The Hokage's office, usually a place of serious briefings and mission assignments, was filled with an awkward silence. Tazuna, a gruff, middle-aged man with a perpetually furrowed brow, a distinct smell of sake, and slightly bloodshot eyes, stood before Team 7, his appearance a stark contrast to their expectations. He swayed slightly, his words slurring slightly.
"So," Naruto said, his voice laced with skepticism, "you're the client?"
Tazuna hiccuped, his words slurring slightly. "That's right, brat. I'm Tazuna, the greatest bridge builder in the Land of Waves!"
Kakashi chuckled, trying to defuse the tension. "Naruto, be nice. Tazuna-san is our client. We're here to escort him to the Land of Waves."
Sakura, ever the peacemaker (and ever eager to impress Sasuke), offered a polite smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Tazuna-san."
Sasuke, observing Tazuna with a critical eye, noted the subtle signs of weariness and a hint of desperation in his posture, along with the strong smell of alcohol. 'Ah, right, the drunken bridge builder', he thought, a flicker of familiarity washing over him. He knew this mission, the Land of Waves, Zabuza, Haku. He knew what was coming.
"Honestly," Tazuna grumbled, his voice thick with a mix of alcohol and irritation, "I expected some… more professional shinobi. You look like a bunch of fresh-faced kids." He gestured vaguely at Naruto.
"Especially you, with that ridiculous orange jumpsuit."
Naruto bristled, but Kakashi intervened. "Alright, Tazuna-san, we'll prove our worth. Now, Team 7, we'll begin the mission in one hour. Prepare your ninja tools and meet at the village gate."
With that, Kakashi dismissed the team, leaving Tazuna to grumble about "incompetent brats" and "wasted sake."
An hour later, Team 7, fully equipped, stood at the village gate. Tazuna, still slightly tipsy, led the way, while Team 7 followed, their initial enthusiasm waning with each passing mile. Naruto, predictably, complained about the lack of "real ninja action," while Sakura tried to engage Sasuke in conversation, her efforts met with his usual dry responses.
"Are we there yet?" Naruto whined, kicking a pebble into the air.
"Shut up, Naruto," Sakura snapped, her patience wearing thin.
Sasuke, however, was scanning the surrounding terrain, his Sharingan picking up subtle chakra signatures. He knew the Demon Brothers were coming, and he was prepared.
Suddenly, two figures burst from the bushes, their faces hidden behind demonic masks. They wielded large, crude swords, their movements surprisingly swift and coordinated. They lunged at Kakashi, their blades flashing.
Kakashi, with a swiftness performed a body replacement technique at a last moment, substituting himself with a nearby log. The Demon Brothers sliced through the log, but didn't get to know.
Sakura gasped, her eyes widening in horror. "Kakashi-sensei!" she cried, her voice filled with panic. She quickly hid herself behind a large tree, her eyes fixed on the developing fight.
"One down" one of them growled.
Naruto also thought kakashi dead and completed stop at one place without any moment.
Sasuke, meanwhile activating his Sharingan, observed their movements, noting their fighting style. He then weaved hand signs, and unleashed a fireball jutsu, the jutsu however was unstable, and wasted more chakra then it should have.
He then followed with a quick burst of taijutsu, dodging their attacks and landing a few well-placed blows. He noticed his chakra control was making his jutsu waste chakra.
The fight was brief, the Demon Brothers easily dispatched by sasuke's pre-planned attack.
"Good job, Sasuke."
Kakashi said, while emerging from a tree.
Both Sakura & Naruto relief and get the understanding of full situation.
However, the encounter left Team 7 with a sense of unease. They were no longer dealing with simple bandits; these were trained shinobi.
Kakashi question Tazuna. "Tazuna-san, you said this was a simple C-rank mission. But these were clearly shinobi. Explain yourself."
Tazuna, his gruff exterior momentarily cracking, looked away, his slurred speech replaced by a nervous stammer. After a brief interrogation, Tazuna revealed the truth: the Land of Waves was under the control of a powerful businessman named Gato, who was trying to stop the bridge's construction.
"If you abandon me, I'll die," Tazuna pleaded. "And so will last hope of everyone in the Land of Waves."
Kakashi paused, his visible eye scanning the team. "This mission is now beyond a C-rank. It's dangerous. I'll give you all a chance to back out. Do you still want to continue?"
Naruto, despite his initial fear, shouted, "We're not backing down!"
Sakura, though still shaken, nodded firmly. "We'll continue."
Sasuke, his Sharingan active, simply nodded, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. He knew this was his chance to test his abilities and grow stronger. He internally noted that he had to improve his chakra control, or he would be a liability. He also began thinking about how he would utilize the upcoming fight with Zabuza to push his skills and grow stronger.
"Alright," Kakashi said, his voice firm. "We're heading straight to the Land of Waves."
And with that, they continued their journey, Sasuke's mind already racing with strategies and plans for the battles to come.