Land of Waves?

The missions went on day after day. Under Sasuke's lead, they began completing them faster, handling two to four missions every day. Why so quickly? Because Sasuke had discovered that the many tedious missions and their different types were extremely helpful for his mental strength. Constantly thinking through problems could also increase mental strength. He felt that if this continued for a while longer, he might achieve the qualitative change of the Four-Tomoe.

That was right. Sasuke regarded the Four-Tomoe as the dividing line of the Sharingan. He did not know exactly what changes it would bring, but he had that feeling, and such a change would prove his theory correct. Only he remained of the Uchiha. Itachi was someone he could not count on anytime soon, so he could only explore it himself. He was already highly proficient in using the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Keeping his eyes activated constantly had made him skilled at copying and dynamic observation, but he knew that seeing something did not necessarily mean he would have time to react.

He had begun practicing Xing Yi. Although his Three-Body Stance had not reached mastery, it had achieved minor success, and that progress thrilled him. The Three-Body Stance trained the entire body and drew out its potential. Potential that was not drawn out was no different from being useless, and this gradual process did not harm the body; instead, it promoted its development. If it were suddenly forced out in battle, it would consume much of that potential, and the excavation would be incomplete. Xing Yi had the Five Element Fist and the Twelve Forms Fist. Sasuke had practiced both, but he had only just learned them and they had not formed any real combat strength. Otherwise, he would not have been stabbed more than a dozen times without fighting back. What he was practicing now was the Five Element Fist.

The Five Element Fist incorporated the concepts of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. It was divided into Splitting Fist, Drilling Fist, Crushing Fist, Cannon Fist, and Crossing Fist. The Five Element Fist was extremely concise and uncomplicated, using the fists, palms, elbows, shoulders, knees, and other body parts for close-quarters combat. It also used footwork to increase the force of attacks. However, the Five Element Fist was not merely fierce and forceful; it also emphasized the balance of hardness and softness.

Sasuke had only practiced it for show in his previous life, but things were different now. With his Three-Body Stance at minor success and a ninja's understanding of the Five Elements, his movements now possessed both spirit and form, with extraordinary power. If he took off his weights, the power of his fists would increase severalfold.

However, Xing Yi was somewhat ill-suited to ninja combat. After all, ninja battles did not always take place on the ground. So Sasuke made adjustments, taking some techniques and principles from Xing Yi and incorporating them into a ninja's combat style. He used different parts of his body to continuously attack opponents in fluid combat, no longer bound by fixed forms. Tai Chi was the same, though its fighting methods were more suited to ninjas. Tai Chi had always emphasized having no fixed moves and no fixed form.

More than two months passed in a blur of missions. Naruto had now learned how to climb trees, though he had yet to master Water Walking. With missions every day, his training time had been squeezed, and he was beginning to grow dissatisfied. Sakura learned quickly. After all, her Chakra control was far beyond Naruto's.

In the Mission Hall, Team 7 had come to turn in a mission. The Third Hokage smoked as he looked over their completed missions, then said, "Mm, you've done very well. You've actually completed more than two hundred D-Rank Missions. You've truly put in the effort." Was more than two hundred D-Rank Missions a lot? It was a tremendous number, practically absurd. During the Chunin Exams, completing just eight missions was enough, though twice that number was preferable. But Sasuke would not spend his days idling around. The Chunin Exams were on July 1st, and there was not much time left. So he accepted missions at top speed every day. Later on, he did not even care whether Kakashi had arrived. Every morning, he would take the other two to accept missions and leave, taking two at a time. After finishing them in the morning, they would accept more in the afternoon. Naruto had complained about having too many missions, but Sasuke did not care. He needed to accumulate experience. Even though he had lived more than twenty extra years, things in the ninja world were completely different. Therefore, he tried to meet as many different clients and take as many different missions as possible, carefully observing the traits of every person and profession each time to lay a foundation for his future.

"Your next mission will be to help—" Before the Third Hokage could finish, Naruto immediately shouted, "No! I don't want any more boring missions like this! I want a more difficult mission!"

"Shut up! You graduated less than a year ago. You're a complete novice with no experience. Everyone begins with the simplest missions to build experience." Iruka immediately began scolding Naruto. He did not want Naruto exposed to danger too early. Sasuke likewise did not want to go to the Land of Waves. Zabuza was no rookie; one mistake could cost them their lives. Sasuke still wanted to accumulate more experience. But Naruto had probably reached his limit. Enduring for this long had not been easy for him. Still, it was too dangerous. How were they supposed to deal with Haku's Kekkei Genkai?

"But, but I've been doing simple, boring missions all this time. More than two hundred missions! I have plenty of experience," Naruto argued. Sasuke rolled his eyes. What experience have you accumulated? You forget everything the moment a mission is over.

Bang. Kakashi gave Naruto a headbutt. "That's enough, Naruto." Kakashi was their squad leader. Naruto could yell and make a scene without regard for rank, but Kakashi could not allow him to continue acting like that.

"Naruto, I need to explain what missions are. Listen carefully. The village receives a great number of requests every day, from babysitting to assassination..." Was it really all right to mention babysitting and assassination in the same breath? Sasuke already knew what the Third Hokage was about to say. However, he glanced at Naruto and saw that Naruto clearly was not listening. Instead, he was thinking about what to eat for lunch.

"I had Pork Ramen yesterday afternoon. Miso Ramen today, then." Naruto counted on his fingers. They had done too many missions lately. Although the rewards were small, there were so many missions that his wallet had grown fat. Thus, Ichiraku Ramen had become his staple food. If Sasuke did not drag him out to eat something else, he would spend every day at the ramen shop.

Seeing Naruto like that, the Third Hokage roared, "Listen to me!"

Naruto turned back to look at the Third Hokage. "Old man, you're always lecturing me from on high. I've grown up, you know. I'm not the brat you imagine me to be anymore. Hmph."

"Ha ha ha, very well, I understand. Since you insist, I'll assign you a C-Rank Mission: protect someone." Naruto asked excitedly, "Really? Who is it? Who? Is it the Daimyo?" Sasuke's mouth twitched. You really dare to dream, don't you? Is this fate? Why hasn't this damned mission been taken after all this time? Or was this mission prepared by the Third Hokage specifically for Naruto? The Land of Waves held an extremely important geographical position for the Land of Fire. The Land of Fire was surrounded by the other four great nations, though it shared no borders with them. Smaller countries lay between them as buffer zones. However, after the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed, the Land of Waves was the only buffer remaining between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water. Thus, it was a small country the Land of Fire needed as an ally.

There was no way they lacked intelligence on the Land of Waves. Sasuke was certain that the Third Hokage understood its situation completely, yet Team 7 had still been sent under such circumstances. There was much to consider behind that decision, but Sasuke could not understand it. After all, even with both lives combined, he had only ever been an ordinary person.