Departure, the Long-Awaited Land of Waves Mission

Konoha

Beneath a clear blue sky dotted with white clouds.

"Sasuke, arrived at Point B."

In the woods, Sasuke stared at the target and spoke softly into his headset.

"Sakura, arrived at Point C."

"Naruto, arrived at Point A."

Sakura and Naruto's location reports quickly came through the earpiece.

"Naruto, you're too slow...

You've already missed the best opportunity. The target is moving!

Everyone, move! Catch up..."

Following Kakashi's command through the headset, Chakra erupted beneath Sasuke's feet as he shot toward the target.

"Meowww..."

With a bloodcurdling wail, Sasuke grabbed the cat by the neck and held it firmly in place.

"Sasuke-kun is so cool..."

Sakura hurried over after him, calling out in a sweet voice and once again demonstrating her talent for setting the mood.

"Finally caught you, little kitty..."

Naruto zipped over to Sasuke's side, snatched the cat away, and chuckled.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Naruto..."

Sasuke was happy to take it easy. He let go and handed the cat over to Naruto.

At the same time, he pressed the earpiece by his ear and began reporting.

"Brown fur, black stripes on its forehead forming the character for king, and a red bow on its right ear.

Confirmed as the mission target: Tora the cat."

That was right. Sasuke and the others were currently carrying out Konoha's famous Genin dungeon—the mission to capture the lost Tora.

At this time,

It had been nearly a month since Sasuke and the others' last dinner together...

Just as Sasuke had expected, that gathering had failed to trigger any further rewards.

As for Hinata, his target, Sasuke had temporarily given up after their brief contact.

The current Hinata was even more introverted and insecure than she had been after the Chunin Exams.

Even if he came up with useful advice, with her current personality, she would not be able to say it aloud...

So, Sasuke had shifted his target to Neji.

Over the past month,

Other than gaining another twenty thousand ryo note and 0.1 card Chakra, Sasuke had received no other rewards.

However, he had learned Lightning Style: Lightning Snake and Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire...

Other than that, he had intermittently completed six D-rank Missions.

Hokage Office Building

"Tora~~

Ahahaha, my adorable Tora has finally been found...

I was worried sick, my Tora~~"

As Sasuke and the other two stared in dumbfounded silence, the Feudal Lord's Wife hugged Tora and gave the cat a thorough kneading.

The three of them shuddered involuntarily...

Even Sasuke, who knew the plot, was no exception!

Knowing about it and seeing it live were not the same feeling...

"Mm, the D-rank Mission to find the lost cat is complete.

Then Team Kakashi's next mission is..."

After the Feudal Lord's Wife left, Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed out smoke rings and began searching for the next mission.

As he muttered the names of those dull, tedious D-rank Missions, Naruto clenched his fists, ready to explode...

"No...

I don't want to keep doing these boring, unchallenging missions!

Are there no other missions?

I want to carry out a more difficult, more exciting high-level mission..."

Just as Sasuke had hoped, Naruto finally could not hold it in any longer and shouted.

The Third Hokage, Kakashi, and Iruka all changed expression at once...

*It's starting...

The long-awaited Land of Waves mission, Team 7's first battle of transformation!!*

Watching the fiery Naruto argue passionately with Iruka, Sasuke could not help letting out a faint inward sigh.

For this mission that would pit them directly against an elite Jonin, Sasuke had no intention of changing the plot!

Having become Sasuke and knowing the plot...

If he did not even dare face someone like Zabuza, how could he covet the Power of the Otsutsuki!

"I see...

Naruto, are you no longer that little brat who loved pulling pranks...?"

At Naruto's insistence, the Third Hokage lowered his Hokage hat, his tone complicated.

Letting the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki leave the village was dangerous in itself.

But since he had allowed Naruto to graduate and become a ninja, he had long been mentally prepared for this day!

Over this period, he had also witnessed Sasuke and Naruto's rapid growth...

Especially Sasuke, who already possessed the strength of an elite Chunin.

It was about time...

"Then please come out!

Mr. Tazuna..."

Under Naruto and Sasuke's expectant gazes, the Third Hokage's expression turned serious as he called toward the side.

With a creak, the nearby door was pushed open.

A thick stench of alcohol immediately washed over them...

"Huh? Who's this drunk old man??"

Seeing Tazuna appear, Naruto fanned away the heavy smell of alcohol and asked excitedly.

"He is the client for your mission, Mr. Tazuna...

Naruto, this is a C-rank protection mission.

I'll leave the rest to you, Kakashi..."

After a brief introduction, the Third Hokage discreetly gave Kakashi a meaningful look.

Kakashi naturally understood it was because of the Nine-Tails and silently nodded in acknowledgment!

"What? They're taking a mission to protect me?

Why are they all just little brat ninja...

Especially that short, dumb-looking brat. He can be a ninja too?"

Hearing this, the alcohol-reeking Tazuna began venomously mocking Sasuke and the others.

He knew his own situation better than anyone.

He was terrified that Sasuke and the others would be unreliable and get him killed...

The moment he said that,

Naruto flew into another furious outburst, only to be ruthlessly suppressed by Kakashi...

"I am Tazuna, the super-famous bridge-building expert of the Land of Waves.

So, I'll leave my safety to all of you!

Until I finish building the bridge, please stake your lives on protecting me."

A moment later, Tazuna took a huge swig of alcohol and spoke as though he had given up all hope.

He had no money to raise the mission rank anyway, so he could only treat a dead horse as if it were alive...

"Don't worry, Mr. Tazuna.

They may be young, but they are all Konoha's elite ninja...

Besides, you have a Jonin like me. There won't be a problem!"

Kakashi reassured him in his usual lazy manner, not sensing any danger.

That made Tazuna realize something, and he was secretly delighted!

Hiring a Jonin's protection for the price of a C-rank Mission—what a bargain...

"Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura.

Go back now and prepare your weapons and daily necessities. Gather at the village entrance in half an hour.

The same goes for you, Mr. Tazuna. Dismissed..."

After leaving the Hokage Office Building, Kakashi turned and spoke to everyone.

Then he flashed away with the Body Flicker Technique...

"Now it's time for me to show what I can do..."

After Kakashi left, Naruto shouted passionately and raced toward home without looking back.

"Let's go, Sakura..."

Sasuke smiled helplessly, called to her, and turned toward home.

However,

Sasuke did not head home directly. Instead, he changed direction and stopped by a weapon shop along the way.

To be safe, he had to prepare a few trump cards just in case...

Half an hour later,

The fully equipped Team Kakashi gathered again and met up with their client, Tazuna, at the village entrance.

"Let's go, everyone..."

Once everyone had arrived, the excited Naruto pointed ahead and shouted.

This was his first time leaving the village in his entire life...

"Let's go..."

Sasuke wore much the same expression. He too was looking forward to what lay outside.

Though what he was looking forward to was the battle ahead...

Of these two, which one is actually the team's Jonin leader...

Watching Sasuke and Naruto issue orders, Kakashi felt another flock of crows fly across his forehead and was once again speechless.