One-Tail Naruto, Entering the Fray!

After leaving the mission office, Tenka continued toward Konoha's gates, her 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.

Tenka turned her head slightly and glanced at the dazed Naruto.

"Ah... y-yes!"

Naruto immediately stiffened all over and answered in a fluster.

Only after the other three had gone some distance did Naruto snap out of it and hurriedly follow them.

"Sakura!"

"I'll handle the front gate. Go around the back and attack from the rear, then meet up with me!"

"Can you do it?"

"No problem!"

"Remember, the teacher's order 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 start shaking at the sight of blood and need us to save you, that'll be enough!"

"Sakura, move out!"

"Mm, be careful!"

After telling Sasuke to be careful, Sakura concealed herself and headed for the back gate.

Sasuke paused slightly, his lips moving. You be careful too. Yet he made no sound.

Tenka brought them to the mission site, left them with the words "Handle it yourselves," and vanished.

The three of them had put in no small amount of effort to scout the terrain and determine the enemy's numbers.

Sasuke took down the guards at the back gate, and the three slipped inside.

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

He had been terrified, his mind completely blank. After that, he remained in a daze and could only follow Sasuke on instinct.

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

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

While checking the enemy's numbers, Naruto caused the three of them to be discovered, but she swiftly dealt with that enemy.

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

Sasuke did not feel disgusted. He only felt that he seemed to have gained a reliable teammate.

As for Naruto, Sasuke directly ignored him. This guy was always shouting and making a fuss, yet he fell apart at the critical moment!

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

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

She had diligence and willpower. This girl was already a qualified shinobi!

It had only been two days. How had she done it? Kakashi had looked into all three members of Team 7.

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

She had transformed from an idiotic girl obsessed with romance into a decisive, qualified shinobi in merely two days!

Back to the three of them: after Sakura made the first move, Sasuke did not hesitate and quietly made his way to the main gate.

The slaughter!

Had officially begun!

Watching Sasuke turn into a cold-faced god of death, 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!

Was he... still not acknowledged?

I just... want people to acknowledge me. Why, why is it so hard?

Naruto recalled all the times he had been treated differently in the past—beaten and pelted with stones until his head was bloodied every time!

He could hold money in his hand and still be unable to buy anything, only to be beaten and cursed at by shopkeepers!

What did I do wrong?

The demon fox?

But I'm human!

Why? Why does everyone treat me like this?

Naruto's heart was gradually consumed by rage, and scarlet chakra spilled out!

It enveloped his entire body, and behind him, a tail gradually formed!

One-Tail Naruto, entering the fray!

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

"Don't move!"

An icy, sinister voice filled with 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!"

Tenka's words from that day surfaced in his mind!

Strong?

Since I have no other choice, there is no other road for me to take!

Then...

"Kill!"

Naruto stomped down hard and charged at the nearest enemy. His hands had already turned into claws!

They plunged straight into the bandit's body. With a sudden exertion of force, Naruto instantly tore the bandit in half!

Blood splashed all over him, but Naruto did not notice at all. His gaze swept toward the next enemy!

"Kill!"

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

Sasuke stood stunned for two or three seconds, then the corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he sped up his movements!

When the two fought their way to the back gate and met Sakura again.

She too was covered in blood, her clothes entirely dyed red. Most eye-catching of all, 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!"

"So I cut it off!"

"Does it look good now?"

The three of them were drenched in blood, and she was asking whether she looked good in a situation like this?

"Uh..."

"Well..."

Naruto stammered, unable to answer!

Sakura gave a dashing smile and looked at Naruto.

"Naruto!"

"You..."

"Were pretty impressive!"

"Sasuke, don't you think so?"

Sasuke glanced at Naruto, recalling the guy's brutal actions just now, and lightly nodded!

"He really was!"

The three looked at one another!

"Ha ha..."

"Hahaha..."

"Hahaha..."

"Let's grow stronger together?"

"Become the strongest!"

"Rule the Shinobi World!"

"That's enough!"

"You've only just learned to walk!"

"And you already want to fly?"

"Clean up and head back to Konoha!"

Tenka's cool voice rang out, instantly dousing the three children's lofty ambitions!

"Yes, Teacher!" ×3

Walking ahead of the three with her back to them, Tenka's lips curved slightly.

These three little brats were not bad!

Kakashi followed the four from afar, watching the three behind Tenka.

He had once suggested that Tenka 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 asking 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 Tenka's back. Had she foreseen this outcome too?

What a freak!

Tenka did not know what Kakashi was thinking. He was considering how to teach these three in the future!