Konoha Forest: Morning…

"Sasuke, I'm at point B."

"Goku, I'm at point C."

"Hinata, I'm at point D."

…

"Naruto, I'm at point A."

"You're slow, Naruto. Ok Team 7, get ready."

Within the forest of Konoha, a dark shadow-like figure started to move in a blur of speed.

"The target has moved, follow it!" Kakashi commanded through his communication device.

The Genin of Team 7 darted through the trees, quickly going into hiding to avoid getting noticed by the ferocious beast that was their target.

"What's your distance from the target?" Kakashi asked.

"Around five meters." Goku responded as he quickly judged the space between them.

"Kakashi-sensei, I'm ready." Naruto wanted nothing more than to finish this assignment. "Just give the signal."

Sasuke nodded to himself. "I'm ready too."

Hinata was fast to reply. "So am I."

"Same here." Goku added.

"Very well…Now!"

The four of them rushed in. Four meters, the animal turned its head. Three meters, the animal started to run. Two meters, Naruto opened his arms. One meter...

"I GOT YOU!"

Letting out the mightiest of shrieks, the cat from the Daimyo's wife started to scratch Naruto's face while he tried to subdue the untamable beast that was Tora. Like he's done before, Goku took the cat from his friend, who now sported several cuts on his hands and face.

With a soft touch, Goku started to pet the cat. Tora relaxed at the gentle touch the boy provided and started to purr in pure delight. The Sarutobi had a generally positive relation to animals, so he didn't know why his friend insisted on jumping at Tora like this.

"CAN'T WE HAVE A REAL MISSION FOR ONCE!?" Naruto yelled, oblivious to the fact that his communication device was still on. "I SERIOUSLY HATE CATS!"

Everyone winced in pain since it was like having Naruto yell right into your ear.

Hokage's Office

"Oh, my cute little Tora! Mommy was so worried about you, but its ok now. Mommy is here and she's not letting you go." The Daimyo's wife declared as she hugged the cat tightly.

Tora was crying in pain as she attempted to escape the woman's grip, and retreat to Goku's arms. "Sorry, Tora." He scratched his cheek. "No matter how much you don't like it, she is still your owner."

"Stupid cat." Naruto laughed since it was hard to have the same sympathies, given that cat always scratched him. "That kitty deserves to be squashed."

"Now then." The Hokage raised his voice with his pipe still hanging from his mouth. "For Squad 7's next mission, we have several available tasks. Helping a civilian woman with her shopping, babysit the grandson of an elder, paint the fence of…"

"No, I want a real mission!" Naruto managed to hold it together for a month; however, training could only hold the blond off long enough. "Something challenging and exciting, not this little kid stuff!"

"He has a point." Sasuke reluctantly admitted to himself.

Even though he has been looking into C ranks lately, Kakashi groaned. "This was bound to happen sooner or later."

"How dare you!?" Iruka stood from his chair. "You're a fresh Genin with minimal experience! Like everyone else, you start with simple missions to develop your skills and prove yourself!"

"Are you serious!?" Naruto retorted, frustrated. "Babysitting is not a mission! It's just a stupid…"

Kakashi slammed his fist into the back of the blond's head, sending him painfully to the ground. "Will you put a lid on it?"

The blond boy started to whimper as he rubbed his head.

"Naruto, it seems to me that you do not understand the tasks you have been given." Hiruzen stated, making Naruto stop rubbing his head to pay attention. "Listen, we receive a lot of requests every day.

We assign them depending on their level of difficulty. Genin like yourself are given D ranks, which consist of request with the lowest level of difficulty. Occasionally, a Genin team might receive a C rank, but that only happens when…"

He was caught up in his own explanation to the point he forgot to see if Naruto was following…he was not. "Yesterday, I had miso ramen, so I think I'll have some pork ramen today."

"Silence!" Hiruzen snapped.

"You always lecture me like you're my grandpa or something, but I'm not the brat who used to do pranks all the time." Naruto turned to face him. "I'm a ninja now, and I want a ninja mission."

To prove his point, Naruto sat down once more with his arms crossed while giving his back to the Hokage. To make things even better, he sported a real 'mature' pout on his face.

Kakashi scratched the back of his head. "I'm going to hear about this later."

Hinata decided to give the Hokage her own thoughts in a more professional, respectful fashion. "Lord Hokage, with all due respect, I think a C rank mission would do us some good. D ranks are useful for developing teamwork; however, we've been at this for a month now.

I believe that is ample time, as we have done many D ranks, to determine that a C rank would be perfect to see how much we've progressed. I suggest issuing a C rank assignment and have Kakashi Sensei evaluate our performance.

"Yeah, exactly what Hinata said!" The blonde Genin perked up, happy to know someone was backing him on this. "We can show you and sensei just how much butt we kick now!"

Hinata's explanation seemed to make the Hokage reconsider as he chuckled. "Naruto wants to prove he's not a brat, but a former brat, while Hinata thinks her team can be tested with a more serious assignment. So be it. Since you are determined, I will give you C-rank mission. You five will be bodyguards on a journey."

"Really?" As expected, Naruto was the first to respond. "Who will we be protecting? A princess? An important councilor?"

"I guess that could be a possibility." Goku pondered. "Though, it's unlikely the Hokage would give too important an escort mission for our first C rank."

Goku would love to be proven wrong on that front though.

"Don't be so impatient." Hiruzen answered. "I will bring him here now." He then called out, "Send in our visitor."

The door behind Team 7 opened, and the client stepped in. It was a man in his sixties with tanned skin, gray hair, and a beard, who was wearing glasses. He was drinking sake from a bottle and he appeared to be slightly drunk because of his tone and reddened nose.

"What the…A bunch of snot-nosed brats?" The client took a big gulp from his bottle. "And you, the little one with the idiotic look on his face. Do you really expect me to believe you're a ninja?"

Naruto started laughing. "Who's the little one with the idiotic look on his…" He realized he was the shortest among the Genin, making him the little one with the idiotic look on his face. "I'll demolish you!" Kakashi stopped the blond. "Let me get him! Come here!"

"You don't attack the client, Naruto." Kakashi informed. "It doesn't work that way."

"My name is Tazuna, a master bridge builder." The man declared after taking another gulp from his sake. "I must return to my country. I'm building a bridge there that will change our world, and I expect you to get me there safely, even if it means giving up your lives."

With those 'reassuring' words, Team 7 set out to prepare for their first mission outside the village.

Outside Konoha: Later…

Goku wasn't sure what the limits of his range with the Flying Rajin were, but he figured he might as well leave his mark off to the side of the gate. Even if that didn't end up being useful this mission, it'd likely pay off down the road.

Kakashi took note of this. "Smart thinking Goku."

While Goku did that, Naruto exclaimed, "Yeaaaah!"

"What's he excited about?" Sasuke questioned.

"Well, it is our first mission outside the village." Goku voiced, with a smile, as he walked over.

"Exactly!" Naruto declared. "This makes us travelers now!"

"Am I supposed to trust my life to this runt?" Tazuna snorted. "He's a joke!"

"Don't worry, he's with me and I'm a Jonin." Kakashi voiced. "There's hardly a need to worry.

The words 'runt' and 'joke' echoed inside Naruto's head, so he turned around to face the geezer. "Hey, never insult a ninja because it's a big mistake! I'm one of the greatest ninja ever! Someday I'll become Hokage, and you'll look up to me! My name is Naruto Uzumaki, remember it!"

"The Hokage is someone powerful and wise while you are puny and brainless." Tazuna declared dismissingly after taking another gulp from his bottle of sake. "The day you become Hokage is the day I'll grow a pair of wings and fly."

"Shut up!" Naruto declared frustrated. "I'm willing to do anything to become Hokage, no matter what it takes! When I do, everyone will have to admit that I'm the top ninja, including you!"

"You can become Hokage ten times over for all I care." Tazuna sneered. "To me, you'll always be a nobody. A loser."

"Tazuna is being really harsh with people he wants protection from." Hinata thought.

With Kakashi holding Naruto to stop him from 'beating the snot out of the old man', Team 7 started walking. Given Hinata couldn't have her Byakugan always activated, that would drain Chakra she might need, none of them noticed the two shadows following them.

On the Road: Later…

After a while of walking, Team 7 crossed a small wooden bridge and passed a puddle. Kakashi took note of it yet chose not to say anything. Just a few steps later, two Shinobi came out of the puddle. They utilized chains to capture Kakashi, to the shock of everyone.

The two shinobi wore black coats, claw-like gauntlets, and headbands seemingly denoting them as members of the Hidden Mist. Not even a moment after he was captured, Kakashi was shredded to pieces with a shocked expression on his face.

"Kakashi Sensei!" Naruto yelled.

Suddenly, the two enemy Shinobi were standing behind him, chuckling evilly.

"Now it's your turn."

Naruto shook in terror while Sasuke lept forward, withdrawing a shuriken and kunai from his pouch. Goku took note of this and drew his staff, ready to capitalize on whatever Sasuke did. The Uchiha threw the shuriken, pinning the linked chain to a tree before hurling the kunai.

It embedded itself dead center within the shuriken ensuring their attackers shouldn't be going anywhere. Sasuke then landed on the arms of the assassins before kicking them both in their heads. They disengaged their chains and attempted to regain their footing.

Goku vaulted off his staff and firmly planted his feet into the head of one of the enemy Shinobi. He let the momentum carry them into the ground, ensuring one of the enemies was out cold. The second wouldn't be deterred by this as he fully regained his footing and charged Tazuna.

"Byakugan!" With her eyes active, Hinata got into the path of the enemy Shinobi and spun while emitting Chakra from all her tenketsu points. "8 Trigrams: Palm Rotation!"

A dome of Chakra formed around the Hyuga, and it was much too late for the enemy to retreat. He slammed full force into it and was repelled. As the Shinobi was knocked back, Sasuke took out shuriken with attached ninja wire before throwing them around the enemy.

The throw was perfect as they bound the Shinobi before Goku lept at and kneed him in the head. Between the momentum of being knocked back and strength behind the blow, the second Shinobi was rendered unconscious as well.

At that exact moment, Kakashi reappeared next to the second unconscious Shinobi, ensuring everyone saw him. "Hello there."

Hinata gasped out of relief. "He's alive."

"Should have figured." Sasuke thought, realizing those two jokers couldn't have taken out a Jonin.

Goku smiled. "It didn't seem believable to me."

Naruto was gawking, unable to comprehend what his eyes were showing him. "But, he was..." He trailed of while looking back at the spot where he 'died', only to see a pile of logs instead. "Substitution Jutsu!"

"Naruto, sorry I didn't help you right away." Kakashi stated sincerely. "I didn't mean for you to get hurt. I just didn't think you would freeze up like that. Sasuke, Goku and Hinata, good job on your reaction and teamwork."

"I was useless!" Naruto yelled at himself. "No, worse than useless! Sasuke, Goku, and Hinata acted so cool, like they've done this a thousand times. Gah, why can't I keep up with them!?"

They'd all trained hard the last month, yet he was the only one of his teammates to freeze like that. It was frustrating to no end. He was supposed to show those enemy ninjas who's boss, not act like a terrified kid who needed protecting.

"Hey!" Sasuke smirked at Naruto. "You're not hurt are you, scaredy cat?"

The blonde Genin growled. "Sasuke!"

"Naruto!" Kakashi interrupted the rant. "We need to take care of the wound on your hand quickly. You have been infected with some poison from the clawed gauntlets."

"Oh no." Hinata immediately took over as she approached the blond. "That means it's already in your blood, so don't move; otherwise, you'll cause the poison to spread."

Because of the heat of the moment, Naruto hadn't realized he had a big cut on his hand. Now that he looked at it, he paled and gulped.

"Don't worry, I learned how to deal with this during my time training at the hospital." Hinata opened her medic pouch. "I'll need you to bear with me though."

"Right." Naruto nodded. "Thanks a bunch, Hinata."

As she got to work tending to Naruto, Kakashi looked to their client. "By the way, Mr. Tazuna."

"Y-Yeah?" Tazuna asked somewhat startled.

"After I take care of the enemy Shinobi, I need to ask you a couple of questions." Kakashi got to work, pinning the enemy to a tree, and ensuring they were immobilized. "They are Meizu and Gozu, Chunin from Kirigakure. Their specialty is relentless attack, no matter the sacrifice."

"How did you know about our attack?" Meizu asked with a glare.

"A puddle, on a clear day, when it hasn't rained in weeks?" Kakashi asked. "I found that to be rather odd."

"In that case, why leave it for the Genin?" Tazuna asked with narrowed eyes.

"I could've taken them out quickly, but I would've learned nothing." Kakashi narrowed his visible eye right back. "I had to know who their target was and what they were after."

"What are you getting at?" Tazuna asked with false courage.

"I wanted to know what they were after." Kakashi looked Tazuna straight in the eye. "Were they after us, the ninjas, or were they after you, the man that we were protecting. When you put in your request, you asked for standard protection from robbers or thieves. You never said there were ninja after you. That alone makes this mission a B-rank or higher.

Our task was to get you to your destination safely and protect you while you finish your bridge. If we knew we would encounter enemy shinobi, we would've labeled this mission accordingly. Apparently, you have your reasons, but lying to us is not acceptable. As for now, we are officially beyond the scope of this mission."

As the Jonin spoke, Tazuna could only lower his head in shame. Before any further discussion could be made, Naruto pulled out a kunai and stabbed himself where his wound had been. Blood started to pour profusely.

"Why am I so different?" The blond started to say. "I worked hard to get here. Anything to get stronger and reach my dream. I will never back down again or run away again. Upon this wound I make this pledge, believe it. Bridge-builder, I'll complete this mission and protect you."

"Naruto, that was a cool speech; however, you've now ruined your teammate's hard work and might just die from blood loss." The Jonin commented, frustrated at the blond's frequent disregard for how Hinata helped him.

"NO, I'M SORRY HINATA!" Naruto quickly apologized. "I DIDN'T MEAN TO RUIN YOUR HARDWORK! PLEASE, FIX MY MISTAKE BECAUSE I'M TOO YOUNG TO DIE!"

Hinata worriedly ran over to tend to him again. "It's fine, just hold still!"

"Idiotic kid." Sasuke muttered.

"Show me your hand." Hinata commanded, taking the hand before noting something. "I thought it was my mind playing tricks on me, but the wound is healing, just like when I treated it minutes ago. Is this Naruto's Uzumaki traits coming to the forefront?"

"Hinata, you ha-a-a-ave a-a really s-s-serious look o-on your f-f-face." Naruto was trembling like a leaf in the wind. "Am I g-going to be-e ok?"

"Uh, yeah you should be alright." Hinata went about wrapping the wound. "That said, this time I'm not using the Healing Palm Jutsu." She had done as such after getting the poison out before. "Consider the pain a reminder not to needlessly harm yourself."

Naruto chuckled nervously, realizing he'd frustrated the Hyuga. "Right, I'll bear with the pain."

"Hm, I had no idea Hinata cold be this stern." Goku thought, surprised.

While everyone knew Hinata had a right to feel frustrated, Naruto's speech had achieved something. The whole team was resolved to see this mission through, no matter what awaited them beyond this point.

"Since I know none of you are going to turn away from this mission now, there's only one thing I can do." Kakashi stated.

If he really wanted to forgo this mission, Kakashi knew he could. As the Jonin, he had final say, and Tazuna gave them a perfect reason. Ultimately, this team he led weren't your average Genin. They were far more advanced than that.

"I say we send for at minimum one Chunin's worth of back up." Kakashi continued. "That shouldn't stress Konoha terribly, Tazuna still gets his help, and any Shinobi, like the Demon Brothers, will be easier to deal with."

"Who'll go back?" Sasuke asked.

"Despite Goku knowing a Jutsu for this, he can't, to my knowledge, Flying Rain another person with him at this time." Kakashi stated reluctantly. "As such, it should be me. I am the most experienced, so I'd do better on my own than a Genin."

"I wouldn't be alone." Goku grinned. "While you are right, I haven't gotten down transporting people with me, I'd still teleport back to Konoha. That means, I wouldn't be alone there, and I'd run back, along the agreed path, with back up."

"He makes a good point." Hinata voiced. "With Flying Rajin, it'd cut his travel time down to the point his total time might be less than what you could manage Sensei."

"Fair point." Kakashi patted Goku's shoulder. "Alright, we're counting on you to bring back up. Do your best to catch up with us once you got them."

"Understood Sensei." Goku voiced.

He then vanished in a black flash, leaving the team to press on.

Land of Waves: Later…

What remained of Team 7 found themselves on a small boat, entering the Land of Waves. The place was misty, dark, and quiet. The only thing that seemed to cause noise was the soft sound of the waves crashing gently against the boat.

"Kakashi Sensei?" Hinata asked in a low tone, gaining the attention of the Jonin. "I think it's time we discuss the mission."

"I agree." Kakashi gave his student a small nod. "Is there anything you might want to tell us, Tazuna? Perhaps about the men after you? If you say nothing, I'll have no qualms terminating this mission the second we reach landfall."

"I clearly have no choice but to tell you." Tazuna let out a tired sigh. "No, I want you to know the truth. Like you said, this is beyond the scope of the original mission. There's a terrible man after me."

"A terrible man?"

"I believe you might have heard his name before, Gato."

"You mean Gato of Gato Transport?" Kakashi's only visible eye widened in surprise. "He's a business leader, everyone knows him."

Naruto was clueless. "Who is he?"

"Gato is the president of a marine transportation company on the outside, but underground he sells contraband. He also does nasty jobs, such as takeovers of companies and countries. A year ago, he set his sight on The Land of Waves. He used violence and wealth to take over.

Anyone who attempted to stand in his way…disappeared. On an island nation, he who controls the sea controls everything. The one thing Gato fears is the completion of the bridge that has been under construction for some time now. The bridge that I am building."

"I see." Hinata let the information sink in. "That means you, as the master bridge builder, became an obstacle to him."

"Then, those guys we fought before were sent by Gato." Sasuke concluded.

"I don't understand." Kakashi voiced. "If you knew he was dangerous, knew he'd send ninja to eliminate you, why hide that from us?"

"It's because the Land of Waves is a small, impoverished nation." Tazuna voiced. "Even the feudal lord doesn't have much money. All I could scrounge up was enough for a C rank. If you choose to quit the mission after we land, I'll be killed, for sure, on my way home."

Then, his tone changed to one much more innocent. "But there's no need to blame yourselves. Only my cute, eight-year-old grandson will cry. Also, my daughter will bear a grudge against Konoha for the rest of her life. Then again, it won't be your fault."

Despite it being a guilt trip, it was working.

"Well, I guess we don't have much choice." Kakashi scratched the back of his head. "The mission goes on."

"Thank you." Tazuna grinned. "I'm saved!"

Hinata didn't like seeing this. "Tazuna."

"Yeah?"

"Just to let you know, I care an awful lot about my whole team, and they have people back home who'd miss them." Hinata voiced genuinely. "If any or all of us die on this mission because of you, how do you think those we leave behind would feel?"

The Hyuga heiress had learned what the life of a Shinobi entailed; however, how Tazuna treated this, seemed to treat their lives, didn't sit right with her. Of course, Shinobi put their lives on the line out here, but that didn't mean there weren't people back home who'd miss them.

Now, Tazuna could barely speak. "…I'm sorry."

"No, you're not." Hinata shook her head. "You already have what you want, don't you? We are still going to protect you, but I want you to realize that your actions will have consequences. If something bad happens to my friends, I want you to be aware of your part in that."

The girl's words cut deep, leaving Tazuna feeling rather guilty, so he wisely chose not to say anything as the boat rowed on.

Alright, it's off to Squad 7's first C rank which will inevitably become an A rank. While certain things have changed, Naruto freezing at the initial attack of the Demon Brothers has not. If I had utilized the Rookie Instructor Iruka filler in full, I.E. Naruto going off and encountering those female Shinobi, then I could see a difference. That event was stopped short by this Naruto being more willing to listen to Iruka, and the fact that he didn't need validation from the bullies.

Even without Naruto in this encounter, Goku, Sasuke, and Hinata were more than enough to beat them without Kakashi coming in. Even then, Kakashi decides they should get a bit of back up as a precaution. Ultimately, Goku goes since he has the Flying Rajin. For the time being, this leaves what remains of Team 7 to see Tazuna to the Land of Waves.

GojiraSerizawa: If you look at him in the context of the series as a whole, he is decent teacher. In the first series he teaches Sasuke more than he teachers Naruto & Sakura. He teachers all of them Tree Climbing and teamwork before only teaching Sasuke. This gives the Uchiha Chidori and speeds equivalent to unweighted Lee. He also got Naruto a teacher he hates and left Sakura out to dry. Granted, she lost in the preliminaries, but that doesn't change the fact that Kakashi is her teacher.

There has to be someone Kakashi could have gotten to train Sakura, but he didn't. Ebisu & Jiraya teach Naruto Water Walking, The latter then goes onto teach him summoning and Rasengan. If we take the filler into considering, at that time, Tsunade starts teaching Sakura. None of this includes the fact that Kakashi never taught Sakura anything beyond teamwork. Upon just seeing and hearing how to do it, she had Tree Climbing down. After that, Kakashi teaches Sakura nothing.

As for Sasuke still going dark, I spoil nothing. Actually, I believe Jiraiya brings up that the Rasengan, which is a handsignless Jutsu, can't be copied by the Sharingan. When it comes to Genjutsu, yeah Sasuke could do it later, but you still got to learn that stuff. As for Chidori, we'll see if Kakashi decides to potentially teach Hinata that or not. I'll keep summons in mind. As for DB characters going that far back?

There are no big names tied to the Leaf in that regard, but there is a big name out there who is tied to that era. There will possibly be more; however, you'll have to wait on those. I think Bulma fits better in the Boruto era, as it's more scientifically focused. No, there are no dragon balls. If someone dies, unless they're Naruto and Sasuke in canon fourth Shinobi War, they stay dead or are brought back through the Edo Tensai/Rinnegan thing.

NBATazuji: Thank you. I did give them a month before the Land of Waves Mission, so I might as well put it to fully use. Pretty much with Kaio-Ken and Eight Gates, but when it comes to a potential fight between Rock Lee and Goku, we'll see about that, I have some ideas come the Chunin Exams. When it comes to DB characters that far back, I have one person in mind right now, and might come up with more.

As for Goku's strength, if I wanted him to truly surpass his team, I would not have had ground rules. Granted, there are going to be things he's better at just as there will be things they are better at as Shinobi. As for more DB characters, I will do my best. I will say including the Red Ribbon Army, as a whole, isn't likely, though I am cooking up a potential way to do them. I might just end up utilizing their characters.