26 Venturing to the Land of Waves

Kakashi had gathered everyone all around the post and began speaking, "Congratulation all you guys have passed." Everyone had cheerful expressions on their face when Yamato said, "Although we're passing you, tradition dictates that we still go through the second half." Kakashi smiled while pulling out a rope."So who lost the rock, paper, scissors game?"

Kibo and Sasuke walked up and sat down, "Let's get this over with!" Kibo said, as Sasuke nodded his head. As the two were sitting, forced to watch everyone else eat, Sakura and Karin both came up to them with their meals, and started feeding them. Naruto who was eating with Hinata looked a little jealous, suddenly he grinned. Picking up a fried eel sushi roll with his chopsticks, he leaned over and said, "Say ahh Hinata!"

Hinata dropped her food and steam began to rise from the top of her cherry red face, Kakashi and Yamato who were watching turned to each other with a bland expression and said "Let's go get a drink!"

Later that night at the Hokage's mansion, Yamato and Kakashi were giving their report. "So you say you're pleased with this team!" Sarutobi smiled mischievously, "Yes. They managed to get the bells from both Yamato and I, and their teamwork and ethics are flawless." Sarutobi was surprised, "They managed to get all four bells?"

"Like Kakashi said, even though we held back, their teamwork allowed them to take down two seasoned Jonins. I was very impressed by their temperaments and how well they handled combat, although Naruto needs some work on his juvenile attitude." Yamato replied.

"Still sore about that eraser joke?!" Kakashi asked smiling.

"So what did you think of Kibo!?" Sarutobi asked, "I have to say.

I'm glad he's on our side. Konoha taking their village seriously from the start, and becoming their allies was one of the best decisions the first made." Kakashi replied with a serious tone.

"You know it was my Father who taught me of the first Hoshikage's battle, he told me that Madara himself said that he had never faced such a powerful physique user before, that complement gave him a great amount of respect and fear." The two listened in all seriousness, they too practiced the Pink Muscle Transformation technique so they knew how good a technique it was, but they couldn't help think of what other techniques the Hoshikage took to his grave, perhaps an even stronger body training art.

Sarutobi shook his head left and right, then asked "Do they have it!?"

"The will of fire burns brightly in those kids." Yamato added.

The next day they had their fist F ranked mission, which consisted of manual labor to the fellow Konoha Citizens.

While they were plucking weeds out the medical herb garden Naruto could be heard grumbling, "Aren't our skill's being wasted?" Kibo laughed and crouched down next to Naruto to help. "That isn't something the future Hokage should say, these villager's rely on our help, in turn they pay us wages to support the Ninja's of their village. These actions seem small now, but if you want to become the Hokage. Earning peoples respect by doing chores, isn't a bad start."

Naruto looked as if a light bulb turned on inside his head, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" 20 Naruto's appeared as he then order them to start working, next he turned around and made another 20. "Go pick up as many F ranked missions as you can from the Hokage's office, and get to work."

"You got it boss!" All the Naruto's replied, as he got back to work himself, Kibo and everyone else started to do the same. Soon tales of Team 7 antics became know all across Konoha. Naruto especially, he ended up completing 108 F ranked missions over the span of a week. Once he got into it, he discovered that he liked helping the civilians, and seeing their thankful smiles.

Kibo slowed down once he'd reached 100, after earning an easy 1,000 system points he decided to take it easy and enjoy his time, Sasuke tried to keep up with Naruto, but Naruto's Chakra Stamina gave him the edge. Hinata continued to work her hardest with Naruto, but whenever she got tired Naruto would take a break with her, giving Sasuke a chance to catch up. Sakura and Karin were simply completing missions at their own pace. After a month of this, the village had never looked so clean and spiffy before, Team 7 was gathered in the Hokage's office; the old man had a smile on his face as he looked at the kids in front of him.

"I hear you've been working hard this past month! I've decided to give you all of you, your first C ranked mission." The Hokage was proud of how much they had done. Naruto had completed 322 F and 100 D ranked mission, Sasuke did 301 F ranked and 88 D ranked. Kibo finished 285 F ranked, and 200 D ranked earning him 22,850 Sys Pts, while Karin did 113 F ranked missions, and 45 D ranked missions, Sakura did 211 F ranked missions and 80 D ranked, and Hinata's hard work accomplished 312 F ranked missions.

Naruto had his hands behind his head, and laughed, "It's about time, so what are we doing? Cutting down some stray Chakra beast? Maybe transport a legal document? Please whatever it is; don't say chasing Tiger again. I don't know how many more scratches to the face I can take from that cat." Naruto had a downcast expression as he hunched over in a gloomy stance.

"If lady Shijimi ever pays a C rank commission to capture her cat, then I'll be the first to call you; but it's not that. The mission I'm assigning you to will be an escort mission. You have to protect a certain individual."

"Who is it, a princess, the Daimyo, some great lord?" Naruto asked excitedly

"Calm down!" Sarutobi nodded to a ninja standing at the door and said, "Show him in!"

"What's going on here? These are the guys? They look like a bunch of snot nosed brats." an elderly wild grey haired, bespectacled man with a well trimmed beard, and dark black eyes appeared from behind the door. He wore a sleeveless v-neck shirt with an obi, light tan checkered pants and a pair of straw sandals. He also carried a towel around his neck and wore a Nejiri-hachimaki, which was a traditional twisted knotted rope that wrapped around his forehead; this was common practice in old Japan to show the expertise of one's craft, for the man in front of them it showed he was layman construction worker at the apex of his skill.

As he hauled his large luggage through the door on his back, he looked at everyone as he was chugging down a bottle of saké then said, "Especially that midget with the idiotic face! This is a joke right? You kids aren't really Ninja, are you?"

"Haha! Which midget are you. . ."Naruto paused then looked around and saw he was the shortest one in the group. Although, because he ate better meals than before, he was only slightly taller than the original time line.

"I'll Kill Him!" Naruto wanted to charge but Kakashi picked him up by his shirt and said, "No, bad Naruto! You're not supposed to kill the person we have to guard."

"I'm Tazuna a famous and renowned bridge builder. Until I return home and complete my latest work you have to protect me even at the cost of your lives." Tazuna said chugging back on his rice wine.

Naruto grunted and said, "We'll get the job done, even if I don't like you. Datebayo!"

"Aright, head home to prepare! We'll meet up at the Village Gates." Yamato said ending the conversation.

After a few hours, Naruto could be seen running out of the Gate yelling "Yahoo! Road Trip!"

Sakura shook her head, "What is he babbling about now?"

Hinata looked at Naruto and said quietly, "Excited Naruto is cute too."

"He can't help it!" Said Kibo, "It's his first trip outside of the Village, don't tell me you're not a little excited."

Sakura and Sasuke let out a shy laugh, when they both thought "Well it's not like I don't understand, I kinda feel the way."

"Am I really expected to put my life in the hands of this buffoon?" Tazuna said pointing at Naruto.

"While I understand your worries Mr. Tazuna, you shouldn't look down on any of these kids. All of them are full fledged Shinobis who can take care of their business like pros."

Naruto then looked over and grunted, "You should be proud old man; you have the future Hokage guarding you!" Tazuna took one look at Naruto and said "You!? The leader of your Ninja Village!?"

"He was talking about me!" Sasuke said stepping up to Naruto. "No I wasn't!" Naruto said bumping heads with Sasuke.

"Well at least they have aspirations!" Tazuna said laughing.

Along the way Kakashi informed them of some general facts about the world they live in. When the group passed by a puddle that only a few noticed as suspicious, Kibo didn't wait for the hidden Ninjas to make a move, with a powerful stomp, the two Ninjas who's body's that made the puddle flew out in opposite directions, while they were coughing up blood Kibo grabbed the chain that connected the two's weapons and pulled them together. The enemy Nin flew into each other's heads and only saw a fist hit them in the face before they blacked out.

"Well done Kibo!" Kakashi said as he tied up the Ninja, Yamato then smiled and nodded, when he turned to Tazuna and said, "Mr. Tazuna, I believe you have something you want to tell us?" A bit of sweat started to drip down Tazuna's face, when Kakashi said, "These are Chunin that have been trained by Kirigakure; Shinobi of the mist are renowned for their willingness to finish their missions, even at the cost of their own lives."

"How did you know we were there!?" The captive mist ninja asked with a quivering voice, "Kibo would you care to explain!?" Kakashi said in response.

"It hasn't rained in months, couldn't you guy's' find a better way to hide?" Kibo taunted, while Yamato pressured Tazuna.

Tazuna caved and told them everything; that the infamous Gato had targeted their land for some unknown reason, that he had an army of thugs, and an unknown Shinobi gang working for him. He even explained that the village was poor, and was unable to pay for the higher commissions.

"But if you all turn back now, I guess that'll be the end of me. I'll be dead for sure, my 10 year old grandson and my lovely daughter will probably end up crying rivers of sorrow, as they curse all the Leaf Ninja's of Konoha for abandoning me to a fate worse than death. Oh wait Gato and his men will probably slaughter the whole village, so we'll just have to haunt you guys as ghost."

"We get it already, we still accepted the mission, as Leaf Shinobi we'll carry out our duties till the end. You'll get that bridge built safely; I swear on my Nindo that we will protect you no matter the cost." Naruto said bravely, "You know kid, I may have misjudged you!" Tazuna said with a smile on his face.

"Naruto doesn't really call the shots here; but what he said is still true." Kakashi said patting Naruto's head.

"Ah HAH! You see my greatness after all old man. With Naruto on the job no harm shall befall you." Naruto said boasting in a grandiose manner of speech.

"I take it back; you're a snot nosed brat after all!" Tazuna said taking a swig of his Saké.

"I guess I should head back with the prisoners, and see the Hokage to inform him of the change in mission difficulty, you guys go on ahead I'll catch up in no time." Yamato said with a sigh, when Kibo suddenly pulled out a stack of bills. "Hey Yamato, this mission's one me, hand this to the Hokage, and have it raised to an appropriate ranking." As Kibo handed over the money he whispered something to him. Yamato's eye's opened wide for only a second before nodding his head.

"Kid!?" Tazuna said with a shocked by his charity, when Kibo waved his hand, "You'll just have to give Konoha some discounts on construction work for when we hire you in the future." Tazuna laughed before nodding his head, "We don't normally offer discounts, but since your twisting my arm, I guess I have no choice."

The group continued on their journey until it came time to board the boat, and head into a small island near the land of waves.