Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Team Goo and the Worst C-Rank Ever

Hokage Tower briefing room: stifling with genin sweat and jonin nonchalance. Hiruzen Sarutobi peered over pipe, scrolls unrolling like fate's bad jokes."Team 7: Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha—Jiraiya's student, Kakashi Hatake."Cheers/groans. Naruto fist-pumped; Sakura squealed; Sasuke hn'd."Team 8: Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame—Kurenai Yuhi."Dog-boy barked approval."Team 10: Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi—Asuma Sarutobi."Lazy thumbs-up.Ren Uchiha lounged backrow, smirking. Canon teams locked. Me? Wildcard."Team Slime—er, Team 11: Ren Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki—wait, no." Hiruzen chuckled. "Team 9 reformed: Ren Uchiha, Rock Lee, Neji Hyuga—sensei: Might Guy!"Gasps. Naruto whined, "But Ren's my prank bro!"Sasuke glanced back—intrigued eyebrow.Ren pumped fist. "Youthful! Green spandex incoming?"Might Guy burst through wall—CRASH! "REN-KUN! Your flames of passion ignite my eternal rivalry with Kakashi! 500 laps to celebrate!"Neji adjusted Byakugan specs coolly. "Fate decrees... tolerable."Rock Lee sparkled. "Ren-san! Together, we'll surpass limits with springtime of youth!"Team of tryhards, Ren thought. Sage, viability?[Team synergy: High stamina/output. Neji: Analysis match. Lee: Melee buffer. Guy: OP mentor. Goo multiplier: Infinite.]Guy herded them out. "First mission: C-rank! Escort merchant to Wave Country—bandits reported!"Merchant: fat, whiny Tazuna. "Protect me from assassins! And spiders!"En route, forest path. Lee scouted ahead—taijutsu blur. Neji scanned Byakugan. Ren slimed subtle—Magic Sense pinging chakra pools.Tazuna sweated. "Gato's thugs everywhere..."Ambush: Puddle weirdness (canon Zabuza tease). Mist rolled—two chunin thugs emerged, chains whirling."Dead men!" Chain guy flung—Doton chains bind!Neji rotated—Kaiten! Spinning defense.Lee dropkicked—Leaf Hurricane!Ren grinned. "My turn—Slime Intercept." Expanded tendril wall—chains tangled, yanked thugs in.Predator frenzy. Thugs dissolved mid-scream—shlorp. "Bandit special: Salty with regret."[Absorbed: Chain mastery, mid-Doton. Stamina +9%.]Guy thumbs-upped blindingly. "FLAWLESS EXECUTION! 1000 push-ups!"Neji deactivated Byakugan. "Your... consumption. Unorthodox.""Effective," Ren quipped. "Zero cleanup."Tazuna blanched. "You ate them?!""Recycled. Eco-ninja." Ren burped chain link—caught it. "Souvenir."Wave Country docks: Gato awaited, goons galore. Demon bros Haku/Zabuza vibes—but budget.Gato sneered. "Uchiha slime? Heard rumors. Kill 'em!"Goons charged—20 rabble, swords blazing.Guy roared: Dynamic Entry! Lee mirrored—father-son duo wrecked frontlines.Neji Gentle Fist shut chakras—mid crumple.Ren went ham: Slime Clone Swarm! 50 mini-goos engulfed ranks, Predating weapons/chakra wholesale.[Mass gain: Sword forms x10, minion chakra pool. Fire/Wind synths unlocked. Evolution tease: Lv. 5 imminent.]Gato fled—Ren lassoed him with chain tendril. "Audit time." Pocketed for Hokage.Guy posed victoriously. "MISSION COMPLETE! Tears of joy—2000 sit-ups!"Neji sighed. "Fate favors the bizarre."Back in Konoha, ramen celebration (Naruto crashed). "Dude, you slimed a whole gang?!"Sasuke nodded remotely. "Efficient."Hokage debrief: "Gato connections to Sound—Orochimaru whispers. Ren—field promotion consideration."Ren saluted. "Slime at your service."Guy training montage followed: Weighted laps, Ren cheating with goo buoyancy—still outpacing Neji.[Team bond: 65%. Personal power: Peak genin+. Next threat: Chunin Exams.]Night rooftop, Ren flexed new two-tome Sharingan fully—paths crystal, slime blue overlay. "Wave appetizer. Orochimaru main course."Guy's voice echoed: "REN-KUN! Midnight youth gates open!"Rampage rolling. Konoha's goo-genin grinned at stars. Limits? What limits?Hokage puffed. "Guy's team... perfect chaos counterweight."The ninja world quivered.