Author's Note: Okay, so I've read your comments, I really like to read comments, and one of them got my attention. "Would've been kinda cool if Naruto had used some kind of orange in his clothes tho, since him making criminals fear the happy color would be such a Naruto thing to do" made by Dennis. And I just couldn't help but think to myself, "Why didn't I think of that?" I have made an executive decision that when he goes to train with Jiraiya and comes back, he will have incorporated some more orange into his upgraded suit. Because Dennis came up with a great idea so imma steal it. Now On With The Reading!

Chapter: 3
First Real Mission

Naruto was in his new home without his mask on for once. When the Hokage told him the truth about what happened to his parents and who they were. It was an emotional moment for him but he didn't dare show it. The good news is he could finally start looking for better equipment. His parents were, apparently, loaded and left everything to him when he was ready for it. Even better he could also tell when shopkeepers were lying to him now so he could get better deals on the equipment he bought. They new better than to try and scam him out of money now.

His new home wasn't extravagant but it did the job housing one person. It was an apartment that his father had before marrying his mother and it was still in pretty good shape. It also happened to be pretty close to the Forest of Death, though it was still inside Konoha walls.

He was currently working on some of his equipment. He couldn't do much with the limited knowledge that Kakashi had taught him on sealing. Although he had an idea he was currently working on, it involved a specially designed kunai. Ironically, it looked like an animal claw. It involved Shadow Clones. It was actually one of the first things he learned on sealing. Sealing an object into another. The second thing he learned was sealing chakra. The most recent thing he learned was sealing basic jutsu in an object. Basic jutsus included fire balls, air waves, some simple genjutsu and not much else.

He got the idea to seal Shadow Clones inside a kunai. It took about a month just to try it out. Although, what was a complex problem to him, was just basic newbie stuff to people like Jiraiya who was a master at Fuinjutsu. Still, it would be quite useful to him in the future.

Of course these kunai weren't the only things he had. He had the basic ninja supplies as well as what he called Shock Shuriken. He had started to get worried that all this equipment would weigh him down. He also couldn't really seal them inside scrolls either since that could make his equipment lighter, yes, but much more clunky. A simple solution was to seal them in easily reachable pouches on a belt of some kind.

When he heard a knock on his door, he put his mask back on. Making sure it was secure on his head, he answered the door. Kakashi waved at him.

"Hey Naruto, meet me at the Hokage tower in ten minutes. We have a mission." He smiled at him through his mask and was off. Naruto took his new utility belt with all his equipment and dashed off to meet up with his team.
Hokage Tower

The Hokage was sitting at his desk smoking his pipe while also looking for missions to give to the team in front of him. He was just about ready to give them another D-Rank mission when Kakashi interrupted him.

"Actually Hokage-sama, I think this team is ready for a C-Rank mission." Hiruzen and Naruto looked a bit surprised while the rest of Kakashi's team looked very surprised.

Hiruzen looked at him for a moment before he smiled. "If you think they're ready Kakashi, I have the perfect mission for them." He turned to the Chunin helping him assign missions to the Genin. "Send in the bridge builder." The Chunin nodded and went to get him.

When the bridge builder entered the room he stank of alcohol. "These are the ninjas ya' got to protect me? They're just brats." It was at that point all three turned to look at him. Sasuke glared, Sakura huffed, and Naruto just frowned and narrowed his eyes.

Hiruzen placated him. "I assure you Tazuna-san, these Genin are fully capable of protecting you. Unless you want to hire more experienced ninja of course."

Tazuna immediately changed his tune. "You know what, these young ninja are fine." Naruto thought that was odd and put that away for later. When Kakashi finished reading the mission details he turned to his team and Tazuna. "Alright everyone, we'll meet at the main gate tomorrow at 6:00 PM sharp. Make sure to pack your things for a long trip. We're going to be gone for awhile."

They were leaving to go pack for their mission tomorrow. Naruto walked past Sakura trying to ask Sasuke out and thought to himself. 'Tazuna was desperate about not hiring higher level ninja. Why? Is he hiding something? No, I'm probably just paranoid.'

Naruto stopped. At that moment it felt like he was back at the Academy grounds sitting on that swing. Mizuki was talking to him. 'Hey Naruto. Did you know there's a way to makeup the points you lost? All you have to do...' He snapped back to reality. No he wasn't paranoid. It's not paranoia if your right. He needed to know what Tazuna was hiding. He'd have to find where Kakashi put his mission files. He needed the details before he could prepare.
Kakashi's Apartment

Kakashi was casually paying attention to his surroundings, looking around to see if he was being followed. He was in front of his apartment and was looking to see if anyone was trying to find out where he kept his key. All he could see around him were a few kids playing in the road. Their civilian parents watching them on benches. Lastly an old man that was feeding pigeons bird feed. Coast clear.

He took out the key from his new hiding place for it. After Naruto broke in the last time he wasn't sure if his hiding place for it was discovered but he wouldn't be taking any chances. He wouldn't be staying here long anyway, he had errands to run. He walked in and went straight to the lock box he put all his mission files. Once he was done locking it up he put the key away and went to buy groceries.

Once the old man saw Kakashi leave, the shadow clone dispelled. Signaling to Naruto that he was gone. When he showed up he knew exactly where to look for the key. As he walked in he looked around, trying to find something. After about ten minutes he finally found something. It was a lock box inside his bedside drawer.

Putting his hand on one of the pouches on his utility belt he unsealed some lock picks. After a few minutes he got the lock open and skimmed through their mission file. Apparently they were going to Wave country. Tazuna hadn't paid much for this C Rank although it was noted by the Hokage that Tazuna seemed desperate for thorough protection despite the fact he had only paid for a team of Genin and a Jonin.

Naruto furrowed his brow. 'It seems he's not just desperate for someone to protect him. This suggests he believes himself to be in danger. This detail suggests he believes the danger is serious if he wants more than just one Jonin protecting him. I need more details about Wave's situation.'

After he put everything back the way he found it he moved out to do some research about Wave country and how Tazuna fit into this whole picture.

The Next Day

Sasuke, Sakura and Tazuna were all there at the main gate waiting for their other teammates. They weren't late yet so Sakura wasn't yet going to berate them. Sasuke was wondering to himself about his other teammate, Naruto. He had changed a lot in the few months they'd been on Team Seven together. He had turned into someone Sasuke could respect and, in some ways, an intimidating person. He knew at this point that if Naruto did anything, it was for a good reason. So he was patiently waiting for Naruto to arrive.

Naruto walked up to the main gate a few minutes later. Sakura looked like she was going to yell at him for making them wait but he wasn't technically late so she let it slide. Surprisingly, Sasuke was the one to speak up. "What took you so long?"

All Naruto said was. "Preparing." Sasuke seemed to accept that answer and continued waiting.

Kakashi arrived very soon after that and they began their mission. Sasuke, Naruto and Kakashi were being pretty silent and it was making Sakura a bit tense. To make herself a bit more at ease she began to make conversation with Kakashi and Tazuna.

She had been asking Tazuna and Kakashi questions about his village and others. She found out a lot about Wave and even other countries. She even learned why villages hire hire ninjas from other villages to perform missions for them.

While she was making conversation they passed a puddle on the ground. Kakashi noticed and deduced the potential ambush immediately.

They had only made it a few feet ahead when two rogue ninjas leaped out of the puddle and wrapped their chains around Kakashi. "One down." Together they ripped him apart and moved towards Tazuna. "One to go."

Sasuke reacted quickly by using his shuriken to pin down their chains against a tree and launched himself at the one closest to Tazuna. The second one made to attack Naruto with his poisoned claw.

Naruto turned himself to the side while also using his right hand to fully extend the second Demon Brother's arm all the way and make his attack miss. When they were both in position Naruto used his full body weight to punch the man's extended elbow so hard it snapped and bent in the opposite direction causing Meizu to scream out in pain.

Naruto didn't even hesitate. He let his arm go and used the distraction to get a haymaker on his face with his right arm, knocking him to the ground. Naruto snarled as he kept punching his face until he left consciousness.

Naruto looked over at Sasuke, Sakura and Tazuna to make sure they were fine. Sasuke had knocked the other one out and they hadn't taken any injuries. Kakashi came out after the fight ended. "Great job everybody. Your teamwork was impeccable."

Kakashi turned to Tazuna. "You have some explaining to do."

Before Tazuna could deny anything Naruto interrupted. "Gatou's Shipping Company controls all the trade around the island. He sets all the prices on goods going in the area, bleeding the country dry of it's money. Tazuna is a bridge builder. My hypothesis is that he's building a bridge that's going to connect the island to the mainland, effectively removing Gatou's choke-hold on the trade in that region. Gatou, being as corrupt as he is, must have hired Rogue Ninja to assassinate him."

Sakura, Sasuke and Tazuna looked at him, wide eyed. Tazuna confirmed his suspicions. "Uh, yeah. That's pretty much the gist of it."

Sakura was so surprised she had to know how he figured that out. "Naruto, how do you know that?"

Naruto was completely honest. "Yesterday I found out where we were going based on the mission details I found in Kakashi's apartment. From there I did some research on the region to get as much information as I could to prepare."

Kakashi and Sasuke didn't show it but they were very impressed. However Kakashi had his team to think of. "This is way out of the parameters of the mission. This became an A Rank, at least."

Tazuna began to panic. "Please! We wanted to pay for a higher rank mission! Everyone, even the Daimyo pitched in as much as they could to pay for it. This is all we could afford."

Kakashi turned to his subordinates. "What do you think guys?"

Sasuke was eager to test himself. "I think we should continue the mission."

Sakura was cautious. "I'm not sure we're ready for this."

It was up to Naruto. He thought to the last time he took a risk. Then he thought about the promise he made to himself and Iruka. "We need to help them."

Kakashi nodded. "Alright, we continue the mission."