Hey guys back with chapter 5, enjoy!
A few weeks had passed since Team 7's first mission. During that time, they had completed several more D-rank missions, much to the chagrin of Ashi and Kazaya. The tasks had mostly consisted of menial labor—repairing fences, chasing stray animals, and delivering supplies around the village. While Hikari didn't mind the experience, finding value in learning the ropes and building teamwork, Ashi was growing restless, and even Kazaya had started to complain about the monotony.
Now, as the sun hung high in the afternoon sky, Team 7 was back at Training Ground 3, practicing under Naruto's watchful eye. Today's training was different from the usual exercises. Naruto had created three Shadow Clones, each assigned to spar individually with a member of the team. His goal was to gauge their progress and see what areas they needed to focus on for future growth.
Naruto's original self stood back with his arms folded, keeping a close eye on the three sparring matches. Each of his clones was working at a different level of intensity, pushing the genin just enough to test their abilities without overwhelming them.
Ashi, as always, was charging forward with boundless energy, her fists flying toward the Naruto clone in front of her. Yuna darted in and out, barking as she weaved between Ashi's legs, adding pressure to the clone. Ashi's attacks were wild but strong, her relentless determination shining through in every punch and kick.
"You've got power, Ashi," Naruto's clone said as he blocked one of her punches with his forearm. "But you need to focus on your accuracy. You're leaving yourself wide open."
"Accuracy, shmaccuracy!" Ashi growled, grinning as she ducked low and aimed a spinning kick at the clone's legs. "I just need to hit hard enough, right?"
The clone easily leapt over her kick, landing gracefully a few feet away. "Power's good, but if you can't land a clean hit, all that strength won't matter."
Yuna barked and lunged at the clone's heels, but Naruto's clone danced out of the way again, effortlessly dodging their combined assault.
On the other side of the field, Hikari was locked in a different kind of battle with her own clone. She wasn't relying on brute force like Ashi—instead, she was trying to outmaneuver the clone, analyzing his movements and looking for openings. Her kunai flashed in her hand as she moved with careful precision, but every time she thought she had an opening, the clone would block or dodge with frustrating ease.
"You've got good instincts," Naruto's clone praised as he sidestepped another attack. "But you're hesitating too much. You're second-guessing yourself."
Hikari frowned, knowing the clone was right. She could feel the doubt in her own movements, the tiny pauses where she wasn't fully committing to her attacks. She wasn't as confident in her abilities as Ashi, and it showed in her fighting style.
'I need to stop hesitating', she thought, gritting her teeth as she readied another attack. She tried a feint, aiming for the clone's shoulder but swiftly redirecting the kunai toward his torso instead. The clone smiled, clearly impressed, but still managed to catch her wrist before the blow landed.
"Better," the clone said, releasing her hand gently. "But you've got to trust yourself more. You're smart, Hikari—don't doubt your own abilities."
Hikari nodded, her heart racing. 'I need to be more decisive'. She took a deep breath and focused her chakra, preparing for another attempt.
Meanwhile, Kazaya was facing his own Naruto clone in silence, his expression as calm and indifferent as always. He wasn't nearly as aggressive as Ashi, nor as hesitant as Hikari—his fighting style was efficient, with no wasted movements. His ninjato flashed as he parried the clone's strikes, each swing of his blade measured and deliberate.
"You've got good control," Naruto's clone commented as he blocked another strike. "But you're holding back."
Kazaya raised an eyebrow, not breaking his rhythm. "Holding back? I'm fighting just fine."
The clone smirked, stepping up the intensity of the sparring match. His movements became faster, sharper, forcing Kazaya to react more quickly. "You're good at the basics, but I can tell you're not pushing yourself. If you really want to grow, you've got to take more risks."
Kazaya's eyes narrowed slightly, his footwork quickening as he met the clone's challenge. "Taking risks gets you hurt," he said, his voice calm but firm. "I prefer efficiency over recklessness."
The clone grinned, clearly amused by Kazaya's answer. "There's a difference between being reckless and knowing when to push yourself beyond your limits. You've got skill, but you're playing it too safe."
Kazaya remained silent, but the clone's words lingered in his mind as their spar continued.
Naruto watched each of the sparring matches closely, his sharp eyes taking in every movement, every reaction. He could see the potential in each of them, but he also saw the areas where they still needed work. Ashi was strong, but she lacked control. Hikari was smart, but her hesitation held her back. And Kazaya, for all his skill, wasn't pushing himself enough to reach the next level.
Before Naruto could step in to give more feedback, he sensed a familiar presence approaching. He turned, grinning when he saw Hinata walking toward the training grounds, a large basket in her arms.
"Looks like lunchtime's here," Naruto called out, signaling for his clones to stop the sparring.
The three genin immediately stopped their matches, panting slightly from the exertion. Ashi looked up, eyes bright with excitement. "Is that Hinata-neechan? And does she have food?"
Naruto chuckled as he waved Hinata over. "Yep, and it smells amazing. You guys have earned a break."
Hinata smiled warmly as she reached the group, setting the basket down on the grass. "I thought you might be hungry after all the hard work you've been doing. I made some extra rice balls and bento boxes for everyone."
Ashi was the first to dive into the food, her eyes practically sparkling. "Hinata-neechan, you're the best!" She grabbed a rice ball and took a huge bite, Yuna wagging her tail eagerly at the sight of food.
Kazaya, more reserved, took a bento box and sat down quietly to eat, though Hikari noticed a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Hikari, sitting down beside Ashi, gratefully accepted a bento from Hinata. "Thank you, Hinata-san. This looks delicious."
Hinata smiled gently. "You're all working so hard. You deserve a good meal." She glanced at Naruto, her gaze softening. "Naruto-kun's been telling me how well you're all doing."
Naruto grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, well, they've been making my job easy. They've got a lot of potential."
As the team ate, a comfortable silence settled over the group. The food was delicious, and the cool breeze made the afternoon feel peaceful. But as they sat there, enjoying the break, Ashi couldn't stay quiet for long.
"Hey, Naruto-sensei," she said, still chewing on her rice ball, "I think we're ready for something bigger than these D-rank missions. We've been doing a ton of them, and we've trained a lot. Don't you think it's time for a C-rank mission?"
Hikari looked up from her bento, surprised by Ashi's boldness, but she didn't disagree. She had been thinking the same thing. The D-rank missions had been good practice, but she was eager to prove herself in a more challenging situation.
Kazaya glanced at Naruto, his usual calm demeanor still in place. "She's got a point. We've been doing pretty basic stuff so far."
Naruto paused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. He had expected this conversation to come up sooner or later, especially with Ashi's fiery determination. He knew his team was growing, but a C-rank mission was a step up. Still, they had handled themselves well in training and on the field so far.
"You think you're ready for a C-rank, huh?" Naruto said, a hint of a grin forming on his lips.
Ashi nodded vigorously. "Definitely! We're ready to take on something bigger!"
Hikari nodded as well, though more composed. "We've been working hard, Naruto-sensei. I think we can handle it."
Kazaya, leaning back against a tree, shrugged. "It'd be nice to have a challenge for once."
Naruto chuckled, glancing over at Hinata, who smiled encouragingly. He had a feeling this day would come. They were young and hungry for more—just like he had been at their age.
"Alright," Naruto said, standing up and stretching his arms. "I'll go talk to the Hokage. If he agrees, we'll see about getting you a C-rank mission."
Ashi's eyes widened with excitement. "Yes! Finally!"
Hikari smiled, feeling a surge of both excitement and nervousness. A C-rank mission would be a real test, something far more dangerous than chasing cats or fixing fences. But she was ready. We're ready, she reminded herself.
Kazaya remained cool, though Hikari noticed the faintest hint of excitement in his eyes. He might not show it like Ashi, but deep down, he was just as eager for a challenge as the rest of them.
Naruto clapped his hands, breaking the brief moment of silence. "Alright, you guys finish up lunch and rest for a bit. I'll go have a word with the Hokage and see what he thinks. Don't get your hopes up too high—Kakashi-sensei is a little stricter than I was back in the day."
Ashi punched the air with her free hand, already buzzing with energy. "He'll say yes, I just know it! We're ready for this!"
Hikari and Kazaya gave small nods of agreement, though Kazaya's response was, as usual, more reserved. "If he doesn't approve, at least we'll know what we need to work on."
With that, Naruto waved to them and made his way toward the Hokage Tower. As he walked through the busy streets of Konoha, memories of his own first C-rank mission came flooding back. The bridge builder, Zabuza, Haku—it had all been so intense, so dangerous. He had grown so much since those days, and now it was his turn to guide the next generation through their own trials.
As he approached the Hokage Tower, Naruto smiled to himself. 'They're ready', he thought. 'They've proven themselves in training. I've seen it. But Kakashi-sensei might have something to say about it.'
He entered the tower, climbing the stairs to the Hokage's office. The village had changed so much since the war, but some things remained the same. The doors to Kakashi's office were still the familiar ones he had walked through so many times, though now the man behind them wore the hat of the Hokage.
Naruto knocked once before stepping inside, a grin already plastered on his face. "Yo, Kakashi-sensei!"
Kakashi Hatake, the Sixth Hokage, sat behind his desk, lazily flipping through a mission report. He still wore his mask, though the Hokage's hat rested on the desk beside him. He glanced up from his paperwork, his lone visible eye crinkling in amusement at Naruto's energetic entrance. "Naruto," he greeted in his usual calm, cool manner. "You look like you've got something on your mind."
Naruto chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, well, it's about my team—Team 7. They've been doing great with the D-rank missions, but they're asking to move up to a C-rank."
Kakashi's eyebrow lifted slightly, though his relaxed demeanor didn't change. "Already? It hasn't been that long since they formed as a team."
"I know," Naruto admitted, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. "But I've been keeping a close eye on them, and they're starting to get the hang of working together. They handled themselves well in training, and honestly, I think they're ready for something more challenging."
Kakashi put down the report he was holding, leaning back in his chair as he considered Naruto's words. "A C-rank mission is a big step up. You remember how your first C-rank mission turned out."
Naruto winced slightly, recalling the battle with Zabuza and Haku, and the danger they had faced. "Yeah, I remember. But that was a special case. Normally, C-rank missions aren't that dangerous, right?"
"True," Kakashi admitted, his tone thoughtful. "But danger can come out of nowhere, even on low-level missions. I don't want to send them into something they aren't prepared for."
Naruto nodded, knowing his former sensei had a point. "I get it. But I really believe they're ready. Ashi's strong, Kazaya's quick and strategic, and Hikari is probably the smartest genin I've seen in a long time. They've been training hard, and they're hungry for more. A C-rank mission will help them grow."
Kakashi tapped his fingers against the desk, his eyes scanning Naruto's face as he weighed his decision. Finally, after a long pause, he leaned forward. "Alright, Naruto. I trust your judgment as their sensei. If you believe they're ready, I'll authorize it. I'll have the mission ready for you by tomorrow morning."
Naruto's face lit up with a grin. "Thanks, Kakashi-sensei! I know they'll live up to your expectations."
Kakashi gave a small nod, his expression unreadable behind his mask. "I'll hold you to that, Naruto. But remember, even on a simple mission, you need to keep a close eye on them. They're still young and inexperienced. It's your job to make sure they stay safe."
Naruto's grin softened into something more serious as he nodded. "Of course. I'll keep them safe, no matter what."
With that, Naruto turned to leave, but just before he stepped out of the office, Kakashi called after him. "Oh, and Naruto?"
"Yeah?" Naruto turned back, curious.
Kakashi's eye crinkled again with amusement. "Try not to get too nostalgic about your first C-rank mission. Things might turn out differently this time."
Naruto chuckled, waving as he left the office. "Don't worry, Kakashi-sensei. I've got this."
Later that day, Naruto returned to Training Ground 3 where Team 7 was finishing their lunch. Ashi was still talking animatedly about her plans for their next mission, while Hikari and Kazaya listened in their usual ways—Hikari nodding thoughtfully and Kazaya leaning back, half-listening with his usual air of indifference.
When Naruto approached, Ashi jumped to her feet, her eyes shining with excitement. "So, what did Kakashi-sama say? Did he approve it? Are we going on a C-rank mission?"
Naruto crossed his arms, letting the suspense build for a moment before finally grinning. "Yep, we're officially moving up to a C-rank mission."
Ashi's cheer echoed across the training ground, Yuna barking happily beside her. "Yes! Finally!"
Hikari smiled, her nervous excitement bubbling up. This would be her first real mission with actual risk, but she was ready to face it head-on with her team. "What kind of mission is it?" she asked.
Naruto shook his head. "You'll find out tomorrow when we get the details. But it's going to be something that'll challenge you."
Kazaya simply nodded, though Hikari could see the faint flicker of interest in his eyes. "Sounds like something worth getting up for."
Naruto placed his hands on his hips, looking at his team with pride. "You've all worked hard these past few weeks, and now it's time to put that training to use. But remember—this mission won't be like the D-rank stuff you've done before. There's going to be danger, and you'll need to rely on each other more than ever."
Hikari, Ashi, and Kazaya all nodded, a shared determination passing between them. They were ready for this, and no matter what lay ahead, they would face it as a team.
"Rest up tonight," Naruto said, clapping his hands together. "Tomorrow, we start our first C-rank mission."
First big mission coming up for team 7! Hopefully they will have it easier than Naruto's. Thanks for reading!
