A steep, forested mountain.
Naruto and Kakashi crouched on a tree branch, watching a rundown cottage below.
Kakashi pulled out Icha Icha Paradise with a relaxed expression.
"Go ahead. You can handle this one alone."
"Of course I can," Naruto pouted. "It's not like I can rely on you and your weak kidneys."
With that jab, he jumped down from the tree.
Their mission was simple—wipe out the bandits hiding in that cottage.
"Who's there?!"
Naruto grinned. "Hey everyone, I'm Uzumaki Naruto! I'm visiting today—where's your boss? Don't you know how to greet guests politely?"
He strolled right up to the gate like he was on a casual walk.
"Damn it, it's a ninja—a Konoha shinobi!"
The sentry spotted Naruto's forehead protector and shouted.
"Guest? My ass!"
"He's just a kid! Get me a bow and arrow—I'll shoot him down!"
Whizz!
Naruto tilted his head, letting the arrow fly past harmlessly.
More followed—a rain of arrows slicing through the air.
He sighed, stepping left, then right, easily dodging every one.
"Those bandits can't even test Naruto," Kakashi muttered from above. "Too weak.
Next time, we'll take a higher-rank mission."
He watched closely, his single visible eye narrowing.
"This is Naruto's first C-rank mission—and his first time killing. Even with his strength… he's still just seven."
Naruto stopped, hands on his hips.
"That's how you greet guests? So rude."
He glanced at the trembling men ahead.
"By the way, you've got two hands and two feet—why choose to be bandits?
It's a dead-end job. You'll just get hunted by ninjas and hated by everyone.
Your families will live in shame. Doesn't that sound pathetic?
Why not change your ways and be good people for once?"
The bandits froze.
Then, one snapped. "He's toying with us! He's a demon!"
"Kill him!"
They charged forward, blades raised.
Naruto's eyes went cold.
"I gave you a chance to repent. Guess you don't listen."
He weaved signs, took a deep breath—
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Tiny fireballs shot from his mouth like glowing beads, striking each bandit dead-on.
One by one, they ignited into blazing infernos, leaving nothing but ashes.
Kakashi blinked.
"I'll be damned... he actually miniaturized the Fireball Jutsu."
The book slipped from his hand; he fumbled to catch it.
Naruto's modified version was smaller, faster, and harder to dodge—far deadlier than the original.
When the cottage fell silent, Kakashi jumped down beside him.
"What are you doing now?"
Naruto rummaged through the place, humming.
"Looting, of course. I'm not going home empty-handed."
Kakashi frowned. "This site will be cleaned up by others. We'll just get the mission bounty."
Naruto gave him a pitying look.
"Are you stupid? We cleared this place. That means the loot's ours. Who's gonna take it—some nobleman?"
He came out carrying a large suitcase, grinning.
"Look, gold, jewels, and cash! We split it fifty-fifty—fair deal, right?"
Before Kakashi could respond, Naruto happily pocketed his share.
Private money. His own stash—not the Red Sun Society's.
Kakashi sighed, his expression mixed.
His student was… rebellious. And clearly not a fan of the daimyo system.
"You don't want your share? Great, I'll take it all then."
"Who said I don't want it?" Kakashi moved fast, sweeping up the rest.
"I'll just… hold onto it for you."
Naruto glared. "Sure you will."
"Let's go," Kakashi said finally.
"Next time, pick a better mission. This little house-cleaning job was a waste of time."
They bickered as they walked away, disappearing down the road.
When the sound of their voices faded, a figure stepped out from the cottage—another Naruto.
He shook off his transformation, reverting to his true self.
"Garbage missions like this, one clone's enough to handle."
He smirked, patting a hidden pouch.
"Kakashi doesn't know I stashed half the money.
In the ninja world, what's most important?"
He grinned wide.
"Money, of course."
With a laugh, Naruto darted into the trees, vanishing into the forest.
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