Chapter 17: An Unexpected Opportunity

Disclaimer:

Dialogue

'Thoughts'

-Author notes-

A.N - I have decided to make a few changes after reading some of the comments. I have been trying to keep the number of Japanese words at a minimum, but it is a hard balance to maintain.

-I will be using the word 'Sensei' to refer to Kakashi, instead of Professor or teacher.

- I will still keep it for Iruka as he is more of an academic type of teacher and it fits him.

- I will also use Ninjutsu and Jutsu instead of 'technique' for everything. The reason for this is that the MC will also use moves from his old world, and those are not ninja techniques, so it helps me make a more clear distinction between non-ninja moves and the rest.

Chapter 17: An Unexpected Opportunity

"Now, let's see… Kakashi's team 7. Your next mission is to babysit an elder's grandson and paint Mr. Kobayashi's fence."

"Wait, we already painted that fence!" Sakura shouted before realizing who she was shouting at.

"Haruno!" Professor Iruka was outraged. He had expected this from someone else but not from this girl.

"I-I'm very sorry, Great Hokage! I didn't mean to disrespect you!" She quickly bowed to him.

"It's fine." The Hokage brushed it off. "And yes… you had already painted that fence. But we did not receive payment because your job was too sloppy. So you are doing it again. And Kakashi… make sure they are doing it properly this time."

Kakashi nodded. "I will."

"Is there really nothing else for us to do? We have been Genin for two weeks already, but we have been doing nothing but D-rank missions." Naruto finally decided to speak.

Sasuke was at his side. He said nothing but nodded in approval.

"Naruto, two weeks is nothing! You are still newbies… of course, you are going to be doing D-rank missions." Iruka said.

"I am also a bit more limited in what missions to give you…" The Hokage said. "After what happened to Madam Shijimi and poor Tora… I do not dare to give you any mission involving any animals."

"That was Naruto's fault!" Sakura said defensively. "Sasuke and I did a great job catching that cat!"

"That was an accident," said Naruto.

"Kakashi had to rip the kunai from your hand before you could stab that poor cat!" The Hokage was starting to lose his patience.

"That cat must have been at least part demon. Nothing poor about it…" Naruto added.

"Hmm…" Sasuke seemed to agree.

"Naruto, you didn't even apologize for that!" Iruka scolded him.

"I'll tell you what…" The Hokage glanced at him. "If your team does a good job today with these missions… tomorrow, I may have a C-rank for you all."

"Eh? Are you serious, Hokage? They are still new to this." Iruka said.

The Hokage looked at Kakashi.

"What do you say? They are your students. Can they handle a C-rank?"

Kakashi glanced at his students. After spending two weeks with them, he knew that strength-wise, neither Sasuke nor Naruto would have any trouble with a C-rank mission or even a B-rank. Sakura was a bit behind in that regard, but her long-range combat skills complemented well the two boys who seemed to prefer fighting up close.

His only worry was their attitude. That was not something he could fix in two weeks.

Sakura did not seem to take her job as a ninja seriously and focused mostly on Sasuke. He even heard that she was on a strict diet while also training. He had already warned her that it would affect her growth but she refused to listen.

Sasuke's state of mind was terrible. He was not a specialist, but it was obvious that the massacre of his clan, combined with whatever Itachi had done to him during their brief encounter, had completely altered his personality. He was obsessed with gaining power and getting revenge for his clan. His loyalty to Konoha was very questionable.

Naruto was an enigma for him. After a long talk with Iruka, he had decided that he could not trust any information from before the incident. The current Naruto was a completely different person.

If it wasn't for the fact that he had personally seen the Kyubi's chakra on him, using his Sharingan, he would doubt that person was even Naruto in the first place.

"They can handle it." Kakashi finally said.

By his look, the Hokage could tell there was more to it he wanted to say.

"Very well… then it is decided. Perform well today and we can talk about Team 7 getting a C-rank mission. You three are dismissed… Kakashi, stay for a few minutes."

Iruka handed the mission report to Kakashi and this one passed it on to Sakura, as usual.

"Okay, you three get started with the first mission. You have all the information in there… I will be checking on you in a while." Kakashi then glanced towards Naruto. "Don't mess this up."

The trio of Genins left the office, leaving Kakashi alone with the Hokage and Professor Iruka.

"Kakashi… you have been their teacher for two weeks already. I would like to hear your opinion on those three genins." Despite saying that, it was obvious for the rest that the Hokage was particularly worried about one genin.

Kakashi gave his report on Sakura and Sasuke, ending with a recommendation for Sasuke to be seen by a specialist in psychological traumas.

"We have already tried that… I had Inoichi talk with the young Uchiha years ago. It did not go well…" The Hokage sighed. That clan massacre was going to go down as his biggest regret… and worst failure as a Hokage.

"As much as I want to help that boy… as long as he is not willing to accept others' help, there is not much we can do. If we try to force the issue, he will just push us further away."

Kakashi nodded. "I see…" He could at least understand that, even if he didn't like it.

"Let's move on to Naruto… what can you tell us about his progress? Did he remember anything from before the incident?" The Hokage asked.

"No… nothing at all, as far as I know. He is like a brand new person now." Said Kakashi.

"Well… I wouldn't say completely new. He does still have some things from the old Naruto. Although I'm not sure if he even realized it." Said Iruka.

"Like what?" The Hokage asked. "You also have spent some time with him, didn't you?"

"I did." Iruka smiled. "He still loves ramen, for one. Even if he now has more restraint while eating it. He is also mischievous sometimes, but in a different, more mature way. And beneath all that cold attitude he has now… I know he is still a kind person who cares about others."

The Hokage seemed pleased to hear those words.

"That is good… I'm glad to hear the boy I watched grow up is not completely gone…"

He then looked back at Kakashi.

"You seemed worried about something before. Can you tell us what it is?"

"Yes… it is not Naruto's personality that worries me. A change of attitude or manner is not that strange after suffering a severe trauma. What worries me is… his skills and knowledge. He improves at an alarming pace."

The Hokage's eyes became sharper.

"You think he has found the other use for the Shadow Clone technique?"

Kakashi shook his head. "That is another thing I wanted to say… I have not seen him use the Shadow Clone technique… not even once."

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