And since being acknowledged by Hatake Kakashi.
Since officially becoming a Konoha ninja, Naruto has been carrying out missions in a team format.
During this period of time.
All the missions performed by Team Seven were D-rank missions. Although compared to ordinary ninja villages, Konoha has a larger number of missions, and under the same task conditions, ninjas from Konoha can obtain relatively higher rewards than those from other ninja villages—not only in quantity, but also in quality. (This is also one of the important reasons why the Ninja World War broke out three times in the past. Of course, more reasons include national conflicts, abundant resources, greed for the interests of the tailed beasts, and so on.)
Even though the remuneration could be considered the highest under equal conditions.
It was still only a D-rank mission after all—finding lost items, babysitting children, catching animals, pulling weeds, and similar errands. No matter how you look at it, the rewards were limited and could not be considered substantial. Furthermore, these missions were undertaken in squad mode. According to Konoha's regulations, for teams led by a jōnin like Naruto's team, regardless of whether the jōnin personally participates in combat or not, forty percent of the final reward goes to the jōnin, and the remaining sixty percent is distributed among Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.
So in reality, the money each person received was not much.
In addition, Naruto himself still had unavoidable daily expenses.
Naturally, every single reward from a mission mattered. Even earning one or two extra ryō made a difference. The fat cat currently in his arms was practically a cooked duck that was already at his mouth—how could Naruto possibly let it fly away again?
"Speaking of which… the timing should be about right, shouldn't it?"
Under Kakashi's lead, as Team Seven walked toward Konoha's mission reception and submission center, Naruto's thoughts involuntarily drifted to the Land of Waves arc from the original story.
Naruto could no longer remember the exact timing in precise detail.
But the moment after capturing this fat cat.
He remembered it very clearly.
The most important thing was that this mission was not accepted through the normal process.
In the original work, it was very similar to Naruto's stubborn pestering, dragging Team Seven along with him.
But in this life.
Although Naruto also wanted to take on that mission.
He would never use the foolish, reckless method of the original Naruto. Leaving aside whether it was embarrassing or not, Naruto was no longer someone who acted with that kind of persona.
Using that approach.
Wouldn't it just attract suspicious looks from all the mission staff?
On the way back.
Naruto was already thinking carefully about what method he should use to take on that mission—the one that appeared to be C-rank on the surface, but was in reality closer to A-rank in danger.
There were undeniable risks.
If Zabuza Momochi was included, he was one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
In terms of strength, he was absolutely among the top-tier jōnin.
And then there was the youth named Haku, who disguised himself as a girl and possessed the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai. At this stage, Haku was even stronger than Naruto and Sasuke.
But precisely because of this.
Naruto wanted to accept this mission even more.
Because when the gap in strength was not insurmountable, real danger—甚至 life-threatening danger—was the best way to stimulate a person's potential. Especially after experiencing the life-and-death struggle with Mizuki, Naruto had truly understood what combat meant for a ninja.
Fight the strong.
Only by doing so could one truly temper oneself.
Only then could one become stronger.
A ninja's life was always spent walking on the edge between life and death.
Not to mention Naruto himself was already a special existence. Wanting to live a carefree and peaceful life? That was nothing but a joke. Ashura's chakra, the son of the Fourth Hokage, the Nine-Tails jinchūriki—any one of these identities destined Naruto to be dragged into the center of this world's vortex. Moreover, Naruto himself had no intention of avoiding it.
As long as he plunged into it, there was a chance to realize his ambitions.
And the worst possible outcome was nothing more than death.
As someone who had already died once, it would be a lie to say he felt no fear. But Naruto had already accepted the possibility of facing death. This mission in the Land of Waves was something Naruto was determined to obtain. Not only because of Zabuza, but also because of Gatō—the wealthy shipping magnate whose riches rivaled that of a nation. To achieve Naruto's future goals, funding was absolutely indispensable, and Gatō was undoubtedly one of the best targets at this stage.
Even if it involved the Land of Fire's daimyo.
Even if it implicated nobles and interests.
To Naruto.
These were all trivial matters.
"Alright! It's decided! I'll give it a try later! Let's see if we can secure that mission to protect the drunkard!"
Looking at the Konoha mission center already close at hand.
Naruto took a deep breath and firmed his resolve inwardly.
"Ah! My beloved little Tiger! I've finally found you! You made me worry myself sick! My baby! Don't ever run away again!"
Inside the mission submission hall.
A figure whose body shape and appearance perfectly matched Naruto's expectations—barely qualifying as a middle-aged noblewoman—rushed forward the moment she saw the fat cat in Naruto's arms. With movements completely inconsistent with her physique, she charged straight toward Naruto, snatched the tiger-striped fat cat from his arms, and hugged it tightly to her chest. It was as if she wanted to knead the cat directly into her body. Her round face pressed against the fat cat repeatedly as she continued to rub and squeeze it affectionately.
And looking at the tiger-striped fat cat's utterly loveless expression.
Naruto's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Although he had already anticipated this scene, Naruto almost failed to maintain his composure when witnessing this "beautiful" sight in person.
Even Sasuke—who was usually indifferent—could not completely suppress the twitch at the corner of his mouth, which lifted slightly. That was understandable. After seeing this scene, even Sasuke felt a trace of sympathy for the fat tiger-striped cat in the arms of the famous Madam Shijimi.
With an owner like that.
Wasn't it completely normal for the cat to want to run away?
Sakura, standing behind Naruto, shrugged her shoulders, wearing an expression that clearly wanted to laugh but dared not, and whispered softly.
"No wonder that cat wanted to escape. Anyone would if it were them."
"Ahem!"
Although Kakashi behind them also felt the urge to laugh, his professionalism as a jōnin allowed him to restrain himself. He lowered his voice and reminded Haruno Sakura in front of him.
Sakura immediately remembered that the client was still present, stuck out her tongue slightly, and put on an embarrassed expression.
"Same rice raises a hundred kinds of people…"
Watching Madam Shijimi leave under guard protection after confirming her beloved "Little Tiger" was unharmed, and after receiving the remaining mission reward, Naruto shook his head once more and thought inwardly.
To think someone like her could become the wife of the Fire Country's daimyo.
Did that daimyo have particularly unique tastes?
Imagining certain scenarios.
Naruto shuddered violently once again, shaking his head hard to dispel the disturbing images from his mind.
Beside him, Sasuke glanced at Naruto with a strange expression.
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