Chapter 9: Wave Mission Part 1

Team 7 were in the mission assignment room after delivering Tora the cat back to the Fire Lord's wife. After seeing the cat get squished by the wife, Naruto felt guilty about bringing the cat back to her once again. However a mission was a mission, no matter if the cat was only kind to him. Kurama had been cracking jokes about how that was probably the only pussy he would get, which turned the blonde red from embarrassment and anger.

Team 7 had grown a lot closer over time, which helped improve their teamwork. Due to their teamwork being great, Kakashi actually took the genin's training seriously. He had them follow a workout plan, made them improve their chakra control which Naruto needed quite badly ever since he had been kidnapped, and also gave them some jutsus to master.

Kakashi gave Naruto the Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu to master. He concluded that if he could master this jutsu, he would instantly be a way more dangerous foe. If Naruto coupled his Shadow Clones with the Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu, then he would instantly be considered B-rank or so.

Sasuke was given Fire Style: Flame Bullet to add to his list of fire elemental justus. He was going to expand the boy's jutsu repertoire, but at a later date. He had enough time to improve the boy's stealth skills first. Sasuke's stealth skills weren't bad persay, but they were the weakest in the teams. Hinata had a really good stealth skill due to her byakugan. She could watch over everyone and adjust her position so that no one would spot her. However Naruto's was the best of his teams. He was almost as good as Kakashi, which didn't surprise the jonin all that much. He had been Konoha's biggest prankster after all, he would sometimes even out run and hide out from some ANBU.

Lastly Hinata's improvement over time has been great. She had improved her gentle fist taijutsu style and even started to learn how to do Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation. It's a Hyuga secret taijutsu technique only known to the clan head and the clan heirs. Kakashi has helped improve her speed tremendously by making her and the others wear training weights all the time. She improved her precision by practicing on Naruto's shadow clones, since Kakashi can't spit them out like they're nothing.

Back to the current time however, Team 7 was about to be assigned another D-rank mission. But Sasuke has had enough with these menial chores. "Hokage-sama, with all do respect, can we get a real mission for once? These D-ranks are just chores, we can't really improve if we just do chores."

The Hokage nodded his head at Sasuke's words. It was true, you can only do so much with D-rank missions. However C-rank and up missions can easily take a turn for the worst. Nonetheless, the genin would eventually need to go out and do higher rank missions. He looked at Kakashi for his opinion on the choice. "What do you think, Kakashi? Are they ready?"

"I'd say so. They're teamwork is outstanding for a genin squad that just graduated this year. That was expected from these two," he gestured to Naruto and Sasuke, who beamed at the compliment. "but they added Hinata to their flow so well that it was like she was always training with them from the beginning."

"Very well. Iruka can you bring in Tazuna?" The Hokage asked Iruka, who was his assistant for now due to the academy being out. Iruka nodded and turned to his old students and gave them a warm smile.

While Team 7 was waiting for their client to come in, Sasuke decided to strike up a conversation with Naruto.

"So Naruto, got anyone that you're interested in?"

"I'm not sure, what about you?" Naruto asked with a knowing smirk. He had seen Sasuke checking out one specific girl these past few days.

"N-No." Sasuke answered with a blush, which quickly disappeared and he continued to drill Naruto. "Oh come on Naruto, there has to be someone you like."

Hinata had found herself wanting to hear his answer. When she realized this she immediately stopped and questioned herself. 'What am I doing? Why do I care?' Just as Naruto opened his mouth, Hinata unconsciously started to listen to the two again. However he didn't get to speak as the door opened and Iruka came in with the client.

"These kids are my bodyguards? Some damn kids?" Their client named Tazuna questioned the Hokage.

"Hey! We're perfectly capable of defending a drunk like you!" Sasuke snapped. "And just because we're kids, doesn't mean we're weak." He said as he crossed his arms.

"Sasuke calm down." Naruto chuckled out. "Tazuna our mission is to protect you while we travel to the Land of Waves. We're perfectly able to protect you and we will at the cost of our lives if we have to." He told the drunk with confidence flowing out of the blonde.

"Well alright. I'll hold you up to that kid." Tazuna said, making Iruka frown at the man's words but kept quiet.

"Alright team." Kakashi said, gaining their attention. "Pack supplies for a few weeks and meet up at the gate in an hour." He told the genin, receiving a nod from all of them.

-3 Hours Later-

They have been on the road for about two hours after meeting up at the gate an hour after they left to pack. They were chatting with Tazuna and found out that they also had to stay and protect him while he was building the bridge. Naruto was mainly asking the questions due to Hinata staying silent and Sasuke still upset with Tazuna from earlier.

"So how big is this bridge going to be again?" Naruto questioned the bridge builder.

"It's going to be a super bridge since it connects Waves to the mainland!" Tazuna replied with passion. 'Ok… that didn't answer my question though.' Naruto thought to himself. As he was about to say something else, he sensed two chakra signatures up ahead. He looked around and spotted a puddle in the trail ahead.

Naruto looked back at Kakashi to make sure that he wasn't the only to see it. When he saw Kakashi look up from his book and nodded, signalling that he was aware of the threat. Naruto looked back from his sensei to his two teammates. They were unaware that the enemy disguised themselves as a puddle. He didn't want to say anything to them yet, as the enemy shinobi would clearly hear him, so he decided to hope for the best and wait till they made their move.

When Team 7 passed the puddle, the shinobi came out of the genjutsu puddle and attacked Kakashi first. They wrapped their chains around the Jonin's body and then they pulled hard, effectively killing him by slicing him up to bits. Hinata and Sasuke screamed out their sensei's name in horror as he was killed right in front of them, meanwhile Naruto jumped into action.

Naruto grabbed five shurikens from his pouch and proceeded to throw them at the demon brothers. When they left his hands, he sped through hand signs and when he finished he shouted out the jutsu's name. "Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!" The five clones multiplied into fifty, making it impossible for the demon brother's to dodge thanks to the chain that was connected to the two of them. Seeing no other way, they dropped the chain and jumped away in time to avoid the onslaught of shuriken.

Naruto was still fighting with one of the demon brothers. Sasuke jumped in to help assist Naruto. With the Mist ninja's eyes on Sasuke, Naruto reflexively pulled out a kunai, infused it with chakra, and threw it towards the ninja aiming for his head. The mist ninja never saw the kunai before it buried itself deep into his skull.

The other brother went after Tazuna. Seeing that they were after Tazuna, Hinata jumped in front of the bridge builder and slid into her gentle fist stance to defend him from the enemy shinobi. Before the mist ninja could strike however, Kakashi appeared and caught the ninja in a headlock.

"Nice job guys." Kakashi said, beaming with pride for his genin. "You handled two mid-chunin without much difficulty." This surprised the genin, their adrenaline was running out. "So Tazuna… is there something you want to tell me?" Kakashi said menacingly.

Finally with the adrenaline not pumping through his body, Naruto had time to think about the fight. He then realized that he had taken a life. Immense guilt washed over him. Yeah sure his opponent was his enemy but did he really have to die?

"Yes."

'Kurama! You're talking again!?'

"Only because I sensed what you're going through. What you did was the right thing Naruto. If he were to live, who'd stop him from killing someone else? Or doing other terrible things?"

'I'm still not sure. This guy could've changed. What right do I have to take that chance away?'

"While you're right, he could've changed. But most people aren't like you Naruto. You're one of a kind. Others are selfish, power hungry, greedy, little monsters."

"Naruto."

Naruto was brought out of his conversation with the bijuu by Kakashi calling his name. When he turned to look at Kakashi, he ruffled Naruto's hair.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that Chibi. But you protected Tazuna and Sasuke. They could've been seriously injured or worse if you hadn't done that."

"He's right kit. Sometimes taking out bad people is better than letting them live." Kurama added.

Naruto let out a sigh and nodded his head. He would continue on with a clear head for the remainder of the mission. He can deal with the guilt afterwards. As the group went back to traveling, Naruto took the lead so he could be alone and try to keep his head clear. When they arrived at the boat that was going to carry them across the water, Naruto and Hinata had to share a seat while Sasuke and Kakashi shared a seat.

When they arrived at the other side of land, the boatman dropped them off and fled. They were making their way towards the Tazuna's house, when suddenly Naruto felt a presence. He threw a kunai into a bush where he felt the presence coming from.