Chapter Six: First C-Rank, Part-One

It was official, Naruto and Sakura hated their client. He was rude and snappy all the time. For someone, who needed protection the man sure acts like he doesn't need them. Sasuke ignored his team as usual and thought about the enemies they would face. The thought made him excited. Kakashi thought about the details of the mission.

It didn't seem to add up so he'll have to be cautious, he hopes this c-rank goes well. He knew that this mission would expose his genin to killing, he doesn't know if these three are mentally ready to handle something like that.

"Tazuna-san, I was wondering if Nami no Kuni have any shinobi," Sakura asked, she was bored and wanted to make small talk.

The old drunk snorted and looked forward, "No we don't, runt. Why'd you think I went to your village?"

"You don't have to be rude about it, old man," Naruto rolled his eyes at the bridge builder. This man was so disrespectful, Naruto doesn't know if he could take it anymore.

The group kept walked more and about three feet away Kakashi notices a puddle, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. Adding it to the list, he walks on the puddle.

Soon chains wrapped around Kakashi, the grip of the chain was too tight, crushing their sensei. Blood and guts exploded everywhere. Team seven went into action, Sakura stood in front of Tazuna with a kunai at hand. She knew that the mission comes first and since she was closest she'll protect the client.

Two men came from the puddle and race towards the two males of the team. Naruto dodges the claw that was aiming for his face. The short-boy punches the man in the face and lands a spin kick to the guy's side.

Sasuke threw a kunai at the chain, the kunai pierced through and hit the tree. The two males couldn't move, soon Kakashi appeared with a closed eye smile. Hold the two men in a headlock choking them. He watched the whole fight from afar and he was proud of his students. He knew that they couldn't beat these two but, to hold off their own was impressive.

"You didn't die," Tazuna was frantic, he was scared and didn't think the genin would be able to protect them.

Kakashi glared at the man, releasing a small amount of killer intent, "No I didn't. I knew they were there and want to see who they would attack. Since they weren't after me and my students that leaves you."

The three students flinched, they never saw their sensei act like this. Yes, the man was ruthless when it came to training them, but this was a different side to him. He then turns towards his team and smiled.

"How did I know they were there?"

Sakura licks her lips pointed in the direction where Kakashi was, "There was a puddle and it hadn't rain in days."

Kakashi nodded and tied the two men up. He knew he couldn't let these two live. It would mean that they would go back to their employer. Cracking his neck Kakashi sighed and grabbed a kunai. The man recognized them as the Demon Brothers Gōzu and Meizu, high chūnin level.

"Tell me who sent you here."

"A man named Gatō."

Naruto looks towards Tazuna to see his face pale. Biting his lip, an anxious feeling crept into his stomach. Why did the old drunk, look terrified, something wasn't adding up. The mission rank should be higher.

"We should head back since this mission is indeed higher than a c-rank," Kakashi sighed, he mostly thought of scenarios as to why Tazuna didn't get the correct ranking for the mission.

The bridge builder panic and grabbed onto Kakashi, "Please you can't go back! We couldn't afford a higher rank mission!"

Kakashi raised a grey eyebrow in question. He wasn't expecting his kids' first c-rank to be like this. The 28-year-old grunted and turned in the direction of his students. His gut feeling is telling him that they should turn back to the village and get a more experienced team.

Kakashi did a closed eye smile and clapped his hands together, "Okay team we have two choices. We either go back to the village and give this mission to another team and we continue forward. You guys chose."

Sakura looks towards Naruto and Sasuke. She knew that the next enemy they face would be a seasoned ninja, but this might be the only chance they get a mission where they would have to kill someone. Most C-ranks are simple and only occasionally you would have to face bandits. Her team needed the experience but they could lose their lives at the cost of it.

Sasuke couldn't contain himself, this is what he's been waiting for. He knew that out of all of his teammates Sakura wouldn't be able to hold her own, she was weak. Naruto might be able to help, but there's something off about the young boy. Sasuke would have to keep his eye on him.

"I vote that we continue," Naruto said with determination. Sakura looked shocked and a little nervous.

Naruto sat next to Sakura, they just had finished some light training. The pink-haired girl notice that Naruto seemed out of it. She was worried for the boy.

"Hey what's wrong?"

Naruto turned over to see his friend look at him with worry. He did want to bother anyone with his problems, "It's nothing."

Sakura rolled her eyes and sat directly in front of the blonde-haired boy. She grabbed his face and locked eyes with Naruto.

"You can tell me anything."

It was silent and Sakura could see that Naruto was contemplating if he should tell her his worries. Taking a deep breath the Naruto started, "I'm afraid if I kill someone, I would be a monster. Like I would prove them right."

Sakura was confused about who told Naruto he was a monster. He was anything but a monster. He's nice, patient, and overall a good human being.

"Naruto, you will never be a monster.

Sakura shook her head and looked in Kakashi's direction. The man held two kunai and looked at his students expectantly. The pink-haired girl felt a need to protect Naruto, she grabbed the kunai and watched Sasuke grab the other one.

"Sasuke, Sakura I want you two to kill them," Kakashi ordered in a harsh tone, it's better that he teaches them now rather than later.

Sakura and Sasuke walk towards the nuke-nin. The girl closed her eyes and quickly sliced through Gōzu's neck. She knew that she would have to get used to killing, these ninjas were just trying to do their jobs even if it wasn't morally correct.

Sasuke on the other hand smirked, the feeling of having an opponent groveling at his feet gave him a rush. This was a step, a step that means he's getting stronger and he's closer to killing Itachi. The also sliced through Meizu's throat, but it didn't feel like it was enough. Sasuke pried the chūnin's mouth open and slowly cut off his tongue. The boy grabbed the organ and pinned it to the tree with the kunai.

Naruto couldn't believe his eyes, his teammate someone he knows since they were kids did this. He watched as Sakura backed away, he could see that the girl was uncomfortable. The blonde-haired boy knew that Sasuke could be cruel, mean-spirited this was something he wasn't expecting.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes, never in his life had he experience seeing a genin do something so savage. Not even seasoned shinobi would do this-this left a bitter taste in his mouth. His talks with Sasuke don't appear to be doing anything, when they get back to the village he might have to enlist the help of Inochi. Sasuke needs all the help he can get.

"Naruto said that he votes for us to continue. Sasuke, Sakura your answers," Kakashi grabbed the two teens' attention.

Sakura cleared her throat and gave Sasuke the side-eye, "I vote that we continue."

"I agree."

"Then it's settled, we'll finish this mission."

Tazuna was relieved but that Sasuke kid scares him. The boy doesn't seem to be human, he's more of a monster than a boy. He just hoped that this protection doesn't cost him his life.

Shikamaru sat on the training field waiting for his sensei along with Choji and Ino. The lazy boy had to admit that he wasn't expecting his two friends to take their training seriously. He guessed it had to do with what their sensei told them, the harsh stories that they heard. The boy sighed, his mother and father are both making sure he trained harder than before.

"Shikamaru? Do think we'll be able to qualify for a C-rank soon," Ino asked as she started to stretch, the girl looks different now than she did at the academy. Her hair was braided and put into a bun, she wears a dark purple almost magenta shirt with black pants and black shinobi sandals.

The lazy boy sighs, "I dunno but it'll be a drag."

Ino rolls her eyes, while she wants a C-rank she doesn't know if her other teammate Choji is up to the task. The boy was too kind, he was a pacifist. The blonde-haired girl knew that like most clan children they didn't have a choice. It would be rare if anyone stops being a ninja. It was almost unheard of. Her thoughts were cut off when she heard a familiar voice.

"Come on you three, we're going to the Hokage tower," Asuma called clapping his trying to get the teens' attention.

Squad Ten walks towards the tower each of the genin in thought. Asuma would train them for at least two hours before deciding if they should do missions. This must mean that they were summoned.

They made it to the Hokage's office and walked in. The old man blew from his pipe as he looked at a letter. His face looks troubled, you could really see his age.

Asuma took on a serious expression, "You called for us Hokage-Sama?"

"Indeed I have, what I called you for is something serious. I sent Squad Seven on a C-rank mission. I have received news that the mission has been moved to an A-rank."

Shikamaru raised a brow, that was Naruto's squad. He looks over to see Ino face is full of worry. He knew that the girl was rekindling her friendship with Sakura.

"Why not give the mission to higher ranking shinobi," Asuma asked, the man doesn't want to send his students on suck a dangerous mission.

"The mission isn't that high in rank as to where we need to send a whole squad of chūnin."

Asuma looked towards his team, he knew that they could benefit from the experience, the chūnin exams are almost here and they would be the only team that hasn't been on a C-rank. Also with him and Kakashi there, it wouldn't much of an issue, Asuma is a low A-rank Jōnin and Kakashi is a mid to high one.

"When do we leave Hokage-Sama?"

The old man smiled he was glad, he didn't have anyone else to send since the news he heard from the spy network.

The Sandaime handed his son all the information he needed and the whereabouts of Squad Seven, "You leave now."

"You heard him, meet at the gate in twenty minutes."

Naruto, Sakura, and Tazuna watched in fascination as Kakashi summoned a dog. The dog was small and looked bored, it suits their sensei well.

"Pakun, I want you to deliver a message to Hokage-Sama. Tell him that mission turned out to be an A-rank and we're requesting backup," Kakashi said as he passed him a note.

"Got it, boss," The dog spoke and made his way in the direction of the village. Kakashi could help but feel a little nervous, he hoped that his team makes it out unscathed.

"So Tazuna, you want to tell us why Gatō a businessman is after you," Kakashi drawled on as they walked towards their destination.

The old man took out a bottle of liquor, "He's anything but a businessman, he sucked Nami no Kuni dry. He came and used our once beautiful village as a way to smuggle drugs and traffic people, the man also cut off trade so we wouldn't be able to get resources."

"With the bridge, you'll be making a stable route to trade," Naruto said, he was hoping his first mission would be a helluva lot easier.

"Right runt."

Sakura bit her lip as she thought of the previous nuke-nin, "That's why he sent them after you. He doesn't want you to finish."

There was silence, one wrong move and a whole village could be in jeopardy. They would have to be careful if they want to ensure the safety of Tazuna and everyone else.

"The next opponent we'll face will most likely be an A-rank nuke-nin," Kakashi spoke calmly, he shouldn't worry his students. Worst case scenario he'll buy them time to go back to the village.

He just hopes that he'll be able to keep his team alive this time.

*a/n*

First I would like to apologize for not updating, I hoped that since it was summer I could update but I wasn't able to. I would also like to thank all the people who have given me support, it's nice to know that you guys genuinely like my story! I hope I will be able to update at least two a month, with decently lengthy chapters. Also if you have ideas and critiques don't be shy and share them. :)

I hope everyone has a good morning/night/day and see you next time!