Chapter Seven, Who?

-Bones of full fifty men lie strewn about its lair. So, brave knights, if you do doubt your courage or your strength, come no further, for death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth.-

Team 7 stands in the Missions Office, Sasuke annoyed, Sakura slightly concerned and Naruto covered in scratches, holding an orange cat with a red ribbon on the right ear. The cat is passed off to the Fire Daimyō's wife, who hugs the poor thing as it desperately tries to escape.

'No wonder it ran away.' Sakura thinks, eyeing the cat.

Kakashi approaches Lord Third and Iruka, making sure to stay just a few feet away from the desk. Two thirds of Team 7 follows suit, with the exception of Naruto who takes the initiative to walk right up to him.

"Hey, old man Hokage."

"Naruto!" Sakura shouts. "Show some respect."

Hiruzen chuckles. "It's fine. What is it, Naruto?"

"How come we keep getting sent on these crappy missions? When are we gonna get to see some action for once?"

"You're a genin." Iruka says. "You're not ready for anything more."

"Aw, c'mon, Iruka-sensei, I've been training. I can make a dozen clones now and Tora said I'm ready to-"

Hiruzen cuts him off. "Naruto, you simply aren't skilled enough, regardless of what Tora says. You're a genin, fresh out of the academy and I'm not going to give your team a mission that puts you in any more danger than you can handle."

"But-"

Iruka continues. "But nothing. Listen, you and your teammates are genin, meaning you get sent on D rank missions. If you pass the Chunin exams, you can get promoted to C and B rank missions. And if you become a jounin, like Kakashi, you get A ranks, understand?"

Naruto, having zoned out in the middle of Iruka's explanation, sits on the floor, recounting his dinner. "Last night I had pork ramen so miso…"

"Naruto!" Sakura and Iruka yell in unison.

He gets up and continues making his case. "Like I was saying, I'm sure we can handle something more than babysitting or rescuing cats. C'mon, please?"

A subtle smile appears on Hiruzen's face. "If you really believe you really are ready…"

Naruto smiles, eyes wide.

"I'll give you a C rank, just an escort mission so it shouldn't be too difficult. Tazuna, come in."

Tazuna, a gray haired old man enters, taking a sip from a bottle as he looks over Team 7. "You look like a bunch of super brats. Especially the short one with the super stupid looking face."

Naruto looks around, laughing. "Who's the short one with the stupid looking…"

Sasuke smirks as Naruto realizes who he's referring to, the blonde's smile replaced by an aggravated grin. "It's gonna be like that, huh? You're lucky Law 7 exists."

"What are these laws you keep talking about?" Sasuke asks.

"Figure it out, genius."

"Dead last."

"Screw you!"

"Are you really a shinobi?" Tazuna asks, genuinely curious as to how Naruto managed to become a genin.

"Are you!?", Naruto...retorts?

'Why did I pass this idiot?' Kakashi asks himself, cringing.

"No." Tazuna responds as dramatic music swells in the background. "I am the super expert bridge builder Tazuna and I expect you to provide me with super protection until I get back to my home country and complete the super bridge."

There's a short silence that Kakashi decides to break. "Let's get going."

The gatehouse connects to a lengthy stone bridge and under it, a clear moat that exposes the deep bottom decorated with colorful stones. Ducks and other birds float lazily on the water, dozens of fish swimming carefree alongside them. The bridge ends at the entrance to a massive stone foundation, a pair of white walled towers peaking over the edge, their pyramidal blue roofs stacking in pairs and the spaces between them holding large circular windows ringed with dark brown wood. As they walk across the bridge, Lee takes an interest in Hitsuji that Guy quickly catches on to. He takes him aside and Tenten rolls her eyes as the Jounin-sensei whispers to him some rather questionable love advice. Kurenai watches with a careful eye as Kiba and Akamaru look over the edge of the bridge, staring at the birds and fish below.

"They're not food." She says, looking over. "Don't try it."

"I know." Kiba says, never taking his eyes off the waters below. "I'm just looking."

Ino pipes up. "I feel like no one else is gonna ask, so I will. What was that argument about?"

"Typical bullshit. Nothing you should be worried about."

"Oh, okay."

The group reaches a door embedded into the stone wall, a towering bronze structure flanked on either side by bright red pillars. The door itself has dozens of dragons flying through clouds engraved into its light brown surface.

"Ms. Sanada, was it?" Guy asks.

"You can call me Asuka."

"Alright then. Tell me, is this place new? I've never seen it before today."

"It was finished a couple a weeks ago. Had a barrier around for keeping out strangers, Lord Ryuō is a bit paranoid."

"Who?"

"Akame Ryuō, commander of Serpents and King of dragons."

"Guy-sensei." Lee starts. "Surely this King of Dragons is a powerful person."

Asuka responds, facing the door alongside Hitsuji and weaving a series of seals. "He is indeed. He taught Hitsuji the Sage arts, has the power to conquer the minds of powerful beasts and can manipulate the elements themselves. Earth, fire, water, wind and lightning all bend to his will; he is a god living alongside us."

"Bullshit." Kiba says.

"Kiba!" Kurenai responds.

"You really expect me to believe any of that? If this guy is so powerful then why hasn't anybody heard of him?"

"True power moves in silence." Asuka responds. "Arrogance is loud and stupid."

The doors slide into the walls with a muffled rumbling and the party of fourteen heads inside.