Team 7 was currently carrying out its mission in the Land of Waves, escorting Tazuna along the road toward his homeland.
For some reason, the atmosphere among them had been unusually quiet ever since they left Konoha.
No one spoke.
Naruto, who had been lost in thought for quite some time, suddenly broke into an excited grin.
“Kakashi-sensei, do you think what that Itsuki guy told us was really true?
If it is, doesn’t that mean I can learn some insanely powerful ninjutsu and become an awesome ninja?” “I don’t know.” Kakashi shook his head.
But his thoughts had also been occupied by the mysterious young man named Itsuki—the man they had encountered shortly after leaving Konoha.
Complete missions and receive rewards…
The idea still sounded absurd.
Yet Kakashi silently called up the mission panel.
A translucent window immediately appeared before his eyes.
Name: Hatake Kakashi Mission: Protect Tazuna Protect Tazuna until he successfully completes the bridge.
Mission Rank: C Completion Reward: Hadō #4: Byakurai Failure Penalty: None Kakashi stared at it for a moment.
Whether it’s real or not, we’ll know once the mission is completed.
His thoughts were still somewhat unsettled, but beneath that uncertainty was a faint sense of anticipation.
“Pick up the pace,” he ordered.
“Yes!” The group continued onward.
They hadn’t gone much farther when Kakashi noticed a small puddle sitting conspicuously in the middle of the road.
His visible eye narrowed.
He was just about to react when his expression suddenly changed.
Without warning, the mission panel appeared again.
This time, new information had been added.
New Mission Triggered: Repel the Enemy Repel the Enemy — Team Mission You have discovered traces of an enemy.
To ensure the successful completion of your current mission, repel or eliminate the attackers.
Mission Rank: B Completion Reward: Water Release: Water Formation Wall Failure Penalty: None Note: Individual evaluations for team missions are determined by contribution.
Kakashi’s pupil contracted.
He stared intently at the newly appeared mission.
He had only just noticed that something was wrong with the puddle, yet the panel had immediately responded.
Did it read my thoughts?
A chill ran through him.
But this was hardly the time to dwell on it.
Kakashi took a slow breath and glanced at the others.
Naruto, Sakura, and Tazuna did not appear to have noticed anything unusual.
Sasuke, however— Kakashi caught the slight change in his expression.
So Sasuke received it too.
At the same time, Sasuke was staring at his own mission panel with growing excitement.
His mission was identical to Kakashi’s.
Only the reward differed.
Completion Reward: Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work — B-rank Sasuke’s eyes widened.
It’s real.
Everything that man said was true!
If completing these missions really allowed him to obtain ninjutsu…
Then perhaps even the things Itsuki had mentioned before—rare techniques and even kekkei genkai—weren’t impossible.
A fierce light appeared in Sasuke’s eyes.
Uchiha Itachi…
just wait.
It won’t be long before I awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
For the first time in years, Sasuke felt as though a clear path toward defeating Itachi had opened before him.
When he looked at the suspicious puddle again, he no longer saw hidden enemies.
He saw a reward waiting to be claimed.
Sasuke couldn’t hold himself back.
Two kunai flashed from his hands and plunged straight into the puddle.
“Hey, Sasuke!
What the hell are you—” Naruto had just opened his mouth to mock him for overreacting when two figures suddenly burst from the water.
Blood trickled from wounds on their arms where Sasuke’s kunai had struck.
Naruto froze.
His mind went completely blank.
He was so stunned that he didn’t even notice the new mission appearing on his own panel.
“Protect Tazuna.” Before the words had even finished leaving his mouth, Sasuke drew another pair of kunai and charged forward.
He immediately clashed with the Demon Brothers.
Metal rang against metal.
Sasuke was undoubtedly talented, but at this stage he had yet to experience the rapid growth that would come later.
His current combat ability was still limited.
Gōzu and Meizu, on the other hand, were experienced chūnin who had survived plenty of real battles.
At first, Sasuke managed to hold his ground.
But it didn’t last long.
The two brothers quickly began forcing him back.
“Damn it!” Sasuke narrowly avoided another attack, anger rising within him.
He knew perfectly well that defeating both men by himself would be difficult.
“Kakashi!
If you don’t help, we’re going to fail the mission!” The moment he shouted— Bang!
Bang!
Gōzu and Meizu were sent flying.
Kakashi appeared where they had been standing, his eye curved into an amused smile as he looked at Sasuke.
“Not bad.” “Hmph.” Sasuke turned his head away with his usual pride, but immediately opened his mission panel.
He was far more interested in the reward.
Repel the Enemy — B-rank Mission Completed Evaluation: B Reward: Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work — B-rank Sasuke clenched his fist in excitement.
I actually completed it!
Then he froze.
Where was the technique?
He searched the panel carefully before noticing a small line at the bottom.
Contact your Guide to claim mission rewards.
“Guide…?” A certain figure immediately appeared in Sasuke’s mind.
“Itsuki?” He looked up.
At almost exactly the same moment, Kakashi looked toward him.
“Itsuki.” The two spoke the name in unison.
“My mission’s finished too!” Sakura, who had hardly drawn any attention during the fight, suddenly exclaimed in excitement.
“I got a C evaluation.
My reward is a medical ninjutsu called the Hemostasis Technique!” Naruto finally recovered from his shock.
He hurriedly opened his own mission panel.
What he saw made his face stiffen.
Mission Completed Evaluation: D You made no contribution whatsoever during this team mission.
Fortunately, you seem to have capable teammates.
Perhaps relying on stronger companions is also one way to succeed?
Naruto stared at the final sentence.
His face slowly turned red.
This wasn’t an evaluation.
It was practically mocking him.
Sasuke immediately noticed his expression.
“What’s wrong?
Still shaken, scaredy-cat?” A teasing smile appeared on Sasuke’s face.
“What evaluation did you get?” Naruto lowered his head and refused to answer.
Sasuke’s curiosity was immediately piqued.
He opened the mission panel again and scrolled farther down.
Sure enough, another section had appeared.
Team Contribution Hatake Kakashi: 60% — Evaluation: B Uchiha Sasuke: 30% — Evaluation: B Haruno Sakura: 10% — Evaluation: C Uzumaki Naruto: 0% — Evaluation: D “So even if someone contributes absolutely nothing during a team mission, they can still get an evaluation just by tagging along.” Sasuke seemed to be talking to himself.
Everyone knew exactly who those words were meant for.
“You bastard, Sasuke!” Naruto exploded.
“Don’t underestimate me!
I just didn’t get the chance to show what I can really do!” What followed was Naruto’s dramatic declaration of resolve.
He drove a kunai into his own palm and swore that he would never freeze up like that again.
Once the commotion finally died down, Kakashi turned toward Tazuna.
“Tazuna-san.” His voice had become noticeably more serious.
“Don’t you think it’s time you explained what’s really going on?” Not far from Konohagakure stood a white, three-story building.
On the first floor was an enormous open hall.
A projection filled one side of the otherwise empty room, displaying everything that had just happened to Kakashi and Team 7.
Behind the counter, a young man sat casually watching the scene.
Itsuki smiled.
“That mission was never going to give Team Kakashi much trouble.” He then turned his gaze toward the two people sitting opposite him.
“Looks like your mission failed.” His smile deepened slightly.
“Zabuza.”