CHAPTER 2

The sun was high in the sky, casting its warm glow over the training ground where three young genin stood, their patience nearly exhausted. They had been waiting for what felt like an eternity. All of them had eaten their Breakfast because of what Naruto had told.

Mito, her red hair gleaming under the sunlight, had her arms crossed over her chest, tapping her foot impatiently.

"This is ridiculous."

Sasuke stood beside her, his expression unreadable as he observed their surroundings. He wasn't one to show his irritation, but the subtle narrowing of his eyes spoke volumes.

Meanwhile, Naruto sat on the ground, arms resting on his knees, his golden hair messy as ever. He was more confused than annoyed, tilting his head in mild curiosity.

"This Sensei… weird."

Then, at long last, their Jōnin instructor arrived.

"Yo!"

Kakashi greeted them casually, one hand raised in a lazy wave.

Mito's patience snapped.

"YOU'RE LATE!"

Kakashi simply chuckled, completely unfazed.

"Ah, well, you see… I got lost on the road of life."

"Liar!" Mito shouted, fuming.

Ignoring her, Kakashi pulled out a small alarm clock from his pouch, placed it on a cut tree stump, and adjusted the time.

"Alright, listen up."

His tone shifted from playful to serious.

"This test is simple. The alarm is set for noon. Your goal is to take these bells from me before time runs out."

He pulled two small bells from his pocket and tied them to his belt.

Immediately, Sasuke's sharp eyes narrowed.

"There are only two."

"Exactly. That means one of you will definitely fail this test and be sent back to the Academy."

He let the words sink in before continuing.

"The one left without a bell loses. Oh, and just so you know, those who fail don't get any lunch. Instead, I'll be tying them to one of these stumps and eating my lunch right in front of them."

Before he could react, Naruto was right in front of him, gripping his arm with an iron-clad hold.

Fast… too fast.

Kakashi's eye widened slightly. He could feel the raw power in Naruto's grip—it was almost unnatural. His muscles tensed as he realized that in pure physical combat, Naruto outmatched him.

But there's a limit to his abilities.

Despite his superior speed and strength, Naruto lacked the refined control and combat intelligence that Kakashi had developed over years of experience. And that was something Kakashi planned to exploit.

Without hesitation, Kakashi pulled his headband up, revealing the scarred eye beneath it. The Sharingan spun to life, analyzing Naruto's movements in an instant. At the same time, three shadow clones materialized beside him, each perfectly mirroring his stance.

Naruto's sharp blue eyes flickered between the four Kakashis. He clenched his fists, assessing his options.

Which one is real?

There was no time to waste. Naruto darted forward, choosing the one in the center. His fist crashed into the clone's chest, dispersing it instantly.

One down.

He immediately turned to the second clone, launching another punch, but before he could make contact, Kakashi made his move.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

A powerful gust of wind erupted from Kakashi's mouth, slamming into both Naruto and the remaining clone. The force sent them tumbling backward, the wind ripping through the battlefield.

Then, just as Naruto tried to stabilize himself mid-air, the clone reached out and grabbed him.

Kakashi planned this.

Naruto's eyes widened as a surge of electricity coursed through his body.

The clone had been infused with Lightning Release, and the moment it made contact with Naruto, the chakra surged through his muscles, locking them up and rendering him momentarily paralyzed. His body stiffened as he plummeted to the ground, hitting the dirt hard.

For a brief moment, he couldn't move.

He gritted his teeth, forcing his muscles to obey him. His body twitched as he pushed himself out of the dirt, but Kakashi was already there, ready to follow up.

"Dynamic Entry!"

Kakashi's foot, coated in chakra, rocketed toward Naruto's face with incredible force. Naruto barely had time to register the attack before—

SMASH!

The impact sent him sprawling backward. Kakashi moved in for another strike, but just before his kick could land—

Poof!

Mito's clone took the hit, disappearing in a puff of smoke.

The real Mito appeared beside Naruto, grabbing his arm and pulling him to his feet. She shot Kakashi a wary glance, then turned to Naruto.

"You need to stop."

Naruto wiped the dirt from his cheek, his face contorted in frustration.

"Why?! I can fight!"

"You may be stronger, and you may be faster. But Kakashi-sensei is smarter and has more experience. You're fighting him like a brute, and that's why he's winning."

Naruto frowned but stayed silent, listening.

Mito continued.

"We need to stop rushing in without a plan. Sasuke's the only one who can analyze this fight properly. We need him."

Naruto exhaled sharply, his fingers twitching in frustration. His instincts screamed at him to keep fighting, but Mito's words made sense.

He thought for a moment, then nodded.

"You go. I buy time. Get Sasuke plan."

Mito hesitated for a second, but then she nodded, disappearing into the trees in search of Sasuke.

Naruto turned back to Kakashi, his expression hardening.

"You I not easy opponent."

Kakashi gave a small smile, raising his hands into a defensive stance.

"I never expected you to be."

With that, the battle resumed.

Naruto jumped high and then hovered in the air, his sharp blue eyes locked onto Kakashi. He wasted no time, rocketing downward like a meteor, aiming straight for his opponent. The sheer force of his descent sent shockwaves through the air.

Kakashi's eye widened slightly. That speed…

He had expected Naruto to be strong, but this level of speed and aggression was unexpected. Still, experience had taught him never to be caught off guard.

At the last second, Kakashi formed a quick hand seal.

"Kawarimi no Jutsu!"

In an instant, his body was replaced by a wooden log.

BOOM!

The log was obliterated as Naruto's fist connected, shattering it into splinters. The ground beneath cracked from the sheer force of the impact, sending dust flying everywhere.

Naruto landed, his gaze darting around, searching for Kakashi.

Then—

"Earth Release: Rending Drill Fang!"

Kakashi erupted from the ground beneath Naruto, twisting like a drill as his fist shot forward, aiming directly for Naruto's face.

SMASH!

The punch connected, sending Naruto skidding backward.

But he recovered instantly. Before the attack could fully knock him off balance, Naruto reached out and caught Kakashi's arm.

Kakashi's eyes widened.

Naruto grinned, his grip tightening like a vice.

SLAM!

With incredible strength, Naruto whipped Kakashi around and smashed him into the dirt. The ground cracked beneath the force of the impact. Naruto didn't let go, making sure Kakashi couldn't use another substitution technique so easily.

Kakashi, still pinned, narrowed his eye.

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

A stream of flames burst from Kakashi's mouth, shaping into a dragon before breaking apart into multiple fireballs, all aimed at Naruto.

Naruto reacted instantly.

"Lucuora Gun!"

His hands moved in a blur, unleashing a rapid-fire barrage of golden ki blasts. The energy bullets collided with the fireballs mid-air, exploding on impact. Smoke filled the battlefield as the two forces clashed.

Then—

BAM!

A sudden kick crashed into Naruto's side, sending him tumbling across the ground.

Kakashi had used the smoke as cover, launching a well-timed counterattack.

But he wasn't done yet.

"Wind Release: Whirlwind Fist!"

Chakra-enhanced wind swirled around Kakashi's clenched fist, forming a miniature cyclone around his knuckles. He dashed forward, closing the distance between them in an instant.

BOOM!

The fist connected, a powerful shockwave erupting on impact. Naruto was sent flying backward, skidding across the ground before slamming into a tree.

For a moment, there was silence.

Kakashi exhaled, lowering his fist. He had expected that to do some serious damage.

Then—

Naruto got up.

His clothes were scuffed, but otherwise, he looked completely fine.

Kakashi sighed.

Of course. This kid is built different.

Still, he had been holding back. Originally, he had wanted Sakura on this team, but instead, he had Naruto—a powerhouse with almost inhuman strength and endurance.

If he wanted to test them properly, he'd have to step it up.

Kakashi adjusted his gloves.

"It's a little late to say this now, but—Shinobi Fighting Lesson One: Taijutsu."

Naruto grinned, cracking his knuckles.

He rushed forward again.

Kakashi was ready. Just as Naruto was about to strike, Kakashi vanished in a blur of movement.

"Kawarimi no Jutsu!"

A log appeared in his place as Kakashi reappeared in the treetops, watching.

That should buy me a second—

Before he could finish the thought—

"Gotcha!"

Mito suddenly leaped at him from the side, accompanied by two shadow clones.

Kakashi dodged one punch, then another, moving skillfully between their attacks. He had expected this from her—Mito had a good grasp of teamwork and timing.

But then—

Sasuke appeared beside Naruto, watching the fight unfold.

"We're going in."

Naruto grinned.

"Finally!"

Mito turned to Naruto, her eyes sharp and calculating.

"We need a plan. Rushing in like this isn't going to work."

Sasuke nodded in agreement, though he didn't say much. He had already analyzed Kakashi's movements and weaknesses.

"I'll create an opening. Mito, you keep the pressure on him. Naruto, with your speed, you'll be the one to grab the bells."

Naruto furrowed his brows, not liking the idea of hanging back while they fought.

"Me fight too."

Mito placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You're the fastest out of all of us, and your strength is incredible. But Kakashi-sensei is more experienced. If we don't work together, we'll lose."

Naruto hesitated but eventually nodded. He wasn't used to taking orders, but something about the way Mito spoke made sense to him.

Sasuke smirked slightly.

"Let's do this."

Mito was the first to attack, her fists aiming straight for Kakashi. He dodged smoothly, weaving between her strikes with ease.

"Not bad but predictable."

Just as he was about to counter, Sasuke appeared beside Mito, launching a swift kick at Kakashi's side. Kakashi barely had time to dodge before Sasuke followed up with a barrage of kunai.

Kakashi twisted his body mid-air, deflecting the kunai with his own, but his focus had been split for just a moment.

That was all Naruto needed.

A blur of motion. A gust of wind.

Naruto appeared behind him, his hand closing around one of the bells tied to Kakashi's belt.

Kakashi's single visible eye widened in surprise. He hadn't expected them to coordinate so well, especially not with Naruto's raw and unpredictable fighting style.

Before he could react, Naruto was already gone, reappearing next to Mito and Sasuke, holding up the bell triumphantly.

Kakashi landed on the ground, dusting himself off.

"Well, that was unexpected. You three actually managed to work together. Impressive."

Naruto grinned, looking down at the bells in his hands.

"But now comes the real test. You have two bells and three people. Who gets left behind?"

Silence fell over the clearing.

Naruto blinked at the bells, then looked at his teammates. Without hesitation, he tossed one to Sasuke and the other to Mito.

"I not ready shinobi. I just join. Mito, Sasuke train to be ninja. Not me."

Mito immediately shook her head.

"No way. You were the one who actually got the bells. Sasuke was the one who planned it. I didn't do much."

Sasuke crossed his arms, his voice calm.

"It was because of Naruto that we got the bells. And honestly, he wouldn't have listened to me if you hadn't convinced him. It should be you and Naruto."

Kakashi watched them carefully, his lips curling into a small smile. They get it.

"You pass."

The three genin looked up at him in surprise.

"The real test wasn't about getting the bells. It was about teamwork. And you three passed by proving that you value each other over personal success."

Naruto tilted his head.

"So... we win?"

Kakashi chuckled.

"You could say that."

His voice grew more serious as he walked toward a large stone monument with names engraved into it. The three genin followed, curiosity in their eyes.

"This is a memorial."

They looked at the names, their expressions turning solemn.

"The shinobi whose names are carved here were all heroes of the village. But they didn't just become heroes because they were strong. They became heroes because they fought for something greater than themselves. Because they put their comrades first."

He turned to them, his voice softer now.

"I hope none of you ever have to see your name on this stone."

A heavy silence hung in the air as his words sank in.

Then, Kakashi's usual demeanor returned.

"Well, that ends our training. You all pass. Starting tomorrow, Team 7 officially begins its duties."

Naruto, Mito, and Sasuke looked at each other, a newfound sense of camaraderie forming between them.

They weren't just three individuals anymore.

They were a team.

Somedays Later…

Naruto crouched behind the thick trunk of an ancient oak tree, his sharp blue eyes scanning the surrounding area. His voice, now more refined from experience, carried a focused tone.

"What's the distance to the target?"

He had come a long way in his training. His raw power remained, but over time, he had honed his skills, learning patience, strategy, and teamwork. Thanks to this, Team Seven had also grown stronger—each of them pushing their limits to keep up.

From another position, Kakashi's calm voice came through the earpiece.

"Five meters. Get ready."

Naruto smirked.

"I'm ready anytime."

He steadied his breathing, waiting for the signal.

"Go."

The moment the word left Kakashi's lips, Naruto launched himself forward from behind the tree. His speed sent a gust of wind rustling through the leaves.

But he wasn't the only one.

In perfect sync, Sasuke and Mito leaped out from their hiding spots as well, closing in on the target from different angles. They had all trained together long enough to read each other's movements without speaking.

Their target, however, was no ordinary foe.

There, nestled between the roots of a tree, was a small, furry creature.

A cat.

More specifically—Tora, the infamous runaway pet.

The feline's ears twitched as it realized the danger it was in. Its body tensed, muscles coiling as it prepared to bolt.

Too late.

Naruto, being the fastest of the trio, reached out in a blur and snatched the cat mid-air.

Tora let out a loud, screeching "MROW!", wriggling and clawing at Naruto's arms in protest.

Naruto winced.

"Ow, ow! Damn it, hold still, you little—!"

Mito quickly stepped in, inspecting the struggling cat. Her keen eyes locked onto its left ear, where a small, pink ribbon was tied neatly.

She nodded.

"Ribbon on the left ear. Are you sure this is the target?"

Naruto, still holding the wildly thrashing cat, checked again. He squinted at the ribbon and sighed.

"Yeah. It's Tora, alright."

Sasuke crossed his arms, watching the scene with a smirk.

"Mission complete, then."

Naruto groaned, barely managing to hold on as Tora scratched at his jacket.

"Why does this damn cat always put up such a fight?"

Mito shrugged.

"Probably because it hates being caught."

Kakashi finally emerged from his hiding spot, hands in his pockets, his single visible eye curving into an amused look.

"Good job, Team Seven. Lost Pet 'Tora' search mission—complete."

Naruto sighed.

"Next time, can we get a mission that doesn't involve me getting clawed to death?"

Mito giggled, and even Sasuke smirked.

Another day, another successful mission.

Sometimes later,

Hokage's Office,

Konoha…

The Hokage's office was filled with the usual morning bustle—Chunin and Jounin coming in and out, mission reports being delivered, and requests being processed. Team 7 stood before the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who sat behind his desk, sorting through mission scrolls. He took a deep breath and then read aloud from the list.

"Now, Team 7, your next duty options are as follows: babysitting an elder's grandson, shopping in the neighboring village, or helping with the potato harvest. You may choose one of these tasks."

A heavy silence followed as the three Genin exchanged looks.

Mito was the first to speak, her voice firm and unwavering.

"No, thank you. I want to do something more incredible. Find us a better mission."

Sasuke nodded slightly, arms crossed, showing he was in agreement. Even Naruto, despite his usual laid-back attitude, looked unimpressed.

Hiruzen studied their expressions before shifting his gaze toward Kakashi, who, as always, had his face buried in his book. The silver-haired Jounin, sensing the attention, glanced up with a lazy eye and shrugged. It was clear he had no objections to a more difficult mission.

Before Hiruzen could speak, another voice cut through the room.

"You idiot!"

Iruka, who had been standing nearby, shot Mito an exasperated glare.

"You're just rookies! Every Genin starts off with simple duties and works their way up. That's how it's always been!"

Hiruzen raised his hand, and the room fell silent.

"Calm down, Iruka."

Turning back to Team 7, Hiruzen spoke with his usual grandfatherly patience.

"Every day, the village receives numerous requests, ranging from babysitting to assassination. Each request is categorized into four ranks—A, B, C, and D—based on difficulty. Missions are then assigned based on the abilities of our ninja, starting from me at the top, down to the Jounin, Chunin, and finally, Genin."

He gestured toward a woman in fine robes handing over a scroll to one of the mission desk attendants.

"For example, that woman is the Fire Lord's wife. She's paying the mission fee for a request. When a mission is successfully completed, the village receives payment. You three have only recently become Genin—D-Rank missions are appropriate for your level."

Hiruzen expected them to protest, but when he looked at Naruto, he saw that the boy had completely tuned him out. Instead, Naruto was grinning and patting Mito on the shoulder, clearly impressed by her determination.

Hiruzen sighed. He should've expected this.

"Fine. If you insist, I will grant you a C-Rank mission."

Mito and Naruto's eyes lit up, while Sasuke remained silent, though his smirk showed he was just as pleased.

Hiruzen leaned back in his chair.

"It's a protection mission for a certain individual. Please, come in."

The large wooden doors to the Hokage's office creaked open, and an old man stepped inside, holding a bottle of sake in one hand. He looked to be in his late fifties or early sixties, with unkempt gray hair and a scruffy beard. His eyes, slightly bloodshot, scanned the room.

Then he scoffed.

"What the hell is this? They're just a bunch of super brats! Especially the one with the duck butt on his head. Are you really a ninja?"

For a split second, everything went still.

Then—

"WHAT DID YOU SAY, OLD MAN?!"

Sasuke's expression darkened as his fingers twitched toward his kunai pouch, ready to lunge at Tazuna for the insult.

Before he could move, Naruto swiftly grabbed him by the back of his collar, holding him in place.

"Whoa, whoa, calm down, Sasuke! No need to murder the client before we even take the mission!"

Mito scoffed, crossing her arms.

"Exactly. What's the point of killing the person you're supposed to protect, Teme?"

Tazuna smirked, completely unbothered.

"I am the super expert bridge builder, Tazuna. I expect you brats to provide me with super protection until I return to my country and complete my bridge."

Naruto raised an eyebrow at the man's exaggerated self-introduction.

"What's so special about you, old man?" he asked, tilting his head.

Tazuna took a long swig from his sake bottle before responding.

"Well, you'll find out soon enough, kid. Let's just say, if I die, a lot of people are gonna be in trouble."

Kakashi finally closed his book and looked at the Hokage.

"Seems straightforward enough. We'll take the mission."

Hiruzen nodded, though he couldn't shake the feeling that this would be far from a simple escort mission.

"Very well. Team 7, you are officially assigned to guard Tazuna until he safely returns to the Land of Waves. Dismissed."

As they left the office, Naruto grinned excitedly, throwing an arm over Mito's shoulder.

"Our first real mission! This is gonna be awesome!"

Sasuke, still irritated by Tazuna's earlier remark, rolled his eyes but remained silent. Then he smirked.

"Just don't screw it up, Mito."

Behind them, Kakashi sighed, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"Why do I get the feeling this mission is going to be more trouble than it's worth?"

He had no idea how right he was.

Next Day,

Konohagakure Gate,

Konoha…

Tazuna eyed the three Genin warily, his brows furrowed with doubt. He took another sip from his sake bottle before scoffing.

"Hey, are you sure I'm going to be safe with these brats?"

His voice was filled with skepticism as he glanced between Mito, Sasuke, and Naruto, clearly unimpressed by their youthful appearances.

Kakashi chuckled, his single visible eye crinkling with amusement.

"Relax. I'm a Jounin, and trust me, I've handled far worse missions than escorting a bridge builder."

Tazuna still didn't seem convinced.

Naruto grinned confidently, crossing his arms.

"Besides, I'm just as strong as Kakashi-sensei! You'll be fine."

Sasuke simply rolled his eyes, clearly not in the mood for their banter.

Kakashi stretched lazily and motioned toward the village gates.

"Alright, enough talking. We have a long journey ahead. Let's move out."

With that, Team 7 and Tazuna began their journey toward the Land of Waves, unaware of the dangers lurking just ahead.

Sometimes later…

The sun hung high in the sky, casting dappled shadows through the thick forest canopy as Team 7 and Tazuna made their way down the dirt road. It had been an uneventful journey so far, and though the Genin remained alert, none of them truly expected any trouble.

That changed in an instant.

Without warning, two masked men burst out of a puddle that had no business being there, their movements swift and precise. Thick chains shot out, wrapping around Kakashi before the Jounin could react. With a harsh yank, the chains tightened, and Kakashi's body was torn apart, blood splattering across the ground.

"One down," one of the attackers sneered.

For a moment, there was nothing but stunned silence.

Mito's breath hitched as she stared at the spot where her sensei had just been standing. Her mind struggled to process what had happened. Kakashi, the seasoned Jounin, the Copy Ninja, was dead? Just like that?

The masked men turned their sights on her next, rushing forward to finish the job.

But before they could get close, Naruto moved.

His hand shot out, grabbing the chains they had used to kill Kakashi. With a sharp tug, he ripped them apart as if they were nothing more than twine. The attackers barely had time to react before Naruto swung them into the ground with brutal force.

The impact sent a loud crack through the air, but he wasn't done. He lifted them again and slammed them down once more. Then again. And again. The dirt beneath them cracked and scattered as their bodies were crushed against the earth repeatedly. Finally, with one last swing, he smashed them into each other, their masked heads colliding with a sickening thud.

The forest fell into silence, save for the ragged breathing of the two downed attackers.

A slow clap echoed from behind them.

The Genin whirled around, only to find Kakashi standing there, perfectly unharmed, with his hands tucked into his pockets.

"Good job, Naruto. You managed to subdue two Chūnin-class shinobi from Kirigakure. But then again, I'd expect nothing less from you."

Mito, Naruto, and Tazuna all gawked at him, their expressions ranging from disbelief to irritation.

"You were alive this whole time?"

Mito finally blurted out.

"Of was just a simple substitution jutsu."

Tazuna, who had been sweating profusely throughout the entire ordeal, now looked even worse. His expression paled as he took a cautious step back.

Naruto and Sasuke, however, weren't focused on Kakashi's trick. Instead, they noticed something else—the slight shift in their teacher's tone. His usual laid-back demeanor was still there, but now there was something sharper underneath it.

Kakashi gestured toward the two battered shinobi.

"As I mentioned earlier, these guys are Chūnin from Kiri. Shinobi from that village are known for their persistence. They don't go down easily."

One of the masked men groaned and shifted slightly.

"How... how did you read our movements?"

Kakashi turned his attention to them, his voice calm but firm.

"Simple. On a sunny day like this, with no rain for days, a puddle like that shouldn't exist. It was obvious you were waiting in ambush."

He stepped closer, tilting his head slightly.

"If I had wanted to, I could have killed you both instantly. But there was something more important I needed to find out—who your actual target was."

His single eye flicked toward Tazuna.

"We were hired to protect you from thieves and bandits, not enemy shinobi. So tell me, Tazuna, why are ninjas after you?"

The bridge builder avoided Kakashi's gaze, his shoulders slumping.

Naruto, watching the old man's reaction, felt his suspicions grow. Tazuna had been playing the role of a harmless drunkard since they met him, but now, that mask was slipping.

Finally, Tazuna sighed heavily.

"There's something I need to tell you about this mission..."

Kakashi's expression remained unreadable as he gestured for him to continue.

Tazuna took a deep breath.

"You're right. This job is probably beyond what you were assigned. The truth is... a very dangerous man is after my life. You've probably heard of him before. His name is Gatō."

Kakashi's eye narrowed slightly.

"Gatō? As in the head of the Gatō Company?"

The Genin, however, had no reaction.

"Who's that?"

Mito asked, folding her arms.

"He's one of the wealthiest men in the world. Officially, he runs a massive shipping company. But in reality, he deals in drugs, smuggling, and assassination. He uses mercenaries, gang members, and even rogue shinobi to take over businesses and even entire nations."

Tazuna nodded.

"Exactly. About a year ago, he set his sights on the Land of Waves. Through money and violence, he quickly took control of the country's shipping industry. Now, he has a complete monopoly on trade. The only thing standing in his way... is the bridge I'm building."

Mito turned to Kakashi, waiting for his response. She had a feeling that whatever he decided next would determine whether they continued this mission or not.

"What I don't understand is that if you knew ninjas were after you, why did you lie when you hired us?"

Naruto, arms crossed, scoffed.

"That's obvious. He just said his country was taken over by Gatō, which means they don't have enough money to afford a proper mission."

Tazuna chuckled, though there was little humor in it.

"Well, if you quit now, I'll definitely be killed. But don't worry about that. My cute ten-year-old grandson will just cry for a few days, and my daughter will live the rest of her life cursing Konoha shinobi for abandoning us. But, hey, it's not your fault. Not at all."

Naruto scowled. He could recognize emotional manipulation when he heard it, and Tazuna was laying it on thick. Mito, standing beside him, seemed to share his irritation.

Kakashi sighed, rubbing the back of his head.

"Well, I guess we don't have much of a choice now. We'll protect you, at least until we get you back to your country."

Tazuna's relief was almost tangible.

Naruto clenched his fists. He had a feeling that this mission was about to become much more dangerous than any of them had anticipated.