Chapter 4: The Beginning of a Mission
Arc: The Land of Waves
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The next morning, Team 7 gathered at the Hokage's office. Naruto was practically bouncing on the balls of his feet, excitement radiating off him. "A mission! Our first real mission!" he exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.
Kakashi, standing lazily beside them with his hands in his pockets, glanced at Naruto. "Calm down, Naruto. We haven't even been assigned one yet."
Sasuka stood with her arms crossed, looking as composed as ever. But there was a small gleam in her eyes—though she would never admit it, she was also eager to finally test herself on a mission. Sakura, on the other hand, was nervously fidgeting, wondering what kind of task they would be given.
The Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, puffed on his pipe as he scanned through the available missions. "Ah, here's one," he said, pulling a scroll from the pile. "You'll be escorting a bridge builder to the Land of Waves."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Escort mission, huh? Should be simple enough."
Hiruzen chuckled softly. "Don't be so sure, Kakashi. The Land of Waves has had a few incidents lately. Be on your guard."
Before Kakashi could respond, the door to the office swung open, and an older man stepped in, holding an empty bottle of sake. He had a scruffy beard and a disgruntled look on his face. "You're the ones supposed to protect me?" he scoffed, looking them up and down. "A bunch of kids and some masked weirdo? I'm doomed."
Naruto bristled at the insult, but before he could respond, Kakashi placed a hand on his shoulder, holding him back. "Relax, Naruto," Kakashi said calmly, though his visible eye showed a hint of amusement. "This is our client, Tazuna."
Tazuna sighed heavily, clearly unimpressed, but waved them off. "Let's just get going. I have a bridge to finish."
With their mission assigned, Team 7 departed from the village, heading toward the Land of Waves. The journey was relatively peaceful at first, the group traveling along a dirt road surrounded by tall trees. Kakashi walked at the front, his usual nonchalant demeanor hiding his ever-present vigilance. Naruto walked beside Sasuka and Sakura, trying to lighten the mood with his usual banter, though Sasuka remained quiet.
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As they traveled, Naruto couldn't help but notice something. "Hey, Kakashi-sensei," Naruto called out, jogging up to Kakashi's side. "You said this mission was supposed to be easy, right? But the old man back there seemed kinda... off."
Kakashi didn't turn around but nodded. "It's a C-rank mission, Naruto. Usually, that means there shouldn't be any major threats. But... we should always be prepared for the unexpected."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. He had a bad feeling about this. He might have been impulsive and loud, but he wasn't stupid. Something didn't sit right with Tazuna's behavior, and even Kurama stirred uneasily within him.
Sasuka, overhearing their conversation, glanced at Naruto. "You think something's going to happen?"
Naruto shrugged. "I don't know. It's just... a gut feeling."
Sasuka frowned but nodded slightly. She, too, had sensed something odd about Tazuna. His behavior seemed more nervous than the simple grumpiness of an old man. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was hiding something.
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Flashback
As they continued their journey, Sasuka's thoughts wandered back to her last conversation with her older sister, Itachi, before the massacre.
"Itachi-nee-san," Sasuka had asked one day, her eyes wide with admiration, "how do you stay so strong?"
Itachi had smiled gently, her dark eyes softening. "Strength isn't just about power, Sasuka. It's about protecting what matters most."
At the time, Sasuka hadn't fully understood. She had admired Itachi for her strength and her calm demeanor, but now, in the aftermath of the massacre, those words echoed painfully in her mind.
What did you want to protect, Itachi? Sasuka wondered, her fists clenching unconsciously. And why did you have to destroy everything in the process?
She snapped out of her thoughts as Kakashi suddenly stopped in front of them.
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Back to Present
The hairs on the back of Naruto's neck stood up. Something was wrong. The air felt heavy, and Kurama's growl echoed in his mind. "Naruto," Kurama warned, "there's danger ahead."
Kakashi narrowed his visible eye as he surveyed the road ahead. "Get ready, everyone."
Before any of them could react, two figures burst from the underbrush, wielding chains that glinted ominously in the sunlight. Their faces were covered with masks, and their movements were fast and coordinated.
Naruto's heart leapt into his throat, but Kakashi was faster. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared, reappearing behind the attackers with a kunai at the ready.
But then, to Naruto's horror, the chains wrapped around Kakashi's body, cutting into him.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura screamed, her face pale with fear.
Sasuka's eyes widened in shock, but Naruto's instincts kicked in. "No!" he shouted, rushing forward. His hands formed the hand seals he had been practicing for weeks. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" (Shadow Clone Technique)
Several clones appeared, rushing at the attackers from all directions. In the chaos, one of Naruto's clones managed to disrupt the chains long enough for Kakashi to break free, flipping backward and landing in a crouch.
Kakashi straightened up, brushing the dust off his uniform as if nothing had happened. "Not bad, Naruto," he said casually, though his voice held a note of approval. "But these guys aren't pushovers."
Sasuka had already moved, her kunai flashing as she engaged one of the masked attackers. Her movements were quick and precise, her Sharingan eyes whirling as she anticipated the enemy's every move.
Naruto and his clones joined in, overwhelming the second attacker with sheer numbers. It was chaotic, but between Naruto's unpredictability and Sasuka's precision, they managed to subdue both enemies.
Breathing heavily, Naruto looked over at Kakashi. "What the hell was that? This is supposed to be a simple mission!"
Kakashi's expression was uncharacteristically serious. "I have a feeling our client hasn't told us everything."
Tazuna, who had been cowering behind a tree during the fight, slowly emerged, guilt written all over his face. "I… I didn't think they'd send ninjas after me this soon."
Naruto, Sasuka, and Sakura turned to him, their expressions a mix of confusion and frustration.
Kakashi sighed. "I think it's time you explained what's really going on, Tazuna."
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End of Chapter 4
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Author's Note:
In this chapter, Team 7 faces their first real danger as a team. The sudden appearance of the masked attackers marks the beginning of a much larger challenge than they expected, and tensions are rising as Tazuna's secrets come to light. Naruto and Sasuka's growing teamwork shines through, but the stakes are only going to get higher from here.
In the next chapter, Tazuna's true mission will be revealed, and Team 7 will face their first real test of survival.