Disclaimer: No pie for the non-believers!
It has been a month and Naruto has already learned several jutsus for the first scroll. How would we know this you ask? Well, it's very obvious if you look from Tora the cat's point of view… yes Naruto is using the jutsu on a cat, but considering how many times he's done this mission and how bad he get's hurt each time you can see why.
"Stand still, I call for retribution!" Naruto yelled through the forest.
"Naruto, this is a retrieval mission not an assassination mission and it call eye for an eye not an eye for an arm and a leg!" Kakashi commanded through the headset. 'If this is how he takes for retribution from a cat, what would he do to Konah? Or maybe this is him releasing his rage from the village on Tora? If that is true, Tora your death will be for the greater good.' He thought to himself and mentally saluted the cat at the end.
"Fine, just… FINE, I'll get him." Naruto gave in grudgingly.
It had turned out Naruto had been wrong about 'D'-ranked missions, they were pure evil.
"Now, the next assignment for Kakashi's team seven could be… to babysit for the council of Elders, to run errands to the neighboring village, to dig sweet potatoes, or lastly babysit the council of elders. Who put that on there? Oh wait I did they can act like children sometimes, maybe that should be a higher rank." The Saidaime Hokage rambled.
"Hokage-sama, just because they immature does not mean you can call them children." Iruka commented.
"Oji-san I know that the 'D'-ranked mission are supposed to gain skill, but there is nothing to learn for pulling up sweet potatoes!" Naruto yelled to get the aging mans attention," Just give us something useful for our growth as ninja."
"Naruto! There is a certain way this is done and you won't get a different mission just because you want it", Iruka shouted at him.
"Iruka-sensei, can you honestly say that we can learn something from doing these lame missions? Don't you dare say 'Teamwork'! We more than understand that concept", Naruto barked at him," think the only way we can get experience is if we get a higher mission!"
'He has a point, not like I want to these missions either.' thought Sasuke to himself.
'Wow, that a really good argument.' Sakura stared in disbelief at Naruto.
'Oh great, I'm going to get in so much trouble for this.' Kakashi mentally imagined the punishment; the Hokage would ban Ichi Ichi Paradise and mentally crying at the thought.
"I see your point, Naruto," the Hokage calmly said." Iruka, how many missions have they completed?"
"Umm, they have done…. 51!? That's ridiculous; it has only been a month since they started?" Iruka nearly shouted the last part.
"It seems that they have completed the first two requirements to be allowed a 'C'-ranked mission," The Hokage slow spoke.
"What requirements are you talking about?" Sakura asked completely confused.
"There are three requirements to get a 'C'-ranked mission," spoke the Saidaime," Your team has completed two of them and the third can only be competed after the others."
"And the requirements are…" Naruto spoke while waving his left hand in a circular motion, hoping that the Hokage would continue.
"The first is to complete thirty 'D' missions. Second, someone on the team should make a good reason for not have a 'D'-ranked, but a 'C' ranked." Naruto smiled at this for he was the reason that they were getting a chance at a higher ranked mission. "For you to get a final lesson on the duties of a ninja and what will be required of you in a higher ranked mission."
"Ah man, another lecture! Fine, if it means that we can get better missions, it's worth it." Naruto said, sighing the last part.
"I the world of the Shinobi there are many perils and dangers, in the greater missions you will be required of you a great many things. You will face death eventually either of an enemy or of an ally. You should understand that as a ninja it is required of you to eventually take a life and you need to prepare yourself for the fact that any mission could be your last. Once you accept this mission you are no longer a child and should be serious about being a ninja, if not you need to quit now or else you will die." Sarutobi spoke in such a way it gave the three genins goose bumps.
"Any second thought about taking this mission? Just because you back out of this mission doesn't mean people will treat you any less."
'Not like it's possible for be to think of me or treat me less than they already do.' Naruto thought to himself.
After a while, Iruka was the first to speak," Well, I take it that you aren't backing out."The genins stand straight when he says this as if to show there resolve. The Hokage notes this.
"Send in the client." The old Hokage calls out.
As the door slowly cracks open in comes a worn, drunken old man.
"What is this some kind of joke?"The man spoke up," Little children, I feel that I need protection and you get me little kids? They look like they'd get there ass kick by a fly. The emo one looks like he wouldn't care if he was attacked because 'life isn't bleak enough'. The blonde one looks like he would over react to a rabbit. The pink haired girl looks like she spends more time dyeing her hair than practicing ninja skills."
It goes without saying, they were all pissed, the only reason Naruto hadn't ripped him apart is because he was trying to ruin his chance of getting another 'C'-ranked mission.
"Look here you drunk, our skills are of ninja levels and are needless to say more than enough to kill you so I don't need you insulted my team!" Naruto said in a very stern voice to the older man.
"I paid for ninja to protect me, not some prepubescent midgets who shaking knifes in the air and running around yelling 'believe it' who call themselves ninja!" The drunk shot back.
"Tazuna-san," the Saidaime spoke up trying to resolve the problem," What exactly are you looking for?"
"All that I really want," the newly named Tazuna, raised his hands over his head, looked to the sky, and announced over-dramatically," Is for protection on my way home, is that to much to ask?"
"Sir," Kakashi finally speaking up said," I can assure you I am more than enough to--"
He was never able to complete his sentence for at that moment the door is thrown open to reveal one of the other rookie teams, consisting of Hinata, Shino, and Kiba along with their sensei Kurenai. Kakashi be interrupted by Kiba as he enters the room.
"Finally, we're done with another 'D'-ranked mission!" Kiba shouted oblivious to his surroundings. Though not walking five feet before realizing who was there. Pointing directly at Naruto he yelled," What do you think you're doing here?"
"What do you own this place now?" Naruto asked sarcastically," My team has been assigned a 'C'-ranked mission."
"See I told you we should have asked for a better mission!"Kiba shouts at almost the top of his lungs causing Akamaru to cover his ears with his paws.
"Well, that's the thing", the Hokage started. Naruto knew this wouldn't end well." I've had reports of rogue ninja in that area and I was planning to send you, too. It will be a good learning experience for both teams."
"We have to work with them?"Kiba almost shouted as he pointed at team 7.
"Alright, team, get your gear for an extended mission and head to the front gate in forty-five minutes." Kakashi said ignoring Kiba's remark. "That's enough time for your team, right, Kurenai?"
"Sure, I'll have them head out to pack after they listen to 'the talk", Kurenai spoke not turning to look at him.
Last thing said between the two groups was Naruto wishing Kiba luck with the speech the Hokage would give.
All the genins, Tazuna, and Kurenai were early to meet at the main gate, Naruto had packed his supplies and sealed them in a scroll and had also brought his katana that he had been practicing with everyday since he got it.
Right at forty-five minutes from when he was last seen Kakashi appeared at the gate. Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke glanced at each other before nodding. They immediately sprang into action, Sakura grabbed a kunai, Sasuke pulled out his fuma-shurikan, and Naruto unsheathed his katana; they jumped at him, each attempting to strike him in their own way. Kakashi was able to evade each of the strikes with ease. Eventually, cornering him between each other they spoke.
"Who are you?"
"You sure aren't Kakashi-sensei!"
"He's always late whenever we meet!"
Kurenai instantly jumped in," What are you talking about Kakashi is always on time, he is one of the most punctual Shinobi of the village!"
They turned to her; this couldn't be the same Kakashi she is talking about!
Kakashi finally spoke for himself, "She telling the truth, all those 'D'-rank mission must be causing more strained than I thought. At least you are all quick on your toes."
They look at him warily as they put their weapons away and walked away from him.
"Sure, whatever you say," Naruto said still uneasy of him, he pointed at 'Kakashi' and continued," but we're still watching you."
"Alright then… everyone ready?" he looked around see no objections," Let's head out."
Gato sat bored doing trivial paper work, still waiting for Tazuna to return to Wave to further demoralize the people of the country. Hearing a knock at the door, he counties his work shrugging the irritations off. Listening to the door rattle a second time, he couldn't control his anger.
"I told you to never bother me when I'm working on this damned paper work!" He shouted at the door.
"He said that you would see him, sir."
"Let him in", he responded, 'We'll see who this is"
So far it had been an uneventful mission, Kiba was the only one taking and he quickly shut up when no one would talk to him. Eventually, the silence started to get to Naruto, not only that but he also had a question he had been thinking about for some time.
"Umm, I was wondering ",he began," why for a 'C'-ranked mission, Ojji-san would send two genin teams , with a total of six genin and two Jounin, when one Jounin-sensei is more than enough to had anything that could happen."
"Simple Naruto", Kakashi said," it is for all of you gain experience, one group of six can handle more that than two groups of three."
"Better question, why have I never heard of this done before then?"
Kakashi couldn't respond to that right away because he didn't know either but he wouldn't let them know that, "Trying something new is always fun!" he declared with a thumbs-up the rest of team seven.
The door slowly slid open; the hall outside the office was empty. Gato looked at the clock that hung on the wall; the hands formed a line on the clock the small hand nearing the bottom and the large nearing the top, 4:54 P.M., almost time to call it a day. Whatever this was it better be good if it was going to keep him here any later.
Looking back at the hall, if the mysterious person didn't show up soon he would make sure that the attendant would be ... It had been only a moment that he had glanced at the clock and, although, he had always know that this was a world to expect the unexpected, this was something he could have never been prepared for to be there, a man, not an ordinary man, a ninja with a strange headband, it had carved in it a half sun, he stood at six feet nine inches. The fact he made it into the room without being herd is incredible on it's own, but this was no run of the mill ninja, his clothing was made of a white ivory material, it was strangely smooth, not like if cut to be worn, but as if it had grown this way. Gato had meet with this man, and had long come to understand that the armor he wore was not carved or forged, but harvested from his enemies; it was made of human bone and reinforced with chakra to strengthen the armor to be almost indestructible. His name was Godot, the repressive of the hidden in the setting sun village, also known as the dirty deals village.
"Gato", Godot spoke," we are aware of the attempts on the bridge builder's, Tazuna, life and we are not pleased."
It was already midday and it was starting to get hot, for Naruto in his all black clothing it was excruciating. Being at the from of their group gave Naruto a good advantage to see farther ahead, while looking for some sort of relief in the sun he notice two puddles in the ground in front and it felt like he was blessed all of the sudden. He still kept pace and waited until he got close to kneel down next to them and begin to wash his face to cool down. He notices that the water was still cold, no matter how much he washed on his face it wouldn't cool off. Finally, giving up, he pushed himself up with both hand off the ground, by this point he was near the end of the group, the only one behind him was Kakashi.
They had only got few feet before the puddles suddenly dried up and where they once were, two ninja appeared, the ninja known as the demon brothers. They instantly rushed Kakashi taking him by surprise, cutting him to pieces, they then focused on Naruto.
"One little piggy", spoke the one on the left.
"Two little piggys!" the other shouted in excitement as he lunged at Naruto. Naruto, who had quickly understood the problem when the ninja attacked Kakashi-sensei knew he had to act fast, he swiftly jumped backwards to avoid the slash, though, even trying to dodge he was hit on his hand. Right as they were about to strike again they were pinned to a tree with a kunai, courtesy of Sasuke.
As the two ninja were about to strike everyone herd a voice from the woods behind Naruto, "Pathetic! You two can't even handle genin! Then again that's why I was sent."
"Not pleased in the least bit", Godot spoke, at this point Gato was very worried, no, worry would imply he could find a way out if this turned for the worse. "That you would hire Zabuza to do this job."
"You mean your okay with death of the bridge builder?" Gato hesitantly asked.
"Why shouldn't we be? We did make a big investment in your company. Where upset that you didn't come to us, but to that two bit hake like Zabuza." Godot almost sound upset, but Gato didn't by it.
"Well, the Koorikage did say I was on my own, anyways already have Zabuza, I'm not paying for anymore help." Gato argued.
"He did only mean no more favors, but you really do need some help on this one, there are a lot of Konah ninja with Tazuna, knowing your methods we'll just take Zabuza bounty as payment, seeing as you had no intentions of paying him." Godot said shrugging at the last part.
"Why are you doing this your kage has never been a generous person, he told me he was contemplating killing me to keep his identity secret!"
"Let's just say that the Koorikage has interest in some of the Konah ninja. Oh and I already sent out my men."
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