First C Rank Went Wrong
Naruto was really annoyed, although it was not visible. She pondered if she should drown the cat that was in her arms or not. The thought of submerging the squirming creature in water gave her an odd sense of satisfaction. She tilted her head to one side, her mechanical mind calculating the probability of getting caught versus the relief it would bring. Her expression remained stoic, but her inner turmoil was palpable. The cat meowed pitifully, its wide eyes pleading for mercy, but Naruto's grip was unyielding.
"So, Team Seven retrieved the cat in nine minutes?" Hiruzen mused, his tone indicating mild surprise. He took a long puff of his pipe, the smoke curling around his head in lazy spirals. "Not bad," he continued, glancing at the mission report. His eyes sparkled with a hint of pride as he looked at the young team before him.
"Affirmative," Naruto responded in her monotone voice, handing the cat over to its owner, a fat woman who proceeded to choke the life out of it with an overly enthusiastic hug. Naruto felt a small, malicious satisfaction seeing the cat's misery. "Mission accomplished," she added, her eyes narrowing slightly as she observed the cat's futile struggles. Her robotic voice lacked the warmth of a typical human interaction, but she felt it conveyed efficiency.
"Let's see, we have babysitting jo—" Hiruzen started to say, scanning the list of available missions.
"We would like a more…dignifying mission," Sasuke interjected, gritting his teeth. The frustration was evident in his voice as he struggled to maintain his composure. "Sir," he added, almost as an afterthought, trying to appear respectful. His dark eyes burned with a fierce determination, the kind that came from a deep-seated desire to prove himself.
"How about cleaning the pa—" Hiruzen began again, seemingly ignoring Sasuke's request.
"Something dangerous," Sasuke added, his voice rising slightly in pitch as his irritation grew. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. The thought of another mundane task made his blood boil. He longed for real action, something that would challenge him and push his limits.
"Working at the gate—" Hiruzen suggested, not missing a beat.
"Something that involves—"
"I think my cute little genin is trying to say that he wants a C-rank mission," Kakashi eye-smiled as he interrupted the exchange. His tone was light and teasing, which only served to heighten the tension between Sasuke and the Hokage. The masked jōnin's relaxed demeanor contrasted sharply with the intensity radiating from his students.
"Do you think they are ready?" Hiruzen asked, arching an eyebrow as he looked at the jōnin.
"Uh, no. But no one ever is," Kakashi shrugged, earning glares from Sasuke and Sakura. His casual demeanor was in stark contrast to the intensity of his students' expressions. "They need to be tested in real-world situations to truly grow," he added, his eye crinkling in amusement. He enjoyed seeing his students' fiery spirits.
"According to my calculations," Naruto chirped in, her voice devoid of any inflection. "This was our 30th D-rank mission. Therefore, we must be given a C-rank mission. Or else, there may be consequences." Was she threatening the Hokage? "Dattebayo," she added, her attempt at sounding human coming off as even more robotic. Her eyes blinked mechanically, and she stood rigid, like a soldier awaiting orders.
Hiruzen choked on his pipe smoke, coughing violently as he gestured for his ANBU. "Bring Tazuna," he managed to wheeze out between coughs. The room fell silent as the ANBU swiftly exited, their presence a reminder of the seriousness of the situation. Hiruzen's eyes followed them, a flicker of concern crossing his features.
A minute later, the ANBU returned with an old man who smelled like he had bathed in beer. His clothes were rumpled, and his eyes were bloodshot, giving him the appearance of someone who had seen better days. "Is this all the mighty Leaf has to offer?" the drunkard sneered, swaying slightly on his feet. "That boy looks like he never walked under sunlight." Sasuke's hands reached for his kunai pouch, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
"That pinky looks like she's malnourished." Sakura's face flushed with anger as she cracked her knuckles, ready to pounce. Her usually composed demeanor was shattered by the man's harsh words. She glanced at Sasuke, hoping for some reassurance, but his focus was on Tazuna.
"And that girl looks like a model from those—" Tazuna's voice trailed off as he felt something sharp press against his throat.
"Old man, is this man sentenced to execution?" Naruto asked, her tone devoid of any emotion. "Should I carry out the task, dattebayo?" She held a kunai to Tazuna's neck, her face expressionless. Her robotic voice was unnervingly calm, and her grip was unyielding.
Hiruzen sighed deeply, rubbing his temples as if trying to ward off a headache. "That is not a prisoner sentenced to execution, Naruto. That is the person you need to escort to Wave Country."
"Oh," Naruto replied, releasing her hold on Tazuna. She bowed deeply to him, her movements stiff and awkward. "I am 'truly' sorry. I have the tendency to identify verbal abusers as enemies and sometimes I act out of pure instincts. Please forgive me."
"N-no problem!" Tazuna stammered, his face pale and his eyes wide with fear. He was already wetting his pants, the terror evident in his trembling voice. He backed away slowly, casting wary glances at Naruto.
Kakashi chuckled, his shoulders shaking with amusement. Sasuke had a satisfied smirk on his face, clearly enjoying the old man's discomfort. Sakura giggled, her earlier anger forgotten in the face of Tazuna's obvious panic. The room's tense atmosphere lightened slightly, but the mission ahead loomed large in their minds.
"Okay, Hokage-sama," Kakashi said, still chuckling. "We accept the mission." He turned to his team, his expression becoming serious. "We leave tomorrow at 10 AM sharp."
They nodded in unison, their faces determined. Despite the bizarre and comedic events of the day, they were ready to face their next challenge as a team. The prospect of a C-rank mission brought a mix of excitement and anxiety, but they were prepared to prove themselves.
o—O—o
The next day, they met at the gates of the village. They were surprised to see their teacher right on time. Naruto bluntly asked, "Why are you so punctual, Kakashi-sensei? Is it an anomaly in your usual behavior pattern?" Her robotic tone made the question sound more like an observation from a malfunctioning AI than genuine curiosity.
Kakashi chuckled, "Well, I thought it might be fun to surprise you for once." His eye crinkled in amusement as he observed their reactions. Sasuke looked mildly impressed, Sakura seemed relieved, and Naruto's face remained as stoic as ever.
They began their journey towards the Country of Waves with their client Tazuna. Sakura, ever the curious one, asked, "Tazuna-san, does the Wave Country have any ninja?" Her voice was polite but tinged with genuine curiosity.
Tazuna shook his head, a look of sorrow crossing his face. "No, our country is poor. We don't have a military system. That's why I need your protection." His words carried a weight of desperation and helplessness, making the team realize the gravity of their mission.
Kakashi was lazily reading his orange book as they walked. Naruto, noticing this, asked, "Is reading that book more important than the mission, Kakashi-sensei?"
He looked up, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Perhaps," he replied, then giggled like a schoolgirl at a particularly amusing passage. The contrast between his casual demeanor and the seriousness of their task was striking.
Sasuke was excited about the mission, but so far, they had not encountered any bandits or enemies. His anticipation was palpable, his eyes constantly scanning their surroundings for any sign of danger.
Just then, Naruto declared, "Two people are drowning in a puddle of water ahead." Her statement was delivered with the same robotic precision, but her words caused an immediate reaction.
Before Kakashi could say anything, Naruto rushed into action and pulled out two men from the puddle of water. The men were clearly not drowning, but Naruto, in her misguided attempt to save them, began to punch their chests to expel the nonexistent water.
No water was coming out of their mouths, so she assumed that the water was too deep inside their lungs and began to hit harder. "Water obstruction detected. Initiating emergency chest compressions," she said, her tone mechanical and devoid of empathy.
Sakura was yelling at her to stop, her voice filled with panic. "Naruto, stop! You're going to kill them!"
Kakashi was amused, watching the scene unfold with a bemused expression.
Sasuke was… confused, his brow furrowing as he tried to understand Naruto's actions. What idiots drown in a puddle? Also, how come punching someone's chest can be helpful in extracting water from lungs?
Naruto, undeterred, continued her efforts. "Saving lives is the duty of a Shinobi. Dattebayo." Her voice was unwavering, her dedication to the task evident despite the absurdity of the situation.
Within a minute, the two men were knocked out cold due to pain. Their bodies lay limp on the ground, a testament to Naruto's relentless determination.
"Naruto, that was a trap," Kakashi chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "They are the Demon Brothers, C-rank missing ninja from Kiri." His voice was lighthearted, but his eyes held a glint of approval. Despite the bizarre method, Naruto had effectively neutralized the threat.
Naruto felt a twinge of embarrassment, though her expression remained unchanged. She tried to come up with a logical exc...'explanation'. "Assessing threat level and responding accordingly. Mission priority: neutralize enemies. Error in identification process. Adjustments will be made for future encounters," she stated, her tone as robotic as ever.
Sakura couldn't hold back a giggle. "You really are something else, Naruto," she teased, her earlier panic replaced by amusement. "But maybe next time, let Kakashi-sensei handle the identifying part."
Sasuke, on the other hand, looked annoyed, though there was a begrudging respect in his eyes. "Even if it was unintentional, you did take down two enemies," he muttered, his pride stinging at the thought that Naruto had beaten him to the punch.
Kakashi glanced at Tazuna, who was still visibly shaken by the sudden commotion. "Do you have something to say?" Kakashi asked, his tone suddenly serious.
The man gulped, his eyes darting between the unconscious Demon Brothers and the stoic genin. "I… I didn't mention everything about the mission," he confessed, his voice trembling. "The truth is, there are more dangerous people after me. The mission might be more than just a simple escort."
Kakashi's expression softened slightly. "I suspected as much but explain elaborately."
So he did.
"Well," Kakshi said as Tazuna finished his story, looking at his team. "Well, Team Seven, looks like our mission just got a bit more interesting." He turned to Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke, his gaze lingering on each of them. "Mission is cancelled."
"N-no!" Tazuna cried. "I beg you! If I do not… If I do not build the bridge than my country will suffer and the children will be slaughtered. Women will be made slaves!"
"You lied about the mission," Kakashi shrugged. "It's at least A rank."
"Sensei…" Sasuke said. "We should…continue."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
"I don't want to abandon my first C rank mission." He added.
"Okay~" Kakashi looked at Sakura.
"If Sasuke-kun says so…" she looked flustered.
"Naruto?"
"I do not know about the rules…" she replied monotone, but there was fire behind it. "But leaving people to suffer is unacceptable. If you do not wish to continue and leave, then I alone will go."
"Okay then, you win." Kakashi chuckled.
"Thank you, kid!" Tazuna ruffled her white hair as he began to cry.
Kakaho addressed his team. "Stay alert and be prepared for anything."
Naruto, her mechanical mind whirring, nodded. "Acknowledged. Mission parameters updated," she said, her voice steady. Despite her robotic nature, there was a hint of determination in her eyes.
Sakura, her earlier blush fading, nodded as well. "We can handle it," she said, her voice filled with a newfound resolve. She glanced at Sasuke, who gave a curt nod, his eyes reflecting his readiness.
Sasuke's excitement for the mission had returned tenfold. The prospect of facing real danger, of testing his skills against formidable opponents, was exactly what he had been yearning for. "Let's go," he said, his voice low and determined.
As they continued their journey, the atmosphere was tense but charged with anticipation. The team walked in a formation, with Kakashi leading, Tazuna close behind, and the three genin flanking the sides. The forest around them seemed to hold its breath, the silence broken only by the rustle of leaves and the occasional call of a distant bird.
Naruto's sensors were on high alert, her eyes scanning the surroundings with precision. "Scanning for threats," she murmured to herself, her tone methodical. "No immediate danger detected."
Sakura, walking beside her, said, "You really are like a walking, talking computer, aren't you?"
"Affirmative," Naruto replied, her face expressionless. "Efficiency in mission execution is paramount."
Sasuke, walking on the other side, shook his head. "Just don't punch any more puddles, alright?" he said, his tone dry but tinged with amusement.
Kakashi, still reading his orange book, glanced back at them. "Let's hope we don't encounter any more puddles then," he said, his eye crinkling in amusement. "But remember, stay vigilant. We don't know what else might be waiting for us."
The team continued to move forward, their senses heightened and their minds focused. They knew that this mission was more than just an escort now. It was a test of their skills, their teamwork, and their resolve. And they were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
TBC