"Everyone's here."
Kakashi looked at his assembled subordinates and nodded in satisfaction. Ignoring Karin's fierce stare at Naruto, he began a brief introduction to the mission.
"Our mission this time is to escort a bridge builder back to the Land of Waves. I'll let him explain the rest."
With that, Kakashi walked to a corner of the mission hall and brought over a middle-aged-to-elderly man holding a bottle and reeking of alcohol.
The man squinted at Naruto and the others, then said discontentedly, "What's this? A bunch of brats? And why is your hair every color under the sun?"
"Sir, my students are all excellent genin. They're perfectly capable of handling a C-rank mission, and I'll be accompanying them as their jonin."
Kakashi deliberately emphasized "C-rank mission," then noticed the drunkard tremble slightly. But upon hearing that Kakashi would also be coming, the drunkard seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
"I see. All right, then. My name is Tazuna, and I'm a renowned Bridge-Building Master. Until I get home and finish building my bridge, you're to protect me properly, with your lives."
Tazuna looked at the little brats. No matter how he looked at them, they seemed unreliable, but at least a jonin was coming along.
"Tch. Some Bridge-Building Master. I bet I can build bridges better than him."
Naruto scoffed, though since the man was their client, he only muttered it under his breath.
Sasuke nodded in agreement. After all, building a bridge with Naruto's Wood Release would be ridiculously easy. If the river wasn't too long, he could even fill it in.
"Hey, brat! I'm building a bridge across the sea!"
Tazuna heard Naruto's muttering and shouted at him indignantly. They could make fun of his appearance, but they absolutely could not mock his skills.
"Tch."
Naruto