Ah Hu

"Point A, in position."

In a secluded alley, Sakura concealed herself and quietly reported her position through the radio hanging from her ear.

Meanwhile, Sasuke, hidden not far across from Sakura, also sent a message through his radio with a solemn expression.

"Point C, in position."

Sakura and Sasuke exchanged a glance, completing an exchange without a word.

At the same time, they cautiously turned their attention to their target.

Its agile figure displayed its speed, its powerful limbs proved its robust physique, and it occasionally let out a roar. It seemed to be biting something in its mouth.

With a series of crunching sounds, its prey's bones were snapped apart by its sharp teeth and swallowed into its belly.

Clearly, this was an extremely powerful enemy.

"Naruto, are you in position yet?"

Sakura pressed the radio at her ear and spoke gravely.

"Point B, in position!"

A booming voice came through the earpiece, making Sakura and Sasuke, some distance away, rip off their earpieces almost on reflex.

A yellow figure dropped from the sky, pouncing directly at their target!

Seeing Naruto diving at it from above, the target let out a piercing roar.

"Naruto! That idiot!"

Sasuke's heart lurched at the sight. His face immediately darkened as he rushed forward, afraid that Naruto would let the mission target escape. He quickly formed a pincer attack with Naruto and charged at their target.

Under Naruto and Sasuke's combined encirclement, no matter how fierce the mission target was, it could not escape the clutches of ninjas!

"Wahaha, got it!"

Naruto hugged the mission target in his arms, unable to hide his excited grin.

"Meow!!!"

The mission target in his arms immediately flashed its sharp claws and frantically scratched Naruto.

"Don't let go. We finally caught it."

Sakura stepped out with the mission report in hand and looked at the cat in Naruto's arms. After comparing it with the target's appearance on the report and confirming that they were identical, she nodded in satisfaction.

Mission Target: Ah Hu

Client: Madam Chimi

Mission Rank: D

Naruto wore a bitter expression as he looked at the big calico cat with a bow on its ear in his arms. Ah Hu had left his face covered in bloody scratches.

"My, my, well done."

Kakashi emerged from who knew which corner, smiling as he looked at the three children. He then took Ah Hu from Naruto's arms and grabbed it by the scruff of its neck.

Only then did Naruto escape the attack range of the violent Ah Hu.

"What an idiot. You could have caught it without being so impulsive."

Sakura looked helplessly at the bloody scratches on Naruto's face. She pulled Naruto aside, green light glowing from her hand as she began treating him.

Naruto already had strong recovery abilities, and with Sakura's Medical Ninjutsu, such minor injuries healed quickly and easily.

"But this cat has run away a lot of times already, right?"

"Why does it insist on being a stray cat?"

As Naruto received Sakura's treatment, he looked at the utterly lifeless cat in Kakashi's hand and asked in confusion.

"Well, who knows~~"

Kakashi's exposed eye curved into a crescent as he replied with a smile.

Konoha Mission Assignment Office

"Oh~~ My Ah Hu~~~"

"I missed you so much, darling~~~"

"You're not allowed to run away again next time, okay~~~"

A "plump" noblewoman lovingly held Ah Hu and showered it with affectionate strokes, making Ah Hu's face reveal an almost human-like look of utter despair.

Naruto's mouth twitched as he looked at Ah Hu in the woman's arms. He seemed to understand why Ah Hu kept running away from home.

"Nicely done. Konoha ninjas really are efficient."

The noblewoman tossed down a stack of bills and was about to leave when she noticed Sakura beside Naruto. A smile appeared on her face, though it carried a hint of ingratiating flattery.

"Haruno-sama, I didn't expect you to be participating in this mission too~~"

Sakura looked at the noblewoman before her. Her polite smile carried a trace of distance as she said:

"Yes, Madam Chizumi."

"Then if Haruno-sama has business to attend to, I'll be leaving now. Come visit when you have the chance~~"

Watching the noblewoman leave, Naruto looked at Sakura in confusion.

"Do you know that madam, Sakura?"

"We met a few times while on missions before."

Sakura explained to Naruto.

She was a noblewoman who had sided with Konoha during the previous Resource War, and Sakura had happened to meet her several times as well.

Naruto scratched his head and stopped thinking about it, immediately turning his attention to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was seated behind the desk.

"It's always these trivial D-rank missions. Can't you give me an S-rank mission?!"

"These D-rank missions aren't difficult at all!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the blond brat bouncing around in front of him with a headache.

"Naruto, you're only a newly graduated Genin. D-rank missions are the most suitable for you."

"I don't care, Old Man Hokage! You have to give me a high-level mission today!"

Although Sasuke beside him did not say anything, the subtle expression on his face showed that he supported Naruto as well.

Ignoring Naruto's bickering with her own teacher, Sakura went straight to the water dispenser nearby and poured herself a cup of water.

Five days had passed since Kakashi's so-called drill, and during that time, they had been carrying out nothing but D-rank missions.

Sakura did not particularly mind, but she had not expected Naruto to hold out for five days before finally snapping.

Sakura had thought Naruto would be unable to stand it after three days.

On the other side, Hiruzen Sarutobi was so bothered by Naruto's noise that his gaze drifted toward Sakura, who was minding her own business. He gave a light cough and said, "Sakura, take a look. What mission do you think would suit your team?"

Seeing the meaningful look in her teacher's eyes, Sakura could not help twitching her lips.

Great, he was just dumping it on me.

That old man still owed me for expelling me before~~

Sakura walked over and scanned the mission booklets on the desk.

"Sakura, pick a high-level mission! I'll definitely protect you properly!"

Naruto watched Sakura choose a mission with excitement.

"Here, this one."

After flipping through the booklet for a while, Sakura pointed to a mission to clear trash from a river.

"Eh?!"

"How could this happen?"

Naruto instantly wilted.

Kakashi looked at the trash-clearing mission thoughtfully, then smiled and spoke.

"Well, actually, this mission isn't bad either."

Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled lightly.

"You are only Genin right now. Only after completing a certain number of D-rank missions will you be assigned higher-level C-rank missions."

"Don't overthink it. Keep your feet on the ground and work hard."