A month had passed since Team 7's last mission!
Over that month, Team 7 had completed twenty missions, all of them C-Rank Missions, and every single one had involved killing!
The three youngsters had grown somewhat numb to it. For the entire month, they had either been traveling or killing!
When the other rookie teams heard about their record, they were utterly dumbfounded!
Not only was Team 7 crazy about doing missions, they themselves were crazy too!
Once their classmates learned what they had been doing, every one of them got chills!
Sure enough, one murderous fiend had raised three little murderous fiends!
Still, the three of them had improved considerably over the past month!
Sakura had already mastered Monster Strength and begun studying medical ninjutsu!
Naruto had learned the Rasengan and begun training in chakra nature transformation. Moreover, he could remain conscious in Two-Tails Mode!
Sasuke had mastered Chidori and Lightning Cutter as well. However... with his chakra reserves, he could only use them once. He was also steadily training in nature transformation!
And under Tenka's guidance, he had begun developing Chidori Stream!
Tenka had not neglected their taijutsu training either!
Although Tenka had not completed the swordsmanship inheritance and had temporarily set it aside, he had still come into contact with another system!
Combined with everything he understood from his previous life, Tenka knew that the body was the foundation of everything!
The human body held endless mysteries. Though they could not be explored here, a strong body could never be a bad thing!
Tenka also knew that the nonstop killing had caused all three of them some psychological issues!
So this time, he planned to take an easier mission and let the three of them relax together!
"This one!"
The Third Hokage looked at the mission Tenka had chosen and breathed a sigh of relief. Good, good!
It was only an escort mission. This ancestor had finally stopped choosing slaughter missions!
Tenka's repeated mission choices had alarmed the Third Hokage, who had personally stationed himself at the mission office.
He had constantly tried to dissuade Tenka by arguing that Naruto and the others were still too young!
Unfortunately, it had been completely useless. His status as Hokage was worth nothing in front of Tenka!
Not only was Tenka stubborn himself, he had also raised three stubborn little mules!
The three of them had no objections whatsoever to Tenka's choices!
Naruto had even bluntly told the Third Hokage to his face that he was being long-winded and trying to stop them from becoming stronger!
"Fine, this one!"
The Third Hokage quickly registered Tenka and Team 7, afraid that Tenka might change his mind. Then he called out toward the door!
"You can come in now!"
An old man with a drunken look on his face entered, carrying a wine bottle in his hand!
"This is the client for this mission!"
"Tazuna, a master bridge builder from the Wave Country!"
"Your mission is to protect him until the bridge is completed!"
"Mr. Tazuna, this is the team that accepted your mission!"
After introducing both sides, the Third Hokage quietly sat to one side and smoked!
This mission was good. It would take at least a month and would not involve much killing!
It would give the three kids a chance to rest properly and adjust their mental states!
The Third Hokage was deeply worried about the condition of Team 7's three members. He was already beginning to regret letting Tenka lead Team 7!
Naruto in particular was the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki, and his strategic importance to the village was immense!
The Third Hokage did not want him to become a lunatic who knew nothing but killing, because then Naruto would no longer be under his control!
Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret in this world. With others, the Third Hokage could use different methods to force them!
But Team 7's leader was Tenka. The Third Hokage did not dare. He could only try to dissuade him again and again, without daring to push too hard!
After the Third Hokage finished his introduction, Tazuna sized up Tenka and the other three.
Seeing three young brats and a teacher who looked far too young, he was dissatisfied!
"You three little brats, and a ninja this young—can you really protect me?"
"You should know, I am—"
"Shut up!"
Before Tazuna could finish, Naruto's furious shout cut him off. Naruto and the other two stared at him with killing intent!
"If you keep babbling, you'll become the first client I kill!"
"Want to try it?"
Seeing their wicked smiles, Tazuna's face went pale beneath the killing intent engulfing him!
"Lord... Lord Hokage, can I... can I apply to switch to another team to pro... protect me?"
Tazuna stammered as he pleaded with the Third Hokage. He had concealed the mission's true rank from the beginning!
He had not revealed his real circumstances. If these people noticed, he was afraid they might kill him first!
"I'm sorry!"
"Once a mission has been registered, it cannot be changed unless the team that accepted it gives up or the entire team is wiped out!"
"Isn't there any other way?"
"I really don't want their team protecting me!"
Even after the Third Hokage's refusal, Tazuna was unwilling to give up and wanted to change teams!
"There is one way!"
"What way?"
"The client cancels the mission and posts it again!"
"Then I'll cancel it!"
"If the client cancels the mission unilaterally, we will not refund the reward! Mr. Tazuna, are you sure?"
"This..."
Tazuna froze. They would not refund the reward he had paid to post the mission?
He had originally feared that revealing the truth would raise the mission rank too high!
With his limited funds, he had tried to save wherever he could. After buying a jug of wine and drinking it!
He had mustered his courage and falsely reported the mission rank. But now... reposting it would require another large sum of money!
Tazuna was unwilling!
Although he had posted an escort mission, he had required protection until the bridge was completed, making it far too time-consuming!
Even though the money he offered had reached the maximum for a C-Rank Mission, no one had been willing to accept it!
It simply was not worth it. With that amount of time, they could complete several D-Rank Missions and earn more money!
If they did C-Rank Missions instead, they could earn several times as much. Anyone could do that math, yet Tazuna had thought he was the only smart one!
As a result, his mission had sat there for a week without anyone showing interest!
Konoha's cost of living was not low. During that week, Tazuna had lived frugally.
He ate only one meal a day, while the other two meals were replaced with a jug of the cheapest wine!
Even so, he had spent quite a bit of money. Just as he was beside himself with anxiety and returned to the mission office, hesitating over whether to raise the mission rank!
Someone suddenly told him that his mission had been accepted!
After excitedly gulping down several mouthfuls of wine, he came to meet the ninja who had accepted the mission, only to encounter four fiends!
Now, if he reposted the mission, he could not get back the money he had already spent!
If he continued the mission, his life would be in danger!
Tazuna was caught between a rock and a hard place!
"Are you continuing this mission or not?"
"Make it quick!"
Naruto was thoroughly impatient as he glared at Tazuna and demanded an answer.
"We'll continue!"
Under Naruto's urging, Tazuna steeled himself and gritted his teeth!
"One hour to prepare. Gather at Konoha's main gate. Dismissed!"
Before you continue