Sasuke was the tallest of the three, Naruto came second, and Hanabi was actually the shortest.
But Hanabi's zori had high heels, and they were fairly tall ones at that, making her look about as tall as Sasuke.
"I'm going to kill you!"
Naruto immediately looked like he was about to lose it, but Kakashi grabbed him. "Why are you trying to kill the old man we're about to protect, idiot?"
[I'm dying, when they started talking about height, the other two silently moved closer.]
[I report Hanabi for cheating. She's wearing heels!]
[Hanabi is one thing, but Sasuke is just as mean. He moved closer too.]
[HAHAHAHA]
[Don't forget, they're all twelve-year-old kids. This is pretty normal.]
The goofy viewers bantered away while Tazuna began introducing himself.
"I'm the super-famous bridge builder. I'm Tazuna, you know. While I return to my country and finish building the bridge, you lot will risk your lives to super-protect me."
After saying that, Team 7 accepted the mission and set out.
But at that moment, Hanabi went to see the Third Hokage.
"What is it, Hanabi?" The Third Hokage was still looking over mission forms for the others.
"Lord Third Hokage, I'd like to ask you a question," Hanabi said.
"Oh? What question?"
"—It's just..."
[Could there be some hidden story?]
[Did she discover something again?]
[Damn it, the scene changed.]
[Cameraman, no chicken drumstick for you!]
Hanabi had not expected the stage to give her several extra shots.
Unfortunately, before anyone could see what Hanabi wanted, the scene switched to two black-clad figures racing through the forest. The two of them darted among the trees, making it easy to wonder whether there was some conspiracy afoot, or whether it was connected to Hanabi's question.
"I want to know, if we discover midway through a mission that its difficulty exceeds expectations, will it still be counted according to the mission rank when we accepted it after we complete it?" Hanabi asked.
"If the client concealed information, or if force majeure causes the mission difficulty to exceed expectations, you may request support or abandon the mission. If you complete it, it will be recorded according to the conditions at the time of commission." The Third Hokage frowned. "Do you think there's something wrong with Tazuna?"
Hanabi did not answer and instead continued asking, "It won't be based on the actual difficulty?"
The Third Hokage considered it for a moment. "If the client explains the situation and makes up the commission fee, it can be counted according to the revised circumstances."
"Then I have no more questions." Hanabi smiled, bowed to the Third Hokage, and left.
The Third Hokage also set down his pipe.
He had great confidence in Hanabi.
"Lord Third Hokage, what was that about?" Iruka was rather confused.
"It seems Hanabi noticed something, but it should be within her capabilities. My, I didn't expect her to be bolder than Naruto. Still, I hope she doesn't get too overconfident."
In the Third Hokage's view, Hanabi had probably noticed something, but unlike Naruto, she was not content with having "Completed 1 C-rank Mission" written in her mission record. She wanted a record of having completed a higher B-rank mission.
"Will there really be no problem?" Compared to the somewhat hands-off Third Hokage, Iruka was the one growing nervous.
"With Kakashi there, there won't be any problems."
Forget a mere B-rank mission—even an A-rank mission would not be a problem with Kakashi there. Besides, the Third Hokage knew some things about Hanabi. She was a genius. Though she had only just graduated, dealing with an ordinary Chunin would be no trouble for her.
It couldn't possibly be an S-rank mission, right? Impossible. Absolutely impossible, right?
"Naruto, Hanabi, Sasuke..." Only Iruka was still worried.
Meanwhile, the fully prepared Team 7 had already arrived at Konoha's gates.
Naruto and Sasuke both carried huge backpacks.
But Hanabi looked somewhat out of place.
That was because Hanabi wore a beiyi. Written with the character for "quilt" and pronounced "pei," the beiyi had once been popular during the Warring States Period in Japan as clothing women wore when going out.
Though it was called "clothing," it was actually more like a bedsheet or blanket, draped over one's head.
Hanabi used the beiyi to cover her head and kimono. What was even more excessive was that she held a cloth doll in her hands.
"Hanabi, what are you wearing?" Naruto walked over when he saw Hanabi, his face full of confusion.
"Mm, traveling clothes. I can't exactly keep holding up an umbrella after we leave, can I?"
Carrying a red umbrella to block the sun was also part of the "personal impression" Hanabi had crafted for herself. But now that she was heading out, it was not convenient to keep doing so.
"You really don't look like a ninja dressed like that, do you?" Tazuna walked over as well.
Rather than a ninja, Hanabi looked more like some young lady from a noble family.
"That means it's working." Kakashi walked over. "Hanabi is pretending to be a female companion."
"Oh, so that's what it is! As expected of Hanabi!" Naruto suddenly understood.
Hanabi really did not look like a ninja.
But standing beside Tazuna, she looked more like a female companion traveling with him.
...But why does it feel more like a young lady and her servant? Sasuke muttered to himself beside them. He naturally did not say it aloud, but the words appeared on the video screen.
[So Sasuke is the snarky one.]
[I'm dying, Sasuke is speaking for me.]
[What does Sasuke mean?]
[So this is what you're really like, Sasuke.]
[Hanabi is black-hearted all the way through.]
[It feels like Hanabi is standing up for Naruto. Tazuna looked down on Naruto, but here Tazuna has become Hanabi's servant. She really... I'm crying.]
[She really, I'm crying... Ah, I'm dying of laughter.]
The viewers burst into cheerful laughter.
Tazuna himself did not notice the issue.
"But dressed like that, it'll take us half a day just to travel. You can barely walk in a kimono." Tazuna wanted to get back sooner.
"Don't underestimate Ninjas, Mr. Tazuna. Hanabi is the fastest among us." Kakashi smiled.
"I super don't understand you ninja people."
He nodded as though he understood, though he clearly did not, and the group left the village.
"Alright, let's go!" Naruto took the lead, becoming the first to cross Konoha's gates. It was his first time leaving the village on a long journey, so it was only natural that he was excited.
"Will a brat like this really be okay?" Tazuna said as he took another swig of alcohol.
"I'm a ninja who's going to become Hokage! Don't underestimate me!" Naruto declared, hands on his hips.
"The Hokage is the strongest super-ninja in your village, right? I don't think someone like you can become one." Tazuna took another drink.
"Shut up! One day, I'll become Hokage and make everyone acknowledge me! Even you, old man, will have no choice but to recognize me!"
Naruto waved his fist.
"Even if you become Hokage, I won't recognize you." Tazuna still looked disdainful.
"I'm going to kill you!" Naruto looked ready to lose it again, but Kakashi grabbed him.
"Old man, that's enough. You don't need to force yourself to drink so heavily. If you use alcohol to drown your sorrows, you'll feel even worse once you sober up."
Hanabi spoke softly beside Tazuna.
After hearing those words, Tazuna's raised bottle froze in midair.
[Direct hit.]
[One-hit kill.]
[Instantly defeated in spectacular fashion.]
[Four-character army?]
[Breaking formation.]
The viewers continued their playful banter.
And Team 7 finally set off on their journey.
The Land of Waves was a peaceful country ignored by the great nations, one that did not even have Ninjas.
An isolated island nation.
Mm... a very suitable place to stir up trouble.
Sparkle from Star Rail + Red Rope.jpg
Author's Note:
Although it was the Land of Waves, it had actually already become completely unrecognizable, hahaha.
Second bonus chapter, two extra chapters first~
I'll save the rest for Friday's big update Orz.
Going to stockpile chapters with a guilty conscience...
I, Hanabi Hyuga, Naruto Commentator
"How is she keeping up?"
On the viewers' screens, the figures of two people flashing through the forest appeared from time to time.
Meanwhile, in reality, Team 7 was moving through the woods.
Tazuna was curious about how Hanabi kept up with their speed. Then he discovered that although each of Hanabi's steps only moved her a little more than half a foot-length, she was incredibly fast. She clearly only took half-foot steps, yet it seemed as if she crossed several meters at a time.
It was as if the ground beneath her feet had shrunk.
Hanabi herself looked as though she were taking a leisurely stroll, yet somehow, without anyone noticing, the distance between them kept narrowing.
"Your country doesn't have Ninjas, does it, Mr. Tazuna?" Hanabi asked in return.
"Ah, yes." Tazuna hesitated.
He did not know whether Hanabi was implying that his country did not have a Ninja Village, or whether she literally meant that there were no "Ninjas."
"The Land of Waves doesn't have Ninjas?" Sasuke heard Hanabi and joined the conversation.
Kakashi glanced at Tazuna, then at Hanabi. "The Land of Waves has no Ninja Village. While most countries have different cultures and customs, they generally have Ninja Villages and Ninjas to some extent."
[Watch their expressions. Definitely foreshadowing.]
[Tazuna is sweating already.]
[Wordplay. It has to be wordplay.]
[Forget Tazuna, didn't you notice? Kakashi spoke too.]
[Kakashi: Whenever Hanabi talks, my cpu starts running at full speed.]
[Kakashi: I can't tell. I really can't tell!]
If this were the world of 2004, not many viewers would have noticed such details.
But viewers in 2024 had a hundred tricks up their sleeves. Even if Hanabi did not have a single ulterior motive, they could interpret a hundred from her words.
What was more, Hanabi truly did mean something by it.
Before you continue