Chapter Five: Land of Waves, A-Rank Main Quest (Compensation Chapter)

Chapter Five: The Land of Waves S-Rank Main Quest

Watching Syuster's departing figure, Naruto asked in a daze, "Kakashi-sensei, how did we win?"

"Silly Naruto, how could we have won? We just met Sensei Hatake's requirements, that's all," Sakura said, giving Naruto a sharp flick to the forehead.

"No, you really did win!" Kakashi smiled, denying her statement.

"What? We won?" Even Sasuke, deep in thought, was surprised.

"Yes. Did you forget what Syuster said, that he'd only use a genin's strength?" Kakashi reminded them.

"But what does that have to do with anything?" Sakura asked, still confused.

"It means everything. Did you notice why Naruto's shuriken rain wasn't dodged with the Body Flicker Technique? Because a regular genin's chakra wouldn't be enough to use that technique again, so he chose to take the hit instead," Kakashi explained, looking approvingly at the three.

"So, in the end, the three of us working together can only barely exhaust an experienced genin's chakra to defeat them?" Sasuke said, clearly dissatisfied.

"That's impossible. From what I saw, Syuster only limited his chakra to a genin's level. But his swordsmanship? Even a Kage would have a hard time against that! Besides, Sasuke, your skills are already enough to stand your ground against a chunin. And let's not forget, my little brother is a complete monster," Kakashi said, as if recalling something with a sigh.

---------------------- Training Ground Scene Transition ----------------------

"Achoo~" Who's talking about me? Syuster muttered to himself, wiping his nose.

"We're back!" Kakashi returned with his little team of tough ones.

"Oh! Then hurry up and eat. Don't starve yourselves," Syuster said, looking as if he'd already finished his meal.

"Guuuu~~" x4.

"Idiots! Even the post-battle debrief should wait until after you've eaten!" Syuster gave them a look that said, "There's no saving you."

---------------------- Scene Change ----------------------

"This is Sasuke, I've arrived at Point B!" Sasuke reported from the shadows, his expression serious.

"This is Sakura, I've reached Point C!" Sakura replied, a little out of breath.

"...This is Naruto, I've made it to Point A!" Naruto wiped the sweat from his brow.

"Naruto, too slow... There can't be any slip-ups in this mission!" Kakashi warned gravely.

"Come on, everyone, relax. It's just a cat. Try to control your breathing..." Syuster said breezily.

"Huff, alright... Team Seven... target's on the move! After it!"

In the woods, a pair of glowing eyes darted through the darkness...

"Now! Go!"

"Wait, Naruto!"

"Gotcha!!" With a look of self-sacrifice, Naruto dove into the forest, and after a rather 'intense' struggle, emerged with his face covered in scratches, clutching a... cat?!

"I told you to wait! Look at those scratches!" Sakura said helplessly.

"A ribbon on the right ear, that's definitely Tiger..." Kakashi said with a cheerful smile. "Mission complete."

"Ding-dong, mission complete. Reward: Soul Crystal x20."

"I feel like my quality of life has dropped since taking on missions with you, brother," Syuster muttered with a wry smile at the irritating voice in his mind.

"I feel the same way..." Sasuke surprisingly agreed.

"Don't say that..." Sakura edged closer to Sasuke with gentle concern, though who knew what she was thinking inside.

"Yeah, yeah! I want a more exciting mission!!" Naruto, as always, was the most animated.

"My Tiger~~ My precious Tiger~~~!!! Where have you been these past days? I've been so worried~!!" A garishly made-up, rotund woman clutched the cat, who looked utterly miserable, creating quite a comical scene... The wife of the feudal lord of the Land of Fire, Lady Shijimi, and her beloved pet, Tiger.

"Hahaha~~ Stupid cat! Serves you right! This is karma for running away from me!" Naruto gloated nearby... Apparently, even the Nine-Tailed Fox doesn't get along with fat cats.

"With that kind of owner, I'm not surprised it ran away," Sakura said, a black line appearing above her head... The other three members of Team Seven nodded in agreement.

"Now then, next mission for Team Kakashi..." The Third Hokage, holding a list, announced solemnly, "Help Lord Shijo with his children, clean up the trash downstream, tidy up the Hokage Rock..."

"!" x4—Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and Syuster all narrowed their eyes at once. In the next instant, the list in the Third's hand was shredded. The Third silently stroked his now perfectly smooth chin. Hmm, not bad, not a single whisker left—what a good razor... Wait, why are you all looking at me like that, and Syuster, why is your hand on your sword?

With a leap, Naruto landed right in front of the Third Hokage: "We're not falling for this old man's tricks again! We want tougher missions!"

"Then... help with the harvest..."

"I said we want tougher—TOUGHER missions!!!"

"... " x3

Seeing the others share Naruto's expression, the Third finally sighed... He couldn't hold out any longer.

"You idiot! You just became a genin. You need experience before you can take on tougher missions! Everyone starts this way, step by step! Don't you get it?!" Iruka yelled, bracing himself against the desk, frustrated at Naruto's 'tantrum,' which to him was the same as being irresponsible with his own life.

"Shing—" In a flash of steel, Iruka's green vest was sliced to ribbons.

"Ahem, Iruka-sensei, are you saying we jonin can't protect these brats?" Syuster asked with his ever-gentle yet dangerous smile.

"Heh... heh... Of course not, never said that, just a slip of the tongue, sorry!" Iruka chuckled nervously, pressing his hands together in apology.

"Alright then~! I understand!" The Third Hokage pondered, then pulled out a C-rank scroll and smiled, "Since you're all so insistent, I'll give you a C-rank mission! Protect someone..." With Kakashi and Syuster along, there shouldn't be any problems... Actually, not just 'no problems'—this team boasts a sword genius with beast-like strength comparable to a tailed beast, an elite jonin, a genin jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, the last genius of the Uchiha bloodline, and... a flower-vase genin in Sakura... This squad could be called the 'Most Powerful Genin Team in History'!

"Really?!" Naruto's head shot up, and even Bai, Sasuke, and Sakura couldn't help but be intrigued.

"Who is it? Who? A noble, a feudal lord? Or maybe a princess?" Naruto was already lost in his own daydreams...

"No need to rush, I'll introduce you right away," the Third Hokage said, grinning slyly.

"Ding-dong. System update in progress. Correction: For all S-rank and above missions in instance space, the host may only use as much energy as the opponent."

"Ding-dong. Update complete. S-rank main quest detected: Journey to the Land of Waves. Objective: Eliminate Mr. Tazuna's enemies. Reward: Soul Crystal x50,000, Skill Scroll: Hidden Mist Technique."

"...System, why like this? With only as much chakra as a jonin, I can't even cast a level 7 spell!"

"Ding-dong. For the sake of world balance, the system must limit your power."

"...You're making me sound like some kind of demon king. I'm not out to destroy world peace!" Syuster despaired inwardly.

"Alright, come in now, would you?" the Third Hokage called out, and everyone looked towards the door...

Creak—first in came... a bottle of sake.

"What's this? Just a bunch of kids? And a half-grown little girl?"

The Land of Waves—begins!

PS: Reached rank 7, so here's a bonus chapter! Please recommend!