One-Tail Naruto, Enters the Fray!

After leaving the mission office, Tian Ge continued toward Konoha's main gate, his cool voice reaching the ears of the three children.

"Move at full speed!"

"The objective is to wipe out the target and return to Konoha before the end of today!"

"Yes!" ×2

Sasuke and Sakura answered solemnly.

Tian Ge slightly turned his head and glanced at Naruto, who stood there blankly.

"Ah... y-yes!"

Naruto's entire body stiffened, and he answered in a fluster.

Only after the other three had gone far away did Naruto snap out of it and hurriedly follow.

"Sakura!"

"I'll handle the main entrance. Go around the back and attack from the rear entrance to meet up with me!"

"Can you do it?"

"No problem!"

"Remember, the teacher's requirement is extermination. Letting even one escape means mission failure!"

"Got it!"

"Hey, hey!"

"Sasuke, what about me?"

"What am I supposed to do?"

"You?"

"As long as you don't tremble at the sight of blood and make us save you, that'll be enough!"

"Sakura, move out!"

"Yeah, be careful!"

Sakura told Sasuke to be careful, concealed herself, and hurried toward the rear entrance.

Sasuke froze slightly, his lips moving as he mouthed, You be careful too, but no sound came out.

Tian Ge brought them to the mission site, left them with a single sentence—solve it yourselves—and disappeared.

To investigate the terrain and determine the number of enemies, the three had gone through no small amount of trouble.

Sasuke took down the guards at the rear entrance, and the three slipped inside.

At the time, Naruto had trembled violently in fear as the guards' steaming blood splashed onto him.

He had been terrified stiff, his mind completely blank. After that, he remained dazed and could only follow Sasuke by instinct.

Sakura had also been splattered with blood. Her face was equally pale, and her body trembled as well.

However, after following Sasuke for a while, she recovered.

When they were scouting the enemy numbers, Naruto caused them to be discovered, but she swiftly dealt with the enemy who found them.

Sasuke could tell that Sakura had vomited into her mouth, yet she forcibly swallowed it back down.

Sasuke did not feel disgusted. Instead, he felt as though he had gained a dependable teammate.

As for Naruto, Sasuke simply ignored him. The guy always ran his mouth, but when it mattered, he let everyone down.

Tian Ge and Kakashi, who had arrived later, watched the scene from the shadows.

Tian Ge showed no reaction, but Kakashi was astonished by the pink-haired girl.

She had effort and willpower. This girl was already a qualified ninja.

It had only been two days. How had she changed so much? Kakashi had investigated all three members of Team 7.

He knew Sakura's past very well, and that was precisely why he was so shocked.

She had transformed from a lovestruck idiot into a decisive, qualified ninja in just two days!

Back to the three of them. After Sakura made the first move, Sasuke no longer hesitated and quietly made his way to the main entrance.

Slaughter!

Had officially begun!

Watching Sasuke turn into a cold-faced god of slaughter, Naruto's trembling gradually stopped.

It seemed that he was the one holding them back now.

The environment Naruto had grown up in had made him extremely sensitive to the emotions of those around him.

He could sense Sasuke's disdain for him and his approval of Sakura.

It seemed that the two of them had excluded him.

Still... not acknowledged?

I just... wanted people to acknowledge me. Why? Why was it so hard?

Naruto recalled every instance of how he had been treated differently in the past—being beaten, pelted with stones, and left bloodied each time.

Even with money in hand, he could not buy anything, and shopkeepers would curse and beat him.

What did I do wrong?

Because I'm the demon fox?

But I'm human!

Why? Why did everyone treat me like this?

Naruto's heart was gradually consumed by rage, and scarlet chakra spilled from his body.

It enveloped his entire body, while a single tail slowly formed behind him.

One-Tail Naruto had entered the fray!

Seeing this, Kakashi was about to rush out and stop him. Naruto had actually drawn upon the Nine-Tails' chakra!

"Don't move!"

A voice icy, sinister, and full of killing intent rang out, instantly freezing Kakashi's body as he prepared to charge forward.

He could feel it. If he dared step out, this person would absolutely kill him in an instant!

In the field, Naruto looked at the bandits bleeding without end, and his eyes were dyed red as well.

"Only by becoming strong will others fear you, dread you, and acknowledge you!"

Tian Ge's words from that day surfaced in his mind.

Strong?

Since I have no other choice, there's no other road left for me to take!

Then...

"Kill!"

Naruto stomped hard with both feet and charged toward the nearest enemy. His hands had already transformed into sharp claws!

They pierced straight into the bandit's body. Naruto suddenly exerted force with both hands, tearing the bandit in half in an instant!

Blood splattered across his entire body, but Naruto did not notice. His gaze swept toward the next enemy!

"Kill!"

Sasuke had just dealt with an enemy when Naruto's roar startled him. The instant he turned his head, he saw Naruto tearing an enemy apart with his bare hands!

Sasuke stood stunned for two or three seconds, then the corners of his lips rose slightly as he quickened his pace.

When the two fought their way toward the rear entrance and met Sakura again.

She too was covered in blood, her clothes entirely dyed red. Most strikingly, her long hair was gone...

"Sakura!"

"Your hair?"

Seeing Sakura, Naruto snapped out of his rage and stared at her hair as he asked.

"Long hair was too troublesome!"

"I cut it off!"

"Do I look good like this?"

All three of them were covered in blood, and she was asking whether she looked good at a time like this?

"Uh..."

"Well..."

Naruto stammered, unable to answer.

Sakura gave a dashing smile and looked at Naruto.

"Naruto!"

"You..."

"You did pretty well!"

"Sasuke, don't you think so?"

Sasuke glanced at Naruto, recalling the savage scenes from earlier, and lightly nodded.

"You did indeed do well!"

The three looked at one another.

"Haha..."

"Hahaha..."

"Hahaha..."

"Let's become stronger together?"

"Become the strongest!"

"Dominate the Shinobi World!"

"That's enough!"

"You've only just learned to walk!"

"And you're already dreaming of flying?"

"Clean up and return to Konoha!"

Tian Ge's cool voice came from ahead, instantly dousing the three children's lofty ambitions.

"Yes, Teacher!" ×3

Walking ahead of the three with his back to them, Tian Ge's lips curved up slightly.

These three little ones were not bad.

Kakashi followed the four from far behind, watching the three behind Tian Ge.

He had once suggested that Tian Ge test their teamwork.

Now, it seemed they had it, and it was even stronger than anything that test could have built!

If he had stopped Naruto just now, would this scene still have happened?

Kakashi could not help but ask himself that question. The answer was no. Naruto still would not have earned the acknowledgment of the other two.

He could not help looking at Tian Ge's back. Had he foreseen this outcome?

What a freak!

Tian Ge had no idea what Kakashi was thinking. He was considering how to train these three in the future!