was doing.

Naruto had chosen this mission deliberately, he had a purpose. But for now, the priority was completing the task.

After the village chief explained the situation, Naruto laid out a solid plan. "We'll use Shadow Clones and the Transformation Technique to turn into the kind of kid these robbers love to snatch. Then, we'll use the clones as bait to lure them out."

Hearing this, the village chief felt relieved. This blond kid seemed competent. But he still had one concern. "Master Ninja, what happens after the robbers show up?"

Naruto answered without hesitation, "We kill them all." Human traffickers didn't deserve mercy. He wasn't usually one for extreme punishment, but when it came to scum like this, he wouldn't hold back.

The village chief nodded, satisfied. With Konoha's ninja here, those robbers wouldn't stand a chance.

The plan went smoothly. Apparently, even robbers worked overtime on weekends. Naruto's Shadow Clone successfully drew out several criminals.

Hidden in the nearby grass, Team 7 watched closely. Kakashi observed the enemy ninjas and muttered, "Those are rogue Mist Shinobi. There might even be a Jōnin among them."

Naruto nodded. "Yeah." Then, turning to Sasuke, he said, "See them? Go take them out. Leave one alive."

Sasuke clenched his teeth as he watched the robbers circle Naruto's clone with cruel grins. He didn't need a reason to hate human traffickers. But just as he was about to move, he hesitated.

"Wait," he said, glancing back. "Kakashi just said there could be a Jōnin. I can't handle that alone."

Naruto waved him off. "Relax. Kakashi's just guessing."

Sasuke still looked uncertain. "If I'm fighting, what are you doing?"

Sakura gave him a thumbs-up. "We'll cover you!"

Sasuke eyed the distance between their hiding spot and the enemy. "Cover me? Can't you get closer?"

Sakura patted his shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry, Sasuke. If things go bad, I've got hundreds of ninja tools ready." She pulled out a storage scroll, her mission prep was thorough.

Sasuke's face paled. "Wait, wouldn't that kill me too?"

Naruto shrugged. "Nah, just serious injuries. Dying's not that easy."

Sasuke scowled. "You expect me to charge in while you sit back?"

Naruto smirked. "Scared? If you won't go, don't tell anyone I trained you."

That stung Sasuke's pride. His face flushed. "I'm not scared!"

Naruto grinned. "Then on three. One, two..."

Before he hit three, Sasuke was already gone, lunging at the enemy.

Naruto blinked. "Whoa, he left!"

Sasuke shot back, "Shut up!"

Kakashi rubbed his temples. "You're really letting him go alone?"

Naruto chuckled. "Relax. He's been through worse with me."

Since team formation, Sasuke had challenged Naruto constantly, only to get beaten every time. But each loss made him stronger.

Before the rogue ninjas could react, Sasuke activated his Sharingan. He formed a hand seal, creating two Shadow Clones, three fighters total, matching the enemy.

The Mist rogues finally noticed him, but their first reaction wasn't fear, it was annoyance.

"Damn it, a Konoha brat?!" one spat. "Unlucky!"

Konoha's teams usually meant a Jōnin nearby. Maybe even an elite.

Sasuke didn't waste time talking. He dashed forward, kunai in hand. The rogue ninja sneered. "Pink eyes don't make you invincible, kid."

He just needed to stall until his teammates dealt with the clones.

But Sasuke moved faster. A Body Flicker put him behind the rogue, and his kunai plunged into the man's skull.

The ninja crumpled, last thought fading: 'How does a brat know the Body Flicker?'

The technique was advanced, most genin couldn't master it. But Sasuke had trained relentlessly.

The remaining two rogues finished off his clones and closed in, now wary. Sasuke backstepped, hands flashing through seals.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

The rogues dodged, but no fire came. Instead, heat erupted behind them.

Sasuke's hidden clone had struck.

The explosion sent one rogue screaming, flames engulfing him. His partner doused the fire with Water Style, but the damage was done.

Breathing hard, Sasuke watched the last rogue flee. He cursed his exhaustion, Naruto wouldn't have let any escape.

Then a golden blur shot past him, too fast for even the Sharingan to track.

BAM!

Naruto's fist smashed into the fleeing rogue's chest. The man choked blood, collapsing.

Sasuke stared, stunned. "How… how is his Body Flicker that fast?!"

....

T/N: Thanks for the support from: Lam Sha, Black Widow, Hamza Masfar, Lord Of the Mysteries, Andrew, Jiri Stehule, trey hill, Agustin Monti, Tightless, Impulsionimulsion.