Note: I managed to write two chapters today, so here's an extra chapter for y'all!

Chapter 10: Finally another c rank

We find ourselves 3 months since the formation of squad 9, and it's finally time for their second c rank mission. Within that time all three genin have been putting in a lot of work, with Tenten learning a few new weapons and making significant progress to her elemental training. Naruto has just about mastered the first step of his training, just needing a bit more time.

Rock Lee, well he's been working hard as usual. The three genin, as well as Might Gai arrive at the mission desk, being manned by a no-name chunin of little importance.

"Squad nine, good to see you back, here for a mission i take it?" The chunin asks the group. Gai nods his head.

"Yes, my youthful genin are ready for their second c rank mission, what do you got for us?" Gai asks the chunin.

"Hmm let's see." The chunin says as he checks what's available. "Ah here we are, ok so it seems there have been sightings of bandits near tanzaku quarters. They've been known to rob any travelers who pass by, making travel to that town quite dangerous." He explains.

Gai nods his head. "Understood, we'll take it!" Gai says, grabbing the scroll and reading it carefully.

"Ok team, meet me at the gate in an hour, make sure to pack for a lengthy mission." Gai instructs his students. They all nod and depart to pack for the mission.

After an hour passes the three genin, plus Gai, all arrive at the gate. "I see you're all ready, good. Let's hit the road." Gai says to them.

The squad departs and begins heading to their destination.

"Alright team. We're heading to tanzaku quarters, which is here in the land of fire. We need to take care of the bandits that are blocking the road to it. Tenten, what would you say your roles should be?" Gai asks his female student.

Tenten takes a second to think. "Well, Lee needs to be in the front since he uses taijutsu only, Naruto could back him up, and I could cover them both from a distance." Tenten says, giving her opinion.

Gai nods his head. "Yes, I think that will do perfectly. You three will go about taking down the bandits, and if needed I will step in. I know it might seem like i'm throwing you off the deep end, but this is what you've been working to do."

"Yosh! Gai sensei, I will not fail you!" Lee says excitedly. "Yeah, what Lee said." Naruto agrees.

After a few hours of traveling they make a stop.

"Ok we'll stop here. I want to make sure you're all prepared, so let's do some extra training! Naruto, can you make about 10-30 shadow clones?" Gai asks the uzumaki.

Naruto instantly makes 25 solid clones appear. "Good, so here's the plan. We'll use your clones to practice the mission plan. So Naruto, your clones will need to come at you all like a bandit would, so no ninja weapons." Gai tells the blonde.

The three genin get prepped and the training begins. Naruto's clones rush at Lee and Naruto, trying to use their numbers to their advantage.

Lee punches the clone nearest him, and follows up with a spinning kick dispelling it. Another clone rushes in and swings its fist at Lee, trying to knock Lee out with one blow.

Spotting this, Tenten throws two kunai nailing the clone in the chest, dispelling it. Lee flashes a thumbs up before getting back into it.

Naruto draws his sword and slashes at a clone horizontally, instantly dispelling it. He jumps over a low kick from another clone. Quickly he turns around and stabs his blade through the clone, popping it.

Naruto runs through a few hand signs, using his newer jutsu. "Doton: Moguragakure no Jutsu."

Naruto goes underground and pops out, bisecting another clone as he does. Lee meanwhile presses on, throwing a flurry of punches at the clones, dispelling a few more.

Tenten, noticing Naruto showing off, decides to use her new move. She goes through the hand signs needed. "Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!" She shoots at a medium sized fireball, taking out the rest of the clones in one move.

"Good job, and I've seen you've all improved. If all goes well, then the mission should be a piece of cake." Gai says, proud of his students' hard work.

"Let's get dinner ready, and then we'll get some well deserved rest. " he says to his genin.

And this will be the end of this chapter. Next chapter will be the bulk of the actual mission, figured I'd take this to show they've grown a bit to each other, anyways, please leave a review if you enjoyed it.

If you have any feedback please let me know, I'm always up for suggestions!

thanks! And yeah water will probably end up going a bit faster. Honestly I just didn't want Naruto to instantly have it down for earth you know? I want it to make it feel like he really worked for it.

So I do have a question worth asking, and I might bring this up again down the line, currently I have four more chapters already finished after this one, if I were to make a pat reon, would anyone be interested to read my advance chapters?

Doton: Moguragakure no Jutsu - earth release: hiding like a mole jutsu

Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu - Fire style: Fireball jutsu