"Is it about to happen?"
"I've finally waited for this moment."
Uchiha Madara's lips curled slightly, and he couldn't help but look forward to it.
What will Black-Framed Naruto do?
No, a smart person like Black-Framed Naruto will naturally recognize it wholeheartedly.
After all, that is a stone tablet left by the Six Paths Sage!
Beneath the Kannabi Bridge, Black Zetsu saw hope once again.
But at the same time, he was also very nervous.
Naruto, after all, is not an Uchiha.
He certainly won't believe it so easily.
Ino Yamanaka: "The Uchiha stone tablet?"
Uchiha Izuna: I have some recollection of it, but not much.
Uchiha Izuna: Back then, we were fighting every day. Even if I knew about it, I didn't have time to see it. It was better to cultivate more and guide the clansmen.
Uchiha Izuna: My elder brother should have seen it.
Uchiha Madara: "..."
The black-framed large screen continued its broadcast:
[The night passed in silence.]
[The next day.]
[Naruto was awakened by sounds coming from the kitchen.]
[Opening his eyes, he habitually reached out his hand.]
[But he found the space beside him empty, with only a lingering warmth remaining.]
[He was stunned for a moment.]
[Naruto immediately jumped up.]
[Then he laughed at himself.]
[He hadn't adapted yet and thought something had happened.]
["Naruto-kun~"]
["Breakfast will be ready soon~"]
[Glancing at Izumi, whose face had some black soot on it, Naruto didn't reply and silently went to wash his face and brush his teeth.]
[A moment later, Naruto put on an apron. Izumi, like a studious baby, watched from the side.]
[In the trash can, there were some pitch-black, unidentifiable food items that still radiated a bit of heat.]
["Stay at home properly for now. Wait until your physical body returns to a normal state and you've adapted before we talk about anything else."]
[Naruto instructed the girl.]
[Izumi naturally nodded repeatedly.]
[Not long after, Izumi let out a moan.]
[Finally... she could finally eat food!]
[However...]
[Even just eating a breakfast that didn't require much chewing, Izumi's masseter muscles felt sore.]
[Naruto shook his head with a smile, rubbing her small head. "Don't be impatient. It's been five years; recovery doesn't happen overnight."]
["Mm~" Izumi's face turned red, and she didn't dare to look up.]
[Actually, she already felt uncomfortable last night; her tongue was very tired.]
[...]
[Inside the Hokage Office at the Hokage Building.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi put down the documents.]
[He rubbed the bridge of his nose.]
["The efficiency is very high."]
["Team 7 has already completed over sixty D-rank missions."]
["Completion rate is 100%."]
["The time taken is also, on average, the fastest among all Genin."]
["Such a team has already surpassed countless veteran Genin squads."]
["Team Eight and Team Ten have already started C-rank missions."]
["It's about time to give them more as well."]
["Land of Waves... with Kakashi there, it'll be fine."]
[Sip—]
[Taking a puff of his pipe, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked out the window at Konoha.]
[Before long.]
[The door to the Hokage Office was knocked upon.]
["Come in."]
["Ah, Team 7."]
["I happen to have a mission to give you."]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi showed a kind smile.]
[He first glanced at Naruto, then looked at Kakashi.]
[Kakashi frowned slightly.]
[Something's not right.]
[This mission probably isn't that simple.]
["Very good. Team 7 has exceeded its D-rank mission quota. It's time to increase the mission difficulty."]
[Hearing this, Sasuke's brow twitched.]
[Is it finally coming?]
[Combat, killing... are the fastest ways to improve strength.]
[Furthermore.]
[This way, Kakashi should finally officially teach them Ninjutsu, right?]
[That guy... after eating and drinking his fill, he started playing dumb, completely avoiding the topic of Ninjutsu.]
[How could Sasuke know that it was actually because Naruto thought Sasuke hadn't been tempered enough in D-rank missions and wasn't suited to master powerful Ninjutsu yet, which led Kakashi to stall for time.]
[Naruto's expression changed slightly.]
['Are we leaving the Village?']
['This smell of alcohol... it should be the client.']
['A very unfamiliar feeling; he must be from outside the Village.']
['Leaving the Village... is a good opportunity.']
['I can find out where Tsunade is right now.']
['It's time to begin.']
[A few thoughts flashed through Naruto's mind, and then he glanced at Sasuke.]
['It's almost time. With just one Genjutsu, Sasuke will be able to awaken the Sharingan.']
['Since we're about to leave the Village, many things will become more convenient.']
['First, I'll see if Sasuke undergoes any changes after awakening the Sharingan.']
[While thinking, Hiruzen Sarutobi called out toward the lounge.]
["Mr. Tazuna, the mission you posted has been accepted by Team 7."]
[As the words fell.]
[All four looked toward the lounge.]
[They saw an old man holding a wine bottle, reeking of alcohol, walking out.]
[He looked over Team 7.]
[Besides Kakashi, there were three brats.]
[Even though that blond kid was a size larger than the pink-haired and black-haired ones, his face still carried a hint of childishness.]
["What's going on?!"]
["Why are they all brats?!"]
["How can kids like this be up to the mission I posted?"]
[This old drunk named Tazuna had his face written all over with dissatisfaction.]
[As he spoke, the smell of alcohol wafted everywhere.]
["Are these kids really reliable?"]
[Tazuna came before Team 7, his brow tightly knit.]
[Clearly, he was very unsatisfied with Team 7.]
["I say, Hokage-sama, you can't just brush me off because it's a C-rank mission."]
["These kids aren't up to it; I don't trust them."]
["This one, however, looks a bit more reliable."]
[Kakashi unhurriedly knit his brow.]
[Then he relaxed again.]
[Land of Waves?]
[I see.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi still maintained his smile.]
["Mr. Tazuna, Team 7 is currently the most elite among the Genin squads."]
["Kakashi is also an excellent Jonin."]
["A C-rank escort mission poses no difficulty for them."]
["Team 7 could even attempt B-rank missions."]
[With Kakashi and Naruto there, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that Team 7 could easily take on B-rank missions.]
["Is... is that so?" Tazuna immediately gave up his unreasonable pestering.]
[The Hokage had already reminded him several times that it was only a C-rank mission.]
[Sasuke frowned; his impression of Tazuna wasn't very good.]
[Sakura glanced at him with some disdain, then moved closer to Naruto. She felt something was off about this Tazuna; for a C-rank mission, he kept emphasizing that Genin were unreliable.]
[Could he have lied about the mission rank?]
[That would be a very serious problem!]
[However, at that moment...]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi made the decision for Team 7.]
["Alright, in that case, Team 7 will escort Mr. Tazuna back to the Land of Waves and protect him until the bridge is completed."]
["Do you have any problems?"]
["No."] None of Team 7 had any objections.
[Seeing this, Tazuna didn't say much more, only stubbornly blustering that he was the famous bridge-building expert, Tazuna.]
["Since you brats have accepted the mission, then I'll trouble you to stake your lives to protect me!"]
["Until I return to my country and finish building the bridge!"]