The next morning, before the first light of dawn even touched the sky, Naruto stood at the village gate, bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet, full of restless energy.
He wore his headband proudly and carried a light pack on his back, filled with weapons and supplies. His black jacket was zipped halfway up, and his eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Man, I couldn't even sleep last night," he muttered to himself, grinning.
A few minutes later, Sakura arrived, waving slightly when she spotted him. She was dressed in practical travel clothes and had a serious look on her face.
"Morning, Naruto," she greeted.
"Yo, Sakura-chan!" he said brightly.
Soon after, Sasuke appeared, quiet and composed as always. He carried only a small pack, and his dark eyes swept over them briefly before he stood beside Naruto without a word.
Tazuna came trudging along after them, rubbing his eyes and carrying a jug that probably still had some alcohol sloshing inside.
"You're all so damn energetic for this early," he grumbled.
" Could you be a little less negative. I mean even Sasuke the glomiest guy I know isn't like you," Naruto shot back, smirking.
Sasuke simply frowned not responding.
Tazuna just snorted and leaned against the gatepost, muttering under his breath.
Finally, Kakashi arrived, reading a small orange book casually as if he hadn't kept them waiting for almost twenty minutes.
"You're late," Sakura said automatically.
"My bad," Kakashi said with a shrug, snapping the book shut. "Got caught up helping an old lady cross the street."
Nobody believed him, but nobody said anything either.
"Alright," Kakashi said, his tone shifting to something more professional. "This is your last chance to turn back if you're scared. Once we leave, there's no quitting until the mission is complete."
Naruto stepped forward without hesitation.
"I'm ready"
Sasuke simply gave a slight nod, and Sakura firmed her grip on her pouch.
Kakashi's visible eye crinkled slightly in approval.
"Good," he said. "Then let's move out."
With that, Team 7, along with their very grumpy client, set off down the dirt path leading away from Konoha — towards a future filled with danger, challenges, and the unknown.
The true journey of Team 7 had officially begun.
The sun was high overhead as they continued down the dirt path surrounded by thick forests and grassy fields. The fresh air was a little humid, hinting at the nearby ocean of the Land of Waves.
"You know," Naruto said, breaking the comfortable silence. "I've never been out of the village before."
Kakashi, walking lazily with his hands in his pockets, gave a small glance back at him.
"Oh? Well, this is a good chance for you to see the world a little," he replied casually.
Naruto grinned. "Yeah, true. We're going to the Land of Waves, right? Have you ever been there?"
"Yes. Only once, for a mission a long time ago," Kakashi answered, his voice slightly muffled behind his mask.
"Hey, Kakashi-sensei," Sakura chimed in, glancing over her shoulder. "Are there ninja in that country too?"
"Not in the Land of Waves, no," Kakashi said. His tone shifted into a lecture voice that immediately made Naruto groan internally. "But, as a general rule, even with all the differences in customs, cultures, and governments, most major lands have their own Hidden Villages where ninja clans reside."
He raised a hand, counting off with his fingers.
"There are five great nations known for their power and influence:
• The Land of Fire — that's us, home to the Hidden Leaf.
• The Land of Wind, where you'll find the Hidden Sand.
• The Land of Water, home to the Hidden Mist.
• The Land of Lightning, with the Hidden Cloud.
• And the Land of Earth, which houses the Hidden Stone."
Naruto tried to listen but quickly lost focus, his mind wandering. He glanced around lazily — and that's when he felt it: something off.
A prickling sensation ran down his spine. His senses, sharpened by his growing connection with Kurama and his own natural instincts, picked up faint traces of chakra moving unnaturally. Naruto's gaze flickered to the side and then to the ground ahead.
There it was — a puddle.
But it hadn't rained for days.
Naruto shot a quick look at Kakashi, who seemed utterly unfazed, his eye glued to his little orange book. But Naruto noticed: Kakashi's gaze had briefly, very briefly, darted to that puddle.
A smirk tugged at the corner of Naruto's mouth.
'He's noticed too. Good.'
They continued walking, passing the puddle — and then it happened.
Two figures shot up from the shallow water like demons, masked and clad in dark gear. With swift, synchronized movements, they hurled out a spiked chain that wrapped around Kakashi.
Before anyone could react, the two yanked the chain — and with a spray of blood and a sickening slice, Kakashi was torn into chunks.
"Sensei!" Sakura screamed, stumbling backward in horror.
Sasuke immediately slid into a defensive position, his hand twitching toward a kunai.
Tazuna froze, his eyes wide with terror.
But Naruto? He didn't move from his spot. His expression was calm, his hand already reaching into his pouch.
The two attackers — known as the Demon Brothers — didn't waste a second. They lunged toward Tazuna, claws and chains ready to kill the old man.
Naruto moved faster.
In a blur of motion, he intercepted the first brother, delivering a solid punch to the gut that sent the man sprawling back into a tree trunk with a heavy thud. Without pausing, Naruto ducked low to avoid the second brother's claw swipe, then swept his leg out, knocking the man off balance.
The second brother barely recovered, only to feel Naruto's fist slam directly into his jaw, sending him spinning to the dirt.
In less than five seconds, both attackers were down, groaning and stunned.
Tazuna stared, jaw hanging open.
"You... you're pretty good, brat," he stammered.
Naruto wiped his knuckles and grinned.
"Guess all that training paid off," he said.
At that moment, Kakashi appeared behind the group — whole and very much alive.
"Good job," he said, his visible eye curving into a pleased arc. "Substitution Jutsu is pretty handy, isn't it?"
Sakura gasped in relief. Sasuke just huffed, hiding the slight tremble of adrenaline running through his limbs.
"You knew they were coming, didn't you?" Naruto asked, pointing an accusing finger at Kakashi.
"Of course. I noticed the puddle," Kakashi said nonchalantly. "It hasn't rained in days. You noticed too, huh? I'm impressed."
Naruto rubbed the back of his head, laughing. "Kinda hard not to after everything you've drilled into us."
Kakashi turned serious again, walking over to the stunned Demon Brothers and tying them up with wire.
"This isn't normal," he muttered. "C-rank missions usually don't involve enemy ninja. There's more going on here than we were told."
He turned to Tazuna, who scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Care to explain, old man?" Kakashi asked, his tone sharp.
Naruto crossed his arms, waiting for the explanation.
TO BE CONTINUED
[A/N : I'LL BE FOLLOWING THE STORY BUT NOT EXACTLY, JUST AS YOU JUST SAW. ]