The older man looked at the blond kid before turning to look at Tsunade and Shizune who were looking back at him sternly. Kakashi's expression was unreadable to the older man, making him appear more mysterious. The gray-haired man, who surprisingly woke from his drunken stupor, gulped in fear for his own safety after realizing that he openly insulted the son of the Godaime in front of her and everyone in the office.
"My apologizes Godaime-sama," Tazune quickly bowed, "Please forgive my foolish conduct and remark about your son."
Tsunade just nodded before grabbing everyone's attention again, "All is forgiven. Team 7 with Naruto in company are to meet at the East Gate at 8 a.m. sharp tomorrow to head out for Nami No Kuni with you Tazuna. (Turning to the Genins) Use this time to make all of your preparations. Till then, you're all dismissed."
Everyone left the office and went about their business, leaving Shizune alone with Tsunade.
"Naruto-otouto has come a long way Tsunade-sama," Shizune said in admiration, "It's almost hard to believe that he was that defenseless baby we adopted all those years ago."
"We," Tsunade said teasingly before sighing to herself, "…Yes Shizune. My boy has come a long way and if anything, (smiled) he'll go further and beyond all expectations! I expect nothing less of my son."
(The Following Morning)
Team 7 and Tazuna were waiting for Kakashi and Naruto to arrive at the East Gate. Kakashi, being the lazy man that he was decided to come at 9:30 a.m. much to the discomfort of Tazuna and Team 7. Naruto, used to Kakashi's tacky demeanor, slept in longer and arrived at the same time as the copycat ninja.
"WHAT TOOK YOU TWO SO LONG?," yelled an angry Sakura, "WE'VE BEEN WAITING HERE FOR A LONG TIME NOW!"
"Sorry for our lateness," Kakashi apologized for both himself and Naruto, "Naruto and I were on our way here when an elderly couple needed help with their-"
"LIARS! BOTH OF YOU!," Sakura said cutting him off. Naruto and Kakashi simply ignored her and shrugged.
"Well," Kakashi said, "Now that we're all here, we'll leave now and start our trek to Nami No Kuni."
The three Genins of Team 7 formed a protective circle around Tazuna while Kakashi took the lead in the front. Naruto the Elite Genin remained at the rear to keep guard over everyone in front of him as they started on their journey from Konoha to Nami No Kuni.
A former ANBU captain and a Sannin-level Genin, Naruto thought to himself, Assigned to a C-rank mission with three other Genins. I wonder what'll result from this…
XXX
It's been two days since Naruto and Team 7 have left for Nami No Kuni to escort Tazuna the famous bridge builder to his home village. So far things have been calm if you can exclude Sakura trying to get Sasuke's attention but only to be ignored continuously. The blonde gave the girl his sympathy.
Why does she puts so much of her efforts and time on Sasuke, Naruto wondered while shaking his head, The guy virtually shows no interest in her whatsoever.
"I don't see why you're even concerned for that pink-haired harpy," Kyuubi mocked, "But then again that's you entirely, like your stupid father."
Shut up Kyuubi, Naruto said.
"If you're so concerned about her plight with Sasuke-chan," Kyuubi continued to mock, "End her torment by killing the bastard! Maybe then the harpy can do something useful with her time."
Naruto had a most annoyed look on his face while ignoring the great fox. Sasuke and Sakura soon turned and looked at Naruto questionably.
"What's wrong with you, dobe," Sasuke asked.
"No reason of any importance," Naruto replied.
"Whatever," Sasuke retorted, "Not like I care anyway."
"Then why did you ask in the first place," Naruto shot back. Sasuke chose to say nothing and turn back to the front. Soon, Naruto drowned Kyuubi's voice out of his mind, not wanting to be harassed by the fox monster. After a while, the seemingly calm atmosphere was about to change right about…
"Sakura-san, I have a question I've been meaning to ask you for quite some time now since we've been assigned to the same team with Kakashi-sensei," Sai said while Naruto pulled out a bottle of water and started drinking from it.
"And what would that be," Sakura asked.
"Are you into girls," Sai asked rather bluntly, causing Naruto to spew the water out of his mouth upon hearing the question. Kakashi raised an eyebrow on hearing that while Tazuna looked at the pair awkwardly. Sasuke looked at Sai funny for raising such a topic. Sakura was fuming and was ready to kill Sai as she emitted a bloodlust that promised unquestionable pain as she dashed and attempted to hit him while Sai ducked and dodged her coming assault.
"I'M NOT A LESBIAN YOU FREAKING HENTAI!," Sakura yelled indignantly as she tried to land her blows on Sai, "HOW DARE YOU ASK ME SUCH A PERVERTED QUESTION!"
"I'm not a pervert. What I asked was simply a question asked out of curiosity seeing how you're always wooing over dick-less over there," Sai replied while pointing to the now enraged Sasuke who too wanted to seriously hurt him. Naruto futilely did everything in his power to keep from cracking up while tears were forming and falling down his face after seeing what Sai was implying.
This is the group that's supposed to protect me, Tazuna grieved silently. Naruto by this time wiped away the tears from his eyes while trying to control his laughter. After a couple of moments Naruto regain his composure and got the laughter out of his system. As the group continued on their way, Yondaime was communicating with Naruto.
'I don't like this set up one bit Naruto,' Yondaime said suspiciously.
What set up, Naruto asked quizzically.
'This mission is presently too easy to be simply a C-ranked mission,' Yondaime answered, 'Somehow I sense that there's more to this mission than what's being let on to us.'
Yondaime's distrust of the supposed C-ranked mission only grew to higher levels as Naruto noticed to his side there was a small puddle of water. Kakashi also noticed the peculiar puddle of water a few feet from them.
A puddle, Naruto and Kakashi thought, It's basically summer time now and it hasn't rained for days.
Naruto and Kakashi turned back around and continued on their way. As they did, the puddle they just passed morphed into two ninjas with scratches on their forehead protectors. They wore black clothes and had huge gauntlets on, equipped with massive claws. They were connected by a sharp looking chain between the gauntlets. They jumped towards the group and wrapped their chain around Naruto who of course was behind everyone making him the easiest to attack.
"First one," the two ninjas said as Kakashi, Sasuke, Sakura, Sai and Tazuna whirled around in time before Naruto was shredded.
"Naruto!," Team 7 yelled out as Naruto's body parts rained down from the air and onto the ground in a cloud of smoke.
Taking out the strongest of us first, Kakashi thought as he and Sai placed their guard up in front of Tazuna when the ninjas turned their attention them.
"Second one," one of the two killers said as they rushed at Sakura with their chain in hand ready to do what they did to Naruto on her. That was until Sasuke jumped into the air, pulled out a shuriken and a kunai. He threw the shuriken at the chain. The shuriken brought the chain to a nearby tree, and Sasuke threw the kunai, lodging the chain into the tree. The two mist nins tried to pull it out, but it wouldn't budge.
"It won't come out," one of them said as Sasuke landed down on their gauntlets. Grabbing their gauntlets, he kicked them both in their faces both they moved and detached the chain off their gauntlets before dashing away from each other. One went after Sakura who now had her kunai out in front of her while the other went for Tazuna who was being guarded by Kakashi and Sai.
Sasuke moved speedily to intercept the Mist nin going for Sakura placing his guard up against him. Neither Mist nins however managed to reach their intended targets when Naruto popped between the two ninjas from out of nowhere and grabbed both ninjas with his arms wrapped around their necks in a vice-like grip, thus painfully stopping them in their tracks.
All but Kakashi were not only surprised that Naruto was in fact alive and in one piece, but that he single-handedly brought down and defeated two ninjas almost effortlessly.
Nice job Naruto, Kakashi smiled underneath his mask, That was a move worthy of myself if I do say so.
Naruto! He's alive, Sakura thought happily and relieved that Naruto wasn't dead.
Show-off, Sai gave a small smirk at Naruto while Sasuke looked at the blonde with a mixed expression of amazement and jealousy.
That dobe did…defeat my brother by himself…, Sasuke thought in forced acknowledgement,…It shouldn't be that big of a surprise that he took out ninjas who are far weaker than my older brother…
That was he and the other looked to see pieces of chopped logs lying where they thought Naruto was torn to pieces.
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