Sasuke Uchiha: I Will Never Be a Genin for Life!

Perhaps spurred on by something, Sasuke Uchiha became even more diligent.

Besides taking on assigned missions as usual, he devoted all his remaining time to training. His training regimen was so intense that even Kakashi was left somewhat dumbfounded.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Four Shuriken arced through the air and embedded themselves in the center of the target!

Sasuke Uchiha, drenched in sweat, dropped to his knees. Sakura Haruno hurried over and handed him a towel and a cup of water.

Kakashi Hatake let out a breath and withdrew his gaze. Looking down at his other subordinate beside him, his eyes immediately widened. "Hey, hey, hey, Naruto, don't study such a dangerous ninjutsu right next to me!"

On the lawn.

A vortex of chakra gathered in Naruto Uzumaki's palm. He continuously poured chakra into it, compressing the power within!

A Rasengan formed in his palm, spinning faster and faster. It looked like it was about to lose control and explode!

Sealing Art: Devour!

Naruto Uzumaki waved his hand, drawing the chakra back into his body. He frowned. "It still feels like the Rasengan is missing something. It isn't powerful enough..."

"...Isn't it enough already?"

Kakashi Hatake rolled his eyes and clapped his hands at Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno in the distance. "Take a break. We still have an assigned mission to carry out this afternoon..."

"Sensei Kakashi, can't we take on some higher-ranked missions?"

Sasuke Uchiha rubbed his aching arm and said in a low voice, "I don't mind carrying out low-level, trivial commissioned tasks, but I still want to test myself more. It would be best if we could get some combat missions!"

Ever since Sasuke learned about the superior-subordinate relationship between Kakashi and Itachi Uchiha, he had practically become his jonin instructor's biggest fan, obeying Kakashi in nearly everything.

But because of that, he had also learned some things from the past, such as what Itachi Uchiha had gone through when he served as Kakashi's subordinate in the ANBU!

Those life-or-death battles between shinobi were also things Sasuke believed he had to experience. At the very least, he needed to dare to swing a Kunai and slit someone's throat!

"Is that so?"

Kakashi Hatake scratched his head. He looked at Naruto Uzumaki, who was equally expectant, then at Sakura, who seemed at a loss. In the end, he could only sigh. "Then let's go take a look at the Mission Assignment Office!"

Konoha Mission Assignment Office.

Perhaps because of what had happened a few days ago, Hiruzen Sarutobi was not on duty. Instead, Umino Iruka was here assigning commissioned missions, and he was having a small dispute with a Genin.

Umino Iruka held down the mission form in his hand and earnestly tried to persuade him. "Elder Kosuke, this C-rank Mission is rather troublesome. It isn't something one person can complete. How about looking at some other missions?"

"They're just a few Bandits..."

The short old man carried a large pot on his back and smiled with narrowed eyes. "Compared to the other missions, this one is far easier!"

"There are more than a dozen Bandits!"

Umino Iruka stubbornly refused to let go. "If you go alone, it's simply too dangerous!"

"Relax, relax..."

The old man patted the back of Iruka's hand and continued with a smile, "I've done this level of commissioned mission more times than I can count in my life..."

"Absolutely not!"

"What a bother..."

The old man scratched his head and helplessly chose an ordinary D-rank Mission, then tottered out of the Mission Assignment Office.

However, when the old man passed Kakashi Hatake, the white-haired shinobi respectfully nodded to him, causing the old man to stop for a moment. "Ha, Lord Kakashi is already capable of serving as a jonin instructor?"

"Yes, Elder Kosuke."

"What a fine group of youngsters!" The old man praised Naruto and the others, then limped away with the large pot on his back.

Sakura Haruno curiously watched the old man's retreating figure and looked up. "Sensei Kakashi, do you know that old man?"

"You could say that."

Kakashi Hatake nodded casually. He had only learned from his own teacher that Konoha had such a respectable shinobi, though he had run into him from time to time.

After Team Seven entered the Mission Assignment Office, Umino Iruka was still muttering, "It really is a headache. Elder Kosuke is already so old, yet he still wants to carry out such a dangerous mission alone..."

"What mission?"

Kakashi Hatake had heard their argument from outside. He reached out and took the commission form from Iruka's hand. His brows furrowed slightly before relaxing again. "This kind of mission? It really is quite easy for him..."

"That won't do."

Umino Iruka waved his hand. "If a battle breaks out, there are too many possible accidents. At the very least, he should have other teammates accompanying him before carrying out a commission like that!"

Kakashi Hatake raised his head and looked at Umino Iruka. "Since you didn't give it to Elder Kosuke, give it to us!"

"Hm? You're taking them on a C-rank commission already?"

"No choice..."

Kakashi Hatake glanced at the commission form and said quietly, "Both Sasuke and Naruto are already close to getting sick of commissioned missions. If there isn't a mission stimulating enough for them, those two little guys will probably stay at the training ground forever!"

By the time Kakashi returned to Team Seven, Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki had just finished discussing the old man who had passed by them.

Sasuke Uchiha was quite affected by it. "If we can't become stronger in the future, we'll end up like him, burdened with the identity of a Genin and only able to carry out low-level missions for the rest of our lives..."

"Don't worry, Sasuke!"

Naruto Uzumaki patted his shoulder. Sasuke had thought he was trying to encourage him, but Naruto immediately said, "I'm definitely going to become Hokage!"

Sakura Haruno: "..."

Kakashi Hatake raised the mission commission in his hand and waved it in front of Team Seven's three little brats. "All right, you three brats, hurry up and pack your things. We're going to carry out a C-rank commissioned mission!"

"C-rank?"

"Only C-rank?"

"Mm, let me take another look."

Kakashi Hatake frowned and said quietly, "This is a commission posted by a Guild Master. A group of Bandits robbed the goods they were transporting, and they want us to help recover them..."

Kakashi Hatake looked at the final commission amount and remarked, "The mission reward looks pretty good. It's actually enough to buy a year's worth of cover magazines..."

"..."

Sasuke Uchiha's gaze shifted slightly. "So, does that mean we might encounter combat this time?"

"That's hard to say!"

Kakashi Hatake waved his hand. "The reason this kind of mission is classified as a C-rank commission is because once those Bandits see our forehead protectors, there's a high chance they'll surrender right away..."

Sasuke Uchiha: "..."

"Oh?"

Naruto Uzumaki suddenly raised his head. "That makes it sound like if we don't wipe out these Bandits, we might be able to take on another easy commission like this next time?"

Sweat appeared on Kakashi Hatake's forehead again. "..."

He had never really thought much about that! Why did it sound, coming from Naruto Uzumaki, as though the Konoha shinobi were the masterminds behind the Guild Master being robbed?!

First update.

Sasuke Uchiha: I, Sasuke Uchiha, would rather jump off Naka Shrine and be smashed into paste than be a Genin for life!

Naruto Uzumaki: Once I become Hokage, I'll definitely promote you to Special Jonin!

Sasuke Uchiha: Forget it. Being a Genin is pretty good...

Naruto Uzumaki: Why?

Sasuke Uchiha: I've seen through it. If I defeat anyone as a Genin, everyone will desperately praise me and belittle my opponent. But if I'm a jonin and fail to defeat a Genin...

Naruto Uzumaki: To keep you from embarrassing yourself, I'll issue a Hokage's Order and demote you.

Sasuke Uchiha: "..."