Mission Change: Teams 7 and 8 Will Carry It Out Together

"Lousy ninja?" Naruto Uzumaki instantly blew up when he heard that!

"What right does a stinking drunk like you have to call us lousy?!"

"Naruto, don't be rude." Kakashi Hatake lightly reprimanded him. "A qualified ninja shouldn't insult the client who commissioned the mission."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression did not change much. Instead, he smiled. "Kakashi, it's rare to see that Naruto brat listen to you so well."

"Lord Third, let's save the small talk for another time." Kakashi Hatake turned his gaze back to the drunk. "I'm also curious what kind of person would hire lousy ninja."

"This is Mr. Tazuna. Please review the detailed information." As the ninja assistant spoke, he handed over a stack of documents.

There were five copies of the documents, one for each person.

Tianming took the documents, quickly glanced through them, and handed them back. What was written there was not much different from the original story.

Tazuna! A highly renowned bridge builder from the Land of Waves. After completing a project here in Konoha Village, he needed to return to the Land of Waves, but the criminal forces there would try to assassinate him along the way.

That was why he had hired Konoha ninja to escort him to the Land of Waves.

"You're Tazuna." Kakashi Hatake put away the documents as well. "Team 7 will take this C-rank mission."

"What's so great about Tazuna? He's just a drunk, isn't he?" The thick-skinned Naruto Uzumaki was still hung up on Tazuna calling them lousy ninja.

"Naruto, are you an idiot? Master Tazuna is a famous bridge builder. Many of Konoha's bridges were built by him. With bridges, life in the village becomes much more convenient." Sakura Haruno held her forehead. It truly was too much to hope for Naruto's comprehension.

"So that's how it is," Naruto Uzumaki said belatedly.

Tazuna took another swig of alcohol and spoke directly to the Third Hokage. "Lord Hokage, I believe I already explained the situation in the Land of Waves. There's a tyrant there who won't rest until I'm dead. Can this one-eyed-looking fellow and three children really handle it?"

Konoha Village's ninja were widely acknowledged to be powerful, but Team 7's lineup was indeed not particularly convincing.

"Master Tazuna, the key issue isn't that we're lousy ninja. It's your budget." Tianming suddenly spoke up. "The budget you provided is only enough to hire genin."

"You little brat." Tazuna turned and glanced at Tianming. "Does the price I offered have anything to do with your strength? Or do you think you can't complete this mission and want to back out?"

"Quite the opposite." Tianming smiled. "You happened to hire Konoha's strongest ninja for the least amount of money!"

Tianming's words left everyone present utterly dumbfounded. Was he really just bragging so shamelessly?

"How ridiculous." Tazuna stared at Tianming for several seconds. He could not detect the slightest trace of deceit in the child's eyes, only overwhelming confidence.

"Alright, alright, there's no need to argue." Hiruzen Sarutobi settled the matter with a final word. "Mr. Tazuna is working with such a small budget because he needs to save money to build bridges in the Land of Waves. Konoha has also benefited greatly from Mr. Tazuna's skills."

"We won't forget this favor. So for this C-rank mission, I've actually assigned ninja from two teams."

As soon as Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking, everyone present was stunned.

Even Tianming, who had maintained a calm expression, was dumbfounded. Two teams for the Land of Waves mission? Was this for real?

"Come in."

Hiruzen Sarutobi called toward the doorway. Before long, a beautiful mature woman appeared there, followed by the three members of her team.

"Kurenai Yuhi?" Kakashi Hatake had not received any notice about working together either.

"Kakashi, I never expected Team 7 to be our partner." Kurenai Yuhi greeted him as well.

Tianming's expression shifted slightly. Team 8: Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame.

A typical support-oriented team.

Although he did not understand why the Land of Waves mission had changed, that was not something Tianming needed to concern himself with.

He only needed to focus on the check-in mission.

"Tianming, Naruto!" Hinata Hyuga waved toward them.

Tianming returned her greeting with a smile, and Naruto Uzumaki greeted her as well.

"Now everyone's here." Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Tazuna. "There shouldn't be any problems now."

"Then thank you in advance, Lord Third." Though Tazuna drank, he was no fool.

He had paid very little and received protection from six genin. Konoha had already done everything it could for him.

"Then begin carrying out the mission." Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "The mission starts immediately!"

After leaving the Hokage's office, Team 7, Team 8, and Tazuna's group departed Konoha Village.

On the third day after leaving the village and heading east, the group arrived at a hot spring town.

On the day they rested and soaked in the hot springs, a carrier pigeon delivered a letter from Konoha summoning Kurenai Yuhi back.

From then on, Kakashi Hatake had to lead both Teams 7 and 8 through the mission alone.