This Is Bullying an Honest Man!

Kakashi quickly led the three little ones to the Hokage Building.

Along the way, whenever other ninja saw that distinctly recognizable blond hair of Team 7, every one of them showed looks of disgust, gritting their teeth as if they wished they could rush forward and gang up on him.

Their gazes did not affect Naruto or Sasuke. Even Kakashi did not care.

Kakashi had experienced the Villagers' angry stares in his childhood, while Sasuke was now wholly focused on revenge and paid no attention to how others viewed him.

As for Naruto, he said he spent every day enduring the cold stares of his own folks, yet he had even dared to whistle at their doorstep to provoke them.

Besides, over the years, the people angry at him could line up all the way to Konoha's entrance. If they wanted to glare at him, they could get in line at the back first.

Sakura, on the other hand, looked extremely frightened, constantly edging closer to Sasuke.

Who knew whether she was truly scared or only pretending to be.

With both hands in his pockets, Kakashi walked into the Hokage Office like a lifeless corpse.

The Third Hokage was smoking at the time, and the office was filled with swirling smoke, looking almost like a heavenly paradise.

It was clear that Konoha's old village chief was deeply troubled.

"Everyone's here?"

The Third Hokage swept his gaze over the four of them, then picked up the mission scroll on his desk and tossed it to Kakashi.

Smack—

Kakashi raised a hand and caught the mission scroll, then opened it to check its contents.

Naruto, who had long been unable to hold himself back, kept jumping up to sneak a look, only for Kakashi to press him back down.

He also noticed that Kakashi's expression as he read the scroll was somewhat off...

Was escorting an old man really enough to make him look like his father had died?

Naruto could not understand lazy Kakashi. He only thought Kakashi did not want to leave the village for a mission.

It was finally here!

The first dungeon—Wave Country!

Naruto was incredibly excited, as though he might fight Zabuza Momochi the very next second.

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Kakashi stared at the mission scroll for quite a while. He even turned it around and examined it from all sorts of angles before finally asking the Third Hokage in an uncertain tone.

"Third Hokage..."

"Are you sure a mission like this really complies with the rules?"

The three little ones all turned to look at Kakashi.

Although they did not know the mission's contents, hearing Kakashi Sensei say that made it clear that this mission...

Was extremely dangerous!

Sasuke let out a cold laugh, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

"Although this is the first time something like this has happened..."

"According to procedure, there is no problem."

The Third Hokage took a puff of smoke, his expression just as strange as Kakashi's.

Naruto was utterly speechless. If he had not watched Naruto, these two cryptic old men would have driven him mad.

Wasn't it just escorting some old geezer to Wave Country...

Was that really necessary?

Naruto tugged on Kakashi's pant leg, signaling for him to let him see the scroll.

He wanted to see exactly what was written on it that could make Konoha's Gold Medal Technician wear such an expression.

Kakashi glanced at Naruto and let out a deep sigh. After hesitating for three seconds, he finally handed the scroll to Naruto.

Let me see!

Naruto excitedly opened the mission scroll, and then he saw...

C-rank mission: Commission Team 7 of Konoha to leave the village for a one-month trip.

Mission reward: 20 million ryo.

Mission issuer: Joint commission from Konoha Villagers

Naruto's hands holding the scroll began trembling uncontrollably, while his expression changed several times in a single second.

His emotional journey shifted from initial anticipation to disappointment, confusion, and finally rage.

Fuck!

Wasn't this just bullying people?!

I, Naruto, have bled for Konoha!

How could they treat me like this?!

When would a Tailed Beast Jinchuriki finally be able to stand tall?!

I forgot the beginning... forgot the middle... forgot the end too... anyway, he was so furious he shook with rage!

And it was supposedly a joint commission from Konoha Villagers...

What was even more outrageous was the mission reward!

20 million ryo!!

That was fucking more than half of Asuma's bounty!

At this moment, Naruto finally felt the full malice of Konoha's Villagers.

If this mission had not been issued by the village's ninja...

Naruto would have jumped off the Hokage Building right then!

Naruto grabbed the scroll and slammed it toward the floor, roaring furiously, "Third Hokage!"

"Isn't this just bullying an honest man?!"

"What did I do wrong using Shadow Clones to complete missions?!"

"They were all low-level missions!"

"Did it really have to come to this?!"

Sasuke was somewhat disappointed upon learning that it was not a combat mission, but his reaction was nowhere near as intense as Naruto's.

Sakura, however, was quite happy. Getting paid to go out and have fun...

How could she not be happy?

The Third Hokage gave an awkward smile, picked up his pipe, and started smoking again.

He was helpless too.

Naruto had completed all the low-level missions the village had received over the past two months. What were the other genin who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy supposed to do?

They could not possibly leave the village for a combat mission as their very first mission, could they?

That obviously did not fit Konoha's long-standing style.

On top of that, the other ninja's resentment toward Team 7 was simply too great. In the end, everyone had gritted their teeth and pooled together a huge sum of money. They just wanted to ban the cheat-like Team 7 first, so everyone else could finally have missions for their teams.

The Third Hokage thought their solution was quite good, so he did not stop them.

He could treat it as letting the kids go out and relax for a while.

The Third Hokage sorted through his thoughts, then said to Naruto with a kindly expression.

"Naruto..."