Persistence Pays Off

However, just as Naruto was about to give up and honestly hold himself back for a while, Team Seven's group of five stepped into the Mission Building. The figure seated at the main desk for issuing missions immediately stirred Naruto's restless heart once more.

"Whoa!? Grandpa Third, why are you here at the Mission Building today!?"

Naruto looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, who sat in the center wearing a Hokage Robe and Hokage Hat, his face lighting up with surprise as he shouted.

As the Kage of a village,

Sarutobi Hiruzen spent most of his time in his office handling the enormous and complicated affairs of the village. Still, he occasionally made time to inspect the work of various departments throughout the ninja village.

The Mission Center

was also one of a ninja village's most important institutions!

Every so often, Sarutobi Hiruzen would personally come here to assign missions to certain ninjas. It could be considered a gesture of being close to the people.

"Hehe, I happened to have some free time today, so I came to take a look. Your mission went smoothly, didn't it, Naruto?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded lightly with his usual kindly smile.

"Yes, Grandpa Third. We completed this mission perfectly too! So I want to challenge higher-level missions. Grandpa Third, give our team a C-rank mission or higher! That would be more challenging!!!"

The moment he saw Sarutobi Hiruzen,

Naruto immediately changed his mind!

Opportunities like this did not come twice!

If he could avoid it, who the hell would want to keep doing D-rank missions? What Naruto wanted was a challenge!!

His goal had always been to become the greatest Hokage, one who surpassed his father and even every previous Hokage!

While handing in the mission, he impatiently spoke up.

"Oh? Why are you in such a hurry, Naruto? There are rules for which rank of missions each team can accept. Newly formed teams like yours can only carry out the lowest-ranked missions for the first period of time. This is also for your proper development. Your supervising Jonin, Kakashi, is an experienced ninja. He will know exactly when to accept suitable missions for you."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Naruto with a smile as he spoke.

"Of course I understand all that, but it's already been over a month, Grandpa Third! Brother Kakashi has no intention of taking higher-ranked missions at all. D-rank missions are completely meaningless and have no difficulty for us. Don't ninjas need more trials and tempering to grow? Our team is fully capable of carrying out higher-ranked missions, and even if something happens, we still have Brother Kakashi, right? Don't you agree!"

Naruto seemed determined to argue with Sarutobi Hiruzen.

He remained relentless.

"I think Naruto has a point. Our team really can try more difficult missions. After all, Kakashi was already a Jonin at our age!"

Menma continued along Naruto's line of argument.

To Menma, whether a mission was high-ranked or not did not actually make much difference right now. However, he very much wanted an opportunity to leave the village.

The reason was simple. For plans that might be carried out in the future, Menma needed a certain degree of familiarity with the terrain around Konohagakure!

The descriptions in the Original Work from his previous life and the information he had learned on paper in this life were nowhere near enough!

He had to conduct his own personal reconnaissance!

That meant accepting missions that allowed him to leave the ninja village, and one alone would not be enough!

Menma did not want to reach the critical moment later only to suddenly run into the problem of unfamiliar roads. That would be no small issue.

The moment Menma spoke,

Naruto immediately revealed a delighted expression.

"Exactly, exactly! Brother Kakashi, you say we're young, but you were already a Jonin of the village at twelve. We can absolutely carry out higher-ranked missions!"

Even Sasuke, standing nearby, nodded in agreement.

"You kids..."

Kakashi shook his head with an amused smile.

Just as Kakashi was about to say something else,

"Mm, what you said does make sense. But Naruto, Menma, you must think this through. Each increase in mission rank brings a world of difference in difficulty. Although your team has Kakashi, if a mission fails, the ninja's evaluation will also drop. Even so, do you still insist?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen asked with great interest from his seat above.

Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen speak, Kakashi closed his mouth. As long as Sarutobi Hiruzen did not object, Kakashi did not particularly care either way.

With his strength, there was indeed no need to worry in most situations.

"Don't worry, Grandpa Third. With our team's strength, we'll definitely complete the mission smoothly!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's concession made Naruto's eyes light up. As though afraid Sarutobi Hiruzen would change his mind, he hurriedly said.

"Mm, very well. Then I'll give your team a C-rank mission in advance. Naruto, Menma, you've said it yourselves. You must complete it when the time comes!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded with a smile as he spoke.

Not just Naruto—

even Sasuke's lips curved upward at that moment, revealing a faint smile.

D-rank missions...

Honestly,

Sasuke had had enough of them too.

They were simply a waste of time.

"You said it, Grandpa Third! You can't go back on your word!! We'll definitely complete it and show you!"

Naruto pounded his chest, speaking with absolute confidence.

"Hehe, then I'll be watching."

After chuckling softly, Sarutobi Hiruzen gestured for an ordinary Konoha Ninja nearby to bring over another mission ledger. After scanning it,

"Let's go with this C-rank mission. You'll be protecting someone. This mission also requires traveling to another country, so I think it should suit you well at your current stage!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen directly selected an ordinary C-rank mission from the ledger. As he spoke to Naruto and Menma, he signaled for someone else to bring the client over.

"Mm-hmm-hmm!!"

Naruto nodded wildly like a pecking chicken.

Protecting someone? Then it's very likely that mission after all.

Menma's brow rose slightly as the corresponding scene from the Original Work immediately surfaced in his mind.

The next second,

with a creak,

the side door of the hall opened.

A scruffy middle-aged man wearing a straw hat appeared before Menma, Naruto, and the others.

The moment he saw that figure,

a look of just as expected swiftly flashed through Menma's Pupils.