When Sakura mentioned the explosion, Sasuke frowned slightly and gave a small, thoughtful nod.
Naruto, however, looked completely lost.
"What explosion? What are you guys talking about?"
He had slept like a log the previous night — not even a thunderclap could have woken him.
Sakura rolled her eyes.
Then, turning back toward Sasuke, her voice dropped, tinged with excitement.
Sasuke's expression was cool as always, but his dark eyes flickered.
He had seen it — a blinding flash that had torn through the night sky.
That wasn't a simple explosion.
Even from a distance, the shockwave had made his chest tighten.
For a split second, he'd thought the village was under attack.
"I don't know what it was," Sasuke said quietly, "but even a jonin couldn't cause that kind of blast."
Sakura blinked, startled.
She'd only heard the distant rumble — she hadn't considered how powerful it must have been.
"Not even a jonin? Not even Kakashi-sensei?" she asked in disbelief.
Naruto tilted his head, still utterly confused.
Sasuke and Sakura both looked at Kakashi expectantly.
The silver-haired jonin, walking ahead with one hand in his pocket, didn't answer.
"Sensei," Sakura pressed, "you know about it, don't you? That explosion last night — you couldn't have done that yourself, right?"
Kakashi glanced at them, then shook his head calmly.
"No. I couldn't. But it wasn't an attack — it was a test. Some of the village's research divisions were experimenting with a new jutsu. You don't need to worry about it."
His tone was casual, but Sasuke could tell it wasn't the truth.
Still, he said nothing. He'd learned that there were things in the village better left unasked.
Sakura followed his lead, letting the matter drop.
Naruto simply scratched his head, still looking lost.
Soon the four of them arrived at the Hokage's office.
The Third Hokage was already waiting, his warm but sharp eyes flicking briefly toward Kakashi.
Kakashi gave a slight nod — a silent understanding passing between them.
Naruto, however, marched straight up to the Hokage's desk, arms crossed.
"Hey, old man! Enough with those boring baby missions! I want a real mission this time!"
Hiruzen sighed, rubbing his temple.
"You're still only a newly graduated genin, Naruto. You need to build experience from the ground up. D-rank missions are meant to train teamwork and discipline."
"But they're so boring!" Naruto groaned. "Come on, just one real mission!"
Sakura and even Sasuke stayed quiet, but their eyes said the same thing — they were tired of catching cats and pulling weeds too.
Kakashi sighed inwardly. I knew this was coming.
But as he glanced away, his thoughts drifted.
How's Arata now?
His chakra was completely drained last night… he recovered fast, but is his body really fine? Any hidden side effects?
He pushed the worry down — but it didn't fade.
Meanwhile, the Hokage looked at the impatient trio and finally chuckled softly.
"Alright, alright. You've convinced me. I'll assign you a C-rank mission."
Naruto's eyes lit up like fireworks. "Really!? What kind of mission!?"
The Hokage smiled faintly. "A protection mission."
Naruto immediately puffed out his chest.
"Protect who? A feudal lord? A princess?"
Kakashi sweat-dropped behind his mask. If it were a princess, it wouldn't be a C-rank mission, idiot…
Even Sasuke and Sakura perked up with interest.
Finally — something outside the village. Something real.
The Hokage didn't answer Naruto's question. Instead, he looked toward the door.
"Come in."
All four genin turned as the door opened.
An older man stumbled in, carrying a bottle of sake and smelling strongly of alcohol.
He leaned against the doorway and eyed the team with a look of disgust.
"Huh. These are my bodyguards? A bunch of brats?" he grumbled.
His gaze landed on Naruto. "Especially that short one — looks like a fool. You sure you're even a ninja, kid?"
Naruto laughed nervously at first. "Haha, who, me? The short one who looks like— wait a second…"
He suddenly noticed Sakura and Sasuke quietly stepping aside — leaving him as the short one in question.
His smile froze.
"HEY! WHO'RE YOU CALLING SHORT, YOU OLD DRUNK!? I'LL— I'LL KILL YOU, YOU STINKY OLD MAN!"
Before he could lunge forward, Kakashi grabbed the back of his collar and yanked him back.
"Idiot. Are you trying to kill our client?"
Ignoring the commotion, the old man took another swig from his bottle.
"I'm Tazuna, the master bridge builder. You're supposed to guard me while I finish my bridge. So try not to get in my way."
Naruto pouted and turned away, arms crossed, muttering angrily under his breath.
Sakura and Sasuke, on the other hand, exchanged excited looks.
Their first real mission — and it was outside the village.
But as they celebrated inwardly, Kakashi's expression darkened.
A mission outside the village…?
It wasn't the mission itself that worried him — it was what would happen while he was gone.
Would the Third Hokage really keep his word?
What if Hiruzen, pressured by advisors like Danzo, decided that Arata was too dangerous to be left unchecked?
What if they acted while he wasn't there to stop it?
Samei wouldn't be able to protect him — not from the upper echelons.
Kakashi's fists tightened slightly in his pockets.
Hiruzen respected him, yes — but loyalty in the ninja world was fragile.
He was the strongest jonin in the village right now.
Tsunade and Jiraiya were gone, Gai couldn't match him in a serious fight —
and with that strength came responsibility.
As long as he remained close, the Hokage would hold to his word.
But if he left…
Would Arata still be safe?
Hiruzen noticed the tension in Kakashi's stance and spoke gently, though his tone carried a warning edge.
"Kakashi, this mission will be good for your students. Let them see the world beyond Konoha. That's your duty as their teacher."
Kakashi's eye narrowed slightly.
That wasn't a suggestion — it was an order.
He bowed his head slightly. "Understood, Hokage-sama."
But inside, his unease only grew.
Naruto pumped his fist. "Heh! Don't worry, old man! I'll show you how awesome I am!"
Kakashi didn't respond. He was thinking too much about what could happen behind his back.
As the team prepared to leave, he finally spoke up, unable to shake his concern.
"Lord Hokage," he said firmly, "since this mission will take us beyond the village borders… I'd like to bring another genin along. Kagemon Arata."
The Third Hokage's eyes lifted slightly.
Kakashi continued, "Jonin Samei requested that I take his student along for field experience while I'm out. I'd like your approval."
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read 50 chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested: patreon.com/MrSenpai0