Breaking Seals

First real mission?

About seven months had passed since the formation of Team Seven, and frustration was beginning to seep in.

"Ughhhhhh, I'm so tired of this. When are we gonna get a real mission, sensei?" Naruto complained as he slathered paint on a fence.

Sachiko chimed in, her voice tinged with agreement. "Honestly, as much as it pains me to agree with Naruto, he's got a point, Kakashi. How is painting fences helping us prepare for a real fight?"

Kakashi, buried in his book, responded with a hint of amusement, "If you're that eager for a proper mission, you can always take it up with the Hokage next time you're fetching a mission."

Naruto's eyes lit up as he looked at Kakashi. "You know what, Kakashi-sensei? That's actually a great idea!"

"Yeah, yeah, back to work," Kakashi muttered, not looking up from his book.

Resigned, Naruto resumed painting, grumbling under his breath.

Kakashi's thoughts drifted as he watched his team work. 'These past months have seen remarkable growth. Naruto, despite his boisterousness, has an incredible amount of chakra and a high battle IQ, putting him somewhere between high genin and low chunin level. Sakura's grasp of jutsu and genjutsu, along with her chakra control, places her around mid-genin level. As for Sachiko, Itachi's sister, she's surpassed my expectations in both fire ninjutsu and taijutsu, all without her Sharingan. She's certainly at a mid-chunin level. But Ryūsuke, only thirteen, has already reached high jonin level. He's a true prodigy and a bit of an enigma. He joined ANBU at age 9 and is considered one of the village's strongest. I hope he makes the right choices; his potential is immense.'

Painting finally done, the trio made their way to the Hokage's office. Frustration still simmered beneath the surface as they moved through the bustling village. The sun cast a warm glow, and the rustling leaves seemed to echo their restlessness.

Sachiko knocked on the Hokage's door before stepping inside. The Hokage, a figure seasoned by experience, looked up from his desk and smiled warmly.

"Ah, Team Seven. What brings you here today?" he asked, his tone a blend of curiosity and understanding.

Excitement brimming, Naruto blurted out, "Jiji, we're ready for a real mission!"

Iruka, present in the room, chimed in with a chuckle, "Naruto, it's not that simple. You need more experience and time to prepare."

At that moment, Ryūsuke entered, prompting surprised glances from everyone present.

"Um, am I interrupting something?" Ryūsuke inquired, his presence drawing attention. Over the months, he'd grown a bit, with a more sturdy build, shorter hair reaching Naruto's length, and a slightly deeper voice. Dressed in a black long-sleeve shirt and pants that grazed his knees, he exuded a calm confidence.

Naruto's face lit up at Ryūsuke's arrival. "Hey, Ryūsuke! We were just talking about how badly we want a real mission."

Ryūsuke offered a half-smile, his eyes dancing with curiosity. "A real mission, huh? Seems like you guys are itching for some action."

Sachiko met his gaze, her cheeks flushed. "Yeah, it's been frustrating dealing with these basic tasks."

Iruka leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and added with a chuckle, "Well, impatience is a common trait among young ninja. But remember, experience is crucial, and there's much to learn from even the seemingly mundane missions."