Unexpected Change

In the alley, Ino had Naruto backed into a corner against the wall.

Thick golden bangs covered half her face as her blue eyes stared fixedly at Naruto. "Hey!"

"Does Sasuke even like girls?"

"What?" Naruto tilted his head and looked at Ino in confusion, completely unaware that he was being interrogated.

"Idiot! You said it yourself!" Ino was on the verge of losing it as she grabbed Naruto by the clothes. "Quit playing dumb, Naruto!"

"Then you should ask Sasuke yourself." Naruto suddenly flashed a particularly smug grin.

"Ahhh! Damn it!" Ino nearly went mad, clutching her head and shaking it from side to side. "Does he like girls or not?"

"I have a way to test it," Naruto said at just the right moment.

"What way?" Ino abruptly raised her head.

"Konoha ninja get one group hot spring vacation every year." Naruto smiled. "When the time comes, wait until Sasuke is alone and go straight into the Men's Bath—"

"Go die!"

Having failed to get an answer, Ino let out a long breath and gave up.

The Yamanaka Flower Shop was nearby, so Naruto walked her there before returning to his apartment. Compared to that, he actually got along fairly well with the Ino-Shika-Cho trio.

The next day, the two-day break came to an end.

Kakashi gathered Team Seven and told the three of them that their mission approval had gone through. He had also taken on their first C-rank mission.

"Protect a bridge-building expert from the Land of Waves?" Sakura asked.

"That's right." Kakashi remained unhurried, his dead-fish eyes drooping as both hands stayed in his pockets. "Cheer up. This is the first C-rank mission of your lives."

"Normally, C-rank missions don't involve enemies, but once you leave the village, anything can happen."

"Bandits, rogue ninja, pirates, ninja from other villages. Any number of factors could trigger a fight and cause the mission to escalate."

"Got it, Kakashi-sensei. You're so long-winded," Naruto complained. Unlike on that rainy day yesterday, he was no longer in such a low mood.

When he left home that morning, he had thrown a bag of garbage into the faces of those gloomy-looking people downstairs, leaving him in an exceptionally good mood.

Those villagers were nothing more than keyboard warriors. The moment Naruto pulled out his Ninja Headband, they shrank back and did not dare say another word.

Kakashi said nothing and simply reached out to smack Naruto on the head.

"Team Seven! Meet at the village gate in half an hour. Dismissed!"

With that, Kakashi vanished from the spot in a puff of white smoke.

"I'm really looking forward to this mission!" Sakura said with a hint of anticipation. "I wonder what that bridge-building expert is like."

"We're only protecting a target," Sasuke said. "Who he is doesn't matter. Kakashi said C-rank missions won't involve combat."

"How boring. Let's get it over with early. It's a waste of time."

Naruto glanced at Sasuke and noticed a blue wrist guard around his left wrist.

"Naruto, what kind of person do you think that bridge-building expert is?" Sakura turned to Naruto, who was yawning at the moment.

"No idea. Since he's an expert, he's probably some bad-tempered old man." Naruto scratched his face dismissively.

Half an hour later, at Konoha's main gate.

"Hey! Are you kidding me? I paid the fee! You're sending three Brats to protect me? What's wrong with you people in Konoha?"

A scruffy old man carrying a wine bottle was shouting at Kakashi.

"Is this Konoha's attitude? How are you supposed to protect me like this? I'm a bridge-building expert!"

Sakura's face darkened as she stared at the tall, disheveled old man, then glanced back at Naruto. He had actually guessed right.

Kakashi was smiling as he explained, but the old man clearly did not believe a word of it. He said excitedly,

"I am Tazuna, the bridge-building expert of the Land of Waves!"

Naruto, standing nearby, grew impatient and shouted at the man.

"Shut up, old man. What's so impressive about building bridges?"

"You brat!" Tazuna became agitated, but Kakashi quickly talked him down. After much persuasion, he finally agreed to set off.

Half a day later.

The group reached the border of the Forest of the Land of Fire. After walking a little farther, they would arrive at the ferry crossing. Kakashi's gaze suddenly sharpened as he glanced to either side.

Sasuke noticed Kakashi's reaction as well and frowned slightly. Though he still appeared calm, he had already become vigilant.

Naruto had known all along that someone was following them. The Mist Ninja's tracking methods were simply too crude. He was not worried and kept walking ahead while humming.

As they walked, even Sakura began to feel uneasy. Hearing Naruto's inexplicable humming, she could not help growing nervous.

Just as she was about to speak, a sudden change occurred.

Two ninja suddenly leaped out of the bushes beside them, each gripping one end of two Spiked Chains as they charged straight at Kakashi in front.

In that instant, the sweltering wind came to a halt. Naruto could feel the sweat clinging to his skin freeze in place.

The strange sensation vanished in a flash. Color flooded into the black-and-white scene, bringing it vividly to life. With a ding, the mechanical synthesized voice sounded in his mind once more.

At the same time, the frozen scene abruptly began moving again. Kakashi was caught by the slicing sneak attack, and blood immediately splattered across the ground.

Naruto knew it was Kakashi's Substitution Technique and ignored Sakura's scream beside him. Thinking they had dealt with Kakashi, the two ninja rushed straight at the seemingly defenseless Naruto.

"Naruto, get out of the way!" Sakura cried in terror.

But Naruto did not move, as though he had been nailed to the spot. Sasuke clicked his tongue in the distance, gritted his teeth, and threw three Shuriken.

The three Shuriken temporarily forced the two ninja back. Only then did Naruto move. Yet instead of retreating, he charged toward them.

"Naruto! It's dangerous!"

Sasuke was stunned as well. Once he came to his senses, he did not hesitate. Gripping a kunai, he rushed over.

"Sakura, protect Mr. Tazuna."

Sakura only heard Sasuke leave behind those words before she saw both Naruto and Sasuke charging toward the two ninja.

Her heart pounded wildly, and panic rose within her, along with a trace of inferiority. It was their first mission too, yet neither of them seemed as afraid of fighting ninja as she was.

Just as she lost herself in thought, Naruto's voice rang out from ahead.

"Damn it! Are you messing with me?"

"Options! Come out here!"

Bang! Bang! Bang! The two Mist Ninja were already lying on the ground, battered black and blue, while Naruto stood beside them muttering strange things as he continued beating them up.

Sasuke stopped halfway there, his face filled with shock. Meanwhile, Kakashi, who should have been dead, stood perfectly unharmed nearby, shaking his head as he watched Naruto.