Innocent Ignorance

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - Don't even try to sneak attack

I have adopted Naruto for the time being for...academic purposes :3 

'...' Inner

'...' Outer

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Naruto threw up his hands.

"ALRIGHT, THAT'S IT!! WE DEMAND BETTER MISSIONS, DATTEBAYO! I'M SICK OF HAVING TO CATCH THE DAIMYO'S CAT THREE TIMES A WEEK!"

Sasuke grumbled under his breath but gave a grudging nod. Both looked to me for confirmation. I smiled at them and nodded.

"Naru's right, Gramps," I said to the Hokage. "I think that our team is more than capable of handling tougher missions! Besides, we're going to need to level up sooner or later, right?" With that, I gave him a wink. Kakashi stood lazily behind us, watching the scene unfold.

The Hokage sighed, then smiled at us. "Very well. I will allow you all to go on this C-ranked escort mission." 

'YES, IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING!' Inner cheered, nearly bursting my eardrums. 'Holy ramen gods, it's finally happening!!!'

I could barely contain my own grin. THE FIRST MILESTONE OF THE STORY!!! After all these years, it's actually happening!! But I composed myself and nudged Inner. 'Settle down, girl,' I replied. 'From now on, it's time to get serious.' 

'Ahem, of course. Super serious.'

Then our mans Tazuna swaggered in, in all his drunken glory.

I gagged.

Jeez, you would've thought he had his heart broken for the 69th time for him to reek this bad of alcohol. 

Taking a swig from his bottle, Tazuna squinted at us. "These are the runts who're gonna escort me?! They barely look like ninja!! Especially," he points a finger at me, "that pink-haired girl!" 

'EXCUSE ME?' Inner and I shouted indignantly at the same time.

Well, in our head of course. I just rolled my eyes and huffed at the man. 

To my surprise, Naru and Duck-butt seemed more riled up at that comment than I was. "HEY, DON'T SAY THAT ABOUT SAKURA-CHAN!!" Naruto yelled, shaking his fist at Tazuna. "SHE'S SUPER STRONG, DATTEBAYO!" Sasuke stepped forward, his eyebrows twitching. 

Before I could tell them to calm down, Kakashi placed his hand on their shoulders. Naru and Sasuke immediately settled down—although they didn't relax their glares. "Maa, maa, sir," Kakashi said, his eye crinkling into his infamous eye-smile, "there's no need to be worried. We are all perfectly capable ninja, I assure you. Especially Sakura-chan over here"—he placed a hand on my head—"is one of the most talented ninja I've ever seen." 

I couldn't stop the contented blush from appearing on my cheeks. Inside my head, Inner squealed, then flopped to the floor. 'ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED!!!! US!!!!!!' she yelled. 'YES!!!! My life is made,' I responded, giddy. 

Tazuna shifted uncomfortably. "Ahem, yes, well," he spluttered, "I suppose that this escort team will do." 

The Hokage smiled at him politely, then turned to us. "Then after the necessary arrangements are made, Team 7 will leave with Tazuna tomorrow." 

"What do you even DO, anyway?" Naruto asked bluntly. Puffing up his chest, Tazuna responded, "I'm a bridgebuilder!"

"Lame."

"HEY, BEING A BRIDGEBUILDER IS IMPORTANT WORK!"

"Gramps," I asked the Hokage, "Where exactly are we going?" Even though I already know.