Morning came quickly.
Team 7 stood at the main gates of Konohagakure.
Backpacks packed.
Weapons secured.
And their client, Tazuna, already halfway through a bottle.
Naruto stretched his arms high above his head.
"Alright!"
"Our first real mission!"
Beside him, Sakura rolled her eyes.
"It's just an escort mission."
"Don't get too excited."
Meanwhile Sasuke leaned against the gate post silently.
Watching.
Always watching.
Behind them, Kakashi Hatake lazily closed his book.
"Ready?"
Naruto pumped his fist.
"Believe it!"
The Shinobi Codex flickered.
Mission Active
Escort Tazuna to the Land of Waves
Mission Rank: C-Rank
Objectives:
• Protect the client• Ensure safe travel• Neutralize hostile threats
Rewards:
+5 Strength+3 Agility+4 Endurance+2 Intelligence+3 Charisma+40 System Points1 New Jutsu
The Road
Hours passed as the group walked the long dirt road leaving Konohagakure.
Birds chirped overhead.
Wind rustled through the trees.
Naruto walked ahead kicking rocks down the road.
"Hey Kakashi Sensei, which would you rather hear, a piss joke or a joke about police brutality?"
Sakura sighed.
"It's a long mission Naruto, please don't trouble us with your stupidity."
Tazuna took another drink.
"I kinda wanna hear the kid, gimme the piss joke."
Naruto glanced at the bridge builder with excitement.
"Why did the Pee cross the road?" Before he could finish the joke Sakura interrupted him pointing to a puddle in the road.
"It hasn't rained in like… a week."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly. Naruto irritated with his lack of a punchline drew a set of shuriken, an odd feeling creeping up his spine
Kakashi glanced sideways but said nothing.
The Shinobi Codex pulsed.
Perception Check Triggered
The puddle exploded.
Two masked shinobi burst from the water.
Chains snapped outward like steel serpents.
Their chain wrapped instantly around Kakashi.
SNAP
The chain tightened.
Then—
SHREDDED him apart.
Naruto's eyes widened.
"KAKASHI-SENSEI!"
Blood splattered across the road.
The Shinobi with slashed mist headbands grinned beneath their masks.
"First target eliminated."
They rushed forward.
Straight toward Tazuna.
But suddenly—
CLANG
Steel collided.
Naruto reacted instantly.
He flung two shuriken.
But behind them—
Two more followed hidden in their shadows.
The Shinobi Codex flashed.
Skill Activated
Shadow Shuriken Jutsu – LVL 2
The Demon Brothers only noticed the first pair lodged into their chain.
They heaved with their arms dislodging the small stars from the ground, resuming their charge.
Until—
THUNKTHUNK
Naruto's shuriken slammed the assassins shins.
The Demon Brothers stumbled.
That moment was enough.
Sasuke moved instantly.
He kicked one brother in the chest.
Spun.
Elbowed the second across the jaw.
Both men crashed into the dirt.
The fight ended seconds later, kunai pressed to the ninjas carotid by Naruto and Sasuke respectively
"Now both of you have to sit through my piss jokes, bastards!" Angered by his stupidity one of the demon brothers lashed out, slashing at Naruto's arm. Naruto jerked back, still taking a glancing blow to his wrist. Sasuke acted instantly, ramming the ring of his kunai into both shinobi's temple knocking them out.
Moments later the ninja were tied tightly to a tree.
*Ping*
Poison status effect initiated
Behind them—
POOF
The shredded body of Kakashi Hatake vanished.
A substitution log rolled across the ground.
Kakashi appeared on a nearby tree branch.
"Naruto, come here right now."
Moments later the single ninja was tied tightly to a tree.
Naruto stared blankly. Blood dripped from his wound down onto his seemingly useless kunai.
"Kakashi sensei, we handled it!"
Kakashi crouched beside him.
His eye narrowed slightly.
"That poison will spread quickly."
Sakura's face paled.
Naruto swallowed.
Kakashi spoke calmly.
"If it reaches your bloodstream we'll have to return to Konoha immediately."
Naruto froze.
"Return?"
Kakashi nodded.
"The mission would be aborted."
Naruto stared at his bleeding hand.
Return to the village?
Fail their first C-rank?
Naruto's jaw clenched.
Without warning—
He grabbed a kunai.
Sakura gasped.
"NARUTO WHAT ARE YOU—"
Naruto stabbed the blade into his wound.
SPLASH
Blood poured out onto the dirt.
Naruto gritted his teeth.
"POISON!"
He forced more blood out, squeezing his arm hard.
Kakashi grabbed his wrist.
"That's enough."
He wrapped Naruto's hand quickly with bandages.
Naruto breathed heavily.
"...Heh."
"Still alive."
The Shinobi Codex chimed softly.
Hidden Submission Completed:
Objective: Survive encounter with the Demon Brothers.
Rewards:
+2 Endurance
+2 Agility
+ 20 System points
+8 to Shadow Shuriken Jutsu
Increased poison resistance
Kakashi looked toward the tied attackers.
Then slowly toward Tazuna.
His eye narrowed.
"These two are Chunin-level missing ninja."
He gestured toward them.
"A C-Rank mission doesn't warrant shinobi like this."
Tazuna looked nervous.
Kakashi continued calmly.
"So I'll ask once."
"Who hired them?"
The Shinobi Codex flickered.
Mission Update
Threat Level Increased
Enemy Shinobi confirmed
Employer: ???
Further danger expected.
Naruto flexed his bandaged hand.
His grin slowly returned.
"Oh man."
"This mission just got interesting."
Tazuna sighed heavily.
"…Fine."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I guess there's no hiding it now."
The Shinobi Codex flickered faintly.
Mission Status: Awaiting Client Disclosure
Tazuna looked down the road toward the distant coastline.
Then began speaking.
"The Land of Waves… used to be a peaceful place."
His voice grew bitter.
"But now the entire country is controlled by one man."
He spat into the dirt.
"Gato."
Naruto tilted his head.
"Who?"
"A business magnate. Officially he runs a massive shipping company."
"Trade routes, cargo ships, distribution networks…"
Sasuke crossed his arms.
"But unofficially?"
Tazuna's eyes darkened.
"He's a crime lord."
The wind picked up.
"He moved into the Land of Waves a few years ago."
"Bought politicians."
"Bought merchants."
"Bought the ports."
Tazuna's voice hardened.
"Eventually he owned everything."
Sakura frowned.
"The entire economy?"
Tazuna nodded.
"He controls every ship that enters or leaves our waters."
"Every fisherman."
"Every merchant."
"Every bridge."
Naruto blinked.
"…Bridge?"
Tazuna tapped his chest proudly.
"That's where I come in."
"I'm building the first bridge that will connect the Land of Waves to the mainland."
Realization slowly spread across the team.
Sasuke spoke first.
"If the bridge is completed…"
Tazuna nodded.
"Then Gato loses control of our trade."
"No more stranglehold."
"No more monopoly."
His expression turned grim.
"That's why he wants me dead."
Naruto scratched his cheek.
"So you lied about the mission rank."
Tazuna looked away.
"…Yeah."
Kakashi sighed quietly.
"This mission is no longer C-rank."
The Shinobi Codex chimed.
Mission Rank Reassessment Pending
Threat Level: Rising
Enemy Shinobi Confirmed
Employer: Gato
Tazuna bowed his head.
"I didn't have the money to hire B-rank protection."
"So I gambled."
Naruto stared at him.
"…You almost got us killed."
Tazuna didn't argue.
"I know."
Silence settled over the road again.
Kakashi stood up slowly.
His gaze moved across Team Seven.
"The contract has been violated."
"We are not obligated to continue."
He looked at Naruto's bandaged arm.
"And the danger will only increase from here."
Sakura shifted nervously.
"So we're… going back?"
Naruto looked down at his wrapped hand.
Then toward the distant sea.
Then toward Tazuna.
The old man looked tired.
Defeated.
Naruto sighed.
"…Man."
He scratched the back of his head.
"That guy sounds like a real douchebag."
Sasuke scoffed quietly.
Naruto grinned.
"If this bridge helps people…"
He looked toward Kakashi.
"…Then we should finish the mission."
Sakura blinked.
"Naruto?"
Naruto shrugged.
"What?"
"You heard the old man."
"He's basically fighting some rich tyrant."
His grin widened.
"That sounds like something a future Hokage should help with."
Sasuke smirked faintly.
"Idiot."
But he didn't disagree.
Sakura hesitated… then sighed.
"…Fine."
She crossed her arms.
"But if we die I'm blaming Naruto."
Naruto pointed dramatically.
"HEY!"
Kakashi watched them for a moment.
Then closed his book.
"…Well."
His eye curved into a lazy smile.
"I suppose the team has spoken."
He turned toward the ocean road.
"Alright then."
"Team 7…"
"We continue the mission."
The Shinobi Codex pulsed brightly.
Mission Update
Escort Tazuna to the Land of Waves
Threat Level: B-Rank
Bonus Rewards Added:
+35 System PointsHidden Encounter OpportunitiesRare Enemy Drops Possible
Naruto pumped his fist.
"YES!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes.
Sakura groaned.
And far ahead—
Thick mist rolled slowly across the waters surrounding the Land of Waves.