The morning sun spilled over the streets of Konoha, but for Team 7, the daylight had become synonymous with crushing monotony.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this again,” Naruto complained, dragging a huge shopping bag that looked ready to burst at the seams. The contents, a collection of exotic and specific groceries, seemed to weigh more than he did. “At this rate, I’m going to know every brand of pickle the elders’ council likes! This isn’t ninja training, it’s being an errand boy with a fancier title!”

Sakura walked beside him, a list in her hand and a patience that was visibly wearing thin with each of her teammate’s complaints. “Calm down, Naruto. It’s a D-Rank mission. They’re supposed to be like this, to build teamwork and discipline in… mundane tasks.” She paused, rereading the list. “Besides, you have to admit, thanks to your clones we finished a week’s shopping list in fifteen minutes. That has to be a village record.”

“But it’s boring!” he insisted, dropping the bag with a thud that made several glass jars clink dangerously. “Fifteen minutes of maximum boredom! We should be chasing bandits or learning awesome jutsus! Right, Sasuke? Wouldn’t you rather be doing something… I don’t know, cooler?”

Sasuke, walking a few steps ahead of them with a studied indifference, didn’t deign to answer. His only contribution to the mission had been a burst of speed as sudden as it was unnecessary to snatch the last giant daikon from a housewife right before the market stall ran out. He performed the feat with deadly seriousness, landing with the vegetable in his hand as if he had just recovered a forbidden scroll. The scene was equal parts impressive and utterly ridiculous.

Naruto huffed. “You’re no fun either.”

“At least he made sure we completed the list,” Sakura muttered, more to herself than to anyone else.

****

Meanwhile, in a completely different sector of the village, Team 8 was concluding their own D-Rank mission with an efficiency that bordered on professional.

“There it is,” Hinata said in a soft but clear voice, the veins around her temples pronounced from using the Byakugan. Her gaze was fixed on the top of a towering tree in the center of a park. “Mrs. Harada’s canary. It’s in a nest on the third main branch, on the east side.”

Kiba grinned from ear to ear, showing his fangs. “You hear that, Akamaru? Piece of cake!”

Akamaru, perched on his head, let out an affirmative bark.

“Let’s go!” Kiba shouted. With an agility that seemed to defy gravity, he leaped onto the tree trunk and began to ascend from branch to branch. He didn’t climb; he flowed upward. Akamaru, from the ground, began to bark in a specific sequence drawing the small yellow bird’s attention downward. In less than a minute, Kiba was back on the ground without a single leaf in his hair, the canary perched calmly on his index finger, chirping as if nothing had happened.

Shino, who had remained perfectly still observing the entire process, adjusted his dark glasses. “Mission complete. Total time: seven minutes and fourteen seconds. Our operational synergy has increased by twelve percent since last week’s evaluation. Logical. Akamaru’s distraction patterns were optimal.”

Kiba handed the bird to its owner, an old woman who showered them with blessings and sweets, and then rejoined his team. “Twelve percent, huh? That’s because I’m getting faster.”

Just as both teams were preparing to head to the Hokage Tower to report their success—and in Team 7’s case, to collect their pay to go to Ichiraku’s—two different chūnin appeared before them in a nearly simultaneous swirl of leaves.

In front of Team 8, a stern-looking ninja spoke in a formal, urgent tone. “Team 8. The Hokage requires your presence in his office. Immediately.”

****

Across the village, another chūnin with a scar on his cheek addressed Team 7 with the same seriousness. “Team 7. You are ordered to report to the Hokage. Right now.”

The surprise was absolute for both groups. Naruto looked at Sakura, his eyes wide with confusion and a hint of panic. “Did we do something wrong? I swear I paid for all the tomatoes! Even the one I squashed by accident!”

Sakura frowned, mentally reviewing their actions. “No, we didn’t do anything. Maybe it’s a new mission… an urgent one.”

****

Hinata looked at Kurenai, who had appeared by her side the instant the messenger arrived, a worried expression on her pale face. Kurenai simply shook her head, placing a reassuring hand on her student’s shoulder, just as bewildered as her genin. The urgency of the message was unusual for rookie teams.

The Hokage’s office was crowded, and the atmosphere was tense. The six genin from Team 7 and Team 8 were lined up in front of the desk, forming a strange and silent congregation of completely disparate personalities. Naruto couldn’t stop fidgeting, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Kiba wore an arrogant smirk, as if expecting a medal. Sasuke looked deathly bored, Hinata was nervous, Shino was analyzing the dust floating in a sunbeam, and Sakura was trying to appear professional and calm, though inside her mind was racing.

At the edges of the room, the adults formed their own group. Kakashi was leaning casually against a wall, reading his inseparable orange book as if the summons had nothing to do with him. Kurenai stood beside him, arms crossed, an expression of intense curiosity on her face. Surprisingly, Iruka was also present, standing next to the Hokage with a stack of scrolls, and for some reason, he looked incredibly proud, stealing furtive glances at Naruto.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, observed them all over his pipe, his old eyes twinkling with a mixture of amusement and weariness. He let the silence stretch for another moment, enjoying the youths’ bewilderment.

“I have summoned you all,” he finally began, his voice, though tired with age, filling the room with unmistakable authority, “because we are facing a problem… unprecedented in Konoha’s recent history.”

Naruto straightened up immediately, his eyes shining with excitement. He knew it! It had to be something big! An invasion! A giant monster attacking the gates! An S-Rank mission!

“…Thanks to the… unprecedented efficiency and enthusiasm of your two teams,” the Hokage continued, casting a particularly amused look at Naruto and Kiba, who puffed up with pride, “you have successfully completed every available D-Rank mission in the village for the next ten days.”

A baffled and absolute silence fell over the room. Even the faint sound of Kakashi turning a page in his book stopped.

“Huh?” was all Naruto could manage.

Hiruzen took a long drag from his pipe and exhaled a ring of smoke. “In other words,” he clarified, “you have left all your fellow genin without work. Team 10 is painting the same fence for the third time this week because there are no more fences that need painting. Team Gai is holding a push-up championship on the training grounds because, and I quote their sensei, ‘We must channel the fire of our youth even in times of forced peace!’. You’ve created an efficiency crisis.”

Kiba puffed out his chest, not quite grasping the problematic nuance in the Hokage’s words. “That’s because we’re the best! Obviously!”

Naruto nodded vigorously, his enthusiasm returning. “Yeah, believe it! No one can keep up with us!”

Kakashi finally closed his book with a soft snap. “As I reported to you yesterday, Lord Hokage,” he said in his usual lazy tone, but with an undercurrent of seriousness, “my team has demonstrated a capacity for cooperation and problem-solving that far exceeds expectations for their level. They are loud, yes, but they are undeniably effective. They are ready for a greater challenge.”

“My team has also passed every test put before them,” Kurenai added, her voice clear and confident as she stepped forward. “The combined skills of Kiba’s tracking, Shino’s strategic containment, and Hinata’s notable combat insight and perception make them more than suitable for higher-caliber missions.”

The Hokage nodded slowly, his expression turning serious, the amusement fading from his eyes. “I agree. And that is why your ‘problem’ of efficiency has arrived at a very opportune moment. We have a C-Rank mission that has been on our waiting list for almost a week, awaiting the right team.”

Sakura felt a pang of recognition. She immediately remembered the rough, desperate, alcohol-scented man she had seen at the tower days ago, arguing with the staff.

“A bridge builder named Tazuna,” the Hokage continued, confirming her suspicions. “He needs an escort back to the Land of Waves. He claims the road is infested with bandits and common thieves. Under normal circumstances, I would assign this task to a single genin team supervised by their jōnin. However…” His gaze deliberately shifted from Kakashi to Kurenai. “…your senseis have presented me with a rather unusual proposal.”

Kakashi stepped forward, drawing the attention of all the genin. “Kurenai and I have discussed the capabilities of our respective teams at length. We have concluded that they are not only compatible, but perfectly complementary. Team 8 possesses first-class tracking, defense, and sensory perception skills. They are the perfect eyes and ears.”

“Meanwhile,” Kurenai said, continuing the explanation without missing a beat, “Team 7 has considerable direct assault power, unpredictable versatility, and, though still developing, an emerging strategic mind.” She glanced briefly at Sakura and Sasuke. “They are the spear.”

Kakashi nodded. “Therefore, we propose to operate as a single unit for this mission. It will be an unprecedented joint exercise in the recent history of Konoha’s genin. An opportunity for two teams to learn to cooperate on a real field mission, under the supervision of two jōnin. The combination of our specialties not only guarantees an almost certain success for the mission but also provides an invaluable training experience that we could not replicate in the village.”

The revelation baffled the genin. A mission… together?

The idea settled on each of them differently.

Naruto turned almost instinctively and looked at Hinata. Their eyes met for a split second, and a smile of pure, disbelieving joy spread across both their faces before Hinata, blushing, looked down. A mission together! For real! Not in training, not in the village, but in the real world!

Sakura’s mind processed the information at lightning speed. Six genin and two jōnin for a C-Rank mission that only involves bandits. This is ridiculous overkill. Either the mission isn’t as simple as they say, or this is a covert final test before the Chūnin Exams. Or, most likely, both.

Kiba looked at Sasuke with a challenging smirk he didn’t try to hide. Awesome! Finally a chance to see if the great and famous Uchiha is as good as he thinks he is outside of training!

Sasuke, on the other hand, felt a surge of cold, silent fury. More people. More hindrances. More noise. Now he not only had to put up with the idiot Naruto and a Sakura who had become strangely assertive, but he would also have to deal with the dog boy, the bug freak, and the Hyuga girl who, for some reason he couldn’t and didn’t care to understand, had become inexplicably strong. It was a logistical nightmare for his goal of getting stronger without distractions.

“The proposal seems sound to me,” the Hokage concluded, interrupting their thoughts. “And I accept it. This is an excellent opportunity for all of you. The mission is assigned. Team 7 and Team 8, from this moment until further notice, you will operate as the Alpha Escort Squad under the joint command of Kakashi Hatake and Kurenai Yuhi. Prepare your gear. You leave at dawn. Iruka, please show the client in.”

Iruka nodded with a smile and opened the door. Tazuna entered the office. He smelled of cheap sake and an impatience that had been fermenting for days. His tired, critical gaze swept over the group of six kids and two adults before him. He stopped, incredulous.

“It’s about time!” he growled, his voice raspy. “And they give me this squad of brats? Seriously! It looks like a school field trip! Are you sure you can protect me from a couple of thugs? Especially the shorty in the orange jumpsuit with the idiot face!”

Naruto flinched, offended to his core. His excitement turned to anger in an instant.

“HEY, OLD MAN! WHO ARE YOU CALLING A SHORTY WITH AN IDIOT FACE?! I’M AN ELITE NINJA OF KONOHA AND THE FUTURE HOKAGE! YOU SHOULD BE ON YOUR KNEES, THANKING ME FOR BEING ON YOUR MISSION, BELIEVE IT!”

“Shut up, Naruto!” Sakura scolded him, though without much force, as part of her agreed that the description, while rude, wasn’t entirely inaccurate at that moment.

Kiba laughed out loud. “Ha! I like this old man! He’s got spirit!”

Tazuna ignored them completely and focused on the tallest, seemingly most competent figure. “You,” he said, pointing at Kakashi. “The one with the gray hair. You look like the only real ninja here. You’d better get me home in one piece. I paid for quality protection, not a babysitting service.”

Kakashi simply gave him an eye-smile, a gesture that conveyed nothing but infuriating calm. “Don’t worry, Tazuna-san. You’re in good hands. Many, many good hands.”

*****

The next day’s dawn was a cold, orange promise on the horizon. The nine shinobi, plus their client, were gathered at the imposing main gate of Konoha. The atmosphere was a chaotic mix of clashing emotions.

Naruto and Kiba were already in the middle of a heated argument about who was faster, a competition that had started the moment they met at the rendezvous point.

“I bet I can get to the first town before you, even with Akamaru!” Naruto challenged.

“In your dreams! Akamaru and I could run circles around you and still win!” Kiba retorted, as his puppy barked in agreement from his head.

A few feet away, Sakura and Hinata were speaking in low, serious tones, reviewing a list of medical supplies they had both brought.

“I have three extra rolls of bandages and soldier pills,” Sakura said.

“I brought burn ointments and basic antidotes for common poisons,” Hinata replied, her voice soft but steady. “You never know.” They looked at each other with mutual understanding, a silent alliance formed against the inevitable recklessness of their respective teammates.

Shino was watching a beetle meticulously crawl up the massive gate wall, completely absorbed. Sasuke stood apart from everyone else, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, his silence conveying more hostility than any shout.

Kurenai and Kakashi were speaking in whispers, finalizing the details of their travel formations.

“You and your team will take the vanguard,” Kurenai said. “Hinata’s perception is more effective if she covers our flanks and the rear.”

“Understood,” Kakashi replied. “Sasuke and I will stay close to the client. Naruto and Sakura can alternate at point. Keep Kiba on a flank; his sense of smell might detect an ambush before the Byakugan.”

And in the middle of it all, Tazuna watched them all with a bottle of sake in his hand and an expression of pure, absolute regret, probably wondering if it wouldn’t have been safer and cheaper to face the bandits on his own.

“Well, team… or teams,” Kakashi said finally, his voice cutting through the chaos and silencing everyone. “Welcome to your first real mission outside the village.”

He turned and, without further ceremony, began to walk, leaving the protection of Konoha for the open road.

“Try not to kill each other before we reach the first checkpoint.”

The adventure, at last, had just begun.