Kakashi didn't even lift his gaze from his beloved book. His single visible eye was relaxed, half-lidded, as if nothing in the world could disturb his leisurely morning.
"Naruto," he said nonchalantly, "I appreciate your enthusiasm about becoming a ninja. Really, I do."
He flipped a page lazily. "But wanting to take on every mission isn't realistic. There are plenty of other squads in the village. Plenty of other Genin, too."
Naruto clenched his fists with fiery determination.
"Exactly, Kakashi-sensei! That's exactly why we need to take more missions! Team 7 has to work harder than everyone else! We need to show them how scary the strongest team in the village can be!"
Kakashi turned away, uninterested.
"I'm not concerned with things like that," he replied, waving a hand dismissively.
Naruto's face fell. His plan to provoke Kakashi into action had failed miserably. If this were Bushy-Brows—Might Guy—he would already be burning with the flames of youth, probably shouting about passion and perseverance.
To persuade someone… you have to play to their interests, Naruto reminded himself.
The problem? Kakashi Hatake had almost no interests. At least, none Naruto could appeal to.
Naruto studied him closely. Kakashi wasn't paying attention to anything except the small orange book in his hand.
Can't write a book for him… so appealing to his interests won't work.
If he couldn't appeal to Kakashi's likes… maybe he could attack his dislikes.
A thought struck him like lightning.
Lazy people… what do they fear the most?
His lips curled into a mischievous grin.
"Hey, Kakashi-sensei… hey heeey…"
Kakashi finally looked up, almost annoyed.
"What is it now, Naruto?"
"Do you think I'm a little annoying sometimes?"
"Yeah," Kakashi replied without hesitation. "A little."
"Hehehe, I knew it!" Naruto declared triumphantly. "Kakashi-sensei wants to read his book in peace. Right? Actually… I have a plan."
Kakashi narrowed his eye. He understood instantly.
"Naruto… you want me to accept a bunch of missions and hand them over to you three, don't you?"
"As expected from my brilliant Kakashi-sensei! You catch on so fast!"
Kakashi sighed deeply.
"You do remember what a Jōnin instructor is supposed to do, right? If you're on a mission, I'm required to supervise you the entire time."
"No need!" Naruto said proudly. "We can handle these cat-catching, dog-finding missions by ourselves!"
Kakashi blinked. "…Really?"
"Of course!"
Naruto pointed at his teammates. Kakashi's gaze tilted toward Hinata and Sasuke.
Hinata nodded eagerly.
Sasuke gave a short grunt—his version of agreement.
With a quiet sigh, Kakashi snapped his book shut.
"Alright then…" he said, standing up. "Let's test your confidence."
Naruto beamed.
Kakashi pointed decisively.
"Your task is to find the Daimyo's wife's cat. If you can complete this mission within half a day, I'll take on more missions."
Naruto nearly exploded from excitement.
"You got it! Let's go, Hinata! Sasuke!"
Hinata nodded cheerfully.
Sasuke simply dashed off without waiting for anyone.
Naruto's eye twitched.
"Sasuke! We're supposed to work together!"
But Sasuke was already gone.
"This guy… he has zero intention of teamwork!" Naruto groaned. Then he turned to Hinata. "Hinata, let's go search together."
Hinata's cheeks bloomed pink. Teaming up with Naruto—searching the village, just the two of them—felt like a dream.
"Yes! Yes, Naruto-kun!"
Since the mission was only a simple search, Kakashi allowed them to go alone. There was little danger in the village.
Sasuke immediately activated his Sharingan, sweeping the surroundings for movement. But when it came to searching and perception, even the great Uchiha eye technique couldn't match the Byakugan.
Hinata activated her Byakugan, her pale irises glowing as veins spread around her temples. She and Naruto sprinted through the streets, checking alleys, climbing over rooftops, and even racing toward the fields and forest outside the village.
Soon Hinata spoke, breath steady.
"Naruto-kun… it looks like we're ahead."
Her Byakugan had already spotted a small, moving silhouette deep in the forest.
Naruto grinned widely.
"As expected of Hinata! You're amazing!"
The Byakugan could see far distances, detect chakra, and even see through obstacles. When it came to searching, there was truly no rival in the entire ninja world.
The two rushed forward. After confirming the cat with its picture, Naruto didn't hesitate.
"Here I go! Haaa!"
With a burst of speed, he activated the Wind Body Vibration Technique, pushing his speed to its limit. In one swift movement, he scooped up the plump cat.
"M-mrrrow!!"
The startled creature yowled and wiggled, but Naruto's grip was firm.
Naruto placed his hands on his hips, laughing triumphantly.
"Found it in less than an hour! Let's see what Kakashi-sensei says now! And that Sasuke… he's gonna be sooo mad."
He then smiled at Hinata.
"But Hinata, this was all thanks to you!"
Hinata blushed deeply.
"It—It was our teamwork, Naruto-kun…"
Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly, and together they hurried back to the village.
Holding the cat up by the scruff like a trophy, Naruto presented it proudly before Kakashi.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
"So quickly?"
His gaze shifted to Hinata.
"As expected of the Byakugan…"
Just then, Sasuke returned—empty-handed and clearly annoyed. Seeing Naruto and Hinata succeed made him scowl.
Naruto, of course, couldn't resist stirring the pot.
"Hey Sasuke! Looks like we got first place, huh?!"
Sasuke shot him a cold glare.
"That was the Byakugan's work, not yours… loser."
Naruto puffed out his cheeks angrily but couldn't argue.
Turning back to Kakashi, he shouted,
"Kakashi-sensei! That means you're taking on more missions, right?!"
Kakashi stretched, yawning loudly.
"Alright. A promise is a promise. Follow me."
"Yesss!"
Team 7 arrived at the mission hall, submitted the completed task, and returned the very grateful Daimyo's wife her runaway cat. She hugged the cat repeatedly, smothering it with kisses. Naruto finally understood why the cat kept running away.
Still, she was thrilled and doubled the mission reward—from ten thousand to twenty thousand ryo.
Kakashi didn't take a share and handed the entire reward to the three Genin.
Sasuke, being his usual tsundere self, rejected his portion.
So Naruto and Hinata each received ten thousand ryo.
Ten thousand ryo—enough for Naruto to eat hundreds of bowls of his beloved tonkotsu ramen.
Afterward, Kakashi escorted the trio to the Hokage's office.
"Team 7 reporting for mission assignment," Kakashi announced.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, puffed his pipe and flipped through a mountain of documents.
"Hmmm… Here. A task suitable for newly graduated Genin: assisting with cleaning farmland."
Naruto stared blankly.
"…Seriously?"
"No more exciting missions?!" he groaned. "This doesn't feel like something a ninja should be doing!"
Hiruzen frowned slightly.
"Naruto, all Genin begin with D-rank missions. You're not an exception."
"Fiiine…" Naruto muttered. "At least give us more missions."
"Oh? How many more?" the Hokage asked, amused.
Naruto grinned, lifted a single finger, and declared boldly:
"One hundred!"
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)