Chapter 10: Heading to the Land of Waves
In the mission hall, because Team 7 had been doing nothing but the simplest D-rank missions for an entire month, and because Kakashi still had not taught them the Konoha Body Flicker Technique she had promised, Uzumaki Naruto was now loudly demanding a more challenging mission.
"Kakashi-sensei said she'd teach us once our Taijutsu reached the standard, but even though we train every day, we still haven't met it. That has to be because we haven't had any real combat, so can't we get a mission where we actually get to fight?"
Beside him, Uchiha Sasuke inwardly agreed with Naruto. Training behind closed doors without going through real combat simply could not reveal one's true level.
In response, the Third Hokage could only explain to them how mission ranks were divided. Genin like them, who had only just graduated, could only take D-rank missions.
But it was obvious that while he explained for quite a while, Naruto and the others were not listening at all.
"Forget it. Since that's how it is, I'll make an exception and give you a C-rank mission. You'll be protecting someone."
"What?"
The moment Team 7 heard that, they all perked up. Naruto in particular immediately asked curiously, "Are we protecting a feudal lord or a princess?"
If nothing went wrong, then it was finally coming?
Kakashi also became a little more alert.
The first major enemy in the story.
Zabuza.
"No need to rush. I'll introduce him right now." The Third Hokage looked at Naruto's curious face and smiled with his pipe in his mouth. "Please come in."
Hearing that, everyone in Team 7 turned toward the doorway at the same time.
A gray-haired old man slowly walked in, holding a bottle of alcohol, his eyes bleary with drunkenness.
"What's this? Why is it just a bunch of brats?"
The old man started complaining the moment he stepped inside.
"Especially that shortest, dumbest-looking one. Is he really a ninja?"
"Huh?"
When Uzumaki Naruto heard that, he instinctively looked around at the others beside him. In the next second, he flew into a rage.
"Damn it, I'll kill you!"
But Kakashi grabbed the back of his shirt and held him in place.
"Well, don't be so impulsive."
"And there isn't even a Jonin team leader?"
The old man looked at the four of them in front of him and grew puzzled again.
"Wait, don't tell me that little girl with the mask trying to look cool is the Jonin team leader?"
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura all looked at Kakashi.
To be honest, they had doubted her at first too. This girl, who looked only a few years older than them, was really a Jonin?
And what they were even more curious about was what Kakashi actually looked like under the mask.
Did she really wear it just to look cool?
Or was there an ugly face underneath? Big buck teeth?
"Well, I'm really sorry that someone like me, a little girl, is your Jonin team leader."
Kakashi only responded lightly and indifferently.
After all, being called a little girl just proved that she was still young, didn't it?
"This..."
The moment the old man heard her admit it, he sobered up by more than half.
A frail-looking little girl like this was the Jonin team leader?
Didn't that mean he was doomed?
"Then... could you assign my mission to another team?"
"Sorry. Team 7 is the only team currently available."
Since changing teams was impossible, the old man had no choice but to accept it helplessly. After that, he sluggishly introduced the details of his mission.
Their task was to escort him back to the Land of Waves and continue protecting him until the bridge was completed.
After learning the mission details, the group went back to pack their things, then gathered at Konoha's main gate before setting off for the Land of Waves.
Along the way, Uzumaki Naruto was clearly excited.
After all, this was the first time he was truly leaving the village.