The morning sun cast its golden glow over Konoha, the air crisp and filled with the subtle aroma of dew-kissed leaves.
Naruto, after his usual morning mischief and a hearty breakfast, stepped out of his house with an easy grin on his face. His sharp eyes sparkled with excitement—today marked their first mission as Team 7.
"Time to show them what Team 7's made of," He muttered, adjusting his headband with a confident smirk.
Not long after, he spotted Sakura waiting at their usual meeting spot, her eyes bright and eager.
The moment she caught sight of him, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she waved with a sweet smile.
"Naruto!" She called out, jogging towards him. Her steps were light, almost too eager.
Naruto chuckled. "Yo, Sakura-chan. Ready to catch some missing pets?"
He teased, his tone laced with playful charm.
Sakura huffed, but her smile didn't fade.
"If it's with you, Naruto-sama, I'll catch an army of cats if I have to."
Her voice was soft, yet her words made her devotion clear.
Naruto arched a brow, amused by her response. "Careful, Sakura-chan, you're spoiling me. What will I do if I get used to all this devotion?"
Sakura giggled, leaning in slightly. "Then you'd better take responsibility."
Before Naruto could respond with another teasing quip, Sasuke approached with his usual cool demeanor, hands in his pockets and eyes sharp.
"Tch. We're really chasing cats today?" Sasuke muttered, though his gaze briefly flicked to Naruto. There was always a silent competition brewing beneath their interactions.
Naruto grinned. "Don't underestimate D-rank missions, Sasuke. They're perfect for team coordination."
His smirk widened. "Besides, I'd like to see how fast you can catch a cat."
Sasuke snorted, though a ghost of a smile tugged at his lips. "I'll catch it faster than you."
Sakura chimed in, though her attention was still half on Naruto.
"I'll support you both, but I'm betting on Naruto-sama." She winked playfully, causing Sasuke to roll his eyes.
Before the banter could escalate, Kakashi appeared in his usual casual, late manner, nose buried in his book. "Yo."
"You're late," Naruto said immediately, though his tone was light.
Kakashi glanced up lazily. "Ah, sorry. I got lost on the road of life."
Naruto chuckled. "More like you got lost in the pages of that book."
Kakashi's single eye curved in amusement, but he didn't deny it. "Shall we start then?"
----
Deep within Konoha's dense forest, the four of them moved silently, each cloaked in focus. The air was thick with tension, though their mission was simple.
Naruto crouched low, his sharp gaze scanning the undergrowth. The earpiece on his neck crackled slightly as he whispered into it, "Naruto at point A. Visual on the target in five meters."
From another direction, Sasuke's voice came through, calm and clipped. "Sasuke at point B. Ready to intercept if needed."
Sakura's voice followed, softer but equally determined. "Sakura at point C. Perimeter secured."
Kakashi, hidden in the trees above, observed with a quiet nod. "Good. Proceed with caution. Naruto, you're up."
Naruto's eyes gleamed as he shifted his stance.
'Time to show off a little,' He thought. With a swift and silent leap, he closed the distance.
The missing cat, Tora, lounged lazily under a patch of sunlight, unaware of its impending capture. Its red ribbon gleamed faintly against its gray fur.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. 'Target acquired.'
Whoosh!
Like a blur, Naruto lunged, his movements fluid and controlled.
Tora's ears twitched, sensing danger too late.
Naruto's hands were quick and sure, scooping the feline up in one swift motion.
"Mewwwrrr!"
Tora hissed and scratched, wriggling furiously, but Naruto held firm, a chuckle escaping his lips. "Easy there, little tiger. You're not slipping away from me."
He pressed his finger to the earpiece. "Target successfully retrieved. No mistake. Red ribbon on the right ear. Mission accomplished."
From somewhere deeper in the woods, Sakura let out a breath of relief.
"Good work, Naruto!" She chirped, her admiration slipping into her tone.
Naruto chuckled, giving the cat a small scratch behind the ears. "You're lucky I'm such a charmer, Tora."
In the distance, Kakashi's calm voice crackled into the earpieces.
"Good. The mission is completed."
"Finally," Sasuke muttered, stepping out from behind a tree. His hands were in his pockets, expression bored as he stared at the troublesome feline. "I can't believe we're wasting our time catching runaway pets."
Naruto grinned, tossing the cat gently to Sakura, who caught it with a soft squeak.
"Not all of us are too cool for cats, Sasuke," Naruto teased, smirking as he watched Sakura nuzzle the cat. "Besides, Tora here seems to like me."
Sakura blushed faintly, eyes darting between Naruto and the cat. "Of course she does. Naruto-sama is... irresistible."
Sasuke huffed and looked away. "Tch. Whatever."
Naruto glanced down at the still-squirming Tora and smirked.
"Feisty little thing. Almost as wild as some kunoichi I know." He cast a teasing look towards Sakura.
Sakura giggled, though she playfully pouted. "If I were wild, you'd never be able to catch me."
Naruto's grin widened. "Is that a challenge, Sakura-chan?"
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Tch. Will you guys stop this nonsense? It's boring."
Naruto just laughed. "Come on, Sasuke. Don't be jealous just because Tora gave up faster than you would."
Sasuke shot him a sharp look but didn't retort.
Sakura, on the other hand, blushed but didn't deny Naruto's words.
Kakashi, watching from above, sighed but couldn't help the amused tilt of his head. "Ah, young love. Almost more dangerous than rogue missions."
With the cat-secured and playful banter filling the air, the team began their trek back to Konoha.
Their first D-rank mission may have been simple, but it was a start—a foundation for something greater.
----
The next day found Team 7 knee-deep in a muddy field, helping an elderly farmer with his harvest.
The sun was relentless, sweat dripping from their foreheads as they worked.
"This," Sasuke grumbled, "is not a ninja mission."
He yanked a stubborn weed from the soil and tossed it aside with a grimace.
Naruto, sleeves rolled up and grin as bright as the sun overhead, shot him a look. "It's part of the job. You think the Hokage's gonna hand us A-rank missions just 'cause we're good-looking?"
Sakura giggled from nearby, brushing damp hair from her forehead. "Well… Naruto-sama is certainly charming enough for it."
Naruto winked, sending her heart into a flutter. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Sakura."
Sasuke made an annoyed sound, his gaze flicking between the two. "You're both ridiculous."
But he didn't argue further, silently committing to the work.
Naruto watched him for a moment, lips twitching. He wants bigger challenges. But he won't ask for it... Not while I'm here, handling it like it's nothing.
By the time they wrapped up, all three were exhausted. Naruto flopped onto the training ground grass, arms behind his head, grinning lazily.
"These missions are tougher than they look," He joked.
Sakura sat beside him, carefully smoothing her hair. "You still make it look so easy, Naruto-sama."
Sasuke remained standing, arms crossed, his eyes narrowed slightly. "They're boring."
Naruto tilted his head, eyes gleaming. "Boring, huh? I didn't see you complaining when that farmer's daughter kept offering you snacks."
Sakura pouted slightly. "She was just being polite."
Sasuke's eyes darkened a fraction. "Tch. Whatever."
But the faintest flush crept up his neck, and Naruto caught it with a knowing grin.
Naruto stretched, letting out a long sigh. "Don't worry, Sasuke. Bigger missions will come. Until then, think of it as... building character."
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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