Jesús: "Excuse at the end of the chapter. Let's just get to it shall we?" [Disclaimer] "This is a fan-based story, I don't own Naruto. All credit goes to Masashi Kishimoto."

Ch. 6 (First mission: Take off and Mishaps)

Squad seven had gathered at the Hokage's office. Naruto was rubbing his eyes, as he and Sasuke were awaken by Minato and practically dragged to the Hokage's office.

"Well, now that Kakashi and Sakura have arrived I guess I'll get started with business." Minato said and opened a scroll set on his desk.

"What's this about dad?" Naruto asked

"I have a mission for all of you." Minato said making Naruto groan in annoyance.

"It's just gonna be another cat hunt isn't it?"

"Even if it is, it's our job as Genin." Sakura yelled in Naruto's face.

"As a matter of fact, no. this is actually going to be your first out of the village mission." Minato said and proceeded to clear his throat to read something from the scroll. "Your mission will be to escort a Carpenter from the Hidden Mist village back home. There have been many bandit attacks on the highroads so he is requesting at least a small group to protect him in case of emergencies."

Hearing the details Naruto's eyes started sparkling in excitement. On the other hand, Sakura started looking a little nervous. Not only were they getting a mission that would have them leave the village, which she knew would happen at some point, but she might have to fight bandits in possibly actual life-or-death scenarios.

"Hidden Mist…" Kakashi said reminiscing on his past.

"I understand you have your circumstances Kakashi so I won't push this on you guys. But I do believe this is a good mission for it to be a first out of village one." Minato said

"it's fine sensei. I wouldn't do something so unprofessional as putting personal matters before what I need to do. Besides, this isn't about me but about their first experience outside the village." Kakashi said looking at his Genin students. "When would we be leaving?"

"Thank you Kakashi. You will depart tomorrow morning. I believe this is a good time for all of you, as a group, to figure out what you will take and how to prepare for this trip." Minato said and the group left the office.

"If we're talking worst case scenario, we will need to pack two sets of clothes, first aid gear such as bandages, and ninja tools. You three should take today as a shopping day and gear up for the trip tomorrow. We'll meet at the "A-UN" Gate for departure at 7 AM." Kakashi said.

"RIGHT!" the three Genin replied in unison making sound much louder than it really was and the three left the Hokage tower in order to buy whatever equipment they needed.

Kakashi looked up to the sky and sighed rather deeply.

"Are you sure you'll be fine…" Minato asked coming up from behind Kakashi.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I guess I have to face my demons at some point." Kakashi replied

"This should be just a simple escort mission; you shouldn't come up against anything too bad."

"True…but I don't have a good feeling about this. I'll go visit Rin and Obito before I go." Kakashi said and started walking.

"Don't be too hard on yourself. I'll stop by later too alright." Minato said and watched Kakashi go on the distance.

-In the streets of Konoha-

Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura left the Hokage tower and headed to different places around the village. Naruto and Sasuke for the most part knew what they were doing, but Sakura seemed slightly out of place picking up things and mainly just wondering what even the item she was holding would be used for.

"Um…" Sakura said calling Naruto and Sasuke's attention.

"What's up Sakura?" Naruto asked

"Well, I can understand the basic use of most of these items, but is it really necessary for all of us to have them?"

"It's important for each of us to have a set of each of these tools in case we're all separated. It's true that as Ninja we can take care of most of our needs using ninja skills. But we should never underestimate the efficiency of a good grappling hook and rope and tools like that." Sasuke explained his reasoning.

"Yeah, besides even if we don't really need it for climbing we can still use the rope to tie things up as needed." Naruto added

Sakura slowly listened as they each explained different tools conventional and unconventional way of being used. By the time they all left the tool shop Naruto and Sasuke grabbed a good among of Shuriken and Kunai, Sasuke also grabbed a fair amount of steel wire. Sakura picked up Shuriken and Kunai too, but she got herself a Climbing gear, Camping tool set and a First Aid kit.

"Well, all we have left is to rest up for the rest of the day." Naruto said

"We are traveling by foot to the land of mist." Sasuke added "Resting is one of our main priorities."

"Alright then, I guess we'll meet up again tomorrow." Sakura said and took of in her own direction. Once Sakura was out of sight Naruto and Sasuke started heading home. To start resting too.

The following morning the three Genin gathered at the A-UN gate and talked among themselves and from time to time they'd also direct questions to Izumo and Kotetsu. After a few minutes of waiting Kakashi came around followed by an older man with a straw hat.

"Morning everyone, it's good you're all here on time." Kakashi said

"That's rich coming from you." Naruto said referring to the point that Kakashi had actually arrived about 20 minutes late.

"Give it a rest. You know that's how he is." Sasuke replied while Izumo and Kotetsu just nodded in the background.

"Sorry about that, but this time I was just picking up our escort target." Kakashi said pointing to the elder next to him.

"That's a good joke. I'd been waiting at the Hokage's office for over ten minutes after the Hokage told me to arrive." The elder yelled while pointing at Kakashi.

"This is Tazuna, he's the man that we'll be guarding on his way back to the Land of Waves." Kakashi said

"I can't believe this is what I get. A bunch of greenhorns that clearly don't even know what it means to be a ninja." Tazuna judgingly said while analyzing the three Genin.

The backhanded comment just made Naruto and Sasuke's eyes narrow in a threatening way, but they both knew better than to speak out at the old man's remark. Sakura on the other hand just looked at the ground slightly ashamed that for the most part Tazuna wasn't wrong, at least in her eyes.

"This is a basic escort mission ranked no higher than C-Rank…" Kakashi started "…a Genin squad is the best that you'd likely get. Not to mention that it isn't extremely difficult, at least on the surface, so it's likely that just about any newly formed Genin team would be given this mission as their first out of village mission."

"Hmph…so long as you get me back home, I guess it doesn't matter." Tazuna said and started heading for the outside of the Village.

After having a quick talk with the three Genin Squad Seven took off on their first out of Village mission.

The group of five walked on the eastbound trail towards that easter shores heading for the Land of Waves. They had already walked for about four hours and were long gone from the Hidden Leaf and they had set up a basic camp in order to eat an early lunch. The three Genin were allowed to eat first while Kakashi kept watch on the surroundings, though to gain experience the Genin decided to take turns keeping watch along with Kakashi.

Once they finished their meals everyone packed up their things and started walking again. At this point they were about to reach the seventh hour of the walk when Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi all noticed something and came to a stop.

"You two noticed I see…" Kakashi said.

"Yeah…" Sasuke replied

"This is a familiar feeling, but this is the first time I feel malice like this." Naruto replied

"you three defensive formation." Kakashi called and Naruto and Sasuke flanked Tazuna as Sakura stood in front of him all three holding a kunai on the ready.

The three waited for a few when suddenly Kakashi was wrapped by bladed chains.

"Kakashi Sensei!" Sakura called and suddenly Kakashi got shredded to pieces.

"Naruto you hold the rear." Sasuke said and jumped drawing a couple handfuls of Shuriken.

"Go for it." Naruto said and got behind Tazuna making sure to keep an eye on Tazuna's blind spot.

Sasuke unleashed the Shuriken at different times and angles making them bounce and travel in different directions and forcing two individuals out of hiding. The two were wearing Hidden Mist Headbands and both also wore a mechanical claw with a chain attachment.

Sasuke rushed right in and tried attacking the one closest to him. The Mist Ninja flocked Sasuke's attack and quickly tried to grab hold of his leg. Sasuke moving faster than the Mist ninja shifted his center of gravity and spun vertically landing a good kick on the ninja's head knocking him out. The second Mist Ninja rushed at Tazuna but Sakura and Naruto were there waiting for him.

Naruto smirked and tossed his Kunai at the Mist ninja, which the ninja attempted to slap aside, but before he could make contact…

"Hiraijin…Co-op." Sasuke said appearing right in front of the Mist ninja.

Sasuke caught his arm and with the additional momentum from the ninja's swing Sasuke mulled him and pinned him to the ground quickly restraining him with steel wire.

"Sasuke!" Sakura said excitedly

"You show-off." Naruto said still smirking

"Thanks for the assist…" Sasuke said still pinning the ninja on the floor. "…on another note. Hey Kakashi, how about you come out already."

Slow clapping started being heard from the tree behind Tazuna. Sakura and Tazuna looked over and they noticed Kakashi standing there.

"That was very well done. I didn't expect this to end so quickly, but I knew you three could handle it."

"Easy for you to say when I was the only that actually fought." Sasuke said slightly annoyed.

Once Kakashi came down from the tree he told Sasuke to leave the ninja alone.

"Shouldn't we try to interrogate?" Sakura asked

"That's just it. I'm assuming you three aren't aware of the other name if the Hidden mist…" Kakashi said as he picked up the ninja Sasuke had pinned down. Blood trailed from the lower part of his head. "…The Blood mist village. A place were Ninja are raised as nothing short of plain killing machines."

Realizing the ninja was dead and the one Sasuke knocked out first was like dead too shocked Sakura and her eyes were the widest they'd ever been. This was the first time she witnessed death even if it was an enemy.

"The Ninja in the land of waves are taught to kill themselves before any information can be extracted from them. Honestly unless the ninja fall to very specific ninja, like members of the Yamanaka Clan, that tactic is honestly very effective." Kakashi finished just moving the body aside.

Sakura was stunned completely and while both Naruto and Sasuke had a stronger mindset when it came to the reality of the Shinobi world, they too felt shocked by the fact people out there preferred death than risking information leaks.

After walking for a few minutes again and leaving the previous battle area Kakashi called for a long break. They were going to set up camp for the night and maybe have the three younger ninjas relax and try to get their minds of the deaths.

Come nightfall, the three Genin set down near the fire while Tazuna slept in a sleeping bag slightly to the side. Kakashi kept watch overnight and he used that time to think.

"I know I should have mentioned it to them sooner. That may have been a tad too harsh." Kakashi said referring to the Genin's reaction to the deaths. "I hope they can get themselves ready. I have the feeling things are going to escalate for the worst…"

Jesús: "Well. That's that. I know that took way too long, admittedly almost two years, but I got way too busy with work. I ended up with some free time, more forced into it than anything really (Tested positive for COVID) but I'm fine and should be back to work soon…which admittedly again means I probably won't be able to upload in a while again. I will try to keep up though so I'll talk to everyone later."