HIDDEN LEAF FOREST

MISSION: FIND THE LOST CAT

Description: Please find my lost kitten she must be scared out of her mind, she has a bow on her ear and is all brown and fuzzy, it is the most beautiful kitten you will see in your life

TEAM 7

"Ok well that description was a little biased, but it should be good enough, a brown cat with a bow" Naruto analyzed the scroll, the Third Hokage and the client stated that she usually goes in the hidden leaf forest, wonder why the Hokage would know that? it's not important.

"don't forget it has fuzzy fur, if we find her I want to pet her," Sasuke and Naruto looked at Hinata, she was hugging an imaginary cat in her arms "What I like cats" Hinata looked at them with her lavender eyes.

"I was always more of a dog person" Naruto added, he could understand where they came from, dogs were loyal to their pack, and he once found a stray dog and took care of it... it passed away, turns out it had a disease from being out on the street's, at least he managed to give it affection and love in its last weeks.

"Cats are nice, but dogs are loyal, they give you love and affection all the time, and they'll help you if anything bad happens," Naruto said with his arms crossed and eyes closed, he just nodded to his own statement

"I agree with Naruto, in his point of view with pets" Sasuke wouldn't admit it but he preferred dogs.

Kakashi was listening to team 7 talking about their favorite pets, 'ah that makes a dog summoner like me happy' Kakashi had a small smile on his face. he was proud of team 7 development, Sasuke was starting to open up more and more he engaged more with the group and helped work on strategies but also went out for lunch with them every once and a while.

Naruto was improving more in his mental health, having people around him who really understood him and having some nice light-hearted missions helped him cope with the Kyuubi and the village.

Hinata was improving her stutter problem, she wasn't the best with leader role but now she was doing better, at the start of the week she kept second-guessing herself, but after some constructive criticism from Sasuke she realized what she did wrong, Naruto pointed out things she done right and gave her a good speech that improved her confidence, she got back up and kept going.

Team 7 was progressing better than Kakashi expected, he was proud of his students.

"Hey, guy's is that her there?" Naruto was staring at a cat, "I think so, let's get it" Sasuke hid behind a tree, Hinata jumped on top of a tree "(Byakugan)" she whispered, Hinata took a bird's eye view.

"theirs a river to our right, if we lead her there we can corner her, Naruto you get behind her, I and Sasuke will take her right and left, make sure she stays on that path" Hinata gave out her plan, getting a nod from Naruto and Sasuke.

'Good, they're doing great, and this is the cat mission EVERY ninja hates' Kakashi got flashbacks to HIS time as genin, sure he was a prodigy but even he found it annoying.

Team 7 carried out their plan, they arrived at the river "wow, for a cat you do have lots of stamina, but nowhere near the amount I have, now just come with us back to the Hokage m-AAHHH" Naruto got scratched by the cat, he had scratch marks all over his face.

The cat had escaped.

"Nice going Naruto, just don't pick a fight with a cat, ninjas are fine, just not cats"

"UNLESS IT WAS A NINJA CAT ALL ALONG"

"... I don't think Ninja cats exist..."

"Well then what did we just see!?"

"... A cat..."

"Naruto, Sasuke the cat is getting away, it may be a ninja cat but a cat is still a cat, now c'mon we don't want to lose to a cat of all creatures, even if it is a ninja cat" Hinata stopped the argument from escalating, even if it was funny to witness.

HIDDEN LEAF FOREST (30 MINUTES LATER)

Naruto, Hinata, and Sasuke all managed to corner the cat, Naruto had set up a trap, Sasuke lunged at the cat, just missing it, Hinata got even closer with her attempt.

the cat was close to the trap

Naruto tried to grab the cat, which it had no other option to move in a certain direction. Just then it got nabbed.

The cat struggled to get out, failing.

"Now for the last touch" Naruto pulled out a seal that had the kanji for sleep, he placed it on the cat's head and it fell asleep.

"Good work, coming up with a seal in such a short amount of time, Naruto you really are a master arent you?" Hinata praised Naruto with a blush and stars in her eyes.

Naruto blushed at how close Hinata was to him, her smile and face were a joy to look at it made his stomach fill with butterflies, "T-Thank's Hinata" Naruto actually stuttered.

"Ohh Naruto, don't tell me you like Hinata now? how am I gonna keep doing missions with you two love birds flirting all the time?" Sasuke says in a mocking yet banter tone.

"C'mon Sasuke don't tell me you don't like girls... wait Sasuke are you gay?" Naruto covers his mouth and gasps dramatically.

"W-WHAT NO!?" Sasuke defended himself, Hinata picked up the cat (seal still attached to its head)

"Ok, that's enough of you two arguing, now let's hand in the mission report and take out a new mission" Kakashi leads the way.

KONOHA MAIN STREET

"Hey, Kakashi-sensei haven't we done the minimum required D-rank missions in order to get a C-rank?" Naruto turns to his sensei.

Kakashi looked deep in thought, 'They have excellent made excellent progress, both in training and in missions, sure a good C-rank should get them out the village and if we were to encounter bandits they can handle themself' "Ok, we shall get a C-rank mission" Kakashi gave a thumbs up to his team.

Team 7 was visibly excited.

HOKAGES OFFICE

Team 7 walk through the door, the client was standing in the room waiting.

"MY TORO," The lady walked over to Naruto who was holding the cat "excuse me but why is there a piece of paper on my toro's head?" the lady was worried and angry at the same time.

"Ohh, this? it just put him in a nice nap" Naruto peeled the paper off, the cat woke up to the least friendly greeting, his owner grabbing him up and squeezing the life out of the poor cat.

'if I was in the cat's shoes, I would probably run away too' Team 7 thought in unison.

"now, old man, I have done lots of lost cat missions, but, that ain't a cat, no no no" Naruto formed his arms in a cross, everyone in the room except the rest of Team 7 was confused at Naruto's statement (even the Anbu) "THAT CAT, IS A NINJA CAT, WE SHOULD HIRE IT PUT IT IN THE ACADEMY AND IT COULD BE A HOKAGE ALMOST AS GREAT AS I WILL BE!" Naruto gave out his dramatic speech.

Iruka and the Hokage stopped in silence for a second, then burst out laughing "N-Naruto Y-YOU MIGHT HAVE A POINT THERE AHAHAAA" Iruka said in between laugh's "WE MIGHT NEED TO BUFF IT UP TO A C-RANK SOON LORD HOKAGE AHAHA" Naruto said on the floor.

Hinata was clutching her stomach in laughter, even the Anbu could be heard snickering.

Sasuke was going red in the face trying to hold his laughter in, Kakashi was chuckling.

"Well anyway, what mission do you want Team 7? we have babysitting, painting a house, finding a lost cat?" Hiruzen looked at Kakashi.

"Actually lord Hokage, my team proposed that we take a C-rank mission, and I feel as their sensei they have made excellent work and progress, so may we have a C-rank mission?" Kakashi bowed respectfully.

Hiruzen thought for a moment 'They have the minimum required amount of D-rank missions, sure' Hiruzen placed the pile of D-rank missions to the side and brought up the C-rank missions "How about this one, guide the bridge builder back to his home country, the land of waves where you will stay there until the bridge is completed and guard the bridge" Hiruzen read the scroll.

Naruto was excited and blurted out "YES PLEASE- I mean yes lord Hokage" Naruto was still adjusting to calling him Hokage when it's professional.

Hinata smiled and nodded her head, Sasuke had a smirk.

Kakashi looked at his student's reactions "well it seems they like the idea, I'll take the mission" Kakashi nodded, the Hokage told Iruka to bring the client in.

A couple of seconds later a man with a brown T-shirt, brown pants, and a straw hat walked in, he was carrying a bottle of sake and looked drunk. "Excuse me Lord Hokage but these are just brats? they look like they're 13 or 14 how are they gonna protect me?" Tazuna the bridge builder asked suspiciously.

"They may look young Tazuna, but this is a C-rank mission Genin and Chunin take C-rank missions, these three have met the requirement for C-ranks, I can assure you that your life is in great hands," Hiruzen said with a smile.

"Fine" Tazuna takes his leave, "We'll be headed out in the morning, That when I would prefer to leave." Tazuna waves his hand at the group.

THE NEXT MORNING (6:30 AM)

MISSION: GUARD THE BRIDGE BUILDER TO THE LAND OF WAVES

DESCRIPTION: Guide Tazuna back to his hometown safely, protect him from any threat, after he's home protect the bridge from any bandits until completion of said bridge.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata were all standing at the Village gates, with their back backs.

Tazuna had arrived, right after everyone was at the gate Kakashi appeared in a swirl of leaf's, "I take it we can leave now?" Kakashi closed his orange book.

"let's go, that bridge ain't gonna build itself" Tazuna, and Team 7 left the Konoha, and went to the land of waves.

ON THE ROAD TO WAVES

Hinata kept her (Byakugan) active the whole way there, only taking a couple of breaks, looking for bandits or any traps.

It had been an hour until she saw something, it was a puddle but it had a chakra signature, "Naruto, Sasuke, there's something in that puddle" she whispered, Hinata then went through hand signals, witch formulated a plan of action.

Hinata pulled out a kunai with an explosive tag and threw it at the puddle, "HEY! LADY WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR DO-" Tazuna thought Hinata was crazy until two Ninja jumped out of the puddle, the had burn marks on their clothes.

Naruto and Sasuke appeared behind the two Ninja, both landing an ax kick right to the back of the head, knocking them out cold, Hinata then tied them up as Kakashi ordered.

"let's see, Naruto and Sasuke Hinata lead that attack, right?" Kakashi questioned.

Naruto and Sasuke landed the finishing blow, but Hinata really lead the attack, coming up with the plan and being the first to act.

Naruto and Sasuke nodded. "Ok, well then how about you two try and interrogate these two Ninja, find out why these mist Ninja were so close to Konoha and were armed and prepared for battle" Kakashi gave out the order, to which Naruto and Sasuke nodded.

Naruto and Sasuke started to come up with a game plan for interrogation, using the information in the Academy and what they learned in scrolls they came up with a strategy, the good old good cop, bad cop.

The mist Ninja woke up, only to see Naruto's bright face. "Ah your finally awake, Hey I'm sorry for attacking like that, but Ninjas have to do what they have to do, you understand right?" Naruto was smiling brightly, to another person Naruto would easily make someone let their guard down, unfortunately, it didn't work.

"Of course we understand, now, I hope you understand that if you don't untie us then your Ninja carrier is coming to an end" A ninja's guard was harder to break than a normal person's.

"Naruto, let me take over" Sasuke hopped down from the trees, the first part was as much as a success that they hoped for, they seen through it, but Sasuke had the bad cop.

Sasuke pulled out a hand full of senbone, "Now, tell me what you were doing near Konoha borders, you were obviously setting up a trap so don't even think about saying site seeing! or else who won't see the sunrise EVER!" Sasuke released killer intent on the last word, the Mist Ninjas weren't used to killer intent but kept their cool.

"What are you gonna do huh? the blond one was more intimidating than you!" one said, "we aren't gonna tell you shit, kill us if you want we're prepared!" the other said.

" g?..." Sasuke said in a voice that made a chill go down the ninja's spine, *stab* *stab* *stab* *stab*, Sasuke put 2 senbone in each of their pressure points, making them scream, "Talk!" Sasuke said in a demanding voice.

All that could be heard was the screams of the two chunin, Sasuke used up the 5 minutes Naruto gave him doing the same routine. After the 5 minutes were up Sasuke walked back to Naruto, hiding in the trees, "Your turn, stick to the plan, it's going well so far" Naruto hopped down.

"Hey, you guess ok, sorry about that he can be rouge" Naruto gave the chunin a mini massage on the legs, it helped the pain, but naruto performed it in a way that if Sasuke were to strike it in a specific point, it would hurt WAY worse, all apart of the plan.

"you're pretty good at massages, too bad that won't save you," the mist Ninja said with a chuckle, Naruto had to hide his smile from them if only they knew.

"Listen you guys need to tell me what's going on here, I may have to hurt you to get it out, I'm running thin on patients, just a warning," Naruto said with a stern voice.

"We ain't telling you shi-" he was shut up by a massive kick to the head from Naruto "I told you, tell me the truth, NOW!" Naruto was getting pissed.

"uhhh, what the hell that hurts" the mist Ninja groaned.

"now, tell me the truth" Naruto crossed his arms, the cycle repeated, with the mist Ninjas bruised up and developing a new fear of the blond. The repetition of pain and torture just put them on the brink of talking, now was the final push, Sasukes turn.

"oh would you look at that, my buddy is gonna take over, you should've talked before now it's too late," Naruto whispered, he could smell the fear and soil from their pants.

Sasuke walked up with a sadistic smile, "now, let's begin, shall we?" Sasuke stabbed the senbone right in the bullseye, getting screams from the ninja, wasn't long before they talked.

they spoke about how they were hired by Gato of Gato industries, and how they were sent to kill the bridge builder, they were assassinated by Kakashi instantaneously after revealing everything.

"With a big man like Gato hunting you down this is gonna be a lot more difficult, there may be more Ninja ahead, you can bet the next one will be Jonin or above," Kakashi said with certainty.

Tazuna was afraid but kept his composure.

"This is possibly an A-rank or S-rank mission, these Genin may be tough but they're not ready for that kind of danger" Kakashi stated firmly.

"I understand... it's just we can only afford a C-rank mission we're too poor, I would die coming back home on my own, my grandson would be so devastated to have lost his grandfather after losing his own father, and My daughter, his mother, would have lost the two most important men in her life, I was gonna try and teach my grandson and his friends that with enough hard work and determination even we common folk can stand up to Gato, all this will teach him is that no matter what you try money and power will always win, I don't want my grandson to grow up with that lesson" Tazuna broke Naruto's heart, the blond was shedding tears at the story, Hinata couldn't understand the pain of not having a father or grandfather, but she still felt sadness, she patted Naruto on the shoulder, reassuring him.

Naruto wiped his tears "C'mon, that bridge ain't gonna build its self, what are we waiting for" Naruto smirked running ahead, giving everyone a glimpse of his warm brave smile and thumbs up.

"Well I believe Naruto has made our choice, Team 7 be on your guard moving forward" Kakashi ordered, and with that Team 7 was back on the move.

6 PM (LAND OF WAVES)

Team 7 and Tazuna walked near a lake, Naruto heard something and threw a Kunai into the bushes, It was a terrified bunny. "why would you do that idiot, it was a poor defenseless bunny" Sasuke looked at Naruto like he was an idiot, "when do rabbits like that have a white coat, that only happens in the winter-"

"DUCK!" Kakashi ordered as he grabbed Tazuna

A massive blade crashed right into the tree behind them with a man standing on top, the man had bandages covering his face, also a black tank top and black pants.

"The blonde is right, perceptive" The man complimented.

"Who are you?" Sasuke was the first to speak.

"calm down boy, I was just getting to that, My name is Zabuza of the bloody mist" Zabuza stated, "bring me the old man, or else!" Zabuza ordered the group, none of them backed down.

"stand back, this is between jonin" Kakashi ordered, uncovering his headband, revealing a Sharingan.

"ahh, Kakashi of the Sharingan, what a surprise" Zabuza took his sword out of the tree with no effort.

(hidden mist Jutsu)

a mist suddenly appeared around them, the group guarded Tazuna on all sides in defense.

"How do we fight when we can't even see" Sasuke grumbled

"You can't..." (Byakugan) "... but I can" Hinata scanned around. "Heh, good job Hinata" Naruto smirked.

Hinata looked around and analyzed the fog.

"It's useless kids, you won't be able to attack me" Zabuzas voice eco's throughout the fog, Hinata could tell where it was coming from.

Naruto sneaked a Kunai into her hand

"C'mon why don't you try it, I won't move, HAHAHA"

*ZIP*

the kunai landed right next to Zabuza, "you missed girly"

suddenly Zabuza felt strange, it was a chakra absorption tag, made by Naruto himself.

"WHAT!?" Zabuza leaped away, Hinata threw shuriken and kunai at the mid-air Zabuza, he blocked with his sword. Another thing was off... Kakashi was gone

*poof*

Zabuza looked behind him Kakashi was about to slit his throat

*poof*

Zabuza barely escaped death

"Good job Hinata, your aim was good, and your timing was perfect, he is just too strong and skilled, Naruto and Sasuke you guard Tazuna, Hinata since you can pay close attention to this fight try and learn a little, ok?" Kakashi gave the team instructions

"Yes sensei" could be heard from the trio

"Now then Zabuza, shall we begin?" Kakashi invited

"don't disappoint me... Kakashi"


sorry it took so long I had some internet problems and problems IRL catching up with school since lockdown, but I'm back, and hopefully, nothing happens